Nordictrack 14.9i vs VersaClimber LX
This is a comparison between the Nordictrack 14.9i elliptical and the VersaClimber LX. Follow the links for more details.
Versa climber LX Model
The VresaClimber LX comes in at $3995 - $4200. In this article you will learn more about the product itself, its Pros and cons and alternatives you might want to consider. This article has originally been published in the overview "Which conditioning equipment to buy from Rogue".
Overview of the VersaClimber LX
The
VersaClimber range has been on the market for more than four decades. The
LX model is one of their mid-range options which sits between the SM and H models from a budget perspective. The machine is hand welded and has the following specifications:
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Weight 150lb
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Height 7’ 10’’
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Footprint 48’’x48’’
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Color black
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Climb angle 75 degrees
The VersClimber LX comes with a computer and fully assembled to stand upright in your home gym or professional facility. For $200 you can upgrade the handles for more options.
VersaClimber recommends this option for anyone taller than 6’ 3’’. For an extra $100 it comes with a branded floor mat to protect your floors from scratches and sweat.
The
VersaClimber range is a great alternative to treadmills, bikes, and towers. It offers some of the highest intensity cardiovascular workouts on the smallest possible footprint with minimum impact on the joints. Everyone who ever used this hates it. This is usually a good reference when it comes to workout machines.
Pros of the VersaClimber LX
These are the pros of the
VersaClimber LX series compared to other options you might consider:
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Small footprint
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High intensity
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Adjustable resistance
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Unfamiliar workout
Compared to most treadmills and elliptical machines you will be able to fit a lot more
VersaClimbers into your facility. When it comes to calories burned per square foot the
VersaClimber is very hard to beat. The LX offers a commercial grade machine for a lower cost than the SM model.
The
Versaclimber itself offers you and your athlete a great opportunity to power yourselves out. If the weather is bad or if you want to throw them a curve ball, this is the machine. Many climbers use this is a morning routine and climbers are usually quite good when it comes to endurance. Loss of grip means death for them so they won’t mess about with the equipment they pick.
This machine can adjust the resistance from 1-500 lb which makes it better than older models from
VersaClimber.
If you are planning on establishing the best gym in town you will be able to offer extra diversity with this machine. Especially in Europe, I have not seen many of these around which might swing some reliable clients your way instead of to the gym around the corner.
Cons of the VersaClimber LX
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Not specific
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Not for beginners
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Old computer
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Price
Most people compete in sports to which a vertical climb is irrelevant. Treadmill and cycling training is more relevant to the movement patterns for long distance runners and endurance athletes. If it is not just about burning calories but also improving technique on relevant movements the
VersaClimber might not be the right choice.
As this workout is super intense it might not be for beginners. If you have a lot of beginners in your gym you might want some alternatives for people who just walked through the door. Throwing something completely frustrating at your beginners will drive them away. You have to give them some small successes and build from there. Only very few of your clients will be like “yes another machine I can kill myself on”.
The computer unit on the LX is a bit outdated. The SM has a better one as this is the most recent update to the line. Personally, I think this does not matter that much. Most of the programs are not used anyway.
The price is a big con to the
Versaclimber LX. The H version comes in for $1000 less but has no commercial use warranty. The SM costs $1000 more. What I would really consider when I built my own gym is what else I could do for $4000. For two
VersaClimbers I can get a ten pack of concept 2 bikes to run spinning classes. For a home gym, I can get a rack fully equipped with barbell and plates.
Alternatives to the VersaClimber LX
The
Versaclimber SM leaves you with more freedom around the machine as less material of better quality is used to build the frame for the
VersaClimber. It also has a better computer and warranty. When you are in the market to buy a lot of these for commercial use, make very sure you understand the differences of the warranty and service differences between the
LX and
SM.
If you are considering a
VersaClimber for your home base go with the
H option. It will save you a lot of money and still give you the benefits. Unless money does it really make a difference (for example if you are outfitting a house that costs 10 million I personally would not be picky between a 2000 and 5000 dollar option for the home gym and just get the best of everything).
If you are not looking at the
VersaClimber for home use but for a professional setup be very mindful whether it is your first purchase. The Rogue Echo bikes are of high quality, only cost a fraction and deliver a great, challenging workout which is different from treadmills and ellipticals. This might be a better option for a bulk purchase.
Summary for the VersaClimber LX
The
Versaclimber LX is a great option but suffers the pros and cons of most middle of the range of products. Unless you very specifically want this one it is better to go with the best or lowest budget option form the portfolio. Same goes here for the
LX. I went for the H and I am happy. For a commercial gym, I would have gone for the SM and tried to argue with the bank for a loan extension pointing to the good warranty (basically you buy 2 for 1 if one breaks you get it replaced unless you threw rocks at It). Talk to other gym owners who wanted to make use of the warranty to be really sure.
Further reading
Overview and review of the Nordictrack Elite 14.9i $2499
This is a review of the Nordictrack Elite 14.9 model. You will learn about the specifics, pros, cons and alternatives of this elliptical to make a decision. This article was originally published in "Which elliptical to get from Nordictrack".
Overview of the Elite 14.9i
The
14.9i is the flagship front-drive elliptical from Nordictrack. Its main features are a massive 15-inch flat-screen, 32-pound flywheel and up to 20% of incline. This front-drive elliptical leaves nothing to be desired for commercial use. The full list of features includes:
- 7” Smart HD Touchscreen
- 15” Integrated HDTV
- 1-Year iFit® Membership Included*
- Auxiliary Audio Port
- Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
- Bluetooth® Smart Receiver for Heart Rate Strap (not included)
- EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Sensors
- AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
- Multi-Position Upper-Body Grips
- Oversized, Adjustable Cushion Pedals
- Front Drive
- 32 Lb. Effective Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
- SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
- 20” Power-Adjustable Stride
- 26 Digital Resistance Levels
- 0-20% Incline
- One Touch® Controls
- Commercial Solid Steel Construction
- Oversized Levelers
- 375 Lb. User Capacity
- Front-Mounted Transport Wheels
- Water Bottle Holder
- 80.25" L x 36" W x 70" H Footprint
- 10-Year Frame Warranty
- 2-Year Parts Warranty
- 1-Year Labor Warranty
This is the ultimate front-drive machine for commercial use or home gym owners with a lot of space. You will have a hard time breaking this machine.
Pros of the 14.9i
The pros of the
14.9i are:
- 32-pound flywheel
- 15-inch TV
- 20% incline
This machine is built to last. With the 32-pound inch flywheel as a front-drive, you have a predictable line of motion and a sturdy built which will last even in the toughest scenarios. If your gym clocks thousands of miles per machine, this is the one to get. Especially if your clients expect to have a massive screen while doing their exercises.
The 15-inch tv is the crown jewel of this machine. If you want to get the full use out of the Ifit options of Nordictrack, this is the machine to get. You might need fewer instructors in your gym or just enjoy the big screen at home right in front of you to keep motivated.
With up to 20% incline there is no limit to the number of different workouts you can do. Combined with the Ifit run simulations you can go all over the world and simulate any track you want.
Cons of the 14.9i
The cons of the
14.9i are:
- Price
- Size
- Low-calorie burn
- Limited variety
- Shorter stride
For an elliptical, the
14.9i is quite pricey. You definitely need to ask yourself whether you really need that big screen or not. If you don't you can almost shave off $1000 from your purchase by going with the
12.9i which is the same model, except without the TV: If you are home buyer who does not want to fix a screen to the walls and needs the motivation and convenience of the multimedia station, this is a good option. Commercial buyers who want to make a statement in urban areas might also consider getting a fleet of these machines. If you have no to little competition in your local area, I do not see the reason to spend almost $1000 extra per machine just to get a massive screen.
hile size is good for durability and creating clear lines of movement in a commercial gym, it can be a burden when space is limited. This machine is huge, so make sure that you check your space. Home gym owners might even fill their entire space just with this machine. As it can not be folded it will also be hard to move around. Be mindful when you purchase.
As with all ellipticals, the calorie burn per minute is relatively low compared to treadmills and exercise bikes at similar intensity levels. If you want to maximize the calories burned per minute a
VersaClimber or
Rogue echo bike are probably better options for you.
Compared to the free stride range from Nordictrack the
14.9i provides only a limited variety of exercises. You can only use it as an elliptical and not as a treadmill and steppers like the
FS9i,
Fs10i, and
FS7i.
As the flywheel is in the front of this machine it limits the stride length to 20" compared to the 32" of the free stride machines, If you want to work with different stride lengths and you are a very tall athlete, you might want to look in the upper echelons of the Free stride range,
Alternatives to the Elite 14.9i
Alternatives to the Elite
14.9i elliptical are:
The NordicTrack
FS7i is the most affordable version of the free stride range of Nordictrack to date. Compared to the
14.9i elliptical you will give up the 15-inch screen and gain the center flywheel with three in one technology. This is a good swap for home gym buyers who do not care about multimedia and have many family members using the gym.
The
Nordictrack Elite 12.9 is basically the
14.9i without a TV. I think this machine is a great option for a commercial gym that wants to buy in bulk and still impress. Of course, if you are targeting very tech-savvy clients in urban areas with a high monthly subscription fee, the big ass screen might be a way to attract clients. Just make the calculations whether the $1000 more per machine justify themselves in terms of marketing opportunities and brand image. Only consider this if the competition is fierce and no gym in the area has screens on all their ellipticals.
The
VersaClimber SM model is the commercial-grade machine from
VersaClimber. This is the machine to get for anyone who wants to maximize calories per minute output. Home gym buyers might tend to go for the
VersaClimber H/HP instead with limited warranties for home use. In the home, this is the right machine if the entire family are hardcore fitness nuts and already run outdoors. For commercial use, I would recommend these if you already have a fleet of ellipticals and want to attract more clients in a "hardcore" endurance corner of your gym.
The
concept 2 rower is a great option for anyone who does not want to run because of their hips and also does not like bikes. This machine has been around for years and is reliable. You can choose between the
model D and
Model E which are targeted at different groups. The
model E is more recreational while
model D is lower to the ground and more for athletes.
My personal favorite for the home gym to burn calories fast and cheap is the
Rogue Echo bike. It is competitively priced for a professional machine at $700 and minimizes footprint in your gym. It still delivers a hardcore workout and only falls a little short of the
VersaClimber in this area.
Summary for the 14.9i
The
14.9i Nordictrack elliptical is the perfect machine for urban commercial gyms with stiff competition who want to attract tech-savvy clients. Especially if you do not want to run any classes in your gym to save labor costs, this is a good investment with the I fit subscription. Just unload the cost of the subscription per machine to your gym subscription and negotiate a god deal with Nordictrack on the commercial package. Home gym buyers might find this machine to be overkill unless they really want a big screen and can not fix it to a wall in their gym. For commercial gyms with ess competition or home gym owners who want an elliptical at a more reasonable price the
12.9i or
10.9i are better options.