NordicTrack 2950 vs Assault Air runner
This is a comparison between the Nordictrack 2920 treadmill and the Assault Air runner. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the Assault air runner
The Assault Air runner comes in at $3699. 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 Assault Air runner
The
assault air runner is stake on the treadmill which is free of an electrical motor and highly portable. The
air assault runner will be propelled by your own bodyweight. This means that it will be easier for you to accelerate and break during your workouts to simulate real-life conditions in running. The specifications of the
Assault air runner are:
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Product weight 280LB
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Color black
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Length 69.9”
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Width 32.8”
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Height 32.8”
This machine has been endorsed by the CrossFit community and Rogue Fitness. The area for footfall is curved to minimize the impact. This makes it easier for the joints compared to regular treadmills. You will also buy this from a multi-product company which has been around for a while. This is especially important if you are going to buy for commercial use and make heavy use of the service and warranty that comes with the machine.
Pros of the Assault Air runner
These are the pros of the
Assault air runner compared to other similar products and for endurance needs
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Lightweight
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Price
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Company
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Innovative
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Monitor
Compared to other treadmills and the
TrueFrom runner it is lightweight and mobile. The fact that it comes in wheels is especially good for a gym setup where you like to change group setups a lot. You can clearly see that
Assault went with the
TrueForm runner design and optimized it for CrossFit gyms.
The price is also a big advantage when you compare like for like. There are two main options out there when you want a self-propelled treadmill. The
assault air runner has about a $2000 advantage in the
TrueForm runner. That is a considerable amount of money when you buy for your home gym or multiple units for a gym outlet.
Assault has been around for roughly 20 years and has solid revenue streams from three different product lines. With this piece of equipment, you are likely to get proper support and background for your needs.
TrueForm hasn’t been around that long and their channels are a bit less developed.
Compared to other treadmills and ellipticals the experience with the
assault runner for yourself or your client will be more innovative compared to other options. This Ingram attracts some extra clients as you differentiate from the next gym around the corner. Especially the ones who appreciate quality and might pay a higher price.
The monitor on the
Assault air runner is better than the one on the
TrueForm runner based on some reports. If you care about the settings on a machine you propel yourself this might be a deciding factor for you.
Cons of the Assault air runner
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Price
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Me too approach
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Mechanics
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Fewer options
Price can also be a con when you compare the outcome rather than like for like. If your main goal is to improve your endurance and lose weight without being specific to running there are options which are a lot more budget friendly. The
Rogue echo bike would be one of them which still gives you a kick up the bum without costing as much as an entire home gym.
This is more of an ethical one, but if you support innovation you might want to go for the
TrueForm runner. The original idea seems to have come from the first in a well-executed way. Assault just has the experience to copy and mass produce the idea more efficiently and effectively which will probably win the market for self-propelled treadmills.
Based on some reports I have read and seen the air
assault runner accelerates in an unnatural way making you way faster than you actually should be. The
TrueForm runner seems to be doing a better job correcting your posture and simulating real-world conditions.
With the
TrueForm runner, you can also choose between a field turf and running track surface which the
Assault air runner does not offer. If you want to make your training even more specific this might swing it against it.
Alternatives to the Assault Air runner
The
TrueForm runner is the original in the market for self-propelled treadmills. If you want a machine for your football athletes to warm up on before going o the field, this is probably the right choice. Who cares about $1000 to $2000 more a pop if the guys running on these things are paid $100000 a match? If you can afford it or if you don’t buy in bulk, the
TrueForm runner might be the choice just to have the best.
The
rogue echo bike is the realistic version for the home gym to still get a great workout in. A good air bike workout will gas you out and the design is a little more up to date than for the original
assault air bike.
For the price of one
air assault bike, you can even add a Rogue RM6 rack to your shopping list in addition to the
Rogue echo bike. This leaves you with a full gym excluding barbells and plates. Count another $1000 for that.
If you want to spend some extra money for your home for something that is super effective the
Versaclimber H might be for you. You still save $1000 compared to the
Assault air runner and have a machine that burns the most calories over time per square feet. The vertical climb at home is the most intense thing you can do for your cardiovascular fitness.
Summary for the Assault air runner
The
assault air runner is a lower cost option on the idea of self-propelled treadmills. You will buy a piece of equipment from a company with a long tenure which has other products in the market. If you always want the best you probably ought to go for the
TrueForm runner. If you want to provide for your gym or use this innovative idea without breaking the bank, go for the
TrueForm runner.
Further reading
This is a review of the Nordictrack commercial 2950 model which was originally posted in "Which Nordictrack treadmill to get". Follow the links for more details.
The
true form runner is roughly in the same price range than the
2950. Rather than using an electrical motor, you propel the belt forward yourself. This is a better option when you train high performing athletes who need to do start and stop drills. Especially if you have limited space. It’s still not as good as training outdoors on the pitch, but the
true from runner can be used all year round even when the pitch can not be accessed.
The
Versaclimber SM is the ultimate machine for getting you to sweat and burn calories in the shortest amount of time. This machine is not for beginners and therefore has a smaller range than the rest of the cardio equipment in this comparison. The big disadvantage against the
echo bike is the higher price tag. If you are super fit, rich and value your time above anything else, get this machine to burn the calories fast before you go on set or in the boardroom. If you are a mere mortal with limited finances get the
Rogue echo bike to burn calories.
The
2950 treadmill is, in my opinion, the sensible wealthy treadmill for the home gym owner or the elite/boutique sensible option for a commercial gym. Anyone who enters your gym will be impressed and it will not look cheap. In addition, you get a plethora of functionality without going overboard with the 40% incline. For everyone else, more than 3000 is a lot of money to spend on one machine. You can get up to ten squat stands for that and open an Olympic weightlifting gym. Just the plates might eat your budget up, but that is another topic.