NordicTrack ACT 7 commercial elliptical vs X22i treadmill

This is a comparison of the Nordictrack ACT 7 commercial and X22i. Learn about pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review Nordictrack Commercial X22i $2999 - $3999

This is a review of the Nordictrack X22i. The original was published in "Which Nordictrack trwadmill to get". Follow the links for more details.

Overview Nordictrack Commercial X22i $2999 - $3999

The X22i is the little brother of the Nordictrack 32i. It has the same specs and bells and whistles except that the touch screen is 22 instead of 32 inches. Downsizing the screen by this much saves you about $1000 on the purchase to spend on other things for your home gym. The specifications for the X22i are:

22” Smart HD Touchscreen
1-Year iFit® Membership Included ($468 Value)**
Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities
Two 3” Digitally-Amplified Speakers
Reflex™ Cushioning
22” x 60” Commercial Tread Belt
Dual AutoBreeze™ Workout Fans
0 - 40% Incline
0 – 6% Decline
0 - 12 MPH Speed
One Touch® Controls
4.0 CHP DurX™ Commercial Plus Motor◊
2.5” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
iFit Bluetooth® Chest Strap Included
300 Lb. User Capacity
50 On-Board Workout Programs
70.2” L x 39.6” W x 71.6” H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

All things being equal this is a good option for a home gym that has been given a good budget or professional facilities that want the best and still be able to buy in bulk. The 32i might be a better option in facilities that work a lot with clients who are visually impaired in some way to give them a bigger screen to look at.

Pros of the Nordictrack X22i

The X22i has the benefits of all of the high-end incline Nordictrack treadmills which includes:

Great cushioning
Big range of inclines
High rate finish
Wide belt
Powerful motor
High weight capacity

This treadmill has been built for professional use. It has the right cushioning and can take up to 300 lbs of weight. In addition, you can go up to 40% of the incline in various increments. The finish is immaculate and combined with a great digital package to round up the experience. This is not the Mayback, but still the Mercedes E class of NordicTrack treadmills.

Cons of the Nordictrack X22i

The cons of the Nordictrack 22i are:

Smaller screen compared to the 32i
Can not be folded
Price
Overkill

If you are already looking at incline treadmills with touch screen chances are high that you not that much of a budget-conscious buyer. These treadmills usually start around $3000 and go upwards from there. If you are already willing to invest that much into a treadmill, why get the smaller screen? Yes, $1000 is a good argument compared to the 32i, but to be honest, if you comparing the X32i and the X22i based on price, I think you went in at the wrong end of the portfolio. But that is just my opinion.

This treadmill uses the same base as the X32i and is, therefore, the biggest frame Nordictrack provides. This treadmill can not be folded and has a wider belt than most standard treadmills. If you have limited space in your home or want to fit as many treadmills as possible into a small space, this is not the right option for you.

As this treadmill provides the best of everything you also pay one of the highest prices for a treadmill from Nordictrack. In most cases, you will not make use of most of the incline options and other bells and whistles and not get your full value out of them. Less is more with most gym equipment as the fancier the use case, the less likely it is that you will actually use what you are paying for. Unless being fancy is part of your brand strategy or what you like. But that relates to Status which this treadmill also can represent.

Alternatives for the Nordictrack X22i

Alternatives to the Nordictrack x22i are:

The True Form Runner is an alternative to the Nordictrack 22i which plays in the same price range. The True Form runner has no screen or incline and works without a motor. The main concept is that this treadmill runs on bearing. Therefore it is the better fit for fast interval training and sprints with a lot of acceleration. Basketball players, football players, and other team sport/sprint related athletes might get more use to increase performance out of this machine.

The NordicTrack 2950 is the top of the line model which costs $1000 less. You get 15% of incline and a 22-inch screen with about the same bells and whistles otherwise. I still think this is more than enough for running indoors and lets you get 3 instead of 2 treadmills against $10.000. If you want luxury but don't want to go crazy on spending, go with this one.

The Rogue Echo Bike is a very compact low price option at about $700 if you want to keep your knees safe and still get a good workout in. It is robust, easy to store and you can get a whole fleet of them for the price of two X22i. If your gym has not a lot of space or you want to maximize it, this is a solid option. In terms of comfort do not expect too much as this bike does not have any fans and screens or digital gadgets attached to it.

Now currently the ultimate holy grail in calories per second is probably a Versaclimber. The footprint is low, the calories per second very high. The only downside the Versaclimber's have compared to the Rogue Echo bike is that they at least are double the price. More likely in the $3000 - $4000 range.

Summary of the X22i

If you want the best of everything but can not afford the 32i, go with the X22i. I am still not a fan of compromising when I am willing to fork out more than $1000 on fitness equipment, but that is up to the individual. If it was for me and I ad decided that I need a touch screen and 40% inclined I might as well wait for a little and put some extra money for the X32i aside and be proud of myself.

Overview and review of the ACT commercial 7 1899

This is a review of the NordicTrack ACT 7 commercial including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in “which NordicTrack treadmill or elliptical to get in the UK”. Follow the links for more details.

Overview of the ACT commercial 7

The ACT Commercial 7 elliptical is a center drive elliptical which is very compact for home use or having a fleet in a commercial gym. The main features are a 7 inch HD touchscreen, 22" stride, and an integrated tablet holder. The full list of features includes:

7" HD Touchscreen Display
Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
iFit Integrated
Integrated Tablet Holder
IPod Compatible Audio (2 - 2" Speakers)

Center Drive
18" – 22" Adjustable Stride
24 Digital Resistance Levels
OneTouch® Controls
EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor

Soft Touch™ Upper Body Grips
Max User Weight 135kg
Adjustable Oversized Cushion Pedals
AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan

Included Water Bottle Holder
Transport Wheels
Product Weight 107kg
Boxed Weight 125kg
Assembled Dimensions - 182L x 81W x 170H cm
Boxed Dimensions - 131L x 75W x 64H cm
Warranty - 5-Year Frame Warranty, 2-Year Parts and Labour Warranty, subject to registration within 28 days of purchase

The ACT 7 commercial is a good option for anyone who wants an elliptical that does not eat up too much space. It is still a big machine but compared to rear- or front-drive ellipticals it is a lot smaller.

Pros of the ACT 7 commercial

The main point that the CT 7 commercial has going for it is that it is a space saver. The center flywheel makes it possible to bring the machine in a little. Compared to the newer elliptical models it is less error-prone as it has not the three in one design which makes the design more stable.

Cons of the ACT7 commercial

The cons of the ACT 7 commercial are:

Old model
relatively high price

The ACT models are relatively old and Nordictrack has renewed and modernized their center flywheel product range with models like the FS7i which use Free stride. Free Stride enables the elliptical to be used as a treadmill, elliptical, and stepper. So if you can get your hand on one of the free stride models that might be money spend better. Just observe when they make their way from the US to the UK, if you can wait for your purchase.

Alternatives to the ACT 7 commercial

Alternatives to the ACT 7 commercial are:

The Nordictrack X7i is a good alternative to the ACT 7 commercial in case you prefer a treadmill rather than an elliptical for your home gym. The X7i provides a treadmill that can go up to a 40% incline and a 2.75 CHP motor. Best for home gym use. If you are a commercial buyer you might want to look for treadmill motors in the 3 - 4 CHP range to make sure that they will last longer, as they will have to take more miles.

The Nordictrack FS5i is an alternative elliptical to the ACT 7 commercial. It will take up more space, but comes in at a lower and provides a longer stride. You will also be able to use the Free stride technology which makes this a three in one machine. If you have space and want an elliptical, this might be the better option than the ACT 7.

The TrueForm Runner is a self-propelled treadmill that is targeted at high-performance athletes. This is a great option if you want to do sprints with abrupt starts and stops or very gradual acceleration. Commercial gym owners might be tempted by the savings in electricity, as this machine does not have a motor. The belt rests on bearing which makes it possible to propel it yourself. The TrueForm runner i generally considered one of the best of this kind of treadmills, This is also a reason why it comes in at a high price.

The Assault air runner is a cheaper alternative to the TrueForm runner in the self-propelled treadmill space. While the cost is lower the reviews of this treadmill usually are not as positive as for the TrueForm runner. Main reason being is that the TrueForm runner seems to have a better calibration of the bearing. The Assault air runner tends to make you faster than you actually are which can create a weird experience.

Last but not least I personally like the Rogue Echo bike a lot. Especially for use in a home gym. It is compact, sturdy, and comes in at a reasonable price for what you are getting. It is space-efficient and ideal for doing a 20-minute workout which will burn the maximum of calories.

Summary for the ACT 7 commercial

The ACT 7 commercial is a great compact elliptical for home use or in tight gym settings. It will also be less prone to error than the other free stride models of Nordictrack based on the design. Overall, the ACT 7 commercial is not a focus design of Nordictrack's, but still available for purchase in the Uk market.