NordicTrack ACT 7 elliptical vs S40 treadmill

This is a comparison of the Nordictrack ACT 7 elliptical and S40. Learn about pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

NordicTrack S40 Folding Treadmill (1-year Family iFit Membership ...

Overview and review of the NordicTrack S40 1599

This is a review of the NordicTrack S40 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 Nordictrack S40

The main features of the Nordictrack S40 are its 3.0 CHP motor, the 12% incline, and the one-touch controls. Unfortunately, the S series is one of the older product ranges of the Nordictrack line up and you might want to look into the C1650 or T7.5 as an alternative. Still, you might make a good grab on the used treadmill market for this model. The full list of features includes:

Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
iFit Integrated
Two 2” Bluetooth Digitally Amplified Speakers

3.0 CHP Motor
0% - 12% Digital Incline
0 – 22 km/h Speed
Onetouch™ Controls
1.9” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
125kg Max User Weight
EKG Handgrips

FlexSelect™ Cushioning
51 x 152 cm Tread Belt
This Machine Does Not Feature a Workout Fan

SpaceSaver® Design with EasyLift™ Assist
Assembled Dimensions - 200L x 90W x 145H cm
Product Weight 84kg
Boxed Weight 105kg
Folded Dimensions - 103L x 90W x 180H cm
Boxed Dimensions - 212L x 81W x 28H cm
Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.

Have a good look at the market what you can get, but this treadmill might not be an ideal choice for buying something new.

Pros of the Nordictrack S40

the pros of the Nordictrack S40 are:

3.0 CHP motor
One-touch controls

The 3.0 CHP motor makes this a long-lasting treadmill for someone who runs a lot. Especially used this might be a good steal. The one-touch adjustments for speed are also a great feature of Nordictrack treadmills which make them more user friendly as you only need to push one button to get to the right space.

Cons of the Nordictrack S40

Cons of the S40 are:

Price
Age

For the age of this product line, you still pay a pretty high price. This is good for Nordictrack to empty their inventory of old models, but not necessarily for your purse. If you buy new you may want to get for the newer models in the X line or the T line which have followed the C line of Nordictrack models.

Alternatives for the Nordictrack S40

Good alternatives for the S40 are:

The Nordictrack T7,5 is, in my opinion, a better alternative to the S40 unless you manage to get a discount on the S40. The T7.5 is the more modern machine and has almost the same specifications. They also punch in the same budget weight class. So stick with the T7.5 instead of the S40 in the Nordictrack portfolio.

The FS5i is a good alternative for an elliptical for a home gym or commercial gym. It costs roughly the same as the S40 and comes with Free Stride technology. The FreeStride technology puts the flywheel in the middle of the machine. This enables a longer stride and you can also use the elliptical as a treadmill, elliptical, and stepper in one. This freedom comes at the price of a more error-prone design and more challenging movement patterns.

If you want to save some money and like rowing, you can go for the Concept 2 Model D rower. This is the flagship model from Concept 2 who has been around for years in the rowing place. You will be hard-pressed to find a major commercial gym without one of these on the floor. They come in under 1000 and might be a get alternative to consider. The only challenge is that they take up as much space as a treadmill, but are easier to move.

The Rogue Echo Bike is my personal favorite for home gyms as it is compact, sturdy, and burns a lot of calories per minute if used right. This machine can be gotten at the 700 mark and will last for a lifetime. The big disadvantage is that the Echo bike has no onboard entertainment whatsoever. If you need a video or machine to motivate you to get your training in, this is not the one for you. This is a great tool for intrinsically motivated people who want to save money and space.

Summary for the Nordictrack S40

As with the entire S series you might want to opt for something else which is a little more modern and therefore will get more support from the vendor Nordictrack. Always check the US website and compare the portfolio with the Uk website to avoid that you are buying something with is being discontinued. At the time of writing the S series is not available in the US anymore where Nordictrack headquarters is situated.

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.