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NordicTrack ACT elliptical vs Rogue echo bike

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Nov 29, 2020 5:00:00 PM

NordicTrack ACT elliptical vs Rogue echo bike

This is a comparison between the Nordictrack ACT elliptical and the Rogue echo bike including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more details

Overview and review of the Rogue Echo bike

The Rogue Echo bike comes in at $750 - $795. 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".

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Overview of the Rogue Echo bike

 

The Rogue echo bike is built on a solid steel frame to give you one of the sturdiest fan bikes $800 can buy. It is probably the best value for money option for a cardio machine that you can get. The Rogue echo bike has the following specifics:
 
  • Color black 
  • Made in USA no
  • Weight 127LB
  • Length 58.875”
  • Width 29.875”
  • Height 52.75”
  • Footprint 44.5”x 23.75”
 
Fanbikes are ideal for interval training. If you want to burn as many calories as possible in the shortest amount of time this is a great tool to go for. 
 

Pros of the Rogue Echo bike

 
The pros of the Rogue echo bike are
 
  • Build 
  • Price 
  • Space 
 
As everything from Rogue, the Echo bike is completely overbuilt. In fitness, this is usually a good character trait. The echo bike will stay in place during your ride and not sway. It is also driven by a band instead of a chain which means less maintenance and noise. The computer which comes with it has good contrast so that you can see exactly what is going. Some other vendors provide computers which leave you guessing. 
 
The price of the Rogue echo bike is excellent for what you are getting. While most other fan bikes hug the $1000 mark you can get the echo bike and just about for a barbell into the $1000. 
 
Compared to treadmills, ellipticals, and rowers the echo bike takes up considerably less space. This is especially interesting for home gyms. 
 

Cons of the Rogue Echo bike

 
Cons of the rogue echo bike are
 
  • Not made in the USA
  • Specificity 
 
The Rogue echo bike is one of the exceptions from the Rogue portfolio and is not made in the USA. If you care about that you might want to find other options, although most of the fan bikes are assembled in the US at best.
 
Fanbikes are not that specific to any real sport. If you want to prepare your athletes with machines that are as specific as possible to the real world the TrueForm runner or concept 2 bikeErg might be better options for you. 
 

Alternatives to the Rogue Echo bike

 
Alternatives to the Rogue echo bike are: 
 
 
If you want a fan bike, but with a cooler looking fan, the Schwinn air bike might be the right choice for you. It is slightly more expensive than the Echo bike and has recently been used at CrossFit regionals. 
 
The TrueForm runner is the ultimate indoor running simulator. This is the best that money can currently buy if you want to simulate running for long distances on the pitch as closely as possible while being independent of the weather. 
 
The concept 2 bikeErg simulates the look and feel of a real street race with a bike as closely as possible. You will even have the switching of gears inbuilt. 
 

Summary for the Rogue Echo bike

 
The Rogue echo bike is probably the best option for your home gym to burn calories fast on a budget while not compromising on quality. This has been priced to sell in truckloads and it does. If you don’t want to think too hard about your purchase, this is the way to go. 
 
 

Overview and review of the NordicTrack ACT commercial 1299

This is a review of the NordicTrack ACT 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 NordicTrack ACT commercial 

 
The ACT commercial is one of the most compact ellipticals which Nordictrack has in its portfolio. Its main features are a 10kg flywheel, 5-inch display, and a 22-inch stride. The full list of features covers: 
 
  • 5" Backlit Display
  • iFit Bluetooth - 1 Years Membership Included
  • Integrated Tablet Holder
  • Auxiliary Music Port
  • Two 2” Digitally-amplified Speakers
  • Center Drive
  • 18" – 22" Adjustable Stride
  • 10 KG Inertia-enhanced Flywheel
  • 24 Digital Resistance Levels
  • OneTouch® Controls
  • EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor
  • 135 Kg User Weight Capacity
  • Soft Touch™ Upper Body Grips
  • Adjustable Oversized Cushion Pedals
  • AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
  • Water Bottle Holder
  • Front-Mounted Transport Wheels
  • 32 On-board Workouts
  • 165cm L x 81cm W x 162cm H Footprint
  • Warranty - 5-Year Frame Warranty, 2-Year Parts and Labour Warranty, subject to registration within 28 days of purchase
This is the machine to get for small spaces if you want the experience of an elliptical. 
 

Pros of the NordicTrack ACT commercial

 
The pros of the ACT commercial are:
 
  • Compact design
The main and probably only reason to get this machine is because of its compact design. If you desperately want an elliptical and want to fit it in a tight spot, the ACT commercial is the machine for you.
 

Cons of the NordicTrack ACT commercial

 
The main cons for the ACT commercial are:
 
  • High price for a small elliptical 
  • Age of the model
 
The ACT commercial is one of the models of Nordictrack which is supported in the Uk but not in the US. This is not a great sign for the future of this model as Nordictrack HQ is situated in the US. If you want an elliptical and have space available you are probably better off to get a model out of the FS series which is available in both countries to protect your investment.
 

Alternatives to the NordicTrack ACT commercial

 
You can look at the following alternatives for the ACT commercial:
 
 
If you want a compact treadmill instead of an elliptical the S25 with a 3.5 CHP motor might be for you. It comes in at the same price as the ACT and has a powerful motor to put a lot of miles on it. The only downside to the S series is that it is also likely to be discontinued once stocks worldwide have been depleted as the US does not actively sell the model anymore. 
 
If you want an elliptical with an incline and have more space you can go for the C7.5 instead of the ACT commercial. This elliptical provides up to a 20% incline at the same cost of the ACT. The trade-off is that it is heavier and needs more space. By going with the C7.5 you will also move below 1000 for purchasing your cardio machine.
 
Another option is the Concept 2 model D rower if you do not want to stand while exercising. The concept 2 model d has been around for a long time in different iterations and can be found in most gyms around the world, If you want a reliable rowing machine for your home or commercial gym, this is the one to go for.
 
My personal favorite is the Rogue echo bike for any kind of home gym scenario. Rogue came up with a solid, compact, and sturdy design for an airbike and put a super competitive price tag on it. It will be hard to find an airbike at the same price which is built like a tank.
 
 

Summary for the NordicTrack ACT commercial

 
The ACT commercial is a great option for limited space scenarios if you are fine with buying something that is not the latest and greatest in the line-up. If you fit that niche, this machine will be hard to beat.
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