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Nordictrack C1650 treadmill vs ACT 7 commercial elliptical

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Dec 11, 2020 9:00:00 AM

Nordictrack C1650 treadmill vs ACT 7 commercial elliptical

This is a comparison of the Nordictrack C1650 and ACT 7 elliptical. Learn about pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

 
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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.

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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. 
 
 
 

Overview and review of the NordicTrack C1650 1999

This is a review of the NordicTrack C1650 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 C1650

 
The C1650 is a solid option in the Nordictrack portfolio. The main features are the 3.5 CHP motor, 10 HD touch display, and up to12% incline. This is a good option for walkers, joggers, and runners alike. The full list of features includes:
 
  • Large Boxed Item - This item can only be delivered or delivered and installed to a ground floor room location.
  • iFit Integrated
  • 10" HD Touch Screen Display
  • Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
  • Integrated Accessory Tray
  • Dual 2-Inch Speakers
  • Flexselect™ Cushioning
  • 51 x 152 cm Tread Belt
  • Autobreeze™ Workout Fan
  • 3.5 CHP Motor
  • 0 – 12% Incline
  • 0 – 22 km/h Speed
  • EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor
  • 135kg Max User Weight
  • 1.9" Roller
  • SpaceSaver® Design
  • Assembled Dimensions - 202 x 90 x 154 cm
  • Product Weight 92kg
  • Boxed Weight 115kg
  • Folded Dimensions - 90 x 107 x 181 cm
  • Boxed Dimensions - 213 x 77 x 35 cm
  • Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase
The C1650 is a good upper range option from Nordictrack for the UK market, especially if you want a bigger touchscreen for your professional or home gym. 
 

Pros of the Nordictrack C1650

 
The main advantages of this treadmill are: 
 
  • 3.5 CHP motor
  • 10-inch monitor 
This machine is good when you expect a lot of usage by people who want to be entertained while they are running. It is also a better value for money option from Nordictrack as a new buy than the S50 in my opinion. The 3.5 CHP motor gives it longevity while the 10inch touch monitor is an upgrade from most other options.
 

Cons of the Nordictrack C1650

 
The cons of the Nordictrack C1650 are:
 
  • No 40% incline 
  • Relatively high price 
The C1650 is still a machine that has quite a high price. If you do not expect to run a lot of miles in each session or expect multiple users per day the motor might be oversized. For the price tag, you will also not get a 40% incline which other models might offer you for the same budget. Here you can see how important it is to make a plan which features you are actually interested in.
 

Alternatives to the Nordictrack C1650 

 
Some alternatives to the C1650 are:
 
 
The Nordictrack X7i is a good alternative for the home gym user who wants a 40% incline at the same price as the C1650. The motor is slightly smaller with 2.75 CHP and it has no touch screen, but in return, you get the 40% incline. So if you are not a marathon runner and preparing for long-distance races, but want to use a treadmill to use weight, the X7i might be a better option as the C1650.
 
The ACT Commercial 7 is a center drive elliptical which is very compact. If you want to save space in your home and do not like the pounding of a treadmill on your joints, the ACT 7 commercial is an alternative to the C1650 at roughly the same price. Definitely a good option for seniors or less ambitious fitness enthusiasts.
 
The TrueForm Runner is a self-propelled treadmill that is a great fit for anyone who wants to do starts and stops for sprints on a treadmill. If you are a short distance runner, football player, or any other kind of team sports-related athlete you want to look into this piece of equipment. The TrueForm Runner is hailed in many reviews as the best one of the self-propelled kind. This comes at a price, so be prepared to pay significantly more than for the Nordictrack C1650 for this model. 
 
The Assault air runner is the other option in the self-propelled treadmill market. Compared to the True Form runner it comes in at a lower price. While this is a bonus, the reviews I have seen are slightly worse than for the TrueForm runner. The most common remark is that the bearing mechanics of the belt are calibrated better in the Trueform runner than in the Assault air runner. The Assault air runner seems to be unnaturally fast.
 
The öast aöternative to the C1650 is the Rogue Echo bike which is my personal favorite for home gyms. It is compact, affordable, and burns a lot of calories without being too hard on the joints. You will not get any multimedia options with it and the display is kept simple. This is the type of 20-minute maximum cardio machine which is ideal for the home. Yes, you can get cheaper bikes, but definitely not built like a tank like this one. With a price of around 700 - 800 it competes with competitor models in the 1200 - 1500 range.
 

Summary of the Nordictrack C1650 

 
The Nordictrack C1650 is a good machine for anyone who expects to crunch more than 100 miles a week at home or in the gym. The big motor will make it long-lasting and a good buy. If you are not a long-distance runner you might want to look into other options which cost less but still provide a to of different features. 

Topics: Treadmill