Nordictrack C1650 treadmill vs FS7i elliptical
This is a comparison between the Nordictrack C1650 treadmill and the FS7i elliptical including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more details
Overview and review of the FS7i Free stride $1999
This is a review of the Nordictrack Fs7i model. You will learn about the specifics, pros, cons and alternatives of this elliptical to make a decision. This article was originally published in "Which elliptical to get from Nordictrack".
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Overview of the FS7i
The FS7i Free stride is the oldest model in the Free stride elliptical range of Nordictrack. Its main features are the 7-inch touch screen, 20-pound flywheel, and 10% incline. This is a solid free stride model at a reasonable price and the full list of features includes:
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7” Smart HD Touchscreen
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Includes 1-Year NordicTrack iFit® membership**
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Pivoting Integrated Tablet Holder
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Auxiliary Music Port
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Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
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AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
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SoftTouch™ Upper Body Grips
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Oversized Cushion Pedals
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Center Drive
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20 Lb. Effective Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
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SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
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32" Auto-Adjustable Stride
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24 Digital Resistance Levels
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Power Adjustable 0 – 10% Incline
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OneTouch® Controls
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Commercial Solid Steel Construction
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iFit® Bluetooth® Smart Chest Strap Included
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Oversized Levelers
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375 Lb. User Capacity
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35 On-board Workouts
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Transport Wheels
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Water Bottle Holder
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58.5" L x 29.5" W x 74" H Footprint
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10-Year Frame Warranty
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2-Year Parts Warranty
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1-Year Labor Warranty
Pros of the FS7i
The pros of the FS7i are:
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3 in 1 design
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Price
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Long stride
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Novel experience
The three in one design makes this machine especially interesting for home gym owners or for boutique gyms that do not have the space to fit out multiple machines for different preferences of their clients. As long as you have enough balance and finesse to control the floating experience this is a big bonus.
The price of the FS7i for the type of engineering it provides is also good. The FS10i and FS9i are quite a bit apart from the FS7i in price. So if you want to invest in a free stride machine from Nordictrack without completely breaking the bank, this can be a good option.
If you are a tall athlete and can not work with the shorter stride of the front and rear drive ellipticals than the free stride provides 32inches of stride length which can be varied. If you want to train for a longer stride for your long-distance runs, this is the machine to get.
The last pro of the FS7i is the novel experience you will have compared to a treadmill or traditional elliptical. This machine will make it varied and interesting for many days to come.
Cons of the FS7i
The cons of the FS7i are:
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Free-floating
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More error-prone
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No big screen
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Low-calorie burn
The free-floating experience of the Nordictrack free stride series is not for everyone. If you like the stable, predictable rotation of traditional ellipticals from your local gym, stick with a front or rear-drive elliptical.
The FS7i has more moving parts than traditional ellipticals to create the three in one experience. More moving üarts means more parts that can break, This is a relevant consideration for any commercial buyer that wants to invest in a fleet of machines. Homebuyers will very likely not put enough miles on a machine. Just take extra care that no one walks into the machine while you are exercising.
As the FS7i has its flywheel in the center you can not attach a big screen to it. Front-drive ellipticals are a better fit for that as they provide a stable rest for a big screen to be attached.
As with all ellipticals they have quite a low-calorie burn per minute given that you put in the same amount of effort. This is the price of comfort and having less stress on your joints while exercising.
Alternatives to the FS7i
Alternatives to the FS7i are:
The Nordictrack 12.9i is a front-drive elliptical in the same price range as the FS9i. The bigger flywheel and fixed ellipsis make it a better option for mass roll out or if you feel uncertain about the three in one design of the FS7i.
The Nordictrack FS10i is the newest model in the free stride line p of Nordictrack. Compared to the FS9I and the FS7i it has the best value for money ration at $2999. This might be a limited time offer due to the developments of 2020, so stay tuned and observe how prices develop when Nordictrack starts to roll out this model globally.
The VersaClimber H/HP is the home version of the VersaClimber. It has limited warranties to make the price more palatable for the home buyer. If you want to maximize your calories burned per second and train your calves like mad, this is the machine to go for.
The concept 2 rower is the classic machine for endurance training with low impact. You will also have less friction in your nether region compared to a bike when exercising. Out of these alternatives, it is the first one to be under $1000.
The Rogue Echo Bike is my personal favorite for home gyms when it comes to calories burned per minute at a reasonable price. The Rogue echo bike comes in at $700 and gives you a challenging workout to train in intervals easily.
Summary for the FS7i
The FS7i is the most affordable free stride machine out of the Nordictrack line up. If you like this design, but do not want to break the bank, go with the FS7i. This is mainly a machine for boutique gyms or a "special corner" machine for commercial gyms with massive floor space. If you are buying for the home I think this is a great machine for a multi-generation family with different needs. If your home is filled with hardcore fitness freaks you are better off investing your money in a VersaClimber and Rogue echo bike in my opinion.
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
- 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.
