Nordictrack C1650 treadmill vs SE9i elliptical
This is a comparison between the Nordictrack C1650 treadmill and the SE9i elliptical including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more details
Overview and review of the Nordictrack SE9i $1799
This is a review of the Nordictrack SE9i 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".
Overview of the SE9i elliptical
The
SE9i elliptical is the flagship rear-drive elliptical from Nordictrack. Its main features are a 7-inch touch screen, 18-flywheel, and 10% incline. The full list of features includes:
- 7” Smart HD Touchscreen
- Includes 1-Year NordicTrack iFit® membership**
- Integrated Tablet Holder
- 0 - 10° Power Adjustable Incline
- Auxiliary Music Port
- Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
- Integrated, QuickTouch™ Handle Controls
- Adjustable, Oversized Cushion Pedals
- AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
- SoftTouch™ Upper Body Grips
- Rear Drive
- 18 Lb. Effective Inertia-enhanced Flywheel
- SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
- 24 Digital Resistance Levels
- 10% Power Adjustable Incline
- One Touch® Controls
- Commercial Solid Steel Construction
- EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor
- iFit Bluetooth® Smart Chest Strap Included
- 325 Lb. User Weight Capacity
- 30 Preset Workout Apps
- Integrated Handle Controls for Ramp and Resistance
- Out-of-the-Box Easy Assembly
- Rear-mounted Transport Wheels
- Water Bottle Holder
- Vertical SpaceSaver® Design
- 78.7" L x 31.9" W x 66.4" H Footprint
- 10-Year Frame Warranty
- 2-Year Parts Warranty
- 1-Year Labor Warranty
This is the fancy version of the two rear-drive Nordictrack ellipticals with a touch screen. If you do not need a touch screen you can go for the
SE7i instead.
Pros of the SE9i
The pros of the
SE9i are:
Compared to the rest of the Nordictrack portfolio the
SE9i is relatively cheap, even though it is the most expensive rear-drive elliptical in stock. Compared to the lower cost
SE7i it has the advantage of the 7-inch touch screen.
Cons of the SE9i elliptical
The cons of the
Se9i elliptical are:
- 18-pound flywheel
- Size
- Price
For buying something rather low tier from a vendor the price is still pretty high. If you want to save money, go all the way and get a machine that has been stripped of most things and focuses on the essentials. Otherwise, go for a different vendor or fitness machine where you can acquire the top tier products for $2000.
Alternatives to the Se9i elliptical
The alternatives to the
SE9i elliptical are:
The
Nordictrack SE7i saves you an additional $600 by cutting out the touch screen in exchange for a backlit display. This will help you to save further money.
The
concept 2 rower is a great alternative for someone who wants to go hard but has problems standing for along time. You have two different models you can choose from, the
Model E and
model D.
The
Rogue echo bike at $700 is, in my opinion, one of the strongest contestants for the best home gym workout machine. It is compact, affordable and packs a punch.
Summary for the SE9i elliptical
All in all, the
Se9i is a rear-drive elliptical with a touch screen that has seen its best days. Newer designs have taken over and offer better value for money from Nordictrack. The only thing which would tempt me to go for a rear-drive is the folding option and if I was 20 years older.
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 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.