NordicTrack C5.5 elliptical vs X22i treadmill

This is a comparison of the Nordictrack C7.5 and X22i. Learn about pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review Nordictrack Commercial X22i $2999 - $3999

This is a review of the Nordictrack X22i. The original was published in "Which Nordictrack trwadmill to get". Follow the links for more details.

Overview Nordictrack Commercial X22i $2999 - $3999

The X22i is the little brother of the Nordictrack 32i. It has the same specs and bells and whistles except that the touch screen is 22 instead of 32 inches. Downsizing the screen by this much saves you about $1000 on the purchase to spend on other things for your home gym. The specifications for the X22i are:

22” Smart HD Touchscreen
1-Year iFit® Membership Included ($468 Value)**
Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities
Two 3” Digitally-Amplified Speakers
Reflex™ Cushioning
22” x 60” Commercial Tread Belt
Dual AutoBreeze™ Workout Fans
0 - 40% Incline
0 – 6% Decline
0 - 12 MPH Speed
One Touch® Controls
4.0 CHP DurX™ Commercial Plus Motor◊
2.5” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
iFit Bluetooth® Chest Strap Included
300 Lb. User Capacity
50 On-Board Workout Programs
70.2” L x 39.6” W x 71.6” H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

All things being equal this is a good option for a home gym that has been given a good budget or professional facilities that want the best and still be able to buy in bulk. The 32i might be a better option in facilities that work a lot with clients who are visually impaired in some way to give them a bigger screen to look at.

Pros of the Nordictrack X22i

The X22i has the benefits of all of the high-end incline Nordictrack treadmills which includes:

Great cushioning
Big range of inclines
High rate finish
Wide belt
Powerful motor
High weight capacity

This treadmill has been built for professional use. It has the right cushioning and can take up to 300 lbs of weight. In addition, you can go up to 40% of the incline in various increments. The finish is immaculate and combined with a great digital package to round up the experience. This is not the Mayback, but still the Mercedes E class of NordicTrack treadmills.

Cons of the Nordictrack X22i

The cons of the Nordictrack 22i are:

Smaller screen compared to the 32i
Can not be folded
Price
Overkill

If you are already looking at incline treadmills with touch screen chances are high that you not that much of a budget-conscious buyer. These treadmills usually start around $3000 and go upwards from there. If you are already willing to invest that much into a treadmill, why get the smaller screen? Yes, $1000 is a good argument compared to the 32i, but to be honest, if you comparing the X32i and the X22i based on price, I think you went in at the wrong end of the portfolio. But that is just my opinion.

This treadmill uses the same base as the X32i and is, therefore, the biggest frame Nordictrack provides. This treadmill can not be folded and has a wider belt than most standard treadmills. If you have limited space in your home or want to fit as many treadmills as possible into a small space, this is not the right option for you.

As this treadmill provides the best of everything you also pay one of the highest prices for a treadmill from Nordictrack. In most cases, you will not make use of most of the incline options and other bells and whistles and not get your full value out of them. Less is more with most gym equipment as the fancier the use case, the less likely it is that you will actually use what you are paying for. Unless being fancy is part of your brand strategy or what you like. But that relates to Status which this treadmill also can represent.

Alternatives for the Nordictrack X22i

Alternatives to the Nordictrack x22i are:

The True Form Runner is an alternative to the Nordictrack 22i which plays in the same price range. The True Form runner has no screen or incline and works without a motor. The main concept is that this treadmill runs on bearing. Therefore it is the better fit for fast interval training and sprints with a lot of acceleration. Basketball players, football players, and other team sport/sprint related athletes might get more use to increase performance out of this machine.

The NordicTrack 2950 is the top of the line model which costs $1000 less. You get 15% of incline and a 22-inch screen with about the same bells and whistles otherwise. I still think this is more than enough for running indoors and lets you get 3 instead of 2 treadmills against $10.000. If you want luxury but don't want to go crazy on spending, go with this one.

The Rogue Echo Bike is a very compact low price option at about $700 if you want to keep your knees safe and still get a good workout in. It is robust, easy to store and you can get a whole fleet of them for the price of two X22i. If your gym has not a lot of space or you want to maximize it, this is a solid option. In terms of comfort do not expect too much as this bike does not have any fans and screens or digital gadgets attached to it.

Now currently the ultimate holy grail in calories per second is probably a Versaclimber. The footprint is low, the calories per second very high. The only downside the Versaclimber's have compared to the Rogue Echo bike is that they at least are double the price. More likely in the $3000 - $4000 range.

Summary of the X22i

If you want the best of everything but can not afford the 32i, go with the X22i. I am still not a fan of compromising when I am willing to fork out more than $1000 on fitness equipment, but that is up to the individual. If it was for me and I ad decided that I need a touch screen and 40% inclined I might as well wait for a little and put some extra money for the X32i aside and be proud of myself.

Overview and review of the NordicTrack C5.5 elliptical

This is a review of the NordicTrack C5.5 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 C5.5

The C5.5 which has been stripped of most of the bells and whistles and is a simple front-drive elliptical. Its main features are a 7kg flywheel, 18" stride and 5" backlit display. The full list of features reads as follows:

5" Backlit Display
iFit Bluetooth - 1 Years Membership Included
Integrated Tablet Holder
Two 2” Speakers

Front Drive
18" Manual-Adjustable Stride
7kg. Effective Flywheel
5-Position Manual Adjustable Ramp
20 Digital Resistance Levels
EKG Pulse Grip Heart Rate Monitor
Max User Weight 125kg

SoftTouch™ Upper-Body Grips

Water Bottle Holder
Oversized, Cushioned Pedals
Front-mounted Transport Wheels
20 Workout Apps
Product Weight 79kg
Boxed Weight 93kg
Assembled Dimensions - 169L x 63W x 169H cm
Boxed Dimensions - 178L x 37W x 77H cm
Warranty - 5-Year Frame Warranty, 2-Year Parts and Labour Warranty, subject to registration within 28 days of purchase.

This is the elliptical to get of you don't want any fancy features and minimize the amount of money you have to table for a Nordictrack elliptical.

Pros of the NordicTrack C5.5

Pros of the C5.5 are:

Price

The main advantage of the Nordictrack C5.5 is the price. It is currently the cheapest front-drive elliptical from Nordictrack which you can get from them.

Cons of the NordicTrack C5.5

The cons of the NordicTrack C 5.5 are:

No touch screen
No incline
Short stride

The C5.5 has been kept simple on most of its features to keep the cost of manufacturing low. You will get no touch screen or big screen to run your entertainment on. This machine also has no incline functions and the stride is relatively short compared to other elliptical models from NordicTrack with 18".

Alternatives to the NordicTrack C5.5

The alternatives to the C5.5 are:

The Nordictrack 7.5 is the big brother of the C5.5. With the minimal extra investment, you get a 20% incline and a bigger flywheel. If you are considering a front-drive elliptical I personally think that the C7.5 is the better value for money choice as it is just slightly more expensive with two significant feature upgrades.

The NordicTrack SE3i is the rear-drive version of the C5.5. You will get a bigger flywheel and therefore an elliptical which will last for longer. In return, this machine will take up more space in your home or gym. These are some trade-offs to be considered.

The concept 2 model d is a reliable rowing machine that has been in active service all over the world. If you want to do your cardio while seated and like rowing, this is the machine to get. It will come in at less than 1000, but not have big multimedia options. The onboard computer does everything you need.

The Rogue echo bike is the ultimate machine for the home gym. It is compact, cost-efficient, and can still give you a challenging workout. You will not get a lot of multimedia, but the sturdiest airbike around at a price point of around 700.

Summary for the Nordictrack C5.5

The Nordictrack C5.5 is a front-drive elliptical at the lowest price point which Nordictrack offers for the UK. Personally I would go for the C7.5 instead, as it is so little extra investment for a great upgrade.