Nordictrack Commercial X11i vs Assault air runner
This is a comparison of the Nordictrack X11 treadmill and the Assault Air bike. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the Assault air runner
The Assault Air runner comes in at $3699. 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".
Overview of the Assault Air runner
The
assault air runner is stake on the treadmill which is free of an electrical motor and highly portable. The
air assault runner will be propelled by your own bodyweight. This means that it will be easier for you to accelerate and break during your workouts to simulate real-life conditions in running. The specifications of the
Assault air runner are:
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Product weight 280LB
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Color black
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Length 69.9”
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Width 32.8”
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Height 32.8”
This machine has been endorsed by the CrossFit community and Rogue Fitness. The area for footfall is curved to minimize the impact. This makes it easier for the joints compared to regular treadmills. You will also buy this from a multi-product company which has been around for a while. This is especially important if you are going to buy for commercial use and make heavy use of the service and warranty that comes with the machine.
Pros of the Assault Air runner
These are the pros of the
Assault air runner compared to other similar products and for endurance needs
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Lightweight
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Price
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Company
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Innovative
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Monitor
Compared to other treadmills and the
TrueFrom runner it is lightweight and mobile. The fact that it comes in wheels is especially good for a gym setup where you like to change group setups a lot. You can clearly see that
Assault went with the
TrueForm runner design and optimized it for CrossFit gyms.
The price is also a big advantage when you compare like for like. There are two main options out there when you want a self-propelled treadmill. The
assault air runner has about a $2000 advantage in the
TrueForm runner. That is a considerable amount of money when you buy for your home gym or multiple units for a gym outlet.
Assault has been around for roughly 20 years and has solid revenue streams from three different product lines. With this piece of equipment, you are likely to get proper support and background for your needs.
TrueForm hasn’t been around that long and their channels are a bit less developed.
Compared to other treadmills and ellipticals the experience with the
assault runner for yourself or your client will be more innovative compared to other options. This Ingram attracts some extra clients as you differentiate from the next gym around the corner. Especially the ones who appreciate quality and might pay a higher price.
The monitor on the
Assault air runner is better than the one on the
TrueForm runner based on some reports. If you care about the settings on a machine you propel yourself this might be a deciding factor for you.
Cons of the Assault air runner
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Price
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Me too approach
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Mechanics
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Fewer options
Price can also be a con when you compare the outcome rather than like for like. If your main goal is to improve your endurance and lose weight without being specific to running there are options which are a lot more budget friendly. The
Rogue echo bike would be one of them which still gives you a kick up the bum without costing as much as an entire home gym.
This is more of an ethical one, but if you support innovation you might want to go for the
TrueForm runner. The original idea seems to have come from the first in a well-executed way. Assault just has the experience to copy and mass produce the idea more efficiently and effectively which will probably win the market for self-propelled treadmills.
Based on some reports I have read and seen the air
assault runner accelerates in an unnatural way making you way faster than you actually should be. The
TrueForm runner seems to be doing a better job correcting your posture and simulating real-world conditions.
With the
TrueForm runner, you can also choose between a field turf and running track surface which the
Assault air runner does not offer. If you want to make your training even more specific this might swing it against it.
Alternatives to the Assault Air runner
The
TrueForm runner is the original in the market for self-propelled treadmills. If you want a machine for your football athletes to warm up on before going o the field, this is probably the right choice. Who cares about $1000 to $2000 more a pop if the guys running on these things are paid $100000 a match? If you can afford it or if you don’t buy in bulk, the
TrueForm runner might be the choice just to have the best.
The
rogue echo bike is the realistic version for the home gym to still get a great workout in. A good air bike workout will gas you out and the design is a little more up to date than for the original
assault air bike.
For the price of one
air assault bike, you can even add a Rogue RM6 rack to your shopping list in addition to the
Rogue echo bike. This leaves you with a full gym excluding barbells and plates. Count another $1000 for that.
If you want to spend some extra money for your home for something that is super effective the
Versaclimber H might be for you. You still save $1000 compared to the
Assault air runner and have a machine that burns the most calories over time per square feet. The vertical climb at home is the most intense thing you can do for your cardiovascular fitness.
Summary for the Assault air runner
The
assault air runner is a lower cost option on the idea of self-propelled treadmills. You will buy a piece of equipment from a company with a long tenure which has other products in the market. If you always want the best you probably ought to go for the
TrueForm runner. If you want to provide for your gym or use this innovative idea without breaking the bank, go for the
TrueForm runner.
Further reading
This is a review of the Nordictrack Commercial X11i incline model which was originally published in "Which Nordictrack treadmill to get". Follow the links for more details.
The
X11I is the low end of the 40% incline range of the Nordictrack portfolio. This machine has up to 44 programs and works with 300 lbs. capacity. It is great for runners, walkers and joggers alike. While it probably was top-notch when it was released, you can see that the design and the trend to more screens versus buttons have put the design a little past its best date. If you want to go full touch screen opt for the
X22i or
X32i which also costs considerably more. Apart from that, you get a slightly less powerful motor than with the top range alternatives. The full specifics of the NordicTrack
X11i are:
Overall this is a great workhorse incline treadmill at a good price for the home or professional gym. Compared to other Nordictrack models you will save $1000 to $2000. If you are not that much into a big screen but the 40% is a must because you are a trail runner or want to maximize calories burned per minute, this is a good machine to get.
If you want to use it at home, keep in mind that you can not fold the
X11I. While this is great for the incline and decline options it provides with great cushioning to top of it, it is not very space-efficient. If you are looking for a treadmill to use at home, possibly even only to walk and not to jog on, this is not the right option for you.
Last but not least I personally think that it still has too many options. You don't really need a lot of different programs in my personal view. I solid run for distance, time, interval and hill function as a pyramid is more than enough.
If you are a serious runner who wants to get something for their home gym, it is probably this treadmill. With this, you can simulate any run around the globe to prepare and I doubt that an Ultra marathon runner cares a lot about the size of their screen. If you are a long-distance runner who mainly does races on concrete, you are throwing money out of the window. You will rarely ´, if ever, came across a 40% incline in a city marathon or similar race. For commercial gym owners, I think you can get one or two of the
X11i to satisfy your most extreme clients. Fill the rest off the floor with something less expensive and less incline. Boutique shops either want to go upmarket or completely barebone depending on whom they are targeting. I personally think this is a bit too middles of the road for a boutique that has its niche figured out. All in all, if you don't know exactly what you need, but still want everything at a decent price, the
X11 is the right choice for you.