Nordictrack Elite 12.9i vs X11i

This is a comparison between the Nordictrack 12.9i elliptical and the X11i treadmill. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review Nordictrack Commercial X11i Incline $2249 - $2999

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.

Overview Nordictrack Commercial X11i Incline $2249 - $2999

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:

10” 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
OneTouch® Controls
3.75 CHP DurX™ Commercial Plus Motor
Reinforced Steel Construction
2.5” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
iFit Bluetooth® Chest Strap Included
300 Lb. User Capacity
44 On-Board Workout Programs
71.6” L x 39.6” W x 72.2” H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

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.

Pros of the Nordictrack X11i Incline

The pros of the X11i Nordictrack include:

Good price for 40% incline
Focusing on what matters
Great cushioning
Big capacity

If a 40% incline is what you always needed or wanted for yourself and/or for your clients, this is a good value for money option. You will get a solid treadmill by a solid player in the market which covers all the programs you need. In addition, you will also get great comfort and power. The only sacrifice you will be making as that the design feels a little more like the early time of mobile phones rather than the slick, screen heavy world from today. If you want to focus on running only in a professional facility this is more than enough. If you cant to portray the California luxury vibe in your facilities and attract the corresponding clientele you might want to upgrade to the X22 or X32.

Cons of the Nordictrack X11i incline

The cons of the X11I are

Small screen
Not foldable
Too many options

The screen on the X11i is relatively small compared to other models. In my opinion, you might as well go for a model that has the same incline, but no touchscreen to save even more money. As small as the screen is you might as well not need to spend money on it. But that is just me, I am a strong advocate of running outdoors anyway.

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.

Alternatives to the Nordictrack X11i incline

Alternatives to the X11i are

The X22 and X32i from Nordictrack are your options if you want more touch screen and fewer buttons on the console. The design of these two machines feels slightly more modern than the X11i. They also come with a more powerful motor and more workout options. The biggest difference between these two treadmills is that one has a 32inch while the other has a 22inch touch screen.

The Nordictrack 2950 is the tradeoff between the Incline models and the touch screen width. While the X11i has more incline it has a smaller screen. The 2950 provides fewer options on INcline and decline, but a bigger screen. The price points are within the range from each other so this might be a consideration for you tot ake based on personal preference.

The true form runner is more expensive than the X11i and follows a completely different concept than an electrical treadmill. The true form runner is self-propelled and the treadmill rests on bearing. This makes start-stop drills possible and also gets rid of any electric motors which might break down. This is a great option if you want to train quick acceleration and deceleration on a treadmill.

The Rogue Echo Bike is a low budget / small-space alternative to all the treadmills outlined. If your goal is maximum calories burned per minute, it is hard to beat this air bike that only costs $700. So if it maximum calories per second that you are after, go for the Rogue Echo bike.

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 for the X11 incline

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.

Overview and review of Nordictrack Elite 12.9i $1499

This is a review of the Nordictrack Elite 12.9 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 Elite 12.9i

The Elite 12.9i elliptical is the mid-range front-drive elliptical from Nordictrack. Its main features are the 30-pound flywheel, 20% incline, and 10-inch TOuch screen. The full list of features includes:

10” Smart HD Touchscreen
1-Year iFit® Membership Included*
Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities
Two 2” Digitally-Amplified Speakers

Front Drive
30 Lb. Effective Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
24 Digital Resistance Levels
Auto-Adjustable Stride
0-20% Incline
Commercial Solid Steel Construction
Oversized Levelers
350 Lb. User Capacity

AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
Soft Touch™ Upper Body Grips
Oversized Cushion Pedals

Front-Mounted Transport Wheels
Water Bottle Holder
68.5" L x 28.75" W x 68.25" H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

This is a good value for money elliptical for commercial buyers and home gym owners. You will get a larger touch screen compared to other Nordictrack ellipticals and a reasonably sized flywheel to make the machine last longer.

Pros of the Elite 12.9i

The pros of the 12.9i elite are:

Biggest front-drive elliptical touch screen
Good value for money
20% incline

The 12.9i has the biggest touch screen which Nordictrack can put in their ellipticals to date. Compared to other front and rear drive models you get the most real estate in touch screens with this machine.

For the $1499 you get a big flywheel, big screen, and a good warranty. This is the best value for money machine in the elliptical line up of NordicTrack. If you want a workhorse elliptical which becomes the backbone of your commercial fleet, this is a good option. Home gym owners who intend to put a lot of miles on their elliptical (read multiple users in the home) also want to consider this elliptical over cheaper options due to the bigger flywheel.

With the 20% incline, you can work at any intensity levels to get a workout in and make you feel good about yourself after starting the day with a good workout.

Cons of the 12.9i elliptical

The cons of the 12.9i elliptical are:

No wow factor
High price for doing everything moderately good
Low-calorie burn

If you are already forking out more than $1000 on an exercise machine, you might as well get a bit of wow-factor out of the machine. This is not the case with the 12.9i. There is no cool mechanics like with the FS7i or a massive screen like you get with the 14.9i. All you get as a solid elliptical, that's it. Good for buying in bulk when you do not need to impress that much. Most home gym owners should go for the 10.9i instead with the 20-pound flywheel to save some money.

As with all ellipticals, you get a relatively low-calorie burn per minute compared to treadmills and bikes. If this is your main concern, go for a VersaClimber model or the Rogue echo bike.

Alternatives to the 12.9i elliptical

Alternatives to the 12.9 elliptical are:

The FS7i would be a good alternative for home gym owners with a little extra money to spend. This free stride model would provide a little bit more of a wow factor rather than just having an elliptical at home. If you are buying new and not used, I think this is the better option. If you buy a used elliptical and budget is your main concern, try to find a Nordictrack elite 10.9i on craigslist or eBay.

The NordicTrack 10.9i is the most affordable front-drive elliptical out of the Nordictrack line up. It has no touch screen and a smaller flywheel. This is a good option for the home gym owner who wants to occasionally train without having to go to the gym. In this scenario, you do not need a big flywheel to take the beating of several thousand miles.

The VersaClimber H/Hp model is the product that VersaClimber designed for home use. If you already run outdoors and want to maximize your warm-up when you workout at home, this is the machine for you. The calories burned per minute of this are not matched on a machine with that low a footprint.

The concept 2 rower is the home gym variation for anyone who likes rowing or does not want to stand or sit on a bike while exercising. There a re two models available, the E and the D. If you are older and struggle to get very low, go for the model E. Otherwise get the Model D to save some money. Commercial buyers might find it interesting that these machines can be hung on the wall, if you get multiple, to save space and make your gym more modular. Hard to do with an elliptical.

The Rogue echo bike is in my opinion one f the best options for a home gym to burn the most amount of calories with the smallest footprint at a competitive price. Unless you have reservations for airbikes, this is the one to get at about $700 apiece.

Summary for the 12.9i

The 12.9i is a good elliptical to be bought in bulk by a commercial gym. It will please a lot of customers without breaking the bank like the 14.9i. Home gym owners might consider to either move up or down the Nordictrack portfolio as they do not have to take economies of scale into consideration. You will probably only buy one or two ellipticals in your life so you might as well either maximize your savings or maximize the wow factor.