Nordictrack Grand Tour Pro vs T8.5

This is a comparison of the Nordictrack Grand Tour Pro and the T8.5 including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review NordicTrack T 8.5 S Treadmill $1399 - $1999

This is a review of the Nordictrack 8.5 S model which was originally published in "Which Nordictrack treadmill to get". Follow the links for more details.

Overview NordicTrack T 8.5 S Treadmill $1399 - $1999

The T 8.5 is the small brother of the T 9.5 from Nordictrack. The main difference is an HD touch screen which 10 inches on the 8.5 instead of 14 on the T 9.5. Apart from this, you get a top speed of 12 miles an hour, 12% incline and a foldable treadmill. The full list of specifications for the T 8.5 runs as following:

10” Smart HD Touchscreen
Includes 1-Year NordicTrack iFit® membership
Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities
Dual 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
FlexSelect™ Cushioning
20” x 60” Commercial Tread Belt
AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
Integrated Tray
0-12% Incline
0-12 MPH Speed
One Touch® Controls
3.5 CHP DurX™ Commercial Plus Motor
1.9” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
300 Lb. User Capacity
EKG Grip Pulse
SpaceSaver® Design with EasyLift™ Assist
50 On-Board Workout Programs
78.5” L x 35.5” W x 59” H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

This is a treadmill for the smaller budget and a mid-range option at it. I personally do not like the middle of the road solutions and either go alls guns blazing or very low budget. Personally, I think the 1750 is more balanced or go for the T6.5 if you want to save money and space.

Pros of the NordicTrack T 8.5 treadmill

The pros of the 8.5 treadmill are:

Foldable
300 lb capacity
Cushioning

If you want to save money on a treadmill that can take a pounding this is the right choice. You can save space when storing and it takes up to 300 lbs. of weight. All of this makes it a good option for a mid-range home treadmill.

Cons of the NordicTrack T 8.5 treadmill

Cons of the Nordictrack 8.5:

Somewhere in the middle
High price to compromise

As the Nordictrack portfolio has evolved the 1750 is just the better option in terms of value for money in my opinion. With the T 8.5 you compromise on the size of the belt, incline, and screen while still paying a good bit of money. It is a reasonable price for a cardio machine compared to other machines in the market, but I would lean more towards the 1750 to spent my money wisely.

Alternatives to the NordciTrack T 8.5 treadmill

Alternatives to the T 8.5 are:

The Nordictrack 1750 is, in my opinion, the most balances option in the Nordictrack portfolio at a reasonable price. Therefore I think it is the best option for budget-conscious treadmill buyers from Nordic Track. The T 8.5 just sits a bit oddly against this as it has the same sized screen while having less incline and a smaller belt, while the prices are not that far apart.

The Nordictrack 6.5 is the ideal option for people who want to maximize saving money and space when buying a new treadmill from Nordictrack. This model comes in around $1000 and has the smallest footprint of the Nordictrack models. Ideal for walkers or limited spaces.

The Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite if you are looking for maximum calories burned per minute. It comes in at only $700, has a small footprint and packs a hefty punch.

If you are looking for a different concept of a treadmill the True form runner is for you. This treadmill is self-propelled and therefore has no motor. The belt rests on bearing and your footstrike accelerates or breaks on the speed. This is the ideal treadmill for runners who want to simulate fast acceleration and deceleration at home.

Overview and review of the Nordictrack Grand tour pro 1499 (US)

This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack Grand Tour Pro.This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.

The Grand tour pro bike from Nordictrack is the flagship in spinning bikes from this brand. The main features of this machine are its 10-inch touch screen, freewheel clutch, and 10% incline. the full list of features covers the following points:

10” Smart HD Touchscreen
Includes 1-Year NordicTrack iFit® membership**
Integrated Tablet Holder
Auxiliary Music Port
Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers

Upright Articulating Cycle
3 Piece Crank
Freewheel Clutch
SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
26 Digital Resistance Levels
-10° to 10° Incline and Decline
OneTouch™ Controls
Oversized Levelers
375 Lb. User Capacity

CoolAire™ Workout Fan
Oversized Cushion Seat
Vertical Seat Adjustment
Horizontal Seat Adjustment
Extra-wide, Ergonomic Foot Pedals with Adjustable Strap

2–3 Lb. Integrated Dumbbells
Integrated Handle Controls for Incline and Resistance
Front-mounted Transport Wheels
Water Bottle Holder
57.5" L x 23.5" W x 62" H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

This is a solid bike to take your spinning classes home and connect to the trainer via a 10-inch touchscreen. If you like to work out at home and keep engaged, this is the machine for you.

Pros of the Nordic track Grand tour pro

10% incline
10-inch screen
Freewheel clutch

Compared to the S10i and S15i you get a reasonably balanced bike at a good price point including an incline. It is up to you whether you prefer the experience of a freewheel clutch or an inertia flywheel. If you like spinning classes over usual bikes on the gym floor, go with the Grand tour range.

The 10% incline will enable you to follow the Ifit instructors on various tracks around the world and the incline will automatically adjust according to where your ride takes you. This keeps the experience and fun and you engaged to stay fit and healthy.

Cons of the Nordic Track Grand Tour pro

The cons of the Grand tour Pro are:

Price
Storage of dumbbells
Ifit subscription

If you wanted to buy in bulk or do not need the fancy extras, because there is already a big screen on your home gym for youtube videos, then the price is high. You can get goof spinning bikes for under 1000 without these bells and whistles if they do not appeal to you.

The storage of the dumbbells can rattle or they fall off. Unfortunately there is no click-in system for the dumbbells to keep them in place. This is a minor annoyance as you can easily store 3lbs dumbbells somewhere in the room you train in. Still worth mentioning when you invest $1500.

The Ifit subscription will cost you somewhere between $10 to $30 a month depending on which subscription you will choose. Not everybody likes to pay infinitely to use all of the features of their home gym equipment. Still, there are plenty of workouts available in the free library, but you will not have access to the live content and latest releases.

Alternatives to the Grand tour pro

The alternatives to the Grand tour pro are

The Nordictrack Grand tour is the little brother of the Grand tour pro. It comes in with a smaller screen that is 7-inch across to save you $200. If you do not care about big screens you can save the $200 to get a nice pair of shoes with the Grand Tour to start your new exercise regimen.

The Nordictrack 6.5 SI treadmill is another option in the same budget bracket as the Grand Tour Pro. This is a solid treadmill for walkers, joggers, and runners alike. Runners should just take care that the treadmill is not necessarily designed for high speed pounding over a prolonged period of time. Do a moderate long-distance run or short sprints. If you are very heavy, fast and can run for a long time you might want to a little more upmarket in the Nordictrack portfolio.

The Nordictrack SE7i elliptical can be a good compromise to accommodate many different clients or family members when space is limited. Ellipticals are machines that usually appeal to a wider audience than bikes. Not everybody likes to sit on a saddle for half an hour to get their daily burn in. Ellipticals leave you with more options as long as you have enough clearance to the ceiling.

The concept 2 model D is the classic option for indoor rowing. You can not go wrong with this model and you can even hang it on the wall after you finished your workout to save some space. It is also less expensive than the Grand Tour pro.

The rogue echo bike is my personal favorite for home gym use. Simple, straight forward, and sturdy. This machine is affordable and built like a tank. I put on my bose earphones, leave the iPhone on the countertop and blast intervals until the airbike beats me to it.

Summary for the Nordictrack Grand Tour Pro

The Grand Tour pro is a very good option for the serious spinning class enthusiast to keep their hobby up from home. If you want to save a little money go for the Grand Tour from NordicTrack instead.