The VresaClimber LX comes in at $3995 - $4200. 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".

 

The VersaClimber range has been on the market for more than four decades. The LX model is one of their mid-range options which sits between the SM and H models from a budget perspective. The machine is hand welded and has the following specifications: 

 

 

The VersClimber LX comes with a computer and fully assembled to stand upright in your home gym or professional facility. For $200 you can upgrade the handles for more options. VersaClimber recommends this option for anyone taller than 6’ 3’’. For an extra $100 it comes with a branded floor mat to protect your floors from scratches and sweat. 

 

The VersaClimber range is a great alternative to treadmills, bikes, and towers. It offers some of the highest intensity cardiovascular workouts on the smallest possible footprint with minimum impact on the joints. Everyone who ever used this hates it. This is usually a good reference when it comes to workout machines.

 

 

These are the pros of the VersaClimber LX series compared to other options you might consider: 

 

 

Compared to most treadmills and elliptical machines you will be able to fit a lot more VersaClimbers into your facility. When it comes to calories burned per square foot the VersaClimber is very hard to beat. The LX offers a commercial grade machine for a lower cost than the SM model.

 

The Versaclimber itself offers you and your athlete a great opportunity to power yourselves out. If the weather is bad or if you want to throw them a curve ball, this is the machine. Many climbers use this is a morning routine and climbers are usually quite good when it comes to endurance. Loss of grip means death for them so they won’t mess about with the equipment they pick. 

 

This machine can adjust the resistance from 1-500 lb which makes it better than older models from VersaClimber. 

 

If you are planning on establishing the best gym in town you will be able to offer extra diversity with this machine. Especially in Europe, I have not seen many of these around which might swing some reliable clients your way instead of to the gym around the corner. 

 

 

Here are some cons of the Versa Climber LX:

 

 

Most people compete in sports to which a vertical climb is irrelevant. Treadmill and cycling training is more relevant to the movement patterns for long distance runners and endurance athletes. If it is not just about burning calories but also improving technique on relevant movements the VersaClimber might not be the right choice. 

 

As this workout is super intense it might not be for beginners. If you have a lot of beginners in your gym you might want some alternatives for people who just walked through the door. Throwing something completely frustrating at your beginners will drive them away. You have to give them some small successes and build from there. Only very few of your clients will be like “yes another machine I can kill myself on”. 

 

The computer unit on the LX is a bit outdated. The SM has a better one as this is the most recent update to the line. Personally, I think this does not matter that much. Most of the programs are not used anyway. 

 

The price is a big con to the Versaclimber LX. The H version comes in for $1000 less but has no commercial use warranty. The SM costs $1000 more. What I would really consider when I built my own gym is what else I could do for $4000. For two VersaClimbers I can get a ten pack of concept 2 bikes to run spinning classes. For a home gym, I can get a rack fully equipped with barbell and plates. 

 

 

Alternatives to the Versaclimber LX are: 

 

 

The Versaclimber SM leaves you with more freedom around the machine as less material of better quality is used to build the frame for the VersaClimber. It also has a better computer and warranty. When you are in the market to buy a lot of these for commercial use, make very sure you understand the differences of the warranty and service differences between the LX and SM. 

 

If you are considering a VersaClimber for your home base go with the H option. It will save you a lot of money and still give you the benefits. Unless money does it really make a difference (for example if you are outfitting a house that costs 10 million I personally would not be picky between a 2000 and 5000 dollar option for the home gym and just get the best of everything).

 

If you are not looking at the VersaClimber for home use but for a professional setup be very mindful whether it is your first purchase. The Rogue Echo bikes are of high quality, only cost a fraction and deliver a great, challenging workout which is different from treadmills and ellipticals. This might be a better option for a bulk purchase.

 

 

The Versaclimber LX is a great option but suffers the pros and cons of most middle of the range of products. Unless you very specifically want this one it is better to go with the best or lowest budget option form the portfolio. Same goes here for the LX. I went for the H and I am happy. For a commercial gym, I would have gone for the SM and tried to argue with the bank for a loan extension pointing to the good warranty (basically you buy 2 for 1 if one breaks you get it replaced unless you threw rocks at It). Talk to other gym owners who wanted to make use of the warranty to be really sure. 

 

The S15i Nordictrack is part of the flag line S series from Nordictrack. Its main features are the 14-inch screen, 20% incline, and the two free dumbbells which can be put on the bike. The S15i will be a good choice for anyone who wants to exercise at home and bring the outdoors indoors. It comes with an I fit subscription for the first year and is more space-efficient than treadmills or ellipticals. The full list of features reads as followed:

 

 

 

• 14” Smart HD Touchscreen
• Watts Power Readout
• Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
• Auxiliary Music Port
• Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers

• Ergonomic Padded Saddle
• AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
• Non-slip, Multi-position Handlebar
• Vertical & Horizontal Seat Adjustment

• Inertia-enhanced Flywheel
• -10% – 20% Incline
• SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
• OneTouch® Controls
• Enhanced Corrosion Resistance
• Large Diameter Adjustable Leveling Feet
• 22 Digital Resistance Levels
• 150 kg User Capacity
• Commercial Grade Steel Construction

• Dual Water Bottle Holders
• Two 3 Lb. Dumbbells Included
• Compatible with Standard Road Bike Pedals & Seat
• Front-mounted Transport Wheels
• Assembled Dimensions - 141 L x 55 W x 154 H cm
• Warranty - 2 Years parts and labour; 5 year frame guarantee upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.

 

 

The pros of the S15i are as followed:

 

 

The S15i omes with a high-quality touch screen which Nordictrack also uses in their elliptical and treadmill setups. This is a good size and the screen is crisp. If you care about screens you will not be disappointed with this one.

 

The S15i gives you a wide range of incline options from -10% up to 20%. With this you can simulate most outdoor rides at home. Combined with the Ifit this makes a compelling workout machine for the home which keeps you engaged a long time. From the easiest to the most challenging workouts you will find something for any level in the Nordictrack repository. 

 

The free dumbbells are a nice bonus to make the S15i a home gym rather than just a bike. Apart from the regular bike workouts Nordictrack also has stretches and strength exercises in their library which can be done on and off the bike to make it a 360-degree experience. Don't expect too much for strength results out of two 3lbs dumbbells, but they definitely will help anyone who likes to tone and stretch.

 

 

The Cons of the Nordictrack S15i are:

 

The S15i, as the S22i do not come with a Heart rate monitoring device and also has no Bluetooth. For a machine with such a price tag this is definitely an oversight on Nordictrack's behalf. Experienced cyclists might want to sync all of their data with their polar devices from the indoor and outdoor runs and just simply can not do that as there is no Bluetooth to hook up. Great for Nordictrack to monopolize the data and lock you in. Bad for anyone who wants to use more than just the S15i to stay fit. As there is no Bluetooth you will also not be able to hook up your Bluetooth headphones to the machine. This can be a real bummer if you live in a house with thin walls or just like your music and instructions extra loud.

 

Another thing specific to the S15i is the price to screen ratio. When you purchase you will at some stage make a decision whether you need a big touchscreen to keep engaged or not. If you decide that this is throwing money in a bottomless pit, you will probably not get any screen at all. If you decide you want a screen, you will probably tend towards getting one that is as big as possible. If that is the case you might as well go for the S22i. The price of both bikes is the 2000 range so you might as well go for 22 instead of 14 inches and take it all the way down to town. If you can afford a 2000 bike you can afford one for 2500. Why compromise at the upper range of the portfolio? 

 

 

These are alternatives to the S15i in the same price range:

 

The Nordictrack X9i treadmill is the cheapest 40% incline treadmill in the Nordictrack portfolio. It is a little outdated as the Product range has moved on to the X32i, X22i, and X11i in the United States. In the UK the X9i is still available. The X9i has a relatively small screen but makes up for it with a strong motor and incline. If you have space, run a lot, and care for an incline up to 40% this might be a better option than shelling out 2000 on the S15i. 

 

The Nordictrack T9.5 is another option that would even save you a little money compared to the S15i. The main point this treadmill has going for it is a very strong motor. If you want to put in a lot of miles per week without crazy inclines and a reasonable screen, this can also be an option. 

 

If you have to accommodate different fitness levels in your home or do not have space in your commercial setting to have a lot of machines, then the FS7i can be a good option. This elliptical has the option to function as a treadmill, stepper, and elliptical based on how you use it. This gives it a very wide range of people to work with. The downside of the design is that it takes up more space than the S15i, is more prone to error, and has no option for a big screen to be attached. The free stride technology also requires a little bit of balance and fine motor skills to make it work for you. This might be overwhelming for the very clumsy among us. who are better off opting for an elliptical with a fixed range of motion.

 

The concept 2 model D is the classic rowing machine that dominates this segment of the fitness market. If you want to save about 1000 compared to the S15i and like rowing this is a viable option. It will take more space than a bike, but can be hanged on the wall if it is not used. In a commercial setting this is also more cost-efficient to built a fleet rather than paying 2000 per unit with the S15i. 

 

My personal favorite for home gyms is the Rogue Echo bike. for about 700 you will get a tank of an airbike that has everything that is necessary to take everything out of you. If you do not need a screen to be entertained and want one of the best stationary bikes for home use, this is the one. However, this bike has been designed with the serious athlete in mind. Comfort or entertainment was only an afterthought in this design.

 

 

The S15i has the same bike as a base then the S22i. The main reason to look into this direction in the Nordictrack portfolio is that you want a bike with a big screen but not go over 2000 to get it. In my opinion, this is a bit of a false economy to make you feel less bad about shelling out 2500 on a bike, when you could buy a used car for the kids for that. If you think you need the luxury of a touch screen to work out, you might as well buy the S22i. If you want to justify the purchase you will use this bike for probably five years at least. So just spent 100 less a year on fitness toys and you are fine. Another option is to just get rid of the touch screen and save 2000.