Nordictrack S22i vs 15i

This is a comparison of the Nordictrack S22i and S15i including pros, cons, and alternatives . Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the Nordictrack S15i 2199 / 1599 (UK/US)

This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack S15i.This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.

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.

This is a solid option if the S22i is not in stock and you are in a rush or just want a little smaller screen. Still, around 2000 for just a bike is a hefty investment for a home gym. For this amount of money, you can buy a squat stand, barbell, and plates if you are more into strength.

Pros of the S15i

The pros of the S15i are as followed:

14-inch screen
20% incline
Free dumbbells

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.

Cons of the S15i

The Cons of the Nordictrack S15i are:

No hrm
Price to screen ratio
No Bluetooth

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?

Alternatives to the Nordictrack S15i

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.

Summary for the Nordictrack S15i

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.

Overview and review of the Nordictrack S22i 2499 /1999 (UK/US)

This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack S22i. This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.

The Nordictrack S22i stationary bike is the flagship bike in the current Nordictrack portfolio. Its main features are its 20% incline, 22 HD Touchscreen and the included 3lb dumbbells to be able to do full-body workouts on this machine. This is the bike to get if you want to max out all features with Nordictrack and you are not afraid of paying up to do so. The full feature list includes:

22” Smart HD Touchscreen
Free Ground Floor Installation Included
Watts Power Readout
Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
Auxiliary Music Port
Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers

Inertia-enhanced Flywheel
Powergrade Incline & Decline Drive System
-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

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

Dual Water Bottle Holders
Two 3 Lb. Dumbbells Included
Assembled Dimensions - 140 L x 55 W x 146H cm
Front-mounted Transport Wheels
Compatible with Standard Road Bike Pedals & Seat
Warranty - 2 Years parts and labour; 5 year frame guarantee upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.

This is a great machine for very dedicated home gym owners or to impress your clients in a commercial gym. You can also customize it at home, in case you want to make it feel more like your outdoor experience.

Pros of the S22i

The pros of the S22i are:

Can use your own seat and pedals
Big screen
20% incline
Good sound system

It is possible to exchange the seat of the S22i with the one you are already using for your outdoor bike. The same goes for the pedals. This is usually a good option for anyone who already cycles a lot outside and has a semi-professional or even professional setup with their current bike. You can clip into the pedals and give it your all. Still, less experienced cyclists will also get a fully functioning setup with good pedals and a seat.

The massive 22-inch screen on the S22i is one of the main factors which drives price. It even has an HDMI connector to take up even more screen real estate. This can interesting if you want to run classes with inexperienced trainers. You just buy the S22i for the instructor and get some other bikes, which are a bit cheaper, in bulk. Hook up the main bike to a projector and you have a good group setup which is not too expensive. I can not really see how you would want even more screen estate at home. I personally think the 22 inch is even overkill. But go for it, if you want to tread yourself.

The S22i bike also comes with an incline/decline system so that you can simulate hill climbs and downhill biking in the sense of the tour de france. You will not recreate the experience of a mountain bike on this, but it is a very good option to take challenging tracks indoors and simulate them when you combine the bike with the Ifit subscription.

The S22i also comes with a good sound system that will fill the room with the music and instructions from the available Ifit exercises. This will be needed as the bike does not come with Bluetooth to hook up your earphones to it.

Cons of the S22i

The cons of the S22i are:

Needs tightening on the seat and pedals
Pedals keep going
No Bluetooth for headset
Weight capacity

You will have to watch and tighten the seat and the pedals regularly, especially if you are a heavy user. If you compare this to a street bike, it will be more maintenance than you are used to. Still, if you are an average user, you will probably experience this less.

The pedals are attached to an inertia flywheel which means that they will keep moving even if you break. If you are used to using indoor machines and ellipticals this is something you are already familiar with. If you are a very dedicated outdoor cyclist who bought the S22i to press even more miles into a week than spend a little to get used to the mechanics. They are different from how your street bike would react and you might hurt yourself if you want to break at high speed instinctively.

A big oversight for a stationary bike with such a high price tag is that you can not use Bluetooth with the machine. If you are already investing in such a big touch screen it is very safe to assume that you want to make heavy use of the preprogrammed I Fit content. For this, you can not hook the sound up to your earphone. This is bad for use at home or in a gym. For such a high price I would expect Bluetooth to be included.

Another con to the S22i is weight capacity. Officially it only goes up to 150kg. If you want to get active to lose some weight, you might want to look at the ellipticals or heavy-duty treadmills to use for walking. Possible models can be the X22i treadmill or the SE7i elliptical.

Alternatives to the S22i

Alternatives to the Nordictrack S22i are:

The Nordictrack 1750 will cost you roughly the same as the S22i bike. With this, you will get one of the most well-balanced treadmills in the Nordictrack portfolio. 1750 is the bread butter machine of Nordictrack and leaves little to be desired if you are an average user or heavy user who does not need a massive incline or screen. Compared to the S22i you get a smaller screen and in return a very reliable treadmill which is good value for money. Of course, this is will take up more space in your home compared to a bike.

The Nordictrack X11i is in the same price range as the Nordictrack 1750. With this treadmill, you will get a whopping 40% incline. It is one of the least costly treadmills out of the 40% incline line up from Nordictrack. If you are a dedicated runner who wants all options on the incline or just wants to maximize calorie burn per minute, this might be the better option. Keep in mind, that a treadmill will have bigger space requirements than a bike.

The FS7i elliptical is the most modern elliptical to date from Nordictrack which you can get in the UK and a solid mid-range option in the US. The free stride technology makes this machine a stepper, treadmill, and elliptical in one machine. If you like the cushioned experience of ellipticals and have a good balance, this might be an option for you. The only downsides to this machine are that it is more error-prone than ellipticals with a set range of motion and that you need to get used to how to balance on the machine. Compared to the S22i you will get a smaller screen, it will take up more space, but it will be more friendly for users with a lower fitness level and provide more options for your home gym. Good buy to make the entire family happy, if the most sporty person in the household is willing to compromise.

The concept 2 model D rower is an option for anyone who prefers rowing over biking. You will also save about 1000 compared to the S22i. The concept 2 model D rower is a good option fur budget home gym owners or commercial gyms who want to buy in bulk. You can also hang these rowers on the wall quite easily to save space, once you have the right hooks for it.

The Rogue Echo Bike is my personal favorite as a choice for a home gym bike with no bells and whistles. It is built like a tank and has been stripped of most of the multimedia features which I find unnecessary. This airbike will take any abuse and has everything on board to get you sweating for around 700 bucks. If you do not need to be motivated by fancy colors and screens, this is a solid bet.

Summary for the Nordictrack S22i

The S22i is a great piece of equipment for the dedicated home gym owner who likes to be entertained while he or she is cycling. It can also be a viable option for boutique gyms who want to make their clients feel special and buy in small quantities. That there is no Bluetooth option for the price tag is a major let down. Budget-conscious home gym owners or commercial gyms which have more than 20 people in the cardio area at peaks will not find this to be a viable option because of the high price tag.

Nordictrack S22i vs S15i