NordicTrack S25 treadmill vs Assault airbike

This is a comparison between the Nordictrack S25 treadmill and the Assault airbike including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more details

Overview and review of the Assault airbike

The Assault Airbike comes in at $699 - $999. 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 airbike

The Assault Airbike has been given an overhaul to live up to the highest standards of athletes. The company in charge is LifeCORE fitness in California, even though this bike is not built in the US. The assault bike comes with the following specifications:

Color Black
Weight 99LB
Length 50.9”
Width 23.3”
Height 48.4”

Airbikes work with the resistance of the air and give you a challenging full body workout. The faster you pedal the higher the resistance becomes. These are a great alternative for your home gym to treadmills and ellipticals as they take up less space and provide a better workout if it is burned calories you are after.

Pros of the Assault Airbike

Pros of the Assault Airbike are

Sturdy design
Band propelled
Long years of experience

The assault air bike is heavy and has a sturdy steel frame. This prevents swaying during the ride compared to other models form the past. The weight of your Airbike is a good indicator whether it has been built thoroughly or whether the vendor took some shortcuts.

Compared to older models the Assault air bike has the advantage of being band propelled. Older models were chain propelled which lead to more noise. This is becoming more and more of an industry standard and is therefore not as much of a differentiator than it used to be.

With Assault you are buying into a range of products of a healthy company which has been around for years. This company is very likely here to stay and won’t go anywhere.

Cons of the Assault Airbike

Cons of the air assault bike are

Specificity
Not the newest design

The first one goes for all Airbikes. While they provide a great workout to get you in sweat it is not specific to most sports. Treadmills and normal bikes score better in this regard. If you are outfitting a gym for an elite athlete you will also need to get treadmills.

The Assault bike design is solid, but not the newest one of the market. My hunch is that Assault is good at looking at the market and then outsourcing the production cost effectively to China, but I might be wrong. The Assault bike was a copy of the Schwinn and the Assault air runner is a copy of the TrueForm runner.

Alternatives to the Assault Airbike

These are alternatives to the Assault air bike

If you like the design of the Assault bike and the company you can also take it a step up by opting for the elite. The elite comes with an even heavier frame and newer computer to match the highest of standards.

Concept 2 provides a solid range of cardiovascular machines with their rowers, skiergs, and bikes. If you just want a regular bike for spinning classes or to save some space their bike is an alternative.

The Rogue echo bike is Rogue's take on the Airbike market. Manufactured in Columbus Ohio this machine is the no-nonsense approach to Airbikes and currently the best value for money option on the market.

Summary for the Assault Airbike

An assault air bike is a solid machine which you can add to your arsenal. If the design is to your liking and fits your overall gym go for this one. If you don’t care about these things you might want an interesting alternative in the Rogue Echo bike.

Nordictrack S25 treadmill – Complete Gyms

Overview and review of the NordicTrack S25 1299

This is a review of the NordicTrack S25 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in “which NordicTrack treadmill or elliptical to get in the UK”. Follow the links for more details.

Overview of the NordicTrack S25

The S25 is a treadmill in the lower price ranges of Nordictrack with a massive 3.5 CHP motor. This is probably the most amount of horsepower for the least amount of money you can get from Nordictrack in the UK. The full list of specifications includes:

Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
iFit Integrated
Two 2” Bluetooth Digitally Amplified Speakers

3.5 CHP Motor
0% - 12% Digital Incline
0 – 22 km/h Speed
Onetouch™ Controls
1.9” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
125kg Max User Weight
EKG Handgrips

FlexSelect™ Cushioning
51 x 152 cm Tread Belt
This Machine Does Not Feature a Workout Fan

SpaceSaver® Design with EasyLift™ Assist
Assembled Dimensions - 200L x 90W x 145H cm
Product Weight 92kg
Boxed Weight 109kg
Folded Dimensions - 103L x 90W x 180H cm
Boxed Dimensions - 210L x 82W x 34H cm
Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.

The S25 is a powerhouse treadmill for a relatively low price. What you give up is the usual multimedia and incline options for a stronger motor.

Pros of the Nordictrack S25

Pros of the S25 are:

The motor
The motor
The motor

What this machine mainly has going for it is the big motor at such a small price tag. This is the machine for the no-nonsense runner who wants to be able to rack up the miles all day long, no matter the weather or traffic outside. You will not be entertained, you will not run on 40% inclines, but this machine will last. If you want to clock 200 miles a week on a treadmill, this is it.

Cons of the S25

The cons of the Nordictrack S25 are:

Out of date displays
Old model

The S treadmill series is not listed on the American website of Nordictrack for purchase. You will have to dig with partners or the vendor itself to still get your hands on it. In the Uk it is still listed as a model. Just be cautious of these things, especially if you buy commercially. The X7i or T7.5 product line will see a little more love from Nordictrack as these are also still being produced in the US and are not just gathering dust in warehouses around the world that need to be sold off.

Alternatives to the NordicTrack S25

Alternatives to the S25 treadmill are:

If you want an exercise machine for the home under 1000 and an elliptical which is easier on your joints than the Nordictrack C7.5 might be for you. This elliptical comes in at a lower price range while still not being the bottom of the barrel in ellipticals you can get from Nordictrack.

The Nordictrack C700 treadmill is the entry treadmill from Nordictrack. If you insist that your treadmill should be now but space and budget are squeezed, this is the model to get. If you are in this position, i would always recommend looking at second hand for home use. You can make considerable savings and still get a decent treadmill. Commercial buyers should especially watch out for warranties and how that affects insurance policies if they buy from foreclosure or second hand.

The concept model D rower is a good choice if you do not want to stand while exercising. This machine has been around for years and is a solid workhorse in almost any commercial gym you will walk into. It also comes in at below 1000 so if you like rowing and want to burn some calories, this might be the right choice for you.

The Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite for any home gym. This design is compact, sturdy, has a high-quality finish, and comes with a very competitive price tag. When Rogue wanted to enter the realm of cardio machines they did it right and built the perfect machine for Crossfit boxes or no-nonsense home gyms. The downside of this machine is that it comes nether with a big screen nor a lot of buttons to press.

Summary for the Nordictrack S25

The Nordictrack S25 is a great treadmill for someone who wants to save money and put a lot of miles on their treadmill with no fuss. There is no better alternative in the UK line up at the moment for getting your hands on a 3.5 CHP motor.