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NordicTrack S40 treadmill vs VersaClimber SM

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Sep 5, 2020 4:00:00 PM

NordicTrack S40 treadmill vs VersaClimber SM

This is a comparison between the Nordictrack S40 treadmill and the VersaClimber SM including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more details

 

Overview and review of the VersaClimber SM

The VersaClimber SM comes in at $4995 - $5300. 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".

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Overview of the VersaClimber SM sport

 
The Versa Climber Sport model is the high-end product of the Versa range. This machine simulates climbing a mountain and is known for its relentless workouts. This thing will make you sweat. It can be used as a Climber or a stepper. It is hand welded and made from high-quality steel. The specs are: 
 
  • Weight 150 Lb
  • Height 7’ 10’’
  • Climb angle 75 degrees 
  • Footprint 43’’ x 46’’
 
The Versa Climber is made in the USA and has been around for decades. It is a good alternative for gyms which cannot provide outside space for running or want to offer their athletes something more challenging. Le Bron James is said to use this machine for his routines. 
 

Pros of the VersaClimber SM

 
These are the pros of the Versa Climber for your use:
 
  • Small footprint 
  • Intense workout 
  • An unusual piece of equipment 
 
Compared to most treadmills the Versa Climber has a very small footprint. That means you can fit more people into a smaller space. For a home gym, you might also be able to put it in a corner of your house and just work away. That is usually more of a challenge with heavy treadmills. 
 
The Versa Climber possibly offers the most intense workout you can do for your cardiovascular system in the smallest space possible. This is pure intensity formed into metal. 
 
If you are running a gym and want to attract more customers this is also an unusual piece of equipment. It might attract clients who are willing to pay more for their members to get more than just regular treadmills. 
 

Cons of the VersaClimber

 
The cons of the Versa Climber are 
 
  • Price 
  • No relation to most sports 
  • Maintenance 
 
With the price tag of $5000, you are investing a considerable amount of money per machine. For two of these, you can get ten concept 2 rowers, skiergs or rogue Echo bikes. With this, you can run an entire CrossFit or strength class. It all depends on what kind of gym you want to be. 
 
The movement pattern of the Versa Climber has not a lot of carryover to most sports. If you are training athletes all around you will still need to get some type of treadmill despite having the Versa Climber. Whether the Versa Climber is worth the investment if you still need to get other equipment is up to you. 
 
The Versa Climber works with chains. These can break and need to be maintained. Based on the rattling and way this machine is used it is More likely to break down than a treadmill or bike. 
 

Alternatives to the VersaClimber SM

 
Alternatives to the Versa Climber SM are 
 
 
The Versa Climber H is a variation on the SM for home use. It only weighs half of the SM so it won’t take as much if a beating than the SM, which is ok for home use as it will not be used as much. Switching from the SM to the H will save you $3000. Be aware that the guarantee is voided if you place the H in a professional gym setting. 
 
The Rogue Echo bike packs a punch on your cardiovascular system for a fraction of the cost. The workout is not as intense as with the Versa Climber as you are seated. But it comes at a considerably lower price and the bike can be moved around more easily. 
 
The concept 2 skierg is an alternative which can be used in tight spaces. it is also an alternative for people with hip or leg injuries to do endurance work indoors. It simulates skiing like you would do it in biathlon. The price tag is considerable than the one of the Versa Climber SM model.
 

Summary for the VersaClimber SM

 
The Versa Climber SM model is the one to go for when you want to bring the Versa Climber experience to your gym. Especially when people will use it around the clock. The warranty will help in case of breakage. Compared to other workouts in the endurance sphere, the climber is superior for burned calories per minute. You will be hard pressed to find anything more challenging. For sprinters and athletes who work on the pitch, it might be better to veer towards running and sprinting as this has more overlay with their actual sport.
 

 

Overview and review of the NordicTrack S40 1599

This is a review of the NordicTrack S40 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 S40 

 
The main features of the Nordictrack S40 are its 3.0 CHP motor, the 12% incline, and the one-touch controls. Unfortunately, the S series is one of the older product ranges of the Nordictrack line up and you might want to look into the C1650 or T7.5 as an alternative. Still, you might make a good grab on the used treadmill market for this model. The full list of features includes:
 
  • Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
  • iFit Integrated
  • Two 2” Bluetooth Digitally Amplified Speakers
  • 3.0 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 84kg
  • Boxed Weight 105kg
  • Folded Dimensions - 103L x 90W x 180H cm
  • Boxed Dimensions - 212L x 81W x 28H cm
  • Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.
Have a good look at the market what you can get, but this treadmill might not be an ideal choice for buying something new. 
 

Pros of the Nordictrack S40

 
the pros of the Nordictrack S40 are:
 
  • 3.0 CHP motor 
  • One-touch controls
The 3.0 CHP motor makes this a long-lasting treadmill for someone who runs a lot. Especially used this might be a good steal. The one-touch adjustments for speed are also a great feature of Nordictrack treadmills which make them more user friendly as you only need to push one button to get to the right space.
 

Cons of the Nordictrack S40 

 
Cons of the S40 are:
 
  • Price 
  • Age
For the age of this product line, you still pay a pretty high price. This is good for Nordictrack to empty their inventory of old models, but not necessarily for your purse. If you buy new you may want to get for the newer models in the X line or the T line which have followed the C line of Nordictrack models. 
 

Alternatives for the Nordictrack S40

 
Good alternatives for the S40 are:
 
The Nordictrack T7,5 is, in my opinion, a better alternative to the S40 unless you manage to get a discount on the S40. The T7.5 is the more modern machine and has almost the same specifications. They also punch in the same budget weight class. So stick with the T7.5 instead of the S40 in the Nordictrack portfolio.
 
The FS5i is a good alternative for an elliptical for a home gym or commercial gym. It costs roughly the same as the S40 and comes with Free Stride technology. The FreeStride technology puts the flywheel in the middle of the machine. This enables a longer stride and you can also use the elliptical as a treadmill, elliptical, and stepper in one. This freedom comes at the price of a more error-prone design and more challenging movement patterns. 
 
If you want to save some money and like rowing, you can go for the Concept 2 Model D rower. This is the flagship model from Concept 2 who has been around for years in the rowing place. You will be hard-pressed to find a major commercial gym without one of these on the floor. They come in under 1000 and might be a get alternative to consider. The only challenge is that they take up as much space as a treadmill, but are easier to move.
 
The Rogue Echo Bike is my personal favorite for home gyms as it is compact, sturdy, and burns a lot of calories per minute if used right. This machine can be gotten at the 700 mark and will last for a lifetime. The big disadvantage is that the Echo bike has no onboard entertainment whatsoever. If you need a video or machine to motivate you to get your training in, this is not the one for you. This is a great tool for intrinsically motivated people who want to save money and space. 
 

Summary for the Nordictrack S40

 
As with the entire S series you might want to opt for something else which is a little more modern and therefore will get more support from the vendor Nordictrack. Always check the US website and compare the portfolio with the Uk website to avoid that you are buying something with is being discontinued. At the time of writing the S series is not available in the US anymore where Nordictrack headquarters is situated. 
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