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Nordictrack S50 treadmill vs VersaClimber LX

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Jun 9, 2020 1:00:00 PM

Nordictrack S50 treadmill vs VersaClimber LX

This is a comparison between the Nordictrack S50 treadmill and the VersaClimber LX including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more details

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Versa climber LX Model

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".

Overview of the VersaClimber LX

 
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: 
 
  • Weight 150lb
  • Height 7’ 10’’
  • Footprint 48’’x48’’
  • Color black 
  • Climb angle 75 degrees 
 
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.
 

Pros of the VersaClimber LX

 
These are the pros of the VersaClimber LX series compared to other options you might consider: 
 
  • Small footprint 
  • High intensity 
  • Adjustable resistance 
  • Unfamiliar workout 
 
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. 
 

Cons of the VersaClimber LX

 
Here are some cons of the Versa Climber LX:
 
  • Not specific 
  • Not for beginners 
  • Old computer 
  • Price 
 
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

 
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.
 

Summary for the VersaClimber LX

 
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. 
 

Further reading

 

Overview and review of the Nordictrack S50 1999

This is a review of the NordicTrack S50 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 S50 

 
The main features of the S50 treadmill are the 3.5 CHP motor, 12% incline, and that it can be folded up. The full list of features for the S50 covers the following items:
 
  • 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 S50 used to be solid in the Nordictrack portfolio but might have gone a little out of date. 
 

Pros of the Nordictrack S50 

 
The pros of the S50 are:
 
  • Strong motor
  • Can be gotten used
 
The Nordictrack S50 has a very strong motor and therefore good longevity. If you can get one used at a very small price you will not be disappointed. Especially if it was in-home use. As it has been around for a while you will have a higher likelihood on this machine to snatch a second-hand deal. If you are considering a new machine in the UK you might want to go for a different option.
 

Cons of the Nordictrack S50

 
The cons of the S50 are:
 
  • Not really good value for money
  • Older model
If you are looking into a new machine you are better off to look at the NordicTrack C1650 instead of the S50. You will get the same, maybe even better, specs at roughly the same price. You will have a harder time finding a used machine for the C1650.
 

Alternatives to the Nordictrack S50

 
The assault air runner is a self-propelled treadmill without a motor which is especially good for sprint/stop work. If you are an NFL or NBA player and want to work off the court on your speed development, this is a good machine to have. The Assault air runner is said to have bearing that is a little too fast compared to the Trueform Runner, which is said to have a better configuration.
 
The TrueForm Runner is the deluxe model in the realm of self-propelled treadmills. It usually gets the highest marks in terms of calibration and features in this market segment. This comes at a higher price compared to the Assault air runner. If you are buying for an individual athlete for home use, probably go for the TrueForm runner. If you buy for commercial use or outfitting a facility for an entire team, go for the Assault air runner. 
 
The C1650 is the better value for money option from Nordictrack to achieve the same thing than the S50. The screen is bigger and the design is more modern for roughly the same price.
 
If you want to save a lot of money while maximizing the calories burned per minute I personally recommend the Rogue Echo bike. It is compact, affordable, and sturdy. Even you run usually outdoors and want to burn some extra calories or if you ave limited budget and space, this is the bike to get for your home gym.
 

Summary for the Nordictrack S50

 
Unfortunately, the S50 is probably not the best option out of the Nordictrack portfolio for Uk customers. Have a closer look at the C1650 instead at similar budget and space requirements. 
 

Topics: Treadmill