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Nordictrack S50 treadmill vs VersaClimber SM

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Jun 18, 2020 4:00:00 PM

Nordictrack S50 treadmill vs VersaClimber SM

This is a comparison between the Nordictrack S50 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".

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.
 

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. 
 
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