NordicTrack SE5i elliptical vs T6.5s treadmill

This is a comparison of the Nordictrack SE5i and T6.5s. Learn about pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review NordicTrack T6.5 Treadmill $999 - $1299

This is a review of the NordicTrack 6.5S treadmill which was originally published in "Which Treadmill to get from Nordictrack". Follow the links for more details.

Overview NordicTrack T6.5 Treadmill $999 - $1299

The Nordictrack 6.5 treadmill is the most compact and cheapest version from Nordictrack. This is the right treadmill to get to save space and money. You can put this treadmill into your back shed or in a cramped apartment. Commercial buyers can optimize small rooms for group training or peak times or just put a large fleet in a big space. This comes at the price of the weakest motor in the Nordictrack line up. The full specs are:

10” Smart HD Touchscreen
Includes 1-Year NordicTrack iFit® membership**
Auxiliary Music Port
Dual 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
FlexSelect™ Cushioning
20” x 55” Commercial Tread Belt
0-10% Incline
0-10 MPH Speed
One Touch® Controls
2.6 CHP DurX™ Commercial Plus Motor◊
1.9” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
300 Lb. User Capacity
EKG Grip Pulse
SpaceSaver® Design with EasyLift™ Assist
20 On-Board Workout Programs
54" H x 36" W x 73.5" H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

This is the lower end of the range you get what you pay for. Expect more breakdowns in commercial settings compared to other models out of the Nordictrack range.

Pros of the Nordictrack T 6.5 treadmill

The pros of the Nordictrack T 6.5 are:

Compact size
Low price

This is the option to save money and space. Simple enough.

Cons of the Nordictrack T 6.5 treadmill

The cons of the T 6.5 treadmill are:

Small belt
Weak motor

The T 6.5 model is not the right choice if you have a long stride or if you will press a lot of miles on this machine. The 2.6 CHP motor is more likely to break when used heavily than in the other Nordictrack models which usually range from 3.0 up to 4.2 CHP.

Alternatives to the T 6.5 treadmill

A good alternative to the T 6.5 would be the Rogue Echo bike. It is slightly cheaper, burns more calories per second and takes up less floor space. Of course, strictly speaking, it is not a treadmill. That depends on your goals.

Overview and review of the NordicTrack SE5i 899

This is a review of the NordicTrack SE5i 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 SE5i

The SE5i is one of the rear-drive ellipticals from Nordictrack available to the UK market. Its main features are a 16kg flywheel, 5-inch backlit display and 34 preset workouts on the machine. The full list of features reads as followed:

5” Backlit Display
iFit Bluetooth - 1 Years Membership Included
Integrated Tablet Holder

16 kg. Effective Inertia-enhanced Flywheel
SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
24 Digital Resistance Levels
EKG Grip Pulse
130 kg. User Weight Capacity

Oversized Pedals
AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
SoftTouch™ Upper Body Grips

34 Preset Workout Apps
Transport Wheels
Product Weight 60kg
Boxed Weight 72kg
Product Dimensions - 158L x 66W x 175H cm
Boxed Dimensions - 132L x 51W x 64H cm
Warranty - 5-Year Frame Warranty, 2-Year Parts and Labour Warranty, subject to registration within 28 days of purchase.

This is a solid rear-drive elliptical for the home or commercial use.

Pros of the NordicTrack SE5i

The pros of the SE5i are:

Big flywheel
Sturdy design

The SE5i is a sturdy design with a big flywheel which will last for ages. If you want to no-nonsense elliptical that is affordable you will find the right partner in the SE5i for your cardio needs.

Cons of the NordicTrack SE5i

The cons of the SE5i are:

Size
Older model
Display

All rear-drive ellipticals have in common that they are quite clunky and therefore take up more space than other cardio options for the home. In a big gym they will also fit fewer units in the same amount of space as others. SE5i is also an older model that Nordictrack does not sell in the US anymore. Always be mindful of this, especially when you purchase for commercial needs, as the service for this product might be discontinued or suffers as active production will be abandoned.

Alternatives to the NordicTrack SE5i

Alternatives to the SE5i elliptical are:

The Nordictrack Se3i is the small brother of the SE5i it still has a rear-drive, but a smaller flywheel. In my opinion, the SE3i only makes sense if you buy it in bulk for commercial purposes to save money. Otherwise, the two models are too close in price to justify taking the smaller flywheel which ultimately means that the elliptical is more likely to break down.

If you want to get a treadmill instead of an elliptical and get the cheapest from Nordictrack in the UK than the C700 is for you. This is the treadmill with the lowest price tag from Nordictrack for the time being.

The concept 2 model D rower is a reliable machine that has been used all over the world. If you want a solid rowing machine for you this is probably the best value for money options you can get. Not a lot of entertainment on this, but the onboard computer is more than enough to track your workouts and provide statistics during your row.

The Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite for home gym use. This machine is compact, built like a tank, enables a kick-ass workout and I reasonably priced. This is the best calorie per minute deal you can find without running the risk of buying trash.

Summary for the NordicTrack SE5i elliptical

The SE5i elliptical is a solid safe bet for an elliptical to get. It is not too expensive and also does not try to be fancy. In return, it will take up more space than other models and not have the best multimedia options available.