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Nordictrack VR25 vs 12.9i

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Apr 14, 2021 9:00:00 AM

Nordictrack VR25 vs 12.9i

This is a comparison of the Nordictrack VR25 and 12.9i including pros, cons, and alternatives . Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review of Nordictrack Elite 12.9i $1499

This is a review of the Nordictrack Elite 12.9 model. You will learn about the specifics, pros, cons and alternatives of this elliptical to make a decision. This article was originally published in "Which elliptical to get from Nordictrack".

Overview of the Elite 12.9i

 
The Elite 12.9i elliptical is the mid-range front-drive elliptical from Nordictrack. Its main features are the 30-pound flywheel, 20% incline, and 10-inch TOuch screen. The full list of features includes:
 
  • 10” Smart HD Touchscreen
  • 1-Year iFit® Membership Included*
  • Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities
  • Two 2” Digitally-Amplified Speakers
  • Front Drive
  • 30 Lb. Effective Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
  • SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
  • 24 Digital Resistance Levels
  • Auto-Adjustable Stride
  • 0-20% Incline
  • Commercial Solid Steel Construction
  • Oversized Levelers
  • 350 Lb. User Capacity
  • AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
  • Soft Touch™ Upper Body Grips
  • Oversized Cushion Pedals
  • Front-Mounted Transport Wheels
  • Water Bottle Holder
  • 68.5" L x 28.75" W x 68.25" H Footprint
  • 10-Year Frame Warranty
  • 2-Year Parts Warranty
  • 1-Year Labor Warranty
This is a good value for money elliptical for commercial buyers and home gym owners. You will get a larger touch screen compared to other Nordictrack ellipticals and a reasonably sized flywheel to make the machine last longer. 
 

Pros of the Elite 12.9i

 
The pros of the 12.9i elite are:
 
  • Biggest front-drive elliptical touch screen
  • Good value for money 
  • 20% incline
The 12.9i has the biggest touch screen which Nordictrack can put in their ellipticals to date. Compared to other front and rear drive models you get the most real estate in touch screens with this machine. 
 
For the $1499 you get a big flywheel, big screen, and a good warranty. This is the best value for money machine in the elliptical line up of NordicTrack. If you want a workhorse elliptical which becomes the backbone of your commercial fleet, this is a good option. Home gym owners who intend to put a lot of miles on their elliptical (read multiple users in the home) also want to consider this elliptical over cheaper options due to the bigger flywheel. 
 
With the 20% incline, you can work at any intensity levels to get a workout in and make you feel good about yourself after starting the day with a good workout.
 

Cons of the 12.9i elliptical

 
The cons of the 12.9i elliptical are:
 
  • No wow factor 
  • High price for doing everything moderately good
  • Low-calorie burn
 
If you are already forking out more than $1000 on an exercise machine, you might as well get a bit of wow-factor out of the machine. This is not the case with the 12.9i. There is no cool mechanics like with the FS7i or a massive screen like you get with the 14.9i. All you get as a solid elliptical, that's it. Good for buying in bulk when you do not need to impress that much. Most home gym owners should go for the 10.9i instead with the 20-pound flywheel to save some money. 
 
As with all ellipticals, you get a relatively low-calorie burn per minute compared to treadmills and bikes. If this is your main concern, go for a VersaClimber model or the Rogue echo bike.
 

Alternatives to the 12.9i elliptical

 
Alternatives to the 12.9 elliptical are:
 
 
The FS7i would be a good alternative for home gym owners with a little extra money to spend. This free stride model would provide a little bit more of a wow factor rather than just having an elliptical at home. If you are buying new and not used, I think this is the better option. If you buy a used elliptical and budget is your main concern, try to find a Nordictrack elite 10.9i on craigslist or eBay.
 
The NordicTrack 10.9i is the most affordable front-drive elliptical out of the Nordictrack line up. It has no touch screen and a smaller flywheel. This is a good option for the home gym owner who wants to occasionally train without having to go to the gym. In this scenario, you do not need a big flywheel to take the beating of several thousand miles.
 
The VersaClimber H/Hp model is the product that VersaClimber designed for home use. If you already run outdoors and want to maximize your warm-up when you workout at home, this is the machine for you. The calories burned per minute of this are not matched on a machine with that low a footprint. 
 
The concept 2 rower is the home gym variation for anyone who likes rowing or does not want to stand or sit on a bike while exercising. There a re two models available, the E and the D. If you are older and struggle to get very low, go for the model E.  Otherwise get the Model D to save some money. Commercial buyers might find it interesting that these machines can be hung on the wall, if you get multiple, to save space and make your gym more modular. Hard to do with an elliptical.
 
The Rogue echo bike is in my opinion one f the best options for a home gym to burn the most amount of calories with the smallest footprint at a competitive price. Unless you have reservations for airbikes, this is the one to get at about $700 apiece. 
 

Summary for the 12.9i

 
The 12.9i is a good elliptical to be bought in bulk by a commercial gym. It will please a lot of customers without breaking the bank like the 14.9i. Home gym owners might consider to either move up or down the Nordictrack portfolio as they do not have to take economies of scale into consideration. You will probably only buy one or two ellipticals in your life so you might as well either maximize your savings or maximize the wow factor.
 
 
 
 

Overview and review of the Nordictrack VR25 999 / 1499 (UK/US)

This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack VR25.This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.

 
The VR25 is part of the recumbent bike series of Nordictrack. In this product line, it is the flagship of Nordictrack. The main features are an 11kg flywheel, a meshed seat, and a 7-inch touch screen. The full feature list covers:
 
  • 7" Full Colour Capacitive Touch Display
  • iFit Integrated- 1 Years Family Membership Included
  • Smart BlueTooth (BLE) Chestbelt Compatible
  • iPod Compatible Bluetooth Audio (2 - 2" Speaker)
  • Recumbent Frame
  • Step Thru™ Design
  • 11kg Flywheel
  • 26 Digital Resistance Levels
  • Integrated Quick Touch Handle Controls
  • EKG Handgrips
  • 158kg Max User Weight
  • Oversized Lumbar Supported Cushion Sea
  • Easy Glide Seat Adjustment
  • Extra Wide Ergonomic Foot Pedals
  • AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
  • Front-mounted Transport Wheels
  • Water Bottle Holder
  • Pivoting Integrated Tablet Holder
  • Assembled Dimensions - 94L x 63W cm x 156H cm
  • Product Weight 47kg
  • Boxed Weight 52kg
  • Boxed Dimensions - 109L x 37W x 65H cm
  • Warranty - 2 Years parts and labor; 5-year frame guarantee upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.
This is a great choice when you want to be able to burn calories while not being too hard on your joints or work while you are exercising by reading your emails. It might not burn the most calories per minute, but the trade-off is that you can also do some other things while exercising or be easy on yourself after a long day while still burning off some calories.
 

Pros of the Nordictrack VR25

 
Pros of the VR25 include:
 
  • Big flywheel
  • Meshed seat
  • Ipad holder
The 11kg flywheel will last you for a long time and take care of a smooth ride. The bigger the flywheel the smoother the ride and the longer it will last. This is the recumbent bike with the biggest flywheel in the NordicTrack line up. 
 
The meshed seat will make it easier for you to keep the sweat at bay. Other recumbent bikes have solid plastic seats which can become rather disgusting during use. Especially in a professional set up with a lot of turnover a day, a meshed might be good piece of equipment to get with your recumbent bike. 
 
The last benefit you get is a little holder for tablets of most sizes. This way you can stay up to date or just follow your favorite programs and music on your own gadget rather than going through the browser of the VR25
 

Cons of the Nordictrack Vr 25

 
The cons of the VR 25 are:
 
  • Low-calorie burn
  • Space requirements
  • Ifit subscription
Recumbent bikes have one of the lowest-calorie burns per minute when it comes to exercise equipment. Why invest a good bit of money into a recumbent while a stiff walk almost has the same effect? Still, that is up to you based on your preferences, possibilities to exercise outside, and who your clientele is. 
 
Compared to traditional bikes a recumbent bike will take up more space. Take this into consideration when you are making your measurements. A bonus compared to ellipticals is that a recumbent bike can tolerate a lower ceiling than an elliptical. 
 
The Ifit subscription might not be for everyone. After the free version is used up you will have to pay 10 - 30 bucks a month to get access to the Ifit subscription for the newest content. You will still be able to have access to a free library, but the latest and greatest content will only be available under the subscription. 
 

Alternatives to the Nordictrack VR25

 
Alternatives to the Nordictrack VR25: 
 
The Nordictrack VR21 is the small sister of the VR25. It has a smaller flywheel and no touch screen display. In return for giving these features up you save 250 pounds or 500 USD. This can be an option for the budget-conscious who are interested in obtaining a recumbent bike. 
 
The Nordictrack C700 treadmill is a great option for joggers and walkers who want to exercise at home rather than outside. If you prefer running over sitting on a recumbent bike, the C700 might be the better option for you. If you are a serious runner who takes his/her treadmill through a lot of abuse, look a little more upmarket than the C700
 
The NordicTrack SE5i elliptical is an option for a full-body workout while still being easier on your joints than a treadmill. The SE5i can be a good compromise for the entire family if some want to get a bit harder on their workouts than a recumbent bike will allow. Just make sure that your ceiling is high enough as a dingy garage might be better off with a recumbent bike in it to save you from unnecessary headaches. 
 
The Concept 2 model D is the industry standard for indoor rowing machines. You will save some money compared to the VR25 and still be easy on your joints. Another bonus is that you can hang a rower on the wall after use. The downside is that most concept 2 rowers don't come with a lot of media options. 
 
My personal favorite for a home gym is the uncompromising Rogue echo bike. Rogue maximized stability and metal engineering on this machine while minimizing the entertainment factor and produced a true workhorse. If you are into burning as many calories as possible per minute without breaking the bank or giving up too much space in your home, this is for you. The Echo bike is not for you if you want to be entertained and have it cozy while you burn some calories. 
 

Summary for the VR25

 
The Nordictrack VR25 is a great recumbent bike for professional use in a commercial facility to address people who do not want to go all out on their cardio workout or warmup. The bigger flywheel is especially interesting when the machine is heavily used. Home gym owners might want to save a little money by going for the VR21 instead as they will still get an industry-grade machine for 250 pounds or $500 less. The same goes for commercial facilities that need to buy many recumbent bike units. 

Topics: Treadmill