Nordictrack VR25 vs run rocket

This is a comparison between the Nordictrack VR25 and the run rocket including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the Run rocket

The Run Rocket comes in at $1999. 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 Run Rocket

The run rocket is a piece of acceleration equipment which especially helps for sprint and acceleration training. This machine will be very useful for

Football players
Rugby players
Soccer players
Tennis players

And any other sport where you have to sprint and change direction often. The Run rocket has adjustable resistance and comes with the following specifications:

Length 37“
Width 28“
Height 40“
Weight 165l
44lb Flywheel

The big difference to many other machines or sleds is that the run rocket provides consistent resistance when you are running forward and does not pull back on you. Sleds have the challenge that they have an uneven resistance and also not truly mimic a running pattern. Bands and straps simulate a real running resistance, but the pullback leaves your athletes exposed to injury risk. The run rocket solves both of these problems for sprinting work.

Pros of the Run Rocket

The pros of the run rocket are:

Sturdy
No pull back
Easy swap

This machine is built like a professional lawnmower. It can be left outside and survives rain and other weather conditions. It’s the ideal companion for the pitch.

The resistance immediately stops when the forward pull ceases. This makes it a good machine for sprint work without breaking any ankles.

With the hook and click system, you can easily swap between athletes to get a good workout in for the entire team. Parachutes are way more complicated to handle.

Cons of the Run rocket

The cons of the run rocket are

Space requirements
Price

To work effectively with the run rocket you need access to a pitch. This machine is a waste of your time and money if it is placed into a tiny gym or back garden. You need the necessary space to do a bit of distance for your sprint work.

Compared to other sprint Resistance options like bands and harnesses the run rocket is ten times the price and also does not include the necessary vests for the entire team. They would come in at an additional $50 to $100 a player depending on what you are getting.

Alternatives to the Run rocket

Resistance bands

Resistance bands of all forms and lengths can be an alternative to the run rocket. While less easy to use and setup they come in at a fraction of the cost.

Summary for the Run rocket

The run rocket is the right option for professional training facilities which focus on speed. If you are lucky enough to be a world class athlete who has a pitch in their own home and to whom $2000 are peanuts tja this is a gijd piece of equipment to get. You can spend a whole lot of more money on things which will do a lot less for your professional development.

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.