Nordictrack VU 19 vs T7.5

This is a comparison of the VU19 and T7.5 including pros, cons, and alternatives . Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the NordicTrack T7.5 1599

This is a review of the NordicTrack NordicTrack T7.5s 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 T7.5

The T7.5 is a good treadmill to get in the UK market from Nordictrack. If you want to spend more than 1000 this is the solid choice which covers all bases. The main features are the 7 HD Touchscreen, 3.0 CHP motor, and the 12% incline. The full list of features includes the following options:

Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
iFit Integrated
7" HD Touch Screen Display
Two 2” Bluetooth Digitally Amplified Speakers

3.0 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
AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan

SpaceSaver® Design with EasyLift™ Assist
Assembled Dimensions - 187L x 91W x 151H cm
Product Weight 96kg
Boxed Weight 116kg
Folded Dimensions - 110L x 91W x 178H cm
Boxed Dimensions - 213L x 83W x 41H cm
Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.

This is the solid choice in the middle of the portfolio from Nordictrack for the UK Market. Some options above might be a little overkill to buy in bulk or use at home while the models which are below in price might fall short in longevity or experience.

Pros of the Nordictrack T7.5

The pros of the Nordictrack T7.5 are:

Good value for money
Fits most needs
More modern than some other models available in the UK

The T7.5 treadmill is a good value for the money treadmill in the Nordictrack UK line up. It covers all the bases and goes the extra mile with the 7-inch touchscreen. Yes, there are other machines which have bigger screens or more incline. Do you really need this? Probably not.

With an incline of 12%, a powerful motor, and some entertainment on the small screen you keep everyone happy. None of the main components goes to the max, but that is exactly good for fitting the most needs without spending too much money.

Compared to the S line and the C-line of Nordictrack treadmills is the T line the more modern one which is also being marketed and sold in the US. For the S and C-line, this is not the case anymore so you are better off to invest in a product line that the vendor is still interested in.

Cons of the Nordictrack T7.5

The cons of the Nordictrack T7.5 are:

No 40% incline
No mega screen

You get what you pay for. While the T7.5 is still a model which will put you back more than 1000 and therefore is solid on all basis you also can not expect any wonders. If you want a modern model with a mega screen or 40% or a combination of both you will catapult the budget in the 2000s. Therefore, you might miss these features on the T7,5. Personally, I don't think these are really necessary, but the market is moving towards the multimedia experience.

Alternatives to the Nordictrack T7.5

Alternatives to the T7.5 are:

If you want an elliptical instead of a treadmill you can opt for the FS5i instead of the T7.5. With this elliptical, you get the free stride technology from Nordictrack which makes it a 3 in 1 machine. You can use it as a stepper, treadmill, and elliptical. While this is a big step in the versatility you lose some points in stability. The design is more error-prone than a classical elliptical or treadmill design.

If you want to go below the 1000 mark you can go for the concept 2 model D. This is a solid rower used in many gyms around the world. It does not come with a lot of multimedia options, but it does fulfill the cardio requirements and leaves your knees and ankles in tact.

My personal favorite option is the Rogue Echo bike. This machine comes in at a good price, is solid and covers all your cardio needs ina compact design. Rogue has definitely done a good job by putting a competitive airbike out there which leaves nothing to be desired in quality.

Summary for the Nordictrack T7.5

The T7.5 is probably the most balanced option for a treadmill in the UK from Nordictrack to date. Compared to the C and S series and is newer and provides good value for money. If you have more money to spend you might want to wait for some of the newest models from the states to arrive. But if you want a solid machine now, go for the T7.5.

Overview and review of the Nordictrack VU 19 999 (US)

This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack VU19.This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.

The Nordictrack VU 19 is an upgraded version of the old G series. Its main features are a 7-inch touchscreen, 19lb flywheel, and 325 lb. capacity. The main difference to the G series is that the Ipad holder has been moved from the front of the display to above. This way you can see your stats while also being on your Ipad at the same time. The full list of features reads:

7” Smart HD Color Touchscreen
Includes 1-Year NordicTrack iFit® membership**
Integrated Pivoting Tablet Holder
Auxiliary Music Port
AC Adapter Included
Two 2” Bluetooth® Compatible Speakers

Upright Frame
19 Lb. Inertia-enhanced Flywheel
SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
24 Digital Resistance Levels
325 Lb. User Weight Capacity
EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor
NordicTrack iFit Bluetooth® Smart Chest Strap

Oversized Cushion Seat
Vertical & Horizontal Seat Adjustment
Extra-wide, Ergonomic Foot Pedals with Adjustable Strap
AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan

32 On-board Workouts
Front-mounted Transport Wheels
43.6" L x 24.9" W x 59.4" H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

the VU 19 is a solid middle of the portfolio option for bikes in the NordicTrack portfolio. If you want a reasonable coverage on all relevant features for an upright bike from Nordictrack, this is the one to go for without going over 1000.

Pros of the Nordictrack VU 19

The pros of the VU 19 are:

Well balanced
7-inch touch screen
Gadgets are not in the way

The VU 19 is a well-balanced bike that covers all bases without breaking the bank. If you do not want to think too hard about your bike purchase from Nordictrack and have 1000 to spare, this is the right model to get. Think of it as the Volkswagen Golf from Nordictrack. Does everything well, looks good, but does not impress too much.

The 7-inch touch screen will keep you in striking distance of current technology trends in cardio equipment. The screens are getting bigger and bigger and the classes more interactive. A small backlit display or even led based display will leave you behind and make the experience less engaging. A 7-inch display is a good compromise to not break the bank as some models go up to 32-inch.

A final little touch is that NordicTrack finally managed to move the holder for gadgets out of the way of the touch screen. On older models like the VR21 or some of the GX bikes the gadget holder would put your tablet right in front of your Nordictrack touch screen. This way you could not see the status of your workout.

Cons of the Nordictrack VU 19

cons of the Nordictrack VU19 are:

No Bluetooth headphones
No big screen
No incline

A big oversight in the design of the Nordictrack touch screens and electronics is that you can not project their sound onto Bluetooth headphones. The Bluetooth speakers are a step in the right direction, but still do not go all the way. I listen to heavy metal when i workout... loud. I can not do that on a bike that I have at home at 6 am in the morning unless it is in a separate building. That would be reason enough for me to not buy any NordicTrack bike.

A 7-inch screen is rather small compared to the 10-,14-,22- and 32-inch options that are out there. Be aware that the new content that NordicTrack will put out will assume bigger and bigger screens and optimize the layout of the classes and menus accordingly. If you have the extra money to spend you might want to go for one of the S10i or S15i models instead.

The VU 19 has no incline option available. This keeps the bike under the 1000 threshold, but at the same time limits you from getting everything out of your Ifit subscription or cover all the possible rides you want to do. For an occasional cyclists, this will not be a deal-breaker, but someone with a serious performance goal might want to consider to invest 200 to 500 more to also get an incline function.

Alternatives to the Nordictrack VU 19

These are alternatives to the Nordictrack VU19 that are in the same budget range:

The Nordictrack VR21 costs about the same as the VU 19 but is a recumbent bike. If you want a more comfortable ride or your hand free while exercising, this is the bike to go for.

The NordicTrack C700 is the cheapest treadmill you can currently get from the NordicTrack website. This is a good option for joggers or walkers who do not like sitting in a saddle for their daily calorie burn. It is not a great option for runners who put a lot of abuse on their treadmill in terms of speed, distance or a combination of the two.

The concept 2 model D is the industry standard for indoor rowing all over the world. If you like to sit while you are exercising, but want to turn it into a full-body workout, the rower is a good option. Another bonus is that you can hang a rower on the wall after use to save space. That does really work for most bikes unless they are foldable.

The Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite for weekend warriors who want to push their limits at home. This machine has been stripped of most multimedia options to provide a frame that can take a lot of abuse. If you want to put your phone an a counter, blast yourself with heavy metal, and do intervals until you fall off the bike, this is the machine for you.

Summary for the NordicTrack VU19

The Nordictrack VU19 is a well-balanced bike from Nordictrack at a good price which took care of design flaws of former generations of NordicTrack bikes. St the moment it is only available in the US and not in the UK, but that might change when they start to distribute worldwide.