Nordictrack VU 19 vs T9.5

This is a comparison of the VU19 and T9.5 including pros, cons, and alternatives . Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review Nordictrack T 9.5S Treadmill $2299

This is a review of the Nordictrack T 9.5 treadmill which was originally published in "Which Nordictrack treadmill to get". Follow the links for more details.

Overview Nordictrack T 9.5S Treadmill $2299

The 9.5 nordictrack treadmill is the top end product with a narrower belt of 20' compared to the 22' of the incline and xx50 series. It also has the biggest screen out of this lineup. Those are the main specifications of interest when you put it into context with the full portfolio. The full specs are:

14” Smart HD Touchscreen
1-Year iFit® Membership Included ($468 Value)
Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities
Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
FlexSelect™ Cushioning
20” x 60” Commercial Tread Belt
AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
Integrated Tray
0-12% Incline
0-12 MPH Speed
One Touch® Controls
3.5 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
78.9” L x 35.5” W x 59.4” H Footprint
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty
1-Year Labor Warranty

The 9.5 treadmill is the best treadmill from Nordictrack if you specifically need a belt which is 20' due to space requirements. Otherwise, other models might be a better option for you based on the value you are getting for your money.

Pros of the Nordictrack T 9.5 treadmill

The pros of the Nordictrack 9.5 are:

14-inch screen
20' belt

For one of the smaller treadmills from Nordictrack the 9.5 has the biggest screen. If that is what you are looking for, this treadmill is a good fit for you.

Cons of the Nordictrack T 9.5 treadmill

The biggest con to the T9.5 model is the value for money. If you pay more than $2000 for a treadmill you might as well go for the 2950 and get an even bigger and more modern treadmill. If you need a small treadmill to squeeze into your money and want to save money, go for the T 6.5 which is below $1000.

Alternatives to the T 9.5 treadmill

Alternatives to the Nordictrack 9.5 treadmill are:

A Rogue echo bike is a great option if you want to burn as many calories as possible in the shortest amount of time possible. As it comes in at only around $700 you save yourself a respectable amount of money compared to the NordicTrack 9.5. As an added bonus it is easier on your joints and takes up less space in your home.

The NordicTrack 6.5 treadmill is a small size, small budget option from Nordictrack. This is the treadmill to get when you want to fit it into a tight space or not spend more than $1000 to start your indoor runs.

The True form runner is an alternative model that uses a self-propelled belt resting on bearing. This saves you the hassle of an electronic motor in maintenance and electricity costs. This treadmill is especially good for runners who want to simulate sprints and stops with very sudden acceleration and deceleration.

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.