Nordictrack X7i vs T8.5 treadmill
This is a comparison of the Nordictrack X7i commercial and T8.5. Learn about pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review NordicTrack T 8.5 S Treadmill $1399 - $1999
This is a review of the Nordictrack 8.5 S model which was originally published in "Which Nordictrack treadmill to get". Follow the links for more details.
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Overview NordicTrack T 8.5 S Treadmill $1399 - $1999
The
T 8.5 is the small brother of the
T 9.5 from Nordictrack. The main difference is an HD touch screen which 10 inches on the
8.5 instead of 14 on the
T 9.5. Apart from this, you get a top speed of 12 miles an hour, 12% incline and a foldable treadmill. The full list of specifications for the
T 8.5 runs as following:
- 10” Smart HD Touchscreen
- Includes 1-Year NordicTrack iFit® membership
- Bluetooth® Audio Capabilities
- Dual 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
- 50 On-Board Workout Programs
- 78.5” L x 35.5” W x 59” H Footprint
- 10-Year Frame Warranty
- 2-Year Parts Warranty
- 1-Year Labor Warranty
This is a treadmill for the smaller budget and a mid-range option at it. I personally do not like the middle of the road solutions and either go alls guns blazing or very low budget. Personally, I think the
1750 is more balanced or go for the
T6.5 if you want to save money and space.
Pros of the NordicTrack T 8.5 treadmill
- Foldable
- 300 lb capacity
- Cushioning
If you want to save money on a treadmill that can take a pounding this is the right choice. You can save space when storing and it takes up to 300 lbs. of weight. All of this makes it a good option for a mid-range home treadmill.
Cons of the NordicTrack T 8.5 treadmill
- Somewhere in the middle
- High price to compromise
As the Nordictrack portfolio has evolved the
1750 is just the better option in terms of value for money in my opinion. With the
T 8.5 you compromise on the size of the belt, incline, and screen while still paying a good bit of money. It is a reasonable price for a cardio machine compared to other machines in the market, but I would lean more towards the
1750 to spent my money wisely.
Alternatives to the NordicTrack T 8.5 treadmill
Alternatives to the
T 8.5 are:
The
Nordictrack 1750 is, in my opinion, the most balances option in the Nordictrack portfolio at a reasonable price. Therefore I think it is the best option for budget-conscious treadmill buyers from Nordic Track. The
T 8.5 just sits a bit oddly against this as it has the same sized screen while having less incline and a smaller belt, while the prices are not that far apart.
The
Nordictrack 6.5 is the ideal option for people who want to maximize saving money and space when buying a new treadmill from Nordictrack. This model comes in around $1000 and has the smallest footprint of the Nordictrack models. Ideal for walkers or limited spaces.
The
Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite if you are looking for maximum calories burned per minute. It comes in at only $700, has a small footprint and packs a hefty punch.
If you are looking for a different concept of a treadmill the
True form runner is for you. This treadmill is self-propelled and therefore has no motor. The belt rests on bearing and your footstrike accelerates or breaks on the speed. This is the ideal treadmill for runners who want to simulate fast acceleration and deceleration at home.
Overview of the X7i
The
Nordictrack X7i is a treadmill with 40% incline, a 2.75 CHP motor, and a 7-inch Backlit display. If you have a bit of money to spend on a treadmill from Nordictrack in the UK, I think this is the model to get. The full list of features includes:
- 7" Backlit Display
- iFit Bluetooth Compatible - 1 Year Membership Included
- BLE Chestbelt Compatible
- Dual 3-Inch Speakers
- Reflex™ Cushioning
- Tablet Holder Included
- 55 x 152 cm Tread Belt
- Dual AutoBreeze™ Workout Fans
- 2.75 CHP Motor
- 0 – 40% Incline - 0 – 3% Power Decline
- 0 – 20 km/h Speed
- 2.5” Precision-machined and
Balanced Non-flex Rollers
- EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor
- 115kg Max User Weight
- Out-of-the-box Easy Assembly
- Large Boxed Item - This item can only be delivered or delivered and installed to a ground floor room location.
- Product Weight 172kg
- Boxed Weight 182kg
- Assembled Dimensions - 177L x 100W x 183H cm
- Boxed Dimensions - 193L x 102W x 82H cm
- Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.
The
X7i is a good option if you can afford it for a purchase from Nordictrack in the UK as it is part of the more modern product ranges of Nordictrack compared to other models available in the UK line up.
Pros of the Nordictrack X7i
- Good value for money
- 40% incline
The
Nordictrack X7i treadmill is a good value for money in the UK line up, especially for home use. You will get the 40% incline at a reasonable price and not leave money on the table as with the
S50. Of course, this is only going to make sense, if you are intending to use this feature on a regular basis. Otherwise, you can go for a cheaper model with a lower incline.
Cons of the NordicTrack X7I
While it is a great feature to have, especially if you want to burn a lot of calories in a short period of time, the 40% incline is not necessarily a feature you need. This is one of the main drivers of price and makes this comparatively expensive to models which only have a 12 - 15% incline. That is more than enough if you are only running.
Alternatives to the Nordictrack X7i
The Nordictrack T 7.5 is a good alternative to the
X7i if you do not need the 40% incline. With this machine, you will get a stronger motor and a 7 inch HD touch screen instead of a backlit display. It is also slightly less costly than the
X7i. Unless you can make a really comüelling case on why you need up to 40% of incline, this is the machine to get. Commercial buyers also might want to consider this machine instead as 3 CHP give it a longer lifetime.
The
Nordictrack FS5i is the elliptical available in the Uk from Nordictrack which is in the same budget range as the
X7i. If you want to provide for the entire family and go a bit easier on the joints, this might be the better option for you. This elliptical has the free stride technology which makes it a three in one machine for running, stepping, and as an elliptical. Some people find it hard to get used to keeüing the balance on such a machine and it does burn fewer calories per minute than a regular treadmill.
The
VersaClimber H/HP is the home use version of the
VersaClimber line up. It has been stripped of some commercial warranties to make it more affordable for home use. The
VersaClimber is the ultimate machine to maximize the calories burned per minute in your home. It will also eat up a lot less space than a treadmill or elliptical. If you want to work your core and burn a lot of calories, this is the machine to get. The only downside of this machine is that it is not really for beginners. You need a certain degree of fitness to work with this and not turn it into complete frustration. Don't get a
VersaClimber as an "I want to get fit" item. It is more suited to "I want to go to beast mode and do not have the time to go on a one hour run each day" bracket.
The
Rogue echo bike is the compromise solution between space, budget, and calories burned per minute. I personally think this is the ideal machine for a home gym for many uses at a reasonable price when it comes to cardio. The cons os this machine are that it comes with no fans, multimedia or any other little niceties to make your workout less challenging. It is a compact, sturdy, bike. It does not care to entertain you to keep you motivated.
Summary of the Nordictrack X7i
I personally think this is the best buy for a 40% treadmill in the UK line up of Nordictrack. It is also a very good value for money option, as you can definitely go wrong with the outdated S series which is still listed on the Uk website.