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Nordictrack X9i vs 10.9i

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

May 26, 2020 9:00:00 AM

Nordictrack X9i vs 10.9i

This is a comparison between the Nordictrack X9i treadmill and the 10.9i elliptical including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review of the Nordictrack Elite 10.9i $1299

This is a review of the Nordictrack Elite 10.9i 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 10.9i

 
The elite 10.9i is the low-cost front-drive elliptical from Nordictrack. Its main features are a 20-pound flywheel, 20% incline, and a 7-inch touchscreen. The full list of features includes: 
 
  • 7” Smart HD Touchscreen
  • 1-Year iFit® Membership Included*
  • Auxiliary Audio Port
  • Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
  • EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Sensors
  • AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
  • Soft Touch Upper Body Grips
  • Front Drive
  • 20 Lb. Effective Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
  • SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
  • 19” Power-Adjustable Stride
  • 24 Digital Resistance Levels
  • 0-20% Incline
  • One Touch® Controls
  • Integrated Pivoting Tablet Holder
  • Commercial Solid Steel Construction
  • Oversized Levelers
  • 350 Lb. User Capacity
  • Oversized Cushion Pedals
  • Front-Mounted Transport Wheels
  • Water Bottle Holder
  • 69.5" L x 25" W x 71.5" H Footprint
  • 10-Year Frame Warranty
  • 2-Year Parts Warranty
  • 1-Year Labor Warranty
This is the elliptical to get if you want to maximize your savings while still buying an elliptical from Nordictrack.
 

Pros of the 10.9i 

 
The pros of the 10.9 elliptical are:
 
  • Price
  • 7-inch touch screen
The 10.9 elliptical can not be beaten on price in the NordicTrack line-up and still dons a 7-inch touch screen. If you are considering this model the main criteria for purchase will be price, as otherwise, you are possibly looking at other options from Nordictrack.
 

Cons of the 10.9 elliptical

 
The cons of the 10.9 elliptical are:
 
  • Front-drive 20-pound flywheel
  • Size 
  • Price
If you are a commercial buyer you probably want to look at the 12.9i instead. It is only a small uptick in price but you get a 30 pound instead of a 20-pound flywheel. As commercial buyers should assume heavier usage and more breakage this minimal uptick in price is a good tradeoff for fewer maintenance cases. I am also quite sure that if you buy 10 plus machines in one go you will get the 12.9i for the price of a 10.9i per piece anyway if you ask for it. 
 
A front-drive elliptical is a big machine. Take this into consideration, especially when you are buying for a home gym. More than $1000 for one machine is still a considerable investment in the private realm. If you are already budget-conscious you might as well get a stationary bike for a lower footprint and price to meet your endurance goals.
 

Alternatives to the 10.9 

 
Alternatives to the 10.9 elliptical are:
 
The 12.9i front-drive elliptical is the better option for commercial buyers as it is better value for money. It will not impress any of your clients, but also not look cheap or break the bank. If you want to impress go for the 14.9i instead which has a massive screen included. 
 
The Nordictrack SE7i is a rear-drive elliptical and can be an alternative for home gym owners who still want a high quality elliptical and save some space. The SE7i comes in at the same price as the 10.9i but has the advantage that the rear-drive design makes it foldable. This way it can be folded up and stored against a wall when it is not used. This is not relevant for most commercial gym scenarios, but definitely in smaller home gym environments.
 
The concept 2 rower is a good option for anyone who likes a bit more intensity but does not want to stand while exercising. These rowers can also be conveniently stored on a wall hanger to save space when not in use. The main models are the Model E and Model D. Go for the Model E when you are either big and strong (reads NFL player sized) are have problems with going very low. The Model D version is the standard concept 2 model.
 
The Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite when it comes to bang for your buck. It has a high-quality machine that can be used professionally and only costs $700. It is space-efficient and intense.  If you are a home gym owner who means business and does not need any fancy stuff, this is the machine to get. 
 

Summary for the 10.9i

 
The 10.9i is a good option for anyone who loves the idea of an elliptical at home for occasional exercise and has space. For my personal tastes I think you can be more consequent in your thinking for a home gym and push the cost under $1000, but I do not have any medical conditions preventing me from doing that. I am also not a huge fan of ellipticals as I have run three marathons and want a bigger challenge. But that is just for context, I might think very differently in 10 - 20 years time or if I consider everyone in the family for a home gym.
 

Overview and review of the X9i 2199

This is a review of the NordicTrack X9i 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 Nordictrack X9i

 
The X9i treadmill comes in at a price of 2199 pounds at the time of writing. Its main features are the 3 horsepower motor, 40% incline, and 7-inch touch screen. With this, it is a treadmill at the higher end of the price spectrum and relatively big features and incline and screen real estate.  The full list of features runs as follows:
 
  • 7" HD Touch Screen Display
  • iFit Integrated
  • Smart BlueTooth Chestbelt included
  • Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
  • Dual 3-Inch Speakers
  • Reflex™ Cushioning
  • Tablet Holder Included
  • 55 x 152 cm Tread Belt
 
  • Dual AutoBreeze™ Workout Fans
  • 3.6 CHP Motor
  • 0 – 40% Incline - 0 – 6% Power Decline
  • 0 – 20 km/h Speed
  • 2.5” Precision-machined and
    Balanced Non-flex Rollers
  • EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor
  • 135kg 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.
  • Free Installation Included With Mainland Customers
  • Product Weight 135kg
  • Boxed Weight 175kg
  • Assembled Dimensions - 178L x 100W x 181H cm
  • Boxed Dimensions - 227L x 103W x 64H cm
  • Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.
 
All of this makes the X9 a good machine for the UK market if you are interested in a 40% incline and a touchscreen. 
 

Pros of the Nordictrack X9i 

 
The pros of the X9i are 
 
  • 40% Incline
  • 7-inch touch screen
The X9i shines on the incline and the touch screen options. This is a high-end treadmill that you can either use at home or in a commercial setting. 
 

Cons of the Nordictrack X9i

 
  • Price
  • Older model
2000 pounds is a high price for a treadmill either to buy for your home or in bulk. Really think hard about whether you will need the 40% incline on a regular as this is the main reason for driving the price up. If you only will use it occasionally you might want to look into other options with less incline. 
 
Another point is that the X9i is one of the older models in the Nordictrack incline treadmills line up. The newer models are the X11i, x22i, and the X32i. These models are not available in the UK yet, but you may want to have a close look at the US website first. Especially if you can wait for half a year to a year with your purchase.  
 

Alternatives to the Nordictrack X9i

 
Alternatives to the Nordictrakc X9i are:
 
 
The Nordictrack FS5i is a three in one elliptical which can be used as a stepper, treadmill, and elliptical which is available in the UK. This might be the better choice for someone who buys for use at home by multiple people. Especially the fitness levels are a bit lower. A commercial buyer might not want to go this way, is the ellipticals with the flywheel in the middle are more error-prone than the front / rear-drive flywheels or treadmills. Commercial buyers with space might want to split up their fleet in specialized machines. 
 
If you are really sure that you need the 40% incline but want to save a little bit of money you can go for the X7i instead of the X9i. It is basically the same machine, except that the screen is not a touch screen. This city a little of the budget while you still almost get the same specifications for what you are buying. If you are insisting on a 40% incline and think that this is your main use case you right also want to look at the VersaClimber product range. This is usually the better pick for maximizing the calories burned per minute.
 
The Nordictrack C7.5 would be the treadmill of choice of you ditch the idea of a 40% incline. This is a solid machine for home or commercial use which is more affordable and still does the trick. Definitely look in this area of the Nordictrack portfolio if you think %40 is overkill (which I would say in 999 out of 1000 cases).
 
The last option would be to go for something completely different. The Rogue Echo bike coma in at a price of about 700 pounds. It is compact, easy to move, and you can burn a lot of calories per minute with the interval settings. This is the machine that I got for my personal gym as I prefer tor un outdoors. 
 

Summary for the Nordictrack X9i

 
Nordictrack X9i is one of the most modern incline treadmills available for the UK market from Nordictrack at the moment. Still, you are investing a lot of money into a machine that has been overtaken with new models in the US. I am personally not a fan of spending a lot of money on something which I know will be outdated very soon. Combined with the fact that most people do not get a lot of use out of the 40% incline option the X9i is not one of my favorite options and would go for the X7i instead to save some money if you are insisting on 40%.

Topics: Treadmill