TITAN heavy duty push pull weight sled vs Nordictrack GX 4.4

This is a comparison between the TITAN heavy duty sled and the Nordictrack GX 4.4 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in which conditioning equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the Nordictrack GX 4.4 Pro 649 / 799 (UK / US)

This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack GX 4.4.This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.

The NordicTrack GX 4.4 is the little brother of the GX 4.6 which has been stripped of the touchscreen and heart rate monitor. The GX line is only available in the UK and has been replaced with the "Grand Tour" line in the US undergoing a rebranding. The main features of the GX 4.4 are its 5-inch Backlit Display, 9kg flywheel, and 125kg max capacity. The full list of features includes:

5" Backlit Display
iFit Bluetooth - 1 Years Membership Included
Smart BlueTooth (BLE) Chestbelt Compatible
Dual 2-Inch Speakers

Upright Frame
9kg Flywheel
25 Digital Resistance Levels
Onetouch™ Controls
EKG Handgrips
125kg Max User Weight

Oversized Cushioned Seat
Vertical and Horizontal Seat Adjustment
Extra-wide Ergonomic Pedals with Adjustable Straps
AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan

Water Bottle Holder
Product Weight 48kg
Box Weight 57kg
Front-mounted Transport Wheels
30 Workouts Apps
Assembled Dimensions - 105L x 59W x 161H cm
Boxed Dimensions - 108L x 65W x 39H cm
Warranty - 2 Years parts and labor; 5-year frame guarantee upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.

This bike shaves off 350 pounds compared to its bigger brother, the GX 4.6. This is achieved by swapping the 7-inch touch screen for a 5-inch backlit screen, getting a smaller flywheel, and not shipping a heart rate monitor with the machine. This is the middle of the G series from Nordictrack available in the UK. You are compromising on features and on price.

Pros of the Nordictrack GX 4.4

The pros of the NordicTrack GX 4.4 are:

Middle of the lower price range
Focuses on the essential
Bigger flywheel than GX 4.7

The GX 4.4 is the middle of the lower price range of bikes that are available from Nordictrack in the UK. With this, it is the ideal model for someone who does not want to make a decision between saving money and having a lot of features while not spending more than 1000. If this is how you buy, this is the bike for you.

The GX 4.4 focuses on the essentials and delivers a display for entertainment and a solid bike to crunch some miles. No-fuss made and still not too cheap to make you worry about the quality of the product.

Compared to the cheapest bike in the UK Nordictrack line up, the GX 4.7, the GX 4.4 has a bigger flywheel and therefore will last longer. Whether that warrants 200 pounds more at the time of writing is a different matter.

Cons of the Nordictrack GX 4.4

The cons of the Nordictrack GX 4.4 are:

Too many compromises
No touchscreen
Old Nordictrack model

The biggest point for me about the GX 4.4 is that it makes too many compromises for my tastes. If you are looking into the G series or Grand tour line up of Nordictrack you have decided to spend around 1000 for your home gym cardio equipment. With this you have already ruled out premium features like big inclines or screens. With the GX 4.4 you even further compromise on the lower end and neither save a lot of money or have a great experience. Not all brains are as black and white like mine but either go for the GX 4.6, if you want the ease of use and a great experience for around 1000 or go with the GX 4.7 and maximize your savings to spend on other equipment or a weekend away.

While you are still spending around 700 pounds on the GX 4.4 you neither get a timely screen or a very solid bike. Again the 4.4 is over-compromised. Either get a bike you can abuse the heck out of and has not a lot of entertainment or get a bike that entertains but can not take that much of a beating. This all depends on your user profile and what is important to you personally.

The last point about the GX 4.4 is that it is part of a family of products that is very likely to go end of life and continued under the "Grand Tour" line of product of Nordictrack. The GX bikes are available for purchase in the UK but no in the US. As the Nordictrack headquarters is in the US you can make some predictions about the distribution of models that will first be available in the US and then stretch to other parts of the globe like Europe.

Alternatives to the Nordictrack GX 4.4

Alternatives to the Nordictrack GX 4.4 are:

The GX 4.6 is the big brother of the GX 4.4. In my opinion, this is the best value for money bike from Nordictrack you can get in the 1000 budget bracket. The main differences to the GX 4.4 are that the heart rate monitor is included and, a bigger flywheel and a touch screen. As the price is currently 300 pounds higher than for the GX 4.4 you get a better screen, flywheel, and heart rate monitor for 100 pounds each. I think that is a good deal and will leave you with a more complete experience to maximize the entertainment and training options. If I buy a Nordictrack bike for under 1000 I would always go for the GX 4.6 over the GX 4.4 as I don't like to buy twice or disappointments.

The GX 4.7 is the better option for penny pinchers. I personally hate penny-pinching as it usually annoys me to look long for things and do not enjoy the process of hunting for bargains. But, if you love this and want to save every possible penny you can save, then the GX 4.7 is the better option than the GX 4.4. For saving around 200 pounds you get a smaller flywheel and squeezed everything from the G line while still getting a functioning bike.

The SE3i elliptical is the smallest rear-drive elliptical you can get from Nordictrack. This places it in the same budget bracket as the GX 4.4. Ellipticals are usually a better option when you want to accommodate the entire family rather than just the cycle enthusiast. Remember that your gym will take up community space in the home and you might want to compromise a little. In a commercial setting, an elliptical can tend to more clients than just people who are interested in biking. Beware of low ceilings with ellipticals.

The C700 is the smallest treadmill in the Nordictrack line up. This is a great treadmill for anyone who wants to walk indoors and who does not want to spend too much. If you run a retirement home and want to get people to walk more without having them out and about, this can be a good option. Maybe all the families chip in to get two of those. If you are a serious runner who puts more than 1oo miles a week on their machine, stay way clear from the C700.

The concept 2 model D rower is a good alternative if you want to take more care of your upper body when you do your cardio. Concept 2 is the worldwide industry gold standard on rowers and model D is their best seller. A great option for rowers over bikes is that you can hang them on the wall to save space. This usually does not work that well with bikes. Commercial buyers will appreciate that package deals for buying rowers in bulk from Concept 2 are easier to obtain than for Nordictrack products.

My personal favorite for home gym deployment is the Rogue Echo bike. The design focuses on a sturdy frame, cutting out all amenities except a saddle and pedals. This machine is not designed to entertain but make you sweat. For about 700 you get a machine that can take abuse and will last for a lifetime. The downside is that it will not keep you engaged that much. You will have to want to grind for this model.

Summary for the Nordictrack GX 4.4

The GX 4.4 is one of these products that emerge when the vendor wants to combine a middle option on all features. The flywheel is ok, but not great. The Screen is ok, but not great. Combined with being in the lowest budget bracket that usually does not create a great product. I get the thought process, but if you are already penny-pinching, go all the way to the floor or try to get the most value for each penny you spent. The GX 4.4 does neither of these.

Overview and review of the TITAN heavy duty push pull weight sled

This is an overview of the TITAN heavy duty push pull weight sled including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally published in Which cardio equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for more details.

Overview of the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push Pull weight sled

The heavy-duty High low Push-pull weight sled from TITAN is a clone of the Rogue butcher sled. This sled has two load pins and is built for heavy loads to be pushed around. This sled has a considerable size and is, therefore, harder to store than a dog sled. This is the right choice when you want to make big burly Rugby players and NFL players move seemingly immovable objects. The full specifications are:

- Heavy Duty 11 gauge steel

- Dual Plate Horns at 10" High

- High/Low push/pull handles with strap hook

- Black Powder Coated frame

- Breaks down easily for Quick transport or storage

- 600 lb plus Capacity

- Post spacing: 26-in.

- Dimensions: 46-in (L) x 30.5-in (W) x 36-in (H).

- Sled Skis: 8-in x 5-in x 8mm thick

- Weight: 64 lb.

This is a big boy toy and needs space. Do not consider it when you can not exercise outdoors or have considerable space indoors.

Pros of the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push Pull weight sled

The pros of the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push-pull weight sled are:

Price
Size

This sled is all about moving as much weight on a sled as possible without paying big bucks for it. If that is the kind of thing you need, you found your companion in the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push-pull weight sled.

Cons of the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push Pull weight sled

The cons of the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push-pull set are:

Size
TITAN finish

While the size is great if you are looking for a big sled it can become a problem when you do not have the space to store the sled. Especially in a home gym, it can just get in the way as you will not use it as often as other equipment and can not just lean it against a wall like a dog sled to store it away.

As TITAN offers some of the cheapest equipment around that also comes with its perils. There is a higher possibility, that you have to force some of the parts as they do not fit snug. This can be fixed when you are a good handyman, but can also become so extreme, that you might question why you bought something new from TITAN rather than used from a different brand.

Alternatives to the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push Pull weight sled

If you run a respectable home gym and want to add a sled, the TITAN Pro sled might be a better choice from TITAN. If your goal is to add some resistance to your sprints and push a bit of weight around, the TITAN Pro Sled is more than enough in capacity and offers more versatility while taking up less space.

The low bar push pull drag sled from Rogue is a simple $100sled that comes with everything you need. It is simple and can be used with a harness or at the handle. A very cheap way of getting fit and not to be sneered at, especially if you only use low loads and find the Pro Sled too expensive and the Heavy Duty sled too big.

The power bar weighted sled with leash and harness is the ideal sled to keep in the back of your truck or car. If you like to take a sled outside to your favorite hill, this is the one to get. The plate pin can be collapsed so that it can be easily stored in tight spots. For the price of roughly $80, you can even consider getting more than one and just wreck them. The only downside is that this sled has a lower plate capacity and the metal drags directly on the ground.

Conclusion for the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push Pull weight sled

The heavy Duty high low push-pull sled from TITAN is a good choice if you want to save money, have space to run and store it, and just occasionally do heavy loads on it. If you have a team of players that will abuse this sled around the clock you might want to upgrade to the Rogue butcher as it will last longer.