TITAN Low bar push pull drag sled vs Nordictrack FS5i elliptical
This is a comparison between the TITAN drag sled and the Nordictrack Nordictrack FS5i 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 FS5i 1499
This is a review of the NordicTrack FS5i 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.
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Overview of the NordicTrack FS5i
The
FS5i is probably the best elliptical from Nordictrack you can currently get for the UK market. It has its flywheel at the center which enables a lot of freedom of movement and a long stride of 32". The main features of this elliptical are its 7kg flywheel, 5-inch backlit display, and 32 workout programs. The full list of features reads as follows:
- 5" Backlit Display
- iFit Bluetooth - 1 Years Membership Included
- Integrated Tablet Holder
- Two 2” Speakers
- Center Drive
- 7kg. Effective Inertia-enhanced Flywheel
- 22 Digital Resistance Levels
- OneTouch® Controls
- Max User Weight 135kg
- 32" Auto-Adjustable Stride
- AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
- SoftTouch™ Upper Body Grips
- Oversized Cushion Pedals
- 32 Workout Programmes
- Transport Wheels
- Water Bottle Holder
- Large Boxed Item - This item can only be delivered or delivered and installed to a ground floor room location.
- Product Weight 105kg
- Boxed Weight 113kg
- Assembled Dimensions - 148L x 75W x 187H cm
- Boxed Dimensions - 157L x 77W x 65H cm
- Warranty - 5-Year Frame Warranty, 2-Year Parts and Labour Warranty, subject to registration within 28 days of purchase.
This is the right choice in the Uk in most scenarios for an elliptical without breaking the bank, but also not compromising on quality or functionality.
Pros of the NordicTrack FS5i
The pros of the
FS5i are:
- Good value for money
- Relevant product line
- 32" stride
This elliptical will provide a lot of options to you at a reasonable price. It is also part of the FS family which is still being produced in the US. This ensures that you will have less trouble getting support or parts for this machine than for the S and C series which has been discontinued in the States. With the 32" stride this machine provides a lot of different workout modes to play around with your stride. If you are very tall, this might be the elliptical for you.
Cons of the Nordictrack FS5i
The cons of the
FS5i are:
- Space requirements
- More error-prone
- Not for everyone
As this is one of the machines with the longest stride available for the UK market it also needs more clearance around the machine. For the ellipticals with the flywheel in the center, you have to clear the area in front and in the back of the elliptical. That is not always the most practical option to get a working setup.
Compared to the more compact design of treadmills and ellipticals with motors in the back or front, this design is a bit more error-prone. Especially commercial buyers should think twice if they have a lot of use and people using the
FS5i.
The free stride models are also recommended to be tested before you use them. The freedom of movement is not for everyone who are used to classic elliptical setups.
Alternatives to the NordicTrack FS5i
Alternatives to the
Fs5i are:
The
ACT commercial can be an alternative for anyone who does not have the space to put the
FS5i into their home gym. The
ACT is more compact and therefore friendlier in tight spots. You will also save some money compared to the
FS5i. The only downside is that the
ACT series is discontinued and you will find it harder and harder over time to get parts and support for this particular machine.
If you want a treadmill instead of an elliptical your best choice for the Uk from Nordictrack is the
T7.5. The
T7.5 is right in the middle of the available Nordictrack portfolio for the UK and has all you need without going overboard on any of the features. The only downside is that you will not get a 40% incline or a massive screen with this treadmill.
The
concept 2 model d rower is a great option for smaller options. If you do not want to stand while exercising the
concept model d will cover your needs. Don't expect wonders from the screens on this machine, but the tracking capabilities are sound.
My personal favorite for home gym environments is the
Rogue Echo bike. It is compact, easy to move, and packs a punch for a great 20-minute cardio workout using interval training. If you want to burn calories, save money, and save space, this is the machine to get. The downside is that this machine is not designed to entertain you and keep you engaged. You have to bring the willpower, the rest will be taken care of.
Summary for the FS5i
The
FS5i is a great machine when you have space and you are tall yourself. It will provide many different workout modes and is probably the best buy for ellipticals in the Uk from Nordictrack to date.
Overview and review of the TITAN Low bar push pull drag sled
This is an overview of the TITAN low bar push pull drag 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.
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Overview of the TITAN Low bar push-pull Drag sled
The
low bar push pull drag sled from TITAN is a low price sled option from TITAN that has everything in the box to add resistance to your sprints. The full specifications of this sled are:
- Load the 8" weight post with either standard or Olympic plates to increase difficulty.
- Low Bar design allows for more leverage, giving your quadriceps a burn like no other.
- Includes a harness and carabiners to attach to the sled for sled drags.
- Weight: 36 LB
- Length: 36"
- Width: 24.5"
- Weight Post Length: 8"
This is the easy throw-away option of a sled to be bought in bulk for a commercial gym or as a throwaway option for a home gym.
Pros of the TITAN Low bar push-pull Drag sled
This little sled only costs you $100 which makes it a great option to get for a sled that you intend to wreck anyway. Other sleds will usually start at around $200 or be almost unusable when they drop under $50 for a new piece. This means that you can justify getting two of these and abuse the hell out of the first one to be replaced by the second. For a commercial setting, especially if you have a sled friendly floor, this is a serious consideration to buy for group training.
With this sled, everything you need comes in the package and you are not running a risk of ballooning costs or having to get the extra attachments to use them. This package is plug and plays on arrival if it gets delivered as advertised.
Another advantage of this sled compared to even lower-priced models is that you can use it without a harness based on the handles on each side. Is are fairly low, which makes the workout even harder and maybe not suitable for beginners or anyone who is fairly overweight.
Cons of the TITAN Low bar push-pull Drag sled
Do not expect high-quality components from a sled that retails at $100. This is to be used until it breaks and then thrown away by a serious athlete or used timidly by someone who just wants to push some weight around once a month.
This sled will directly touch the ground with no buffer in-between. If you intend to use it on concrete it will come apart rather quickly. If you use it on grass or a running track it will not slide very smoothly. So the best use would be in an indoor gym with some kind of rubber mats. If you have this scenario it might even be a good sled for group training and you can get 5 to 10 of them depending on the group sizes you run.
The loading pin for this sled is quite small and also the surface to load the plates on. This is fine if you intend to load 30 - 100 lbs on it for adding some resistance to sprints. If you want to use this sled to train linebackers and Rugby monsters, abandon your plans. To these guys, this thing will be just a toy.
Alternatives to the TITAN Low bar push-pull Drag sled
The
TITAN Pro sled is TITAN's clone of the Rogue Dgosled 1.2. It comes with many possible attachments at some extra cost which can keep training interesting. This is a good sled if you are a personal trainer to wealthy clients who expect you to keep things interesting or for an ambitious home gym. If you are training a professional team and want to buy in bulk for high quality because you are using the sleds very often, then the
Rogue Dogsled 1.2 would be the better pick. In that setup maybe get all of the different attachments once and a sled to equip them with each.
The
TITAN heavy-duty sled is a clone of the
Rogue butcher sled. This sled is designed to deliver very high capacity in weight. This is a good sled for a strongman who trains at home and has the space to store it. If you want to use a sled at home for sprints I would lean more towards the
TITAN Pro sled. If you are looking for heavy sleds to entertain an NFL or professional rugby team, get a couple to a dozen of the
Rogue butcher sleds instead. They hold up longer and your athletes will be happier using them. I only recommend this if your players earn 10.00 thousand to millions a year as a bill for $10.000 for a dozen
Rogue butchers won't make a difference in the accounting department, but might make a difference to happiness and performance to the players because you got the good stuff rather than being cheap.
The
power weighted sled with leash and harness is the ideal sled to throw in the back of a truck or under a seat. This sled has a pin that you can collapse and therefore store easily. It is also cheaper than Push-Pull Sled. In my opinion, this is the better option for sprints with resistance as they are easier to store and transport if you want to be cheap about it.
The
XPO trainer 2 sled is the ultimate gimmick in the realm of sleds. It has big wheels and can therefore be used in suburbia without being sued by the neighbors. It works with a resistance mechanic that makes it harder to push or pull the sled the harder you work at it which is similar to the resistance techniques used in
fan bikes, air rowers, or water rowers. This is the ideal sled for the weekend warrior who can afford and store it as the quality is high.
The
Rogue Dogsled is the most modular
Dogsled you can currently get in the market. compared to the
TITAN Pro sled it has a higher quality finish and a little more attention to detail. In return, it costs more money. If you are intending to get this sled, also buy some extra plastic feet for it to exchange, once the first ones have worn off. This is a good sled for the serious home athlete with a big backyard or a team that wants to create the speed of their players. It is not the ideal sled for anyone who wants to get stronger to move stones, trucks, or big burly men, as it can not be loaded as heavy as other models.
The
Rogue Echo dogsled is an option that moves the purchase price of the sled closer to the TITAN Pro without providing as many options for attachments. If you want a Rogue sled and do not care about all of the different attachments, this is a good pick and also sturdier than the
Push-pull drag sled from Titan. The only downside here is that it is harder to store and that the harness and leash are sold separately.
Conclusion for the TITAN Low bar push-pull Drag sled
If you want to make your kids happy, have a throwaway sled yourself, or just use this tool very occasionally in your training, then this is the right sled to get. If you take your sled work very seriously and you want to focus on speed it is a choice between the
TITAN Pro sled and the
Rogue Dogsled 1.2. If you are considering a sled to increase your strength for very heavy pushes and pulls you should be comparing the
TITAN heavy-duty sled and the
Rogue butcher.