TITAN magnetic resistance rowing machine vs Nordictrack GX 4.4
This is a comparison between the TITAN magnetic rowing machine 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.
Related articles
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:
-
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
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
-
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 magnetic resistance rowing machine
This is an overview of the TITAN magnetic resistance rowing machine including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally published in Which cardio equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for more details.
Related articles
Overview of the TITAN Magnetic resistance Rowing fitness machine
The
TITAN fitness magnetic rower is a low budget option to get a
rowing machine into your home gym or professional gym. While the price is low and it also sits very low to the ground it is not great for high-performance
rowing. If you are looking for easy resistance like a stroll in the park this is the right machine for you. If you want to crank the handle like there is no tomorrow you have to go with one of the air resistance or water resistance
rowers that are more upmarket. The full specifications of this machine are:
Dimensions: 60-in x 22.5-in x 19-in.
Seat: 12.5-in x 9.75-in x 2-in.
Footrests: 10.375-in x 4.5-in.
Handles: 16-in x 1-in
Color: Gray/Black
Track material: Aluminum
Frame material: Steel
Weight Capacity: 250lb.
Product weight: 50lb.
- Great for cardiovascular and aerobic exercise
- 8 resistance settings
- Large LCD screen to count time, calories and number of row pulls
- Large pedals are slip-resistant with adjustable straps for feet
- Easy to fold and stand up between usage
- Heavy-duty construction with padded seat and non-slip handlebar grip
This is great if you just want to stay active and do not want to go outside for any kind of reason. It will also be easier on your joints than a treadmill as you can stay seated while using it. It will not fit under the bed but can be put into a tall closet when it is upright.
Pros of the TITAN Magnetic resistance Rowing fitness machine
The mechanics of the
TITAN magnetic resistance rower allow that it is very silent to use. You do not have the air or water noises from the higher-priced professional models. So if you want to use it when the children are asleep in the next or you are in a big apartment complex with pesky neighbors, this can do the trick.
For a
rower, this is very cheap. Most other
rowers will start around $400 and go up to $2000 depending on what kind of resistance and media package you are getting. So if you just want a low price option to train at home without a lot of hassle, the
magnetic rower is for you.
Another bonus of the
TITAN magnetic rowing fitness machine is that the seat is very close to the floor. This leaves a lot of room if you are big to sit on it and fully stretch out on each row.
Cons of the TITAN Magnetic resistance Rowing fitness machine
-
Magnetic resistance
-
Fairly light
-
Low-quality footrests
-
Outdated computer unit
The magnetic resistance itself is prone to break and you can easily overpull it. If you are reasonably strong and go at this machine with full force the magnetic resistance will break and you have a free-spinning wheel for your pull. This makes it impossible to use this machine if you want to go all balls out on interval training. This machine has been designed for a smooth, even ride.
You want cardio equipment to be light so that you can move it around easily, but not so light that you feel like you might crush it. It depends on how big you are, but I weigh 105kg and I am 185cm tall. When I sit on this I feel like I would destroy it in 2-3 proper sessions, but then it clearly was not designed with the kind of workout in mind that I want from a rower.
The footrests are made of cheap plastic which will probably not withstand the test of time unless you are very timid with it. Also, the computer unit is outdated and only provides minimal information.
Alternatives to the TITAN Magnetic resistance Rowing fitness machine
-
-
Concept 2 rower
-
Total gym
-
The
Rogue Echo Bike is my personal go-to option for a proper interval cardio machine that does not cost a fortune. This bike is sturdy, the details have been taken care of, and the computer unit makes your life easier. It does not have any entertainment on board, but if you want to do a proper interval training bout, this is the machine to get.
If you intend to row the concept 2 rower model D is the industry standard which has been around for years all over the world. This machine is operated with air resistance and a chain, some newer models with a belt. This rower can be used by athletes of all ages and skill levels to improve their rowing and endurance. The resistance increases based on how hard you pull the handle in the beginning. The only disadvantage is that it costs about 3 -4 times what this magnetic rower costs.
If you are looking for a machine to keep fit at home that is not too hard on your joints and can be easily stored, then the Total Gym can be an option. It is not great as a rowing machine but is more versatile to train all of your muscle groups. Besides, it can also be stored under the bed.
If you want to stay and do not want to get outside because you are scared or want to stay close to your safe environment at home than an
under the desk treadmill is also a great option.
Conclusion for the TITAN Magnetic resistance Rowing fitness machine
The
TITAN magnetic resistance rowing machine is a good choice when you want a
rower for your home that is silent, cheap, and not too challenging. Ideal for a nursing home where people might be afraid to go outside. If you are a serious athlete or hobby warrior I personally think you are saving at the wrong end as you will rip this thing apart in no time.