Strengths:
1) iFit Live - Workout With Jillian Michaels
iFit Live is one of the coolest things to come out of NordicTrack in a long time.
If you have wireless Internet in your home you can connect your elliptical to the Internet. It's powered by Googlemaps and Google terrain so that you can see different trails all over the world as you workout.
You can customize and download your own workout programs and workout with Jillian Michaels from 'The Biggest Loser' - where she coaches you through your workout.
You can also compete against your Facebook friends, track your activity and nutrition online and even download workout videos.
2) Power Incline AND Decline For More Effective Workouts
Incline (not the same as resistance) increases the workout slope of the elliptical path. This helps you burn more calories and target different muscle groups.
Plus, NordicTrack has also added a decline (negative incline) which gives you even more ways to crosstrain and burn calories - something we've never seen before on an elliptical and very cool.
You can even adjust the incline/decline from the moving arm bars so you don't have to break your stride.
3) Close Foot Pedals For A More Natural Stance
The foot pedals on the Elite 12.0 elliptical are placed closer together which more naturally mimics the way the body runs. This keeps your body in a more neutral position and cuts down on strain and possible injury from frequent use.
4) 20 - 22" Stride
While many ellipticals come in at an 18" stride, many users actually prefer a longer 20" stride (stride is the furthest distance between the pedals). A longer stride helps to more fully work your leg muscles and ultimately burn more calories. As you adjust the incline on the Nordic Track Elite 12.0, the stride lengthens even more to 22" long, giving you an even better crosstraining effect.
5) Wireless Heart Rate Monitor
The Elite 12.0 elliptical comes with a polar wireless heart rate monitor (along with EKG sensors) so you can stay in your target heart rate zone. Many people prefer wireless heart rate monitoring since it tends to be more accurate than pulse sensors.
6) iPod Port With Built In Sound System
You can plug your iPod or MP3 player into the built-in audio jack and listen to your favorite music through the premium speakers built into the console. This alone can make your workouts a lot more enjoyable.
7) Handlebar Controls
You can easily adjust the incline/ramp or resistance from your moving armbars (instead of having to reach down to the console to do it.
8) Extra Large Backlit Console
The Console on the 12.0 elliptical is impressive - larger than many standard consoles and the 7" window makes it easy to read your workout stats, follow along with iFit LIVE etc. It shows your speed, time, distance, incline, decline, pulse and calories burned.
Weaknesses:
There aren't really alot of weaknesses here. However if you don't have wireless internet in your home, you won't get full use out of the iFit LIVE feature - which may or may not matter to you.
Summary: Highly Recommended
The Nordic Track Elite 12.0 elliptical trainer is one impressive machine - and currently coming in at a steal of a price. You get incredible crosstraining and calorie burning ability with the incline and decline options.
The closer-spaced foot pedals and commercial flywheel give an extra-comfortable ride. And the iFit LIVE will always give you a new challenge.
Plus the little touches like the workout fan, handlebar controls and extra large console window just make your workout a lot more enjoyable.
Where To Buy At A Discount:
You can get the sale price on the Nordic Track Elite 12.0 elliptical direct from the Manufacturer. You can also currently get Free Shipping which will save you about $150.
One of the best things about this elliptical? Incline and decline. This feature changes the slope of your elliptical and helps you target different muscle groups for better crosstraining.
The iFit LIVE helps you simulate different trails all over the world using Googlemaps and you can also download new workouts (featuring Jillian Michaels from The Biggest Loser) to your machine.
Plus you get a 20 - 22" stride length that will give you a more optimal leg workout and help you burn maximum calories.
Is the Elite 12.0 right for you? Here's a review to help you decide:
Features:
Price: $1299 (+ Free Shipping)
Stride Length: 20 - 22"
Built In Workout Programs: 24
Upper Body Arms: Yes
Heart Rate Monitor: Pulse Grip
Water Bottle Holder: Yes
User Weight Capacity: 325 pounds
Warranty: Lifetime Frame, 5 Year Parts and 2 years on Labor
