Nordic Track Elliptical

Nordic Track Elliptical Trainers are some of the most popular elliptical brands online. The Nordic track name is owned by Icon Health and Fitness, one of the largest fitness equipment manufacturers in the world (They also own brands like Proform, Healthrider and Reebok.)

ICON has recently updated their elliptical models and it has definitely paid off. They currently produce several value packed, economy elliptical trainers including the:

Nordic Track Audiostrider 990 ($999) offers 18" stride length, "Best Buy" rating, Sound System with iPod/Mp3 port, incline and folding capability

Nordic Track Elite 1300 ($1249) offers 20" stride, high 350 lb user weight capacity, 15 workout programs and heart rate monitor.

Strengths:

Ramp / Incline Settings - Incline lets you increase your workout slope. This works different muscle groups to burn the maximum amount of calories (incline is only found on certain models). Incline is a feature that isn't found on most elliptical trainers (unless you want to spend $2800+ on a Precor)

Built In Speakers with iPod / MP3 Hookup - Several of the new 2008 models come with built in speakers and iPod / mp3 hookups. This is a great feature that can make your workout more enjoyable.

Improved Stride Lengths - While many of the older models offers 15-16" stride lenghts, the new models are coming with 18" - 20" stride lengths which is a huge improvement as it helps you work your leg muscles more fully - giving you an overall better workout.

iFit Compatiblity - If you get bored with your workout programs - no problem. You can get more from the Internet with iFit compatibility. Interactive workouts can be sent right to your machine from iFIT.com.

Folding - Several of the new Nordic Track Spacesaver ellipticals do fold up for easy storage and movement. While fairly common with treadmills - this is a difficult option to find with elliptical trainers.

High Expert & Consumer Reviews - About.com awards Nordictrack one of the 'Top 5 Elliptical Trainers' and epinion user reviews are mainly positive receiving 4 out of 5 stars.

Weaknesses:

On most ellipticals the warranty covers 1 year on parts and labor with extended warranties available. We would have liked to see a longer parts warranty on the models, however at these price points, one year is pretty standard.

Also, most of these models are economy ellipticals and you can't expect the commercial grade feel of a health club elliptical. However considering the recent upgrades Nordictrack has made to their models, most people will probably be quite happy.

Summary:

Nordic Track elliptical trainers offer some great fitness tools like iPod / Mp3 docks with built in speakers, longer stride lengths, foldability and iFit compatibility.

Some models even offer incline capability (which is usually only found in high end commercial models) which helps you work an entirely different set of muscles and get an overall more effective workout.

They are also affordable if you're on a budget and compared to some other Icon models they do offer longer warranties.

We would recommend the higher end units, especially if you plan on heavy, frequent use of your elliptical as they offer you more in terms of stability and will probably stand up better over the long run.

Where To Buy:

You can save money by buying a Nordic Track Elliptical trainer direct from the Nordic track store. They have daily discounts and you can also save on store markup, sales tax. Plus they're currently giving Free Shipping which can save you up to $150.

Click Here to Buy Nordic Track Elliptical Machines Direct