NordicTrack Elite 15.1
Price: $2,599
Bottom Line:The NordicTrack Elite 15.1 (an Icon brand) is nearly identical to its less expensive counterpart, the Elite Smart Terrain 12.0, and the added features are not worth the $2,599 price tag.
Thoughts:The Elite 15.1 from NordicTrack is a front drive, compact, elliptical trainer that has all the bells and whistles NordicTrack has to offer. Some features include -10 to 20 degree incline adjustment, 20"-22' stride adjustment, in handle controls resistance/ramp controls, and a touch screen web browser powered by Android. We found many of the same problems as the Smart Terrain 12.0 appeared in the Elite 15.1. The -10 degree power ramp configuration caused instability and when adjusted to 22" stride length and set to 10 or more degrees of incline the machine tended to wobble. As we find with many NordicTrack elliptical machines, the drive system was noisy and the speakers on this particular machine were sub-par. The 24 preset workouts had little variation and it was the same story with the 20 resistance levels. The added hand controls for quick incline and resistance adjustment were a good idea but were executed poorly as they were often inadvertently pushed. Overall we saw the Elite 15.1 as an elliptical trainer over-stuffed with poorly executed features. Many other manufacturers, such as Life Fitness or Smooth Fitness, offer commercial grade elliptical trainers with even more features and much higher quality standards; we'd recommend looking elsewhere before buying this Elite 15.1 elliptical trainer from NordicTrack.
Pros:
- 375lb weight capacity
- Display powered by Android
- In-handle controls
- Compact design
- 5yr parts + 2yr labor warranty
Cons:
- Decline option caused instability
- Android web-browser not fully integrated
- Noisy drive system
- Unnatural elliptical motion
Manufacturer's web site: www.nordictrack.com
6.0