NordicTrack X14i Incline Trainer

As we mentioned above, the main allure of the X14i and the rest of the Incline Trainers is the incline and decline capability, which is simply unrivaled.

Most treadmills on the market today top out at 15% incline, maybe 20% if you are lucky, and you simply won’t find decline training on any of the popular brands (besides ProForm treadmills which are made by the same company, ICON Fitness).

So you can really ramp up the cardio and target different muscle groups much more effectively. At 40% incline it’s like you are walking, jogging or running straight up a hill, and you know how challenging that can be.

Conversely the decline training is great for engaging those leg muscles you use to control your pace going downhill. It’s something you typically only experience outside, so it’s great to have that capability inside as well.

One of the reasons why people like NordicTrack treadmills so much is the sheer number of workouts that are included in the iFit program.

This is a proprietary membership program that offers an endless library of trainer led, on-demand workouts, as well as tracking and sharing capability, Google maps all around the world, automatic speed, incline and decline adjustment and training off the treadmill as well.

As of this review NordicTrack was offering an iFit family membership for free for one year ($486 value), so if that’s still the case you can experience all that iFit has to offer at no cost to see if it’s something that appeals to you.

You can literally pick a different workout with a different trainer every single day, which is great to keep yourself motivated and on track to reach your fitness goals.

You simply won’t find as many workouts anywhere as you can get on the NordicTrack X14i and the rest of the company’s treadmills.

Another feature that is still rare, even today, is the touch screen display that you’ll find on more and more NordicTrack treadmills these days.

The X14i comes equipped with an upgraded 14″ Smart HD touch screen with improved graphics and faster Wi-Fi connectivity than previous models. That makes the iFit experience that much more enjoyable.

Note that the X22i and X32i incline trainers also have upgraded touch screens, at 22″ and 32″, respectively. Now you can understand the model names a bit more.

If you’ve ever used a touch screen at the gym, you know how convenient it is, as everything comes alive unlike on a typical treadmill with a basic display.

Of course if you’re training for a long period of time you want to be sure you’re protecting your knees and other joints from impact. The X14i comes with NordicTrack’s advanced Reflex cushioning, a step up from the technology on the popular Commercial Series and entry-level T-Series.

Reflex cushioning offers the right amount of give and support to minimize impact. This is great for everyone but especially those that are recovering from an injury or simply have bad knees, backs or what have you.

Good cushioning is key on a treadmill, and unfortunately many of the machines out there have less than substantial tread belts, leading to more injuries and less training time.

The list goes on and on for the X14i, but some of the other nice features include a new operating system, dual workout fans, generously sized 22″ x 60″ running area, powerful 3.75 CHP motor, speed up to 12mph and easy assembly.

NordicTrack always gives you everything you need for a great workout, and each new model takes everything a step further to ensure user satisfaction.

The X14i Incline Trainer is not as mobile as some of the other NordicTrack treadmills, which is really only an issue if you need to move it after it’s in place.

It weighs in at 386 pounds, so if you do need to relocate it for some reason, you’ll need someone to help you with it.

We noticed that the warranties on some of the NordicTrack treadmills were changed from a lifetime frame warranty to 10 years. That seems to be a big change, but that’s still a good amount of time comparatively.

There have been less issues with the machines than there used to be, so perhaps they are more durable than in years past.

We’ll keep an eye on this to see what happens with warranties on the new models as they are released.

The new NordicTrack X14i Incline Trainer is an awesome treadmill, with incline, decline, tons of workouts, great cushioning, touch screen display and so much more.

If you’re looking for a great machine for challenging, cardio enhancing workouts, it’s definitely a great choice.

It is on the more expensive side, at just under $2,500 when it’s on sale, so if it’s a bit out of range for you you might want to consider the more affordable Commercial Series, e.g. the popular Commercial 1750.

But if you can swing it, you’ll definitely be more than happy with all that you get with the X14i. It’s a beast of a machine!