Hardcore runners call it the “dreadmill.” But sometimes, you can’t avoid running on a treadmill because it’s either too hot, too cold, or stormy outside. It’s for those moments that machines like the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 exist.
Don’t get fooled by the word “commercial.” This treadmill is rugged enough to take the pounding and mileage it might get on a typical day in the gym. However, it will still fit nicely in your exercise room or basement and won’t require a second mortgage for you to afford.
Home-based treadmills have been a key driver in the growth of walking and running in the US fitness boom. The Sports Fitness and Industry Association estimated that more than 50 million people regularly participated in running or jogging in 2018. That represents a 7.1 percent growth over the prior year.
Given that the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 appears on its share of best lists for treadmills, we decided to take a more in-depth look to help you determine if this is the treadmill for you.
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 – A View from Start
Durability elevates the Nordictrack 1750 into the commercial category of treadmills. Just like a car, depreciation plays a significant role in the lifespan of this or any other treadmill. You’ll be racking up wear and tear at the same rate that you’re increasing the miles beginning the first time you use it.
What distinguishes the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 from other home treadmills is the size of its motor. It’s a 3.6 horsepower engine commonly found powering treadmills in health clubs. The motor will provide plenty of get-up-and-go for your most extended workouts. The two-ply belt and cushioning system also provide durability, allowing the treadmill to withstand the most vigorous pounding. But there is more to the treadmill experience than just the belt and the motor.
Workout essentials
Once your workout is underway, horsepower and two-ply belts will be the farthest thing from your mind. You’re probably thinking only about two variables: speed and incline. The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 has maximums that will provide quite the test. The treadmill goes from 0 to 12 mph on a belt that’s 22-inches-wide by 60-inches-long to accommodate those long strides. (But, if you push it all the way to 12 mph, our advice is to hold on tight.)
For greater exertion challenges, you’ll be able to set the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 to an incline of as much as 15 percent. You can also test yourself with a downhill run on a decline of up to minus 3 percent.
The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 design allows you to adjust the deck suspension to your liking. More give if you prefer a cushion, less if you’re used to firmer road surfaces. This is a real advantage if you’re stuck inside on a nasty day but still have specific workout goals to achieve.
Treadmill takeaways
Even those of us who feel somewhat neutral about treadmills appreciate them for their ability to provide distractions. Sometimes it’s the bells and whistles that get you to the next interval. The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 will help you get past those thresholds with embedded audio and video technology.
Watch Netflix or surf the web using the NordicTrack Commercial 1750’s 7-inch diagonal HD touchscreen. It has a built-in wireless capability to connect to the internet or to access the embedded iFit application. (More on that in a little bit.) You also have other connectivity options. The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 includes HDMI ports that you can use to connect your treadmill to the television in your living room, according to a user’s review on the NordicTrack website. You can also access an auxiliary music port to connect mobile devices to access your run playlist or let your mind work on the latest episode of your favorite podcast.
Sizing up the NordicTrack Commercial 1750
NordicTrack Commercial 1750
Since most of us don’t live in mansions, the chances are that space in your house is at a premium. The size of your treadmill is going to make a difference. We’re not going to sugarcoat it: The Nordictrack Commercial 1750 is a beast. It weighs in at about 310 pounds fully assembled.
At the same time, the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 does have a smaller footprint. According to Consumer Reports, the average size of a treadmill is 77-by-35 inches. The NordicTrack Commercial model, by comparison, sits at 72 by 38 inches. To help with placing and storing the machine, the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 comes with wheels and folds upright, so you can move it to the corner when you need to.
Feel the burn
The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 gives you the options you’ll need to get your pulse racing. The treadmill comes with 38 pre-programmed workouts. These fall into categories such as speed training, interval training, heart rate control, and calorie elimination. The pre-programmed workouts originate from the work of a certified personal trainer, according to NordicTrack, which helps take some of the guesswork out of your evening workout. Just select your mode and go.
Even with 38 choices, workouts sometimes get stale. If they do, the next place to turn is the embedded iFit Coach app. iFit Coach is a system that connects NordicTrack users to anything and everything you can envision needing for their workouts. You’ll be able to tune into broadcasts of training classes led by well-known trainers. The workouts will let you exercise different muscles as well, with some cross-training options also available.
Maybe you’re feeling adventurous, though, and you’d like to explore parts of the world you’ve never seen. iFit Coach also includes recorded sessions led by trainers that will take you through far-away locations. You could take an afternoon trip to the beaches of Thailand or the streets of Paris. iFit Coach integrates with Google Maps. If you choose a location that’s not part of a recorded workout, you can still experience the wonders of your visual surroundings. The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 comes with a one-year pre-paid subscription to iFit Coach.
Warranty
Since a treadmill, by definition, leads to a workout, you might be wondering about warranty protections. The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 covers parts and electronics for five years, labor for two years, and the frame, motor, and deck for the lifetime of the treadmill.
Ratings and reviews
Users do not seem overjoyed at their experiences using the NordicTrack Commercial 1750. The treadmill received a rating of 2.7 stars out of 5 stars on Amazon, but admittedly against a small sample size with only a handful of reviews. One user writes that he appreciated the sizeable 15 percent incline but was not impressed by some of the technology features. He felt the treadmill was noisy and struggled with some of the iFit features. A different reviewer had a much more positive experience, citing the treadmill’s easy control buttons as a plus but also noting the weight was a significant drawback.
Pros and Cons
The process of weighing the pros and cons of the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 comes down to just that: weight. The footprint of the Commercial 1750 is smaller, but it still weighs over 300 pounds. While we’ve fashioned ourselves as being physically fit, the weight limits where I could put this in my house would certainly discourage any designs of moving it around. On the positive side, the range of workouts and the speed and incline choices are the most significant set of pluses. We take a kind of wait-and-see approach to the iFit features and how well they will fit into our workout methodology.
How We Reviewed NordicTrack Commercial 1750 and Its Competition
Fitness has caught the fancy of many a writer. To understand the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 and present a few alternatives, we explored reviews in publications such as Runner’s World, Consumer Reports, and Wirecutter. We reviewed as many customer reviews as we could find. We also relied heavily on the NordicTrack and iFit app sites.
Cost
The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 is available from the manufacturer, as well as retailers online such as Sears and Amazon. Used models are also available. Prices range from $1,175 to $1,700. NordicTrack offers other models in the commercial category if you have a higher or lower price point in mind.
Alternatives to NordicTrack Commercial 1750
Treadmills are not a hard-to-find product, as many companies are in the business of serving the needs of fitness fanatics. We took a look at the playing field to provide a few alternatives in case the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 isn’t quite what you’re looking for in-home workouts. Our review of the field focused on home treadmills that offer certain features commonly found in commercial-grade treadmills.
Exerpeutic Gold 500
The ProForm Pro2000 is another mid-range treadmill, ready to keep helping you cover the miles with about a 3.5 horsepower engine. The belt is built to accommodate higher cadence and high-speed runs and measures 60-inches long by 22-inches wide. The speed and incline ranges are similar to the NordicTrack Commercial 1750. The speed goes from 0 to 12 mph, and the incline can fluctuate between minus 3 percent to plus 15 percent. ProForm itself emphasizes incline training as an enormous differentiator in building your fitness levels.
You’ll not have to give up anything in connection with the display screen. The ProForm Pro2000 also delivers a 7-inch HD display with easy touchscreen controls. The treadmill provides 50 pre-programmed workouts, as well as a year’s iFit subscription for alternatives once the first 50 workouts start to get stale.
From a size profile, the ProForm Pro2000 is also very similar to the NordicTrack Commercial 1750. Fully assembled, it weighs about 300 pounds. The physical footprint of the device is a little larger. Size notwithstanding, ProForm included an easy way to move the treadmill out of the way when guests are on their way over. You’ll be able to fold the deck of the treadmill up and slide it to the most convenient corner.
The ProForm Pro2000 has received a prestigious Amazon’s Choice award. Users rank it at 4.2 stars out of 5 stars on Amazon. The treadmill sells for between $900 and $1,800 on various retail sites online.
Sole F85
The Sole Fitness F63 treadmill billed as “foldable and affordable,” will also give you a run for your money. It has a smaller engine at 3.0 horsepower but similar ranges for speed and incline. You’ll be able to lean into your miles anywhere between 0 and 12 mph and run flat or up to a 15 percent incline. Sole Fitness does not offer the opportunity to run the downhills, so please have oxygen ready. The belt is a similar size at 60-inches long by 22-inches wide, giving you plenty of space to stretch out your stride.
The screen on the Sole Fitness F63 treadmill is slightly smaller at 6.5 inches. It’s Bluetooth compatible, so you’ll be able to connect to other devices as well as tracking apps. The pre-programmed workouts are on the small side compared to the NordicTrack and ProForm. You’ll have to choose from only a handful of onboard workouts; if you want variety, you’ll have to lean on your favorite fitness app.
The Sole Fitness F63 is heavier than Nordictrack Commercial 1750 at about 325 pounds. But you’ll be able to fold and stow it when needed. The Sole Fitness F63 gets a rating of 3.2 stars out of 5 stars on Amazon. It sells for between $900 and $1,400 at various stores online.
Spirit Fitness XT485
The Spirit Fitness XT 485 treadmill provides a higher-end option to the NordicTrack Commercial 1750. But your experience with this treadmill is likely to be on the higher end. The treadmill comes with a 4.0 horsepower motor — more robust than any of the other treadmills on this list. The belt is identical in size and shape at 22-inches by 60-inches. Speed and incline also measure up to competitors. You’ll be able to run as fast as 12 mph and set your incline for as high as 15 percent. You’ll have to do without the decline, though.
The screen on Spirit Fitness is larger at 9 inches but only offers a blue backlight LCD for text display. You’ll have to rely on your tablet or television for distractions. Users can choose between 12 different program modes, ranging from manual to interval to heart rate. For extra incentives, utilize your favorite fitness app.
The Spirit Fitness XT485 is heavier, at 425 pounds, and more expensive than its competitors. The treadmill is available online for between $1,950 and $2,150. The machine is not widely reviewed, getting feedback from only a single user on Amazon. That user gave the Spirit XT 4.5 a rating of 5.0 stars out of 5 stars, however.
Breaking the Tape
Logging the miles in your basement or living room is never a hardcore runner’s first choice. But the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 goes a long way toward cushioning that disappointment. Between the iFit Coach subscription and the ability to toggle between firmness settings on the treadmill deck, this is our choice as the one that’s the best value for your money. Go with NordicTrack Commercial 1750.
