Life Fitness vs. NordicTrack – Which Treadmill Is Best?

Now more than ever, people are turning to home fitness to stay active. As well as working from home, many have begun to work out from home.

Working out at home is convenient, time-efficient, and cheaper than paying for a gym membership. You haven’t got to worry about packing your gym bag, and you don’t have to waste any time getting there and back.

Investing in some home gym equipment can be a great way to stay fit and motivated. You can fit in workouts whenever is convenient for you, with none of the fuss.

Why Use a Treadmill for Home Workouts?

Treadmills are one of the most popular pieces of exercise equipment. Having a treadmill in your own home means you can go for a run no matter the weather.

At the same time, buying a good quality treadmill for your home can be costly, so it’s important to know that you’re getting good value for money.

It’s also essential that your home treadmill can give you a challenging workout and that it can function reliably over many years. So choosing a good make and model of treadmill is key.

To help you make your decision, we’ve compared the latest treadmills from two top fitness brands: NordicTrack and Life Fitness. Read on to see which one is best for home use.

What Are Life Fitness and NordicTrack? 

NordicTrack and Life Fitness are both American companies that manufacture exercise equipment. 

As well as treadmills, they provide products such as exercise bikes, ellipticals, and rowers. 

Here we’ll be looking at two treadmill models from each brand:

• NordicTrack Commercial Series: models 2950 and X22i
• Life Fitness Treadmills: models T5 and F3

Life Fitness vs. NordicTrack: Product Comparison Table

Treadmill	Life Fitness T5	Life Fitness F3	NordicTrack 2950	NordicTrack X22i
Speed range	0.5 mph – 12 mph	0.5 mph – 10 mph	0 – 12 mph	0 – 12 mph
Incline settings	0 – 15 % incline	0 – 12% incline	0 – 15% incline 0 – 3% decline	0 – 40% incline 0 – 6% decline
Dimensions (LxWxH)	79.5” x 32” x 61”	78.5” x 34.5” x 58.5”	79.5” x 39.2” x 66.6”	70” x 39” x 72.5”
Running Surface	60” x 22”	55” x 20”	60” x 22”	60” x 22”
User capacity	400 lbs	350 lbs	300 lbs	300 lbs
Folding	No	Yes	Yes with EasyLift	No
Screen	Media holder Workout tracking screen	Media holder Workout tracking screen	22in HD Smart Touchscreen	22in HD Smart Touchscreen
Price	$4,249	$2,749	$2,999 $82/month	$2,999 $82/month
Delivery	Est. $299 Shipping and Installation (varies)	Est. $299 Shipping and Installation (varies)	$199 to threshold	$199 to threshold
Extras	Track Connect console for additional $450	Track Connect console for additional $450	1 year iFit membership with thousands of workouts.	1 year iFit membership with thousands of workouts.
Warranty	Lifetime: frame, shock absorbers 10 years: drive motor 7 years: parts 3 years: console 1 year: labor	Lifetime: frame, shock absorbers 10 years: drive motor 5 years: parts 3 years: console 1 year: labor	10 years: frame 2 years: parts 1 year: labor	10 years: frame 2 years: parts 1 year: labor
Refund policy	Return within 15 days of delivery if the treadmill is defective, damaged in transit.	Return within 15 days of delivery if the treadmill is defective, damaged in transit.	Returns within 30 days but you pay for shipping and a 10% restocking fee.	Returns within 30 days but you pay for shipping and a 10% restocking fee.
Overall customer rating	4.5 out of 5 stars from a total of 20 reviews	4.7 out of 5 stars from 23 reviews	4 out of 5 stars from 313 independent reviews.	4.7 out of 5 stars from 7 Google reviews
Where to Buy	Life Fitness T5	Life Fitness F3	NordicTrack 2950	NordicTrack x22i

10% off when you subscribe: Life Fitness

Life Fitness Review 

Who are Life Fitness?

Founded in 1977, Life Fitness are an American exercise equipment company. They make gym equipment such as stationary bikes and treadmills. 

Life Fitness produced its first treadmill in 1991, so they have a wealth of experience creating these products. Their treadmills are used to train professional sports teams and can be found in health clubs worldwide. 

Today they are considered by many to be the ‘gold standard’ of fitness equipment. 

As well as commercial models, Life Fitness also provide more compact treadmills for home use, such as the LifeFitness T5 and F3 models that we will look at here. 

10% off when you subscribe: Life Fitness

Key Features of Life Fitness Treadmills

Both the T5 and F3 treadmills share these key features:

10% off when you subscribe: Life Fitness

Life Fitness F3 Is Known For:

The unique feature of the F3 treadmill is its convenient folding mechanism: this treadmill is suitable for anyone with a small workout space. After use, you can fold it away. It locks into place, so you can easily roll it to wherever you want to store it.

Life Fitness F3 Treadmill

Life Fitness T5 Is Known For:

The unique feature of the T5 Treadmill is its belt length. At 60 inches, this treadmill is suitable for both regular and taller runners.

Life Fitness T5 Treadmill

10% off when you subscribe: Life Fitness

Are Life Fitness Treadmills Good?

Yes, Life Fitness treadmills are excellent. They are known as one of the most reliable treadmills on the market and have excellent customer reviews on average.

Their treadmills have a lifetime warranty on the frame and shock absorbers which suggests they are quality products designed to give years of service.

Life Fitness Customer Reviews

Life Fitness treadmills score an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars from 51 ratings examined from 2 trusted consumer websites, Consumer Affairs, and John Lewis.

Reviewers liked the sleek and sophisticated look of Life Fitness treadmills. Some noted that the motor was so quiet they couldn’t hear it over the music in their earphones.

Most customers describe the treadmills as simple to set up and use. However, others said that they found the settings a little difficult to navigate.

Is Life Fitness a Good Brand?

Life Fitness has an excellent reputation in the fitness industry and is a reliable home treadmill brand. 

Their equipment is known to last for many years, and their confidence in their own products is shown by the long warranties they provide with their treadmills. 

Equally importantly, customer reviews show they deal with any problems arising under their warranty quickly and efficiently. 

Their treadmills don’t have modern features such as HD touchscreens. But in terms of providing a reliable treadmill that lasts for a number of years and that is capable of offering a challenging cardio workout, Life Fitness are one of the best (if not the best) brand on the market. 

Best price: NordicTrack

NordicTrack Review

What is NordicTrack 

Founded in 1975, NordicTrack is also an American exercise equipment company. They specialize in treadmills, ellipticals, exercise bikes, rowers, and more. Like Life Fitness, NordicTrack is a well-established brand with plenty of experience in making home exercise equipment. 

Key Features of NordicTrack Treadmills 

Both the X22i and 2950 treadmills share these key features:

Best price: NordicTrack x22i

The NordicTrack X22i Is Known For:

The unique feature of the X22i that makes it stand out from the rest of the treadmills in this review is its 40% incline capabilities. 

An incline of 40% is impressive, particularly from a relatively compact treadmill. It’s ideal for those looking for really tough workouts.

NordicTrack Treadmill x22i

Which NordicTrack Treadmill is Best?

If you’re looking for a treadmill suitable for intermediate to advanced users, then the X22i is the best option. With its wide range of incline and decline options, you can be sure it will get your heart pumping!

If you’re looking for a treadmill for beginner to intermediate users, then 2950 is probably the better choice. It still has good settings with up to a 15% incline and a 3% decline, but it’s not quite as aggressive as the 40% incline of the X22i.

The NordicTrack 2950 is also foldable, which makes it more convenient for home use. It comes with an EasyLift mechanism that folds the track up so that you can put the treadmill away between workouts. 

• NordicTrack Treadmill 2950
  
• NordicTrack Treadmill x22i

Best price: NordicTrack

NordicTrack Customer Reviews

NordicTrack scored 4.3 out of 5 stars from a total of 2,339 reviews on Amazon.

Any negative reviews were mainly due to poor customer service and unreliable shipping times. Others stated that their treadmills were faulty or that they broke quickly. 

Of the positive reviews, customers liked the different options offered by the settings on the treadmills. Some found that NordicTrack products were long-lasting, with a good quality motor. 

They also appreciated the variety of workouts available through iFit. 

Are NordicTrack Treadmills Good?

On the whole, NordicTrack has a good reputation. They do have a few negative customer reviews, mainly to do with their customer service. However, the majority of the 2,339 reviews on Amazon were positive. Most users were delighted with their purchase.

Several features really make Nordick Treadmills ideal for home use. The large touchscreens (14″ and 22″) combined with the 1-year family membership with iFit ensure your workouts are effective and fun. 

NordicTrack treadmills are unique in that they decline as well as incline to give you a more varied workout, while their compact size means they fit easily into most living spaces.

What Should I Look for When Buying a Treadmill? 

• Warranty:  The longer and more extensive the warranty, the better. Also, check to see that it covers the components that would be expensive or impossible, to replace.
• Price: Although it might seem like a bargain, buying a treadmill for under $1000 may end up being an expensive purchase. Cheap treadmills are likely to break more quickly than more expensive models. Also, they may not be as well-designed, so there is a danger they may not even give you an effective or safe workout.  
• Belt size: Ensure the belt is no narrower than 17/18 inches and that it is at least 50 inches long. This will allow for a long stride and the natural side-to-side movement of your feet as you run. 
• Speed and incline: Some treadmills are really only designed for walking, not serious running. Many do not incline at all. Check to see the speed and incline settings are sufficient to give you a complete workout.
• Motor: After the frame, the motor is probably the most expensive and important part of a treadmill. Check to see if the warranty covers it separately.
• Frame: Make sure it looks sturdy and has front rails. Life Fitness frames have a lifetime guarantee. 
• Emergency stop button: If you suddenly feel faint or unwell, an emergency stop button can save you from injury.
• Display: Look for a clear, easy-to-read display. Also, check that it displays the functions you are interested in.

Which is Better NordicTrack or Life Fitness?

Life Fitness and NordicTrack are both reliable names in the fitness industry. 

They produce high-quality treadmills, which give you a challenging cardio workout while also being small enough to fit into living spaces. 

Each have foldable treadmill models which can be stored upright and out of the way in living spaces.  

LifeFitness do offer a more extended warranty on their treadmills and have an excellent reputation for customer service from their users. 

So if reliability is your main concern, Life Fitness could be the best option to go with. 

They also have the most affordable model at $2,749 for the F3, although prices between their models vary greatly.

NordicTrack is better for those who want motivation through the large touchscreens that come with their treadmills. 

The 1-year free iFit membership means you get access to thousands of workouts, with different trainers around the world, through one treadmill. 

Their prices are also economical and only slightly more than the Life Fitness F3 at $2,999 across the models. 

NordicTrack also offer the most sophisticated incline options. Their x22i model allows for up to a 40% incline which is the highest we’ve seen. They also have decline options on both treadmills.  

Best price: NordicTrack

Should I Buy a Treadmill or Go to The Gym?

Whether at home or the gym, the CDC recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week. [1] This could be as little as 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. 

If you’re intimidated by gyms, a treadmill is a great way to stay active in the comfort of your own home. 

Some people, however, struggle to motivate themselves without a trainer, in which case treadmills such as the Nordic Models might be the best solution. 

They include the option of an iFit interactive trainer library to overcome this problem as you can follow along with a trainer. The treadmill comes with 1 year’s free membership. 

If you’re short of time, then a treadmill at home will save you the effort and hassle of going to the gym. It could save you money, too. You could make up for the cost of your treadmill by not paying for a gym membership.

Does a Treadmill Use a Lot of Electricity?

Modern treadmills do not use a lot of electricity. The motor only runs while you use it, and modern machines are very energy efficient. 

How Long Do Treadmills Last?

On average, treadmills last 7-12 years. When looked after properly, some treadmills can exceed this range, so again, they can be very cost-effective compared to a gym membership. 

Buying a treadmill is a significant financial investment, so you should feel confident about your purchase. If you’d rather try before you buy, you could always join a gym and see if a treadmill suits you and your goals. If it does, you can then cancel your membership and buy a treadmill for home use.

What is the Best Affordable Treadmill?

The Life Fitness F3 model is the cheapest treadmill of the four compared here at $2,749. It should be noted that this is for the base model. 

If you add the upgraded console, it pushes the price up to $3,199. This would make it more expensive than both the NordicTrack models, which cost $2,999 each.

What is the Most Reliable Treadmill for Home Use?

Based on customer reviews, Life Fitness is the most reliable brand in terms of long-term performance, responsive customer service, and warranties. 

What is the Best Brand of Treadmill for Home Use?

The Life Fitness F3 and the NordicTrack 2950 are the best treadmills for home use as they are foldable. 

This means that you can store the treadmill upright, making it take up less space in the home. 

Despite being compact and foldable, both treadmills still have high incline and speed settings. That way, they can give you a challenging workout from home.

However if you want to look at more brands you can also take a look at our article: 5 Best Treadmills for Small Spaces.

Life Fitness FAQs 

How long does a Life Fitness treadmill last?

The amount of time a Life Fitness treadmill lasts depends on how often and how intensely you use it. Life Fitness guarantees the frame and shock absorbers for life and the motor for 10 years.

Do Life Fitness treadmills weigh you?

Yes, Life Fitness treadmills weigh you in order to be energy efficient. Although your weight isn’t displayed, the motor adjusts to your weight. 

Do treadmills need maintenance?

Yes, treadmills need maintenance. They should be kept clean, and the belt occasionally lubricated and tightened. 

NordicTrack FAQs

Can I watch TV on my NordicTrack treadmill?

No, you can only watch the media provided through iFit, which has thousands of workout options in different locations around the world.

They provide free access to iFit workouts for 1-year so that you can start with those. However, you cannot connect the console to Netflix or other Internet content.