I reviewed the NordicTrack X 10 Nordic Track X10 which now seems to be sold on Craig’s list! I have had so much experience with companies changing a name but not a product or doing something very small to make it a whole new piece. Since Jillian Michaels is all over the Internet selling the Nordic Track X3 I decided to track (no pun intended) it down and see what it is all about. The fact is this machine is very different than the X10 so I am not going to compare them. Nordic Track calls this the X3 Interactive.

What is an Incline Trainer?

An incline trainer is not any different than a treadmill except that its specialty is allowing you to walk or climb uphill. The X3 translates to a 40% incline. Just to understand this, a 100% incline would be straight up as in rock climbing. At 75% you would have to hold on.

NordicTrack online has a deal. Rather than the $2500 it retails for you can get it for $1600. That is really a super price because this is one heck of a treadmill.

Walking uphill is very efficient, for example, to walk uphill on a treadmill for 20 minutes I burn more calories even on a treadmill without this kind of incline in one half an hour with a 20% incline that I do walking at 3.8 miles for an hour! You know if you have been on a treadmill watching how many calories you burn per hour that as soon as you increase the degree of incline, the calories per hour goes up as does your heart rate.

The features:

There are a number of things I first look at when I see a piece of equipment. I notice if it has a bottle holder. I have come across machines without them and this one has two integrated holders.

The X3's belt is 20 by 54 inches. I would like it a bit longer but this is in the acceptable range. We are told that the impact on our joints will be reduced by 15%. I really don’t feel an impact on the Incline Trainer – one of the reasons I like it so much.

So I am on the Incline Trainer and have to get used to the console. You’ll find a fan that comes to about my belly and very long handles which come in handy because you can hold onto them at any place.

The heart rate monitor is at the top of the handles. I found my heart rate to show up quickly. You can buy a chest strap for your heart rate if you want.

The X3 showed me my workout in 3-D which was very cool. They call this a Grafixx display which gave me my time, speed, distance, feet climbed, calories burned, and calories per hour burned. You watch yourself work your way up a virtual mountainside. You get nine workout programs that control the speed and incline. This machine is quite easy to use. Just press 1 to 9 and get a workout!

There is also Random Trail Generator which takes parts of the nine built-in workouts and rearranges them into new exercises. This is really a unique concept. Nine workouts don’t sound like a lot but on this machine it is.

It has a one step power incline which I also like. If I am walking at 3 miles an hour and want to go to 4 rather than pressing the up arrow, which is what is usually done, I just press 4 and it immediately jumps to 4. It is a really neat feature.

The machine has a weight capacity of 300 pounds. It weighs 215 pounds. It is approximately 68 inches high by 38 inches wide by 57 inches long.

The NordicTrack X3 has a lifetime warranty for the motor and frame and one year on parts and labor.

This machine does not fold.

It comes with iFit technology which are little cards that go into the machine and you’ll hear a personal trainer tell you what to do. It also has an iPod port.


My final thoughts:

This is one amazing machine and I am giving it 5 stars because the workout at an incline is great. It has a lot of features and is reasonably priced. Buy an extended warranty. If you get a 3-year warranty you’ll get two free iFit cards.

Recommended: Yes