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NordicTrack C 12.9 Review

Quick Summary

The new NordicTrack C 12.9 Elliptical is built for home exercise with club-quality training. It mixes a high-end resistance system with training programs for all ability levels and intensities, including a choice of 35 on-board routines and unlimited unique workouts downloaded from iFit Coach. The 7” touchscreen is high-def to optimize iFit’s footage of interactive trails, and the monitor also lets you surf the web. See details below in our full NordicTrack C 12.9 review.

Specifications

Model NordicTrack C 12.9
Rating

Our custom rating considers all of the elliptical's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!

91%
List Price

Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.

$1,599
Best Price

Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the best price we've found.

$1,299
Resistance

Resistance is what determines calories burned per stride. The more levels, the more precisely you can control the difficulty.

26 Levels
Resistance Type

The type of resistance affects the performance of your elliptical. Magnetic and Eddy-Current are the most common types.

Silent Magnetic Resistance
Stride Length

Stride Length is important for comfort and smooth strides. A stride length of 18-21 inches is ideal for most heights (5'3 - 6'7).

18" - 20"
Pedals

Elliptical pedals can be cushioned and adjustable for maximum comfort and minimum impact on joints for injury prevention.

Adjustable & Oversized
Incline

Some elliptical trainers can be set at an incline to increase difficulty and burn more calories.

0-20 degrees
Flywheel

The flywheel controls the smoothness and resistance of your workout. In general, the higher the better.

32 lbs.
Programs

Elliptical Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.

35
User Profiles

For each profile the elliptical allows, you can create a custom user account with saved programs and goal settings.

1 User
Heart Rate

Heart Rate programs allow you to track how many times your heart is beating per minute (bpm), and some control the workout for you.

Wireless heart rate monitor
Display

Elliptical Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.

7" Web-Enabled Color Touchscreen
Max. Weight

Max User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that it can safely support, which can represent durability.

375 lbs
Dimensions

Dimensions are included to help you figure out if this elliptical will fit properly (Length x Width x Height and Height x Depth).

80.25" x 26" x 64.5"
Upper Body

Most ellipticals have handles to hold while you're working out that provide an upper body workout.

Accessory Tray

Some ellipticals include an accessory tray for holding items such as water bottles, wallets, keys, or MP3 players like iPods.

Speakers

Ellipticals that include a sound system allow you to listen to your MP3 player/iPod through built-in speakers (without headphones).

Cooling Fans

Cooling Fans are designed to help keep you cool during an intense workout on your elliptical.

Folding?

Some ellipticals are designed to conserve space by folding up. This is a convenient option, but some features might be reduced.

Quick Controls

Quick Controls allow you to select speed, incline and even workout programs with the touch of a button (usually on the handles).

Warranty

The warranty is an important part of your investment. The longer the warranty, the longer you can get free/discounted repairs.

Frame: Lifetime
Parts: 5 Years
Labor: 2 Years

Rating: 91%

Our Rating

Rating: 91/100. A high quality option from NordicTrack, the new C 12.9 Elliptical makes it easy to follow through on fitness goals. For motivation its best feature is the iFit Coach-enabled touchscreen. The screen is 7 inches wide, has a web browser as well as iFit Coach, and can show content in high definition. Also included for motivation is a sound system; plug in your iPod or other MP3 player to stream music through dual speakers.

Who can benefit from this elliptical? No matter what your fitness level, the C 12.9 can deliver comfortable and effective training sessions for years. Its 32-pound drive and 20 degree power ramp leave little chance of reaching fitness plateaus! Besides that, this fitness machine is sized comfortably for all but the tallest and heaviest trainees. Stride lengths can be power-adjusted between 18 and 20 inches, and the user weight capacity is 375 pounds.

Here are pros and cons to consider about buying the new NordicTrack C 12.9 updated for 2018.

Pros:

  • Quick assembly
  • Full color HD 7″ touchscreen
  • Enabled for iFit Coach 24/7 personal training
  • Android web browser
  • 35 built-in workouts
  • Tablet computer holder with adjustable angle
  • 32-pound flywheel
  • 26 resistance levels
  • Power-adjustable stride from 18″ to 20″
  • Tilted pedals for good ergonomics
  • Automated incline from zero to 20 degrees
  • Resistance and incline controls on handlebars
  • Moving arm bars with soft grips
  • iPod-compatible (2″ speakers)
  • Wireless heart rate monitor (Chest strap included)
  • Water bottle holder
  • AutoBreeze™ workout fan
  • Transport wheels
  • Five-year parts warranty
  • Two-year labor warranty

Cons:

  • Not compact or foldable for storage
  • Slow customer service is often reported in NordicTrack customer reviews
  • Purchase requires a one-year subscription to iFit Coach, whereas other NordicTrack ellipticals let you pay monthly or skip customized training altogether

Introduction

A best buy elliptical machine, the NordicTrack C 12.9 with iFit Coach has the ergonomics, programming and power to serve almost any home gym user. Its weight capacity is nearly 375 pounds, and an adjustable footpath helps make striding comfortable whether you’re short, medium-height or tall. A 7” touchscreen on the console connects you with iFit Coach personal training, which includes custom-tailored workout programs among other benefits. Below are details about workout programming, other features and the standard warranty.

Workout Programs

The NordicTrack C 12.9 has 35 built-in workouts. For 2018 it’s also packaged with a one-year subscription to iFit Coach, so with WiFi you can download a new workout to the machine anytime.

iFit Coach is an all-in-one personal training app. You can download iFit Coach to your phone for 24/7 fitness support, plus the app is included on the C 12.9 and other NordicTrack ellipticals. During your elliptical exercise sessions iFit Coach is most useful for delivering high-end workout programs that keep you motivated to keep training. You can try a new workout program anytime, including programs created with celebrity personal trainers and/or interactive landscape footage. One favorite option is drawing your own Google Maps route, then virtually taking the path with your elliptical trainer! Away from the 12.9, iFit Coach can help count your daily steps, make diet suggestions and otherwise work like a dedicated “real-life” fitness coach.

As for the 35 built-in workout programs, each was designed by a certified personal trainer to control the 12.9’s resistance and incline. They fall into four goal categories: Incline, Calorie, Speed and Heart Rate Control. Heart rate control workouts help you exercise at a constant cardio exertion level. The elliptical machine reads your pulse data from a wireless chest strap (included) and adjusts the challenge if needed. During any workout program for the NordicTrack 12.9, you can change the settings using handlebar-based controls. You can return to the programmed resistance by tapping “Resume Program” on the touchscreen.

NordicTrack C 12.9 Features

The NordicTrack C 12.9 elliptical has a power-adjustable stride path range of 18 to 20 inches. Along with adjustable angle for your foot position, this feature helps just about anyone use their natural gait while getting ultra low-impact exercise.

The flywheel weighs 32 pounds and offers 26 resistance levels. The settings range from very light to very strong, so the C 12.9 is a great match for beginners as well as very strong and experienced elliptical trainees.

Power incline is included to help you target different muscle groups and increase your metabolic rate. The maximum angle is a dramatic 20 degrees.

The control center is a full color 7″ touch screen with high-def resolution. This screen can show 35 preset workouts, iFit Coach workouts and the Internet. Also included is a secure holder for your tablet computer. It has adjustable angle so you can get a great view of your favorite apps as you exercise.

For heart rate monitoring the C 12.9 arrives with a chest strap, which can send a constant reading to the touchscreen. The elliptical also has CardioGrip™ heart rate sensors on the handlebars.

NordicTrack ellipticals are iPod-compatible. The C 12.9 has a plug-in port and 2″ stereo speakers.

Warranty & Guarantee

The NordicTrack C 12.9 Elliptical warranty includes these protections:

– Frame: Lifetime

– Parts: 5 Years

– Labor: 2 Years

The manufacturer also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Conclusion

On sale the new C 12.9 with iFit Coach is easily a best buy in its price class. You can expect comfortable motion, just-right resistance, and enjoyable training programs. The competitive warranty, which includes five year of parts and two years for labor, helps make it a wise buy for shoppers with plans for long-term home fitness.

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