Quick Summary
Designed for a wide range of skill levels and body types, the NordicTrack Elite 12.9 elliptical is a top recommendation for many shoppers with a $1,299 budget in mind.
It offers a stride range of 20″ to 21″, a smooth and heavy drive, a touch screen for navigating workouts and the Internet, and other high quality specs that say “Bring me home!”
Learn more from our full review of the NordicTrack Elite 12.9 below.
Our Rating
Rating: 89.5/100. The Elite 12.9 is one of NordicTrack’s highest quality front drive elliptical trainers, yet it’s sale priced at just $1,299 online. (Full retail price is $2,299.) This elliptical for home gyms is inspired by those made for health clubs. Examples of its higher quality components are a 32-pound drive and a 20″ to 21″ stride, which changes with incline. These features add to the price but help make the Elite 12.9 a comfortable ride with just the right amount of challenge for most trainees.
The Elite 12.9 elliptical console is equipped with newer tech. A full color 7″ touch screen serves as the control center for workouts, plus the touch screen has an Android web browser. The console also has a tablet computer holder, iPod compatibility and a large workout fan.
Here are points to consider before bringing the Elite 12.9 home.
Pros:
- 32-pound flywheel
- 26 resistance levels
- Silent Magnetic Resistance (SMR™)
- 20″ to 21″ stride, depending on the incline (Likely ideal unless you’re short or very tall)
- Power incline of 0 degrees to 20 degrees
- Resistance and incline controls on handlebars
- 35 built-in workouts
- iFit-enabled
- Full color 7″ touch screen to show workouts and data
- Web browser
- iPod-compatible (2″ speakers)
- Wireless heart rate monitor (Chest strap included)
- Water bottle holder
- Long warranties on parts and labor
Cons:
- NordicTrack’s customer service often gets low marks from customers
- Not a SpaceSaver although it has transport wheels (Footprint is 80.25″ L x 25.75″ W)
Introduction
With it’s new sale price the NordicTrack Elite 12.9 is a top elliptical among the $1,299 options. Inspired by club quality elliptical trainers, it supports an ergonomic 20″ to 21″ stride and offers smooth resistance from one of NordicTrack’s heaviest drives. Most adults will find that the Elite 12.9 is a great fit in terms of stride length, weight capacity, smooth performance and challenge.
Besides having high quality performance, the Elite 12.9 shows off NordicTrack’s latest tech for workouts and entertainment: an iFit-enabled console, iPod-compatibility, a touch screen with web browser, and more.
Workout Programs
The NordicTrack Elite 12.9 is preloaded with 35 workouts. Each was designed by a certified personal trainer and looks great on the console’s 7″ full-color touch screen display. These programs make it easy to get a smart training session by automating the elliptical machine’s magnetic resistance and incline. They fall into four categories: Ramp, Calorie, Intensity and Performance.
For unlimited workout variety the Elite 12.9 is iFit-enabled. Using the console’s 7″ touch screen you can access iFit’s ever-growing library of high definition video workouts, which feature world-class personal trainers. With iFit you can also download a new and custom-tailored personal trainer workout every day. Most exciting though for many trainees is iFit’s Google Maps™ feature. The Elite 12.9’s touch screen can show an interactive Google Street View for any route you draw, plus the elliptical will change its incline to simulate the landscape.
iFit subscriptions cost $99/year and each allows four user profiles.
NordicTrack Elite 12.9 Features
This NordicTrack Elite elliptical has a 20″ to 21″ stride. It isn’t power adjustable but shortens as the incline increases, just like your own natural stride.
The flywheel weighs 32 pounds, which is robust for such a feature-rich $1,299 elliptical trainer, and is part of a quiet magnetic resistance system. You can choose from 26 resistance levels. To add more resistance, adjust the automated incline by up to 20 degrees. This feature helps you avoid fitness plateaus! Benefits of incline training include a metabolic boost and targeted muscle toning.
The digitally controlled incline makes this elliptical an especially good match for iFit Google Maps™ training.
The control center for workouts and entertainment is a 7″ touch screen. It’s the full color display for built-in workouts, downloaded iFit workouts and other iFit features. The touch screen also has an Android web browser.
For heart rate monitoring the Elite 12.9 is compatible with a wireless chest strap, which is included. It also has contact heart rate sensors on the handlebars.
The NordicTrack Elite 12.9 is compatible with iPods and other MP3 players. It has a port and Intermix Acoustics 2.0 speakers.
Warranty & Guarantee
The NordicTrack Elite 12.9 elliptical warranty is an especially consumer-friendly companion for a $1,299 product. It includes:
– Frame: Lifetime
– Parts: 5 Years
– Labor: 2 Years
NordicTrack also includes a 30-day money back guarantee.
Conclusion
On sale for $1,299 the NordicTrack Elite 12.9 is a best buy elliptical for many shoppers. It’s the complete package with high quality basics, modern tech for training and entertainment, and a long warranty.