NordicTrack FS14i

Quick Summary

The NordicTrack FS14i is the brand’s top-of-the-line FreeStride Trainer, a series of center-drive ellipticals that offer a versatile range of workout options. They feature the rotational motion of an elliptical, with the ability to modify the stride. It’s much like having an elliptical and stepper in one. So, what sets the FS14i apart from its predecessors? The main differences come down to the size of the touchscreen (it’s the biggest screen in the series), and the addition of power decline (which not all models have). Then there is the price difference between this unit and the others in the series. Although the FS14i has a few upgrades, it costs $1,000 more than the similar FS10i. We aren’t 100% convinced the upgrades are worth this leap in price, but this really comes down to what features you prioritize. Check out our detailed review of the FS14i below.

Specifications

Model	NordicTrack FS14i
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.	$3,299
Best Price Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the best price we've found.	$3999
Resistance Resistance is what determines calories burned per stride. The more levels, the more precisely you can control the difficulty.	26
Resistance Type The type of resistance affects the performance of your elliptical. Magnetic and Eddy-Current are the most common types.	Magnetic
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).	32”
Pedals Elliptical pedals can be cushioned and adjustable for maximum comfort and minimum impact on joints for injury prevention.	Cushioned & Oversized
Incline Some elliptical trainers can be set at an incline to increase difficulty and burn more calories.	-10% to 10%
Flywheel The flywheel controls the smoothness and resistance of your workout. In general, the higher the better.	20 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.	Bluetooth Enabled
Display Elliptical Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	14” Smart HD 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).	58.5" L x 29.5" W x 74" H
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: 10 Years Parts: 2 Years Labor: 1 Year

Our Rating

Rating: 91%

Although the FS14i has the biggest touchscreen in the NordicTrack FreeStride Series—as well as a few other benefits such as more resistance levels and the addition of power decline—we aren’t sure whether these features are worth the price leap when looking at the other models in the series. The FS7i, FS10i and the FS14i all feature a center 20-pound drive, 32″ auto-adjustable stride, and the same 58.5″ L x 29.5″ W x 74″ H footprint. They also can all hold up to 375 pounds. The FS14i has a couple more resistance levels than the other models—26 as opposed to 24—so this does give you slightly more variation in terms of challenge level. The FS14i wins on account of being the most immersive workout experience in the series because it has the largest HD touchscreen: 14” as opposed to the FS10‘s 10″ or the FS7i‘s 7″ screen. The FS14i’s bigger screen makes the iFit training experience much more immersive. The console itself is sleeker and more modern in design too.

Tune into iFit on the HD touchscreen and enjoy a whole year of the membership for free. The aspect that sets the iFit training on this unit apart from the FS7i and FS10i is the addition of power decline. Whereas the other FreeStride Trainers have 10% incline, the FS14i adds 10% decline into the mix (like the FS9i which is currently out of stock). This works wonders with iFit, and can really take your training up a notch. As well as helping you to target different muscles during your iFit workouts—as your iFit trainer will automatically control your incline and decline to push you to the limit—the addition of the decline feature is really fun to use with Google Maps trails and outdoor iFit trails as the incline/decline matches the landscape you are exploring. Dig deeper into the pros and cons of the FS14i below.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

Touchscreen: The 14″ HD touchscreen allows you to immerse yourself in iFit.
Incline/Decline: The power incline and decline means you can target a range of muscle groups, while being a fun and motivational feature to use in iFit routines.
Low-Impact: It allows you to exercise while being kind to your joints.
Bluetooth: There is Bluetooth audio and connectivity for Bluetooth-enabled heart-rate monitoring (iFit chest strap included).
iFit: Huge range of on-demand and now live iFit classes available, with a free membership for a year.
Drive Design: Center drive means that it’s easy to stay balanced.
Multi-Purpose: It’s like an elliptical and stepper in one, which means there’s a good diversity of workouts. The moving handlebars allow for total-body workouts.
Adjustable: The 32″ adjustable stride allows for three workout styles.
Quiet: The 26 levels of Silent Magnetic Resistance are smooth and quiet.
Audio: Enjoy Bluetooth-enabled audio through the set of built-in speakers.
Tablet Holder: There’s a pivoting integrated tablet holder if you want to dock your device and watch shows.

Cons:

Price: Compared to the other machines in the series, there is a big price leap.
Stride: Switching between stride lengths isn’t easy when you’re in a workout, so it may be best to choose one workout style per session.
Flywheel: Although the 20-pound flywheel is OK, this is a lighter maximum resistance compared to other standard NordicTrack ellipticals.

Introduction

If you’re looking for a machine to help you shed some pounds but you want to be kind to your joints, you’re on the right track with a FreeStride trainer. These versatile machines are ideal for low-impact workouts, and with the addition of touchscreens and iFit, are a really fun tool to torch calories and tone up from home. What’s more, they are multi-purpose machines. This is more than ideal for a home-gym machine, because it allows you to try a variety of workouts from one machine. You won’t have to sacrifice too much space in your home, as in this case you get a stepper and an elliptical in one. The FS14i adds power decline into the mix to diversify your workouts further, as well as a large 14″ touchscreen for immersive iFit workouts. Learn more about the workout programs, features, and buyer protections below.

Workout Programs

Although there is no mention on the FS14i brand page about onboard workout programming, there are around 35 programs built in to use alongside iFit. This is a plus as it means that when your free year-long trial of iFit ends, you will still have a handful of workouts at your fingertips which are free for life. iFit will allow you to try a huge range of workouts, from outdoor trails with world-leading trainers to off-machine yoga workouts in exotic landscapes across the world. They have just added live workouts into the mix too, so there is a new schedule you can add into your calendar each week. Then there are the Google Maps workouts, where you can explore landscapes across the world. As with all iFit machines, the 10% incline and decline of this machine is automatically controlled by the iFit trainer or outdoor trail you are exploring. It’s an immersive and motivating workout experience.

NordicTrack FS14i Features

Much like the rest of the NordicTrack FreeStride lineup, the FS14i has a center-drive elliptical design which helps to promote balance. It also means the footprint of the machine is kept small. At 58.5″ long by 29.5″ wide, it’s a compact machine that will fit most home gym spaces. Yet it’s still a sturdy model with a solid steel construction that can hold up to 375 pounds. Like the other trainers in the series, this model features a 20 Lb. inertia-enhanced flywheel and NordicTrack’s SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance, however this unit has 26 levels of resistance rather than 24 like the FS7i and FS10i. This gives you a bit more variety in terms of challenge level. The FreeStride machines are unique because of their adjustable stride length, which has an adjustment range of 32 inches. This allows you to try a wider variety of workout styles on the machine, as well as accommodating for different user heights.

Out of all the FreeStride trainers, this unit provides the most immersive iFit experience on account of its 14″ high definition touchscreen. This allows for easy navigation between workouts and an immersive workout experience. You can also enjoy Bluetooth-enabled audio through the machine’s pair of 2″ speakers. Then there is the addition of the power decline (which not all models in the series have). As well as being a fun feature to use alongside iFit outdoor trails, it’s ideal for targeting different muscle groups. The package also includes an iFit Bluetooth chest strap for you to accurately track your heart rate during routines.

Warranty & Guarantee

The NordicTrack FS14i warranty includes:

– Frame: 10 Years

– Parts: 2 Years

– Labor: 1 Year

NordicTrack gives a 30-day money-back guarantee on all home fitness machines too.

Conclusion

Although the NordicTrack FS14i is NordicTrack’s top-of-the-line FreeStride Trainer, we wouldn’t say that it is the best-value model in the series. When comparing it to the other models in the series, the FS14i does have a bigger touchscreen and the addition of power decline. But this all comes at a price. The FS14i costs $1,000 more than the FS10i. If you are stuck between which FreeStride trainer to purchase, think about what features you prioritize the most. Is it a larger touchscreen for iFit workouts? If so, the FS14i could be a solid purchase. There is no denying that it is a high quality machine with top-spec tech and features. You won’t get bored of training on it. We just think the other models in the series such as the FS10i or the FS7i (or even a different style NordicTrack elliptical) offer a lot more bang for your buck.