NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill Review

What is a treadmill review doing on a smart home/home network blog? The line between smart devices and regular devices becomes more blurred every day. Earlier this year I wrote a review of my Polar Vantage V sports watch, which also doubles as a smartwatch. Now, I’m writing a review of the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 treadmill, which is actually a smart treadmill that runs Android and connects to the Internet. It’s a pricy purchase, but is it worth it? Read on and see my thoughts and make your decision.

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NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Specs

This treadmill comes with a complimentary 1-year subscription to iFit family. I’ll explain more about iFit later.

Background

I’ve been a runner since my late 20s. In fact, I used to run marathons and half-marathons regularly. I was competitive enough to win a few races back then. Those days are long past (I last ran a half marathon in 2017) but I still run for fitness. I’d like to say I run for fun, but that’s not really true.

I’ve had a treadmill for about 13 years. Even when I was an avid runner, I never really liked running in the cold. I also prefer to do interval work on a treadmill. Recently, my treadmill bit the dust. The motor stopped working, and it had gotten really loud. Time for a new treadmill.

What I looked for in a treadmill

I decided a long time ago that any appliance or exercise equipment I purchase will have some kind of smart capabilities or connectivity. Why should the treadmill be any different? Other things I was looking for:

• Cushioned running surface. I’m a larger runner and as I get older it’s nice to take things easier on the knees.
• Ability to fold up. The treadmill is in a small room that I use as a gym. It’s nice to have some of the space back when not using the treadmill.
• Good motor. At least 3 HP. A stronger motor will last longer.
• Heart rate monitor compatibility. I do a lot of heart rate-based workouts. Not a huge deal as I can track my heart rate on my watch or phone, though.
• Ability to download running programs. This helps make running on a treadmill a little less dull.
• 5 GHz wireless capability. I would like it to use a strong WiFi signal without all the interference on the 2.4Ghz spectrum.
• Ability to track multiple users. My wife will use the treadmill too, and maybe my sons.

Most importantly, I want it to be reliable and last as long as my last treadmill did.

Other treadmills I considered and why I chose the NordicTrack

I considered a few other treadmills in my search including other NordicTrack models:

• Sole F80 – This treadmill is priced similarly to the NordicTrack and another popular option for home gym users. Most of the features are the same, but the Sole F80 has a slightly smaller motor (3.5 HP) and lacks a decline running setting. Despite having the same size running belt it is significantly longer (82″) which made me worry about whether or not it would fit in the tight spot I’ll be placing my treadmill. The screen (not a touch screen) seems antiquated compared to the NordicTrack, and you need a phone or tablet to use more than basic custom workouts.
• Sole F63 – This is a less expensive but still popular version of the Sole F80. It has a smaller motor (3.0 HP) and a smaller screen (6.5″ instead of 9″). Other than that, it’s mostly the same.
• Bowflex BXT216 – It generally runs a little more than the NordicTrack, and is a little bigger. It has a more powerful 4 HP motor. However, It only has a 9″ screen that isn’t a touchscreen, although it does include a tablet holder. It’s interactive workouts rely on you using an app on a phone or tablet instead of being built-in. And it doesn’t come with a deal on the subscription to that app.
• Proform 5000 – This treadmill is extremely similar to the Nordictrack 1750. It has the same power motor, same size screen, and same iFit capabilities. It usually runs a little less than the NordicTrack. One thing it is missing is the adjustable cushioning for running. Also, I prefer the vertical button layout on the NordicTrack to the horizontal buttons on the Proform.
• NordicTrack 2450 – I also considered the NordicTrack 2450 as a step-up model. It costs more but is mostly the same. The biggest differences are a larger 14″ touchscreen and a stronger 4.0 HP motor.

Ultimately, I decided on the NordicTrack 1750 because it had the best reviews, my previous treadmill that served me well was a NordicTrack, and I like its combination of features and price.

NordicTrack Commercial 1750 assembly and set up

Another impact of COVID-19 is NordicTrack no longer offering white glove delivery. They used to have a service where they would deliver the treadmill to the room of your choice and assemble it. Now they only offer delivery into your door.

I decided to buy it from Amazon because it was actually in stock, and, at the time NordicTrack did not have it in stock. Since NordicTrack didn’t have the white glove delivery there was no real advantage in buying from them. Amazon has a special delivery service that I figured would be just as good as NordicTrack’s.

When the Amazon delivery guys got here, I paid them extra (in cash) to take the treadmill to my basement. They happily obliged. It’s 315 lbs! It would have been really difficult to get it there myself!

I thought about assembling it myself, but I decided to pay a 3rd party specializing in assembly. You can also use Amazon Home Services for assembly. That probably saved me a lot of time and frustration. NordicTrack has videos and great instructions (they say it takes about 90 minutes), but I’m a busy man.

I spent about 15 minutes running on it and adjusting the tightness of the running belt to prevent slippage. That’s fairly typical of setting up a treadmill. After that, it was ready for use!

NordicTrack Use

Using the NordicTrack took a little time but was mostly straight forward. I set up my complimentary iFit account online. I then went to the treadmill and connected it up to my 5 GHz WiFi network. It seemed to have a strong radio and indicated the WiFi signal was strong. I have an older Roku Express in the same room that sometimes struggles with WiFi. The Roku only supports 2.4 GHz signals, however.

I then logged into the treadmill with my iFit account. I also sent my wife an invite to create an iFit account and she added her profile to the treadmill. It’s nice that it supports multiple profiles.

Note: You can use the treadmill without an iFit membership. The treadmill has 50 programs built-in, and you can always just use the manual program.

iFit offers several programs, allows you to create your own courses, and allows you to compete in Peleton like competitions with other online users. You can access all your workout details in the app or online. It’s quite nice. It’s actually an entire ecosystem of apps and exercise equipment. You can learn a lot more about it here. I didn’t think I’d use it much, but I have actually found it fun to make my own courses, look at the scenery, listen to some of the trainers as I train, and complete programs (series in iFit). I don’t know if I’ll keep paying after my free trial is over, but I might.

The screen is beautiful, especially when you are using one of the scenic running programs. 10″ is definitely enough for me. I’m glad I didn’t splurge for a model with a larger screen. Totally unnecessary. The touchscreen is responsive but not quite as responsive as your phone. But it gets the job done.

The treadmill is really just an android device running a custom launcher and app. I’m sure there are all kinds of opportunities to hack it, but that’s for another day.

Using the hydraulics to lower the treadmill from its folded position is a nice touch. Unfortunately, there is no hydraulic assist for raising it. Running on the treadmill is a pleasant and relatively quiet experience. The adjustable cushion is nice for my old joints.

Final thoughts

So far, I’m happy with the NordicTrack 1750. My more competitive running days are over and I never really liked running outside in the cold, so having a treadmill to help me stay in shape is important. I’m enjoying iFit and we’ll see over time if it is worth it. More importantly, the treadmill is comfortable, easy to use, has many features, and I hope it will last a long time. If it does, it is definitely worth the purchase for my family and me.