Wondering if the NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical is the perfect elliptical for crushing your health and fitness goals? Follow along for our hands-on review of this studio-grade elliptical machine for home gyms.
The NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical is a beast of a machine that is perfect for doing online classes and workouts with its 7” HD touchscreen.
Even though the Commercial 9.9 has the word “commercial” in its name, there is nothing commercial about its pricing, coming in at under $1,000.
But is the Commercial 9.9 elliptical the right elliptical for you and your workout goals?
In this review, we take the NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical for a hands-on ride.
We’ll look at the things we really liked about this machine, some things that could be improved, and compare it to other NordicTrack ellipticals and the competition.
By the end, you will be armed with all the information necessary to buy with total confidence.
Let’s jump right in.
NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical – Key Specs
- Price: $999
- Screen: 7” touchscreen
- Stride length: 17.5” to 18.7”
- Incline: Power adjustable up to 20-degrees
- Flywheel: 25lb
- Footprint: 68.3” long x 28.8” wide x 68.5” high
- Machine weight: 244lb
- Max user rating: 350lb
- Warranty: 10 years (frame), 2 years (parts), 1 year (labor)
NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical – The Pros
Here are the key things that make the Commercial 9.9 Elliptical stand apart from other trainers on the market:
HD touchscreen.
When it comes to the best ellipticals under $1,000, one trend is that they almost ALL have basic, LCD backlit displays.
While this may have been the standard for years, with the advent of trainer-led classes, streaming, and all the rest, the expectations for screens have increased significantly. (We can largely thank Peloton for this development!)
The NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 has a beautiful 7” HD touchscreen that is awesome for incorporating iFIT classes and workout programs into your training regimen.
Of course, if you just want to stick to the basics, the 9.9 offers all of the standard workouts on the console, including manual and quick-start programs.
Here is how the NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 compares to other ellipticals in its price bracket in terms of screens:
EllipticalPriceScreen Type
NordicTrack Commercial 9.9$9997” HD touchscreen
Sole Fitness E25$1,0996.5” backlit LCD
Horizon 7.0 AE Elliptical$8495” LCD
Nautilus E618 Elliptical$9995” LCD (plus a mini LCD)
Schwinn 470 Elliptical$1,0996” LCD
The most comfortable foot pedals of any elliptical I’ve ever used.
I’ve tested and “strode” on just about every elliptical trainer on the market over the years, both in my home gym, local neighborhood gyms, and at showrooms for the most popular elliptical brands (including NordicTrack).
The cushioning on the foot pedals on the Commercial 9.9 is hands-down the most comfortable pedals I’ve ever used.
In my case, this is particularly important as I deal with the occasional bout of rheumatoid arthritis in my toe joints, which means that on days where my feet are sore and flaring up, I can rely on the soft cushioning of the elliptical to keep me on track with my fitness goals.
Awesome for doing online classes
The NordicTrack series of ellipticals are almost all designed to be used with iFIT, which is a killer online programming that has something like 17,000 (!) different workouts and classes.
Some of the workouts are trainer-led, which means if you love doing classes, the 9.9 elliptical is a great choice, and some of the workouts are more of the “quick start” variety where you pick a workout and get to work.
One of the things I especially like about iFIT is that the subscription includes workouts designed to be done off the elliptical: yoga, strength training, cross-training, and even cycling, treadmill, and walking programs for people who have multiple cardio machines at home.
With the size of the screen, and the interactive programming of iFIT, you’ve got a wild amount of variety and workout options at your disposal.
Excellent ride for a price-friendly elliptical
The NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical is priced very competitively—at just $999.
While this doesn’t make it a super budget-friendly option–there are significantly cheaper ellipticals on the market like the Schwinn 411 and Sunny Health E905 Elliptical–the Commercial 9.9 is stil a value pick because it rides like a studio-grade elliptical.
The smooth ride is thanks to a heavy-duty 25lb flywheel and a beefy 244lb frame that provides exceptional stability. No wobbling or teetering here.
The 9.9 is also rated for users up to 350lb, similar to its big brother, the NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 Elliptical.
Easy to move
Even though the 9.9 is a heavyweight when it comes to the poundage, it’s easy to move. The machine has two castor wheels at the front of the frame and a thick handle at the back.
Because the 9.9 is a front drive elliptical, and most of the weight is loaded at the front, it is relatively easy to tilt up and wheel around your home gym despite weighing nearly 250lbs.
NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical – The Cons
I have one primary beef to pick with the Commercial 9.9, despite its superior ride, comfy pedals and reasonable price point.
iFIT subscription expires after one month.
The NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 is built to be used with iFIT, one of the best online training platforms for classes and workouts.
The machine comes with a free month of iFIT, which expires after 30 days online unless you sign up to continue, which ranges in cost from $396/year for an annual family plan to $180/year for individuals.
Why does this grind my gears?
One of the perks of buying a cardio machine for weight loss is that you save the recurring cost of a gym membership. If you continue with the iFIT subscription after the first month, you basically negate the cost-savings benefit of working out at home.
Like many of the other latest elliptical trainers on the market, the 9.9 is basically a vehicle for selling a subscription service.
NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 vs. Commercial 14.9
NordicTrack has two ellipticals in its light commercial line-up, the 9.9 and the 14.9. They share many of the same features, including stride length and maximum user weight.
The main differences between the Commercial 9.9 and 14.9 include the latter having a screen that is twice the size (14” vs 7”), more resistance levels (26 vs 22), and significantly heavier flywheel (32lb vs 25lb).
Bigger users will like the added stability of the heavier flywheel on the 14.9, and people who really like doing online classes will get a kick out of the huge screen on the 14.9.
Here is a quick look at the key differences between the two:
Commercial 9.9Commercial 14.9
Price$999$1,799
Screen7” HD touchscreen14” HD touchscreen
Stride length17.5” to 18.7”17.5″ to 18.7″
Resistance levels2226
Flywheel25lb32lb
Max user weight350lb350lb
These two ellipticals are the closest in terms of features from the NordicTrack line-up.
NordicTrack also sells folding ellipticals (the SpaceSaver 7Ei and SpaceSaver 9Ei) and center-drive ellipticals (NordicTrack Freestride FS14i and Freestride FS10i).
For a more comprehensive look at all of their ellipticals, check out this guide to the best NordicTrack elliptical trainers.
NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical vs the Competition
While there are plenty of ellipticals in the $1k range, there are two ellipticals that are especially competitive in terms of features and ride.
They are the Sole Fitness E25 and the Nautilus E618 elliptical.
Here is how these two machines stack up against the Commercial 9.9:
NordicTrack 9.9Sole E25Nautilus E618
Price$999$1,099$999
Screen7” HD touchscreen6.5” LCD6” LCD
Stride length17.5” to 18.7”20”22”
Power inclineYesYesYes
Flywheel25lb20lb30lb
Max user weight350lb350lb350lb
Where to buy@ NordicTrack.com@ SoleFitness.com@ Nautilus.com
NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical – FAQs
How hard is it to put together the NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 elliptical trainer?
The 9.9 took me about 90-minutes to put it together by myself.
My experience is unique in the sense that I’ve put together a lot of ellipticals over the years, both in commercial gym settings as well as with cardio machines in my own home gym, but the assembly manual will make it simple for novices to cardio machine assembly.
The assembly manual for the Commercial 9.9 is exceptionally clear and detailed; each step is broken down.
One of the absolute banes of my existence is unpacking a new cardio machine or complex piece of strength training equipment and getting a one-page assembly manual with no instructions or step-by-step directions for bolting and fitting components.
NordicTrack ships the 9.9 with a 39-page assembly manual that includes detailed and simplified instructions for putting together your new elliptical trainer.
Are NordicTrack elliptical trainers good?
Yes! NordicTrack is one of the big names when it comes to manufacturing elliptical trainers that can take a beating.
The company has been building cardio machines–including ski ergs, treadmills, and bikes–for decades and have a ton of experience constructing durable cardio equipment.
The Bottom Line
There’s a lot to love about NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical.
It lives up to the “commercial” with an exceptionally sturdy studio-grade ride without the whole studio-grade price tag.
People who love online classes and workouts will like this machine with the iFIT interactive programming and 7” touchscreen.
Those looking for a simpler and no-frills elliptical at this price point should lean more towards the Nautilus E618 with its more basic LCD screen and heavyweight flywheel.
7” HD touchscreeniFIT subscription expires after 30 days
Easy to move
Exceptionally durable ride (studio grade!)
Super comfy foot pedals
+ Budget-friendly pricing
+ Heavy flywheel (25lbs)
+ Power incline
+ Auto adjusting stride length
Click Here for Best PriceMore Elliptical Guides and Reviews
Elliptical Buying Guide – Everything You Need to Know to Buy with Confidence. Want to buy an elliptical but don’t know where to start? Arm yourself with the knowledge to choose the perfect elliptical for you and your workout goals.
