The NordicTrack FS14i Elliptical is a three-in-one cardio machine that is perfect for doing studio classes at home. In this review of the FS14i, we look at the pros, cons, and competition so you can buy with confidence.
The NordicTrack FS14i is the Swiss Army knife of elliptical machines. It combines a stepper, elliptical and low-impact treadmill into one trainer.
It’s also the only elliptical trainer I’ve ever tested that has a decline option on the machine.
The FS14i is also built specifically to use the full breadth of the popular iFIT app with a big and beautiful 14” HD touchscreen for doing studio classes.
But is the FS14i the right elliptical for you?
In this hands-on review of the NordicTrack FS14i, we will take it for a ride, showcasing the pros, the cons, the competition, and more.
By the end, you will have an excellent idea of whether the FS14i is the best elliptical for you.
Let’s jump right in!
NordicTrack FS14i Elliptical Trainer — Key Specs
- Price: $2,299
- 14” HD touchscreen
- Center drive
- 20lb flywheel
- 26 resistance levels
- 3-in-1 machine (elliptical, stepper, treadmill)
- Stride length: Up to 32”
- Power incline (+10 degrees) and decline (-10 degrees)
- Compatible with iFIT (30-day free trial with the machine)
- Footprint: 58” L x 29” W
- In-home assembly for $249 (depends on delivery location)
NordicTrack FS14i Elliptical Trainer – The Pros
Okay, let’s jump right into the meat and potatoes of our review of the FS14i.
Here are the things that jump out about this elliptical machine:
Adjustable, 3-in-1 stride
My favorite feature of this machine is its total versatility.
While it is categorized as an elliptical trainer, the stride path actually adjusts to your body’s movement, whether that means you are doing a vertical stepping path or extending your legs horizontally for a gait that almost completely simulates running.
The FS14i is perfect for people who want a stepper, elliptical and low-impact treadmill in one machine.
Not only does this mean more versatility in your workouts, but you save a metric ton of money (and space) compared to if you were to purchase the three machines separately.
The stride length of the elliptical adjusts naturally to your stride, all the way up to 32” in length!
Huge, 14” screen
The NordicTrack FS14i elliptical has an absolutely gangster HD screen.
Following the success of Peloton in 2020, cardio machine companies have swiftly begun offering huge screens on trainers for home use.
Perfect for iFIT classes
The NordicTrack FS14i is built to take total advantage of iFIT, an online app that has almost countless workouts, trainer-led classes, and training programs for both on the elliptical as well as off-machine exercise like yoga, weightlifting, and more.
The FS14i’s huge screen and compatibility with iFIT is designed exclusively for this kind of programming.
iFIT boasts:
- Nearly 20,000 workouts (and climbing)
- The app can be used on the go (from your smartphone)
- Studio, trainer-led classes
- Using the Connected Fitness feature, the machine is adjusted by the trainer
- Stride through your neighborhood of choice using Google Maps
- Dietitian and chef-led cooking classes for better nutrition
And more.
iFIT is a pretty comprehensive app for getting in shape, and if you love doing classes, this machine is going to be right in your wheelhouse.
The FS14i comes with a free 30-day trial for iFIT, and then it costs $39 a month moving forward.
Center drive design
There are several different types of elliptical machines, mostly differentiated by the drive system that they use.
The most common machines are front and rear drive (usually these are the ones you see at the gym and they are often the least expensive).
Center drive machines are a little more rare and typically also more expensive.
That said, this type of set up is more compact without sacrificing on stride length and users tend to have better posture when using it.
The FS14i’s center drive design makes it a very “natural” feeling striding experience.
And as we will see, the center drive allows for a very interesting striding experience…
Wide range of incline (and decline)
Ellipticals typically have a purely horizontal striding experience. But many ellipticals on the market nowadays have incline options, which allow you to increase the difficulty.
Some machines, like the Schwinn 430 and ProForm Carbon EL can be manually adjusted. Others, like the Sole E95 and NordicTrack SpaceSaver 9Ei have motorized/power inclines that can be adjusted up to 10 to 20-degrees.
The NordicTrack FS14i has a motorized incline as well, but also features something else that no other elliptical I’ve tested can claim… up to 10 degrees of decline!
The decline gives you the sensation of running/striding downhill, further increasing the flexibility in the way you train on the machine.
NordicTrack FS14i Elliptical Trainer – The Cons
Designed exclusively for iFIT.
Call me old-fashioned, but there are times I just want to get on a cardio machine, hit the start button, and go to work.
The FS14i is designed almost exclusively to be used with iFIT, which means that there are no pre-programmed workouts on the machine.
Pricey.
Center drive ellipticals are not cheap (some cost as much as $6,000!), and the NordicTrack FS14i, while designed for home use, is still quite pricey at $2,299.
The cost goes up quickly when you factor in the iFIT subscription. You get the first month for free when purchasing the machine, but once those 30-days lapse, you are paying $39 a month for the studio classes and workouts, which can add up quickly over time.
The NordicTrack FS14i – The Competition
The closest competitor to the FS14i is the NordicTrack FS10i, which is a slightly paired down version of the same machine.
It has a slightly smaller screen (10” vs 14”), two less resistance levels, and a larger range of incline/decline. The FS10i also $500 cheaper.
Center-drive ellipticals are not as common, but there are some alternatives to the FS14i out there. They include the True Fitness PS300, Cybex R Series, and the Matrix E30 XR.
Here they are side-by-side, including the FS10i:
FS14iFS10iTrue Fitness PS300Cybex R Series ARC TrainerMatrix E30 XR
Price$2,299$1,999$4,099$6,199$2,999
Flywheel20lb20lb——23lb
Footprint58” L x 29” W x 74” H58” L x 29” W x 74” H49” L x 32” W x 70” H81” L x 36” W x 60” H68” L x 29” W x 68” H
Stride lengthUp to 32”Up to 32”21”24”20”
Incline-10 to 10 degrees0-10 degreesNo21 levelsNo
User capacity375lb375lb350lb400lbs325lb
Machine weight287lb284lb266lb404lbs278lb
Screen14” HD touchscreen10” HD touchscreenLCD screenLED or 16” touchscreen8.5” LCD to 16” HD touchscreen
Warranty (frame)10 years10 yearsLifetime—Lifetime
Warranty (parts)2 years2 years7 years3 years5 years
Warranty (labor)1 year1 year1 year1 year2 years
NordicTrack Freestride FS14i Elliptical Review – FAQs
Can you use the NordicTrack FS14i without iFIT?
In a manner of speaking, yes, you can use the FS14i without a subscription to iFIT.
There are some preprogrammed workouts on the console of the machine, but they still require a WIFI connection to be accessed.
Realistically, to get the most of the FS14i, you would really want to be using the iFIT app.
How much space do I need for a NordicTrack FS14i?
Although the NordicTrack FS14i is a center-drive elliptical that takes up relatively little space, make sure to leave plenty of working room at the front and back of the machine.
The length of the machine is 58”, but because of it’s long stride length (up to 32”!) the working length of the machine is around 70-75”.
Can you go backwards on the NordicTrack FS14i?
Like most elliptical machines, the FS14i can be used backwards. There are many benefits to using an elliptical backwards, including increased quad activation, increased difficulty, and plain-old mixing things up.
The Bottom Line
The NordicTrack Freestride FS14i is an excellent machine in a lot of respects.
I absolutely love how the machine can be used as a stepper and a low-impact treadmill.
This flexibility helps to keep things fresh and challenging over time, which is the main challenge most of us face when investing in cardio equipment for our homes.
The big screen is awesome for people who get fired up doing online studio classes, which is the type of user who will get the most from the FS14i.
+ Combo elliptical (stepper and low-impact treadmill)
+ Center-drive design for saving space
+ 14" HD touchscreen for online classes
+ Both incline and decline options
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