Nordictrack FS10i vs Commercial 14.9 Elliptical
Which Is Best For You?
Trying to decide between the Nordictrack FS10i vs Commercia 14.9 elliptical?
As of this writing, these two ellipticals are similar in price.
They’re both popular and offer many of the same features like iFit training, incline, console speakers and oversized, cushioned pedals.
However they’re very different machines – each with their own benefits and drawbacks.
Which is best for you?
Let’s take a look at the key differences between the Nordictrack FS10i and Commercial 14.9 elliptical to help you decide.
Nordictrack FS10i vs Commercial 14.9 – Price
While prices do jump around a bit, as of this writing, the Nordictrack Commercial 14.9 elliptical is slightly more affordable, coming around $1799 with Free Shipping here.
The FS10i Freestrider is just a bit more, coming in around $1899 with Free Shipping here.
So the Commercial 14.9 does have a slight advantage price-wise.
Nordictrack FS10i vs Commercial 14.9 – Stride
This is one of the main differences between the FS10i vs 14.9 elliptical.
The Commercial 14.9 elliptical is what you would think of as a traditional elliptical with a “set” stride of 17.5 – 18.7 inches (the stride changes as you change the incline).
The FS10i is a Freestride elliptical – which means it comes with an adaptable stride of up to 32 inches.
You’re not locked into one set stride range as you are with the Commercial 14.9 elliptical. You can do short up and down stair-stepping motions, longer jogging motions or even longer hurdling motions.
Because of these different stride options, Nordictrack advertises this as a 3-in-1 machine. You can use it like a stair stepper, elliptical or running treadmill.
This adaptable stride means you’re free to choose your own stride that feels best for you (or change it up depending on what kind of exercise you want to do).
It also makes the FS10i Freestrider great for multiple-user homes since everyone can choose the stride that feels most comfortable for them.
This feature gives the FS10i Freestrider a definite edge over the Commercial 14.9 elliptical in the area of stride length.
Nordictrack Commercial 14.9 or FS10i – Design
The design is also where you see a big difference between these machines.
The Nordictrack Commercial 14.9 elliptical is what’s known as a front-drive elliptical. This means there’s one large flywheel in front of the pedals with a wheel and track design behind the flywheel.
A lot of people prefer a front drive elliptical over a rear-drive elliptical (where there is one large flywheel behind the pedals) since it’s seen as a bit more stable.
The Nordictrack FS10i Freestride Trainer is what’s known as a center drive elliptical. There are 2 smaller flywheels on either side of the pedals.
There are a few advantages of the center drive design over a front drive design.
It tends to put the user more upright on the pedals with less leaning on the handrails. It also places the pedals closer together with less strain on the hips than many front drive ellipticals. This can give you a more comfortable workout overall.
Nordictrack FS10i vs 14.9 Elliptical: Incline
Incline is not the same as resistance.
Incline changes the slope of your running pathway and helps you work different lower body muscles. It’s a great way to add extra crosstraining to your workout.
Both ellipticals come with incline. However on the FS10i you get up to 10 degrees of incline and on the Commercial 14.9 elliptical you get up to 20 degrees of incline.
So you have a bit more room to grow and challenge yourself with the extra incline on the Commercial 14.9 elliptical.
Console Differences
The consoles on these machines are both full-color, HD, touch-screens. So you can see your workout stats with a slide of your finger.
You can also connect with iFit (Nordictrack’s streaming service) and run famous trails all over the world – from Paris to the Swiss Alps.
You can also take a fitness class every day from your own home. There are even live classes to take where the trainer can control your machine’s resistance for you (you can override this feature if you wish).
The difference is really in the size of the console.
The FS10i Freestrider has a 10-inch console as seen below:
And the Nordictrack 14.9 elliptical comes with a larger 14-inch console as seen below:
So the advantage here goes to the Commercial 14.9 elliptical. The larger screen is more enjoyable to watch and given the choice, most people prefer it.
Nordictrack FS10i vs Commercial 14.9: Handlebars
The Commercial 14.9 elliptical also has another advantage over the FS10i Freestrider that most people don’t catch: stationary handlebars.
You get moving arm bars with both machines to work your upper body.
However, the Nordictrack 14.9 also gives you stationary bars to hold on to (so you can take a rest). This is a nice feature to have and a lot of people like it.
You can still rest your arms on the FS10i Freestrider. You can grasp the top of the console or just rest your hands on the moving arm bars without pushing them. It’s not as comfortable – but you can still do it.
Bottom Line?
So which is best for you when comparing the Nordictrack FS10i vs Commercial 14.9 Elliptical Trainers?
Each has their own benefits.
The FS10i has the adjustable stride, giving you a lot more options when it comes to lower body motions. This also makes it great for multiple user homes where everyone can choose the right stride for them.
It also has the center drive design, which many people feel is a bit more comfortable overall.
However the Nordictrack Commercial 14.9 trainer gives you a larger, more enjoyable screen console. You also get stationary arm bars and more incline levels for extra challenge.
So at the end of the day it depends on what you want.
Want to learn more? Check out the links below for more details on each trainer:
Click for A Special Offer on the Commercial 14.9
Click for Free Shipping on the FS10i Freestrider
Related:
Nordictrack Commercial 14.9 Elliptical – How Does It Rate?
Nordictrack FS10i Freestrider Review
