Nordictrack 9.9 Elliptical Review – A Good Buy for You?

January 24, 2023January 16, 2023 FitnessEquipmentGuide Elliptical trainer

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The Nordictrack 9.9 Elliptical is one of Nordictrack’s most affordable front-drive crosstrainers this year.

People like front drive machines mainly because they can feel more stable than rear-drive trainers.

They also tend to take up less space in your home.

The Commercial 9.9 trainer comes iFit compatible with a full-color touch-screen. So you can run trails all over the world and even take a live fitness class from your home.

And you can also add in some extra crosstraining with up to 20% power incline.

So is the Nordictrack Commercial 9.9 elliptical a good choice for you? How does it compare to other models?

Here’s a review of what you need to know:

Elliptical Specs:

Price: NEW: $1499 + Special iFit Offer

Price: REFURBISHED: $999 + iFit Offer Here

Style: Front-Drive

Flywheel: 25 lbs

Stride Length: 17.5 – 18.7 Inches

Resistance: 22 Levels

Incline? Yes up to 20 Degrees

Folding? No

Warranty: 10 Year Frame, 2 Year Parts, 1 Year Labor

Nordictrack 9.9 Elliptical – Key Benefits:

7-Inch, Full-Color Console

While it’s not the largest screen the Nordictrack makes, for a starter elliptical it’s still fairly impressive. You can see your workout stats with a swipe of your finger.

You can connect with iFit – Nordictrack’s streaming service – and run trails all over the world or take fitness classes from home (more on iFit below).

The console also comes with 2 digitally amplified speakers and Bluetooth audio capabilities. So you can sync your favorite wireless headphones to your treadmill and listen to your iFit trainer or workout music, completely undistracted.

And to stay cool as you walk or run, there’s also a dual-speed workout fan.

Up to 20% Incline

Incline is not the same as resistance. Incline on an elliptical changes the slope of your running path. This helps to add challenge to your workout and works different lower body muscles. It’s a great way to crosstrain.

You can control the incline from the console yourself. The incline will also integrate with iFit programs (see below) to change automatically for a more hands-free workout experience.

Explore the World with iFit

The Nordictrack 9.9 – like all newer Nordictrack elliptical trainers – comes iFit compatible. With iFit you can connect take your machine online using the Wifi in your home through the screen console.

From there you can run trails all over the world – from the shores of Hawaii to the streets of Paris. You can run on your own – or follow your trainer as they coach you and even point out landmarks along the way.

And the incline will integrate with iFit so that when you’re walking uphill for example, the elliptical will automatically incline to match the terrain. This helps to give you more of an immersive, fun workout.

Studio Workouts From Home

You can also take a new workout from the comfort of your living room every day with the iFit studio workouts.

Try a high-energy studio fitness class from your elliptical machine console. These workouts also include yoga, boot camps, HIIT training, strength training and more.

There are over 16,000 pre-recorded workouts in the iFit library – so you’ll never run out of new things to do!

You can also try the new LIVE streaming class option to follow your favorite trainer in real time.

Nordictrack is always adding more studio workouts and they’re even now adding live events that you can follow and do in real time.

Heavy, 25-pound Flywheel

A heavier flywheel helps to give you a more smooth-feeling elliptical stride – especially between resistance transitions.

A heavier flywheel also helps to anchor the machine for a more stable-feeling workout.

The 25-pound flywheel is not as heavy as the more expensive Nordictrack 14.9 elliptical model with a 32-pound flywheel. But at this price point, it’s still very good.

Compare this to the similarly-priced rear-drive Nordictrack SE9i model which has an 18-pound flywheel and you’ll see the difference.

Adjustable Pedals

The cushioned pedals on this machine come with several different toe-heel angles to choose from so you can find the right fit for you.

Stationary Arm Bars

In addition to the moving arm bars to work your upper body, you also have stationary grip arm bars.

These are great if your upper body gets tired and you want to give your arms a break.

It may seem like a small thing, but surprisingly a lot of elliptical trainers these days do not have stationary arm bars. And they’re one of those little conveniences that can make your workouts more comfortable.

Nordictrack 9.9 Review – Any Drawbacks?

Smaller Console Window

Compared to the next model up – the Nordictrack 14.9 elliptical – the screen size on this trainer is a bit small at 7 inches. The Nordictrack 14.9 elliptical comes with a much larger 14-inch screen – double the size. It also doesn’t have as many resistance levels – 22 vs 24.

Still the Nordictrack 9.9 elliptical usually costs a few hundred dollars less than the 14.9 model. So it’s a good tradeoff.

iFit Membership

iFit is a subscription service and there’s some confusion over this. Does the elliptical machine work without iFit? Yes.

You don’t need to have the full iFit subscription to use this machine (You can use the Free iFit app version, which includes a few built-in workouts if you want some extra challenge or use the elliptical in manual mode).

Bottom Line?

If you’re looking for an affordable front drive elliptical with a solid feel, heavier flywheel and streaming workouts for added fun, you may want to consider the Nordictrack commercial 9.9 trainer.

While it doesn’t have some of the bells and whistles of higher end models, it’s also more affordable. Plus the stationary arm bars along with adjustable pedals help to add some comfort options into your workout.