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NordicTrack X32i Treadmill Review: Immersive training in your home gym

"With killer gradients and iFit training, the NordicTrack X32i treadmill will change the way you train."

• Impressive gradient of 40 percent

• Wide and sturdy deck

• Large 32-inch display

• Padded for powerful running

• Effective iFit video training

• The iFit-controlled interface needs to be improved

• Does not fold for storage

Mention the word treadmill to a runner, especially a long-distance runner, and he will wince. They will also tell you that there are no treadmills, just Deadmills, an indication of the nerve-racking boredom you experience when you walk or run for hours with your wall as a backdrop.

NordicTrack tries to change this negative perception by bundling its treadmills with iFit, a comprehensive video training program with real trainers working by your side, and the ability to run virtually in breathtaking locations around the world. Does iFit heal you from treadmill blues? We tested NordicTrack's newest treadmill, the NordicTrack x32i, in our home gym for six months to find out.

Powerful hardware for steep climbs

The NordicTrack x32i treadmill is a dream to run and walk. It has a wide and long deck (22 x 65 inches) that gives you plenty of room to run, walk, and even bypass your way to fitness. It cannot be folded for storage. So make sure you have enough space wherever you want to use it.

The deck is designed for highly effective exercises and features NordicTrack's reflex cushioning, which offers a slight jump to absorb the impact with every step. The reinforced steel frame is solidly built and the 4.25 KWK DurX Commercial Plus engine has a lot of power. It goes from zero to 12 miles an hour and supports up to 300 pounds. I never felt like I was pushing the machine to its limits.

The x321's 40% incline burns your thighs and gasps for your lungs

An outstanding feature of the x32i is the slope. It ranges from a drop of -6 percent to a steep ascent of 40 percent, which challenges even the toughest mountain runner. During a pre-programmed workout, the treadmill automatically adjusts speed and incline, but you can make adjustments based on your fitness level. The slope adjusted evenly against the impact of running up and down. The same was true for speed. Changes were immediately applied and felt.

Many extras

The NordicTrack X32i is designed for performance and ease of use. The controls are intelligent on both sides of the display and on the control panel in front of you. There are a number of buttons on the left side of the treadmill that allow you to manually increase the incline while the buttons on the right side control the speed. Use these buttons to change the speed and incline in small or large steps.

Speed ​​and incline are not the only parameters that you can change. You can also adjust the volume of the built-in speakers and the speed of the two fans at the push of a button and enjoy Bluetooth audio support. The buttons are easy to press so you can make changes without stopping the workout.

Additional extras include three different bars that you can hold when you need extra support, and a chest strap that allows you to measure your heart rate while you exercise. Finally, there is a magnetic safety switch in case you fall.

Quiet performance and more

The NordicTrack x32i is soft and quiet. Even at running speeds of 8 km / h or higher, I could hear the instructions for music and iFit trainer through the integrated speakers. If you want to be even more stealthy, you can connect headphones using the treadmill's built-in Bluetooth connection.

There is also a fan that keeps you cool. You can change the fan speed and angle during exercise. The fan works well on lower slopes, but is blocked by the handrail on higher slopes. Speaking of handrails, there are many of them you can hold on to, which is particularly important on higher inclines.

The touchscreen display increases performance

With a massive 32-inch display, the NordicTrack X32i hardware is ideal for iFit. The beauty of the surroundings can always be seen. I didn't have to adjust my view or turn my head – I could see the entire screen from edge to edge just by looking ahead. The display is a touchscreen that allows you to control the iFit software by tapping and swiping on the screen. The layout is intuitive and I never had any problems switching between the training library, the home screen or the calendar view.

During exercise, simply tap the screen to access exercise controls or pause an exercise. The buttons are very large, so I never had any problems making changes during or during the break. My only criticism of the display is that you can't use it to connect to an Apple TV or Roku to stream video. It was added to the treadmill for iFit content and iFit only.

iFit workouts from around the world

In the past few months I've hiked Mount Fuji, run in the Grand Canyon and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, all from the comfort of my home in Maine.

These trainers are accompanied by iFit trainers who produce a series of impressive training videos in exotic and unique environments. The iFit trainer walks or runs with a camera operator and engages you in each exercise by speaking to you as if you were right there with them.

They not only encourage you during the training, but also share personal stories, inform you about the culture and history of the region and give useful training tips. The treadmill also adjusts the incline and speed depending on the terrain. You not only see the surroundings, you also experience them as close as possible.

Instead of being afraid of my treadmill workout, I was excited to see what the next iFit session has in store for me

The experience is a little worrying at first. It felt uncomfortable for this trainer to speak to me as if I were there, but I decided to embark on this experience and I am glad I did. Each training session was different – sometimes I got to know the culture of the region; In other cases, I've learned how to improve my diet and running style.

Sometimes the unexpected happened – a horse ran past or ducks waddled across the path. Instead of being afraid of my treadmill training, I was looking forward to my next iFit experience and was excited to see what awaits me. My time on the treadmill flew by. It was so much fun that I often did several workouts in a row and even took part in some one-day challenges where you complete a full multi-part series in a single day – it's so exciting.

Surprisingly effective training

An unexpected side effect when using the NordicTrack treadmill is that my fitness level has increased exponentially. Mainly because of the training regime, I made bigger gains when running indoors than when I ran outdoors. I am an occasional but regular runner. I don't have a professional trainer and I don't spend time researching training plans. I put on my running shoes and run without a specific plan. I was able to slowly increase the distance I could walk, but I could never improve my mileage significantly.

The iFit program and the NordicTrack treadmill changed my attitude to sports. It all started with the trainers who explained the why and how behind the training sessions. I was taught how important warming up is, how important it is to stay in good shape and what role nutrition plays.

Each training session is part of a multi-part series that guides you through different types of workouts. Many of the workouts build on one another and should bring you from point A to point B in your fitness.

Thanks to iFit trainers, I'm not only stronger, but also smarter in my training

Most training series started with interval training to improve your cardio fitness. The intervals were different – sometimes they were long, sometimes they were short and sometimes they were unique, like the ladder interval that gets faster and then slows down. There are also endurance sessions and incline workouts to increase your endurance. Every third or fourth session was recovery training. There is a reason for this method: This format not only keeps things interesting, but also improves your fitness.

I learned how to do everything in the breaks and take a break when calm is needed. I was also trained in relatively perceived exertion and learned to keep my exertion steady even when the terrain changed. These are basic training practices that I learned only when I started training with iFit. After six months with the iFit program and the NordicTrack treadmill, I not only feel stronger, but also smarter with my training.

Software could be improved

The iFit software drives the NordicTrack treadmill, and its touch-based surface revolves around this integration. When you start the treadmill, you'll be greeted with a list of suggested iFit videos and a growing library of training sessions organized in training series.

Unfortunately, the iFit software lacks important navigation functions. You have to scroll through the entire iFit training library to find training sessions. If the training you want is at the bottom of the list, you need to scroll and scroll to reach it. You cannot filter or organize the library by activity or trainer. If I want to find a running series by Hannah Eden, I have to look for her face in a video and scroll through everyone else's runs, hikes, and studio workouts.

The iFit software was also slow and occasionally buggy. On more than one occasion, the video froze during a workout and I had to reset the treadmill first. I also kept getting notifications about an update that was never installed. These problems were frustrating, but didn't affect the overall positive experience. NordicTrack and iFit have released a major update during my time with the machine, so I hope the user interface will improve over time.

Manual or card-based training

Although iFit is the star of the NordicTrack x32i, it is not your only choice for a workout. You can do a manual workout or load a workout based on a custom map. You can select an existing card workout or create your own workout by drawing a course on a card using the iFit software. If a street view is available for the map course you selected, you can view the street view images as you move along the course.

Online and third party integration

Not only is ICit a training video repository, it also tracks and saves every exercise so you can check how far, how fast, and how high you ran or hiked. You can also view this information online. The user interface is a basic list of your workouts and your statistics for week, month and year.

I wish there were tools you could use to track your progress for each workout. If I do the same workout every month, will my performance improve compared to the second? It is not easy to make this comparison with the iFit software. You can send your data to other platforms like Strava, but you need to download your training history to your computer and then manually import it into Strava, Training Peaks and another platform. There is no automatic synchronization.

Our opinion

The NordicTrack X32i is a powerful treadmill for hikers, hikers and runners. Whether you're starting your training trip or training for your next marathon, the X32i will meet your needs. The incline of up to 40 percent poses an additional challenge for every training session.

When set to its maximum, the x32i offers a workout that crushes the thighs when hiking or running mountains. Even if you don't want to be in the mountains, the selection of inclines offers a strenuous and varied workout that only a few treadmills can keep up with.

Is there a better alternative?

The NordicTrack X32i is one of the best treadmills you can buy, but it's not for everyone. It is a large treadmill that takes up a lot of space and its price may be prohibitively expensive at $ 4,000. For a little less money, NordicTrack sells both the x22i and the x11i with iFit integration and the same inclination of 40 percent. Both the x22i and the x11i have comparable performance, but a smaller display and footprint than the x32i. If you're looking for a treadmill that has a personal workout that is similar to iFit and that syncs automatically with Strava, consider Peloton or one that syncs with Zwift.

How long it will take?

The NordicTrack x32i is built like a tank with a reinforced steel frame and a powerful DurX Commercial Plus engine with 4.25 KWK. The treadmill should work reliably for many years. It includes a 10 year warranty on the frame, a 2 year warranty on parts and a 1 year labor warranty.

Should you buy it

If you want to give your workout a certain incline, the NordicTrack X32i is a good choice. It is a treadmill workhorse that allows you to train harder and work out longer than ever.

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