I have been fighting an injury for the past few months, and NordicTrack’s incline trainers have been so helpful in my recovery. They have the softest running decks, which reduced the load on my injured Achilles. I even recently had my first 100% pain-free run on the X22i, the NordicTrack X16’s predecessor. That run made me more excited to test out the new X16.

Spending so much time on the X22i and X32i opened my eyes to a few of their flaws, especially as I rebuilt my mileage. However, the new console layout of the X16 addresses these issues, so it was definitely the update this series from NordicTrack needed. I think the Incline series will be even more of a go-to recovery treadmill for me with the introduction of the NordicTrack X16.

With years of iFIT and NordicTrack use under our belts, we have a keen eye for what has changed with this latest update. Read the rest of this review of the NordicTrack X16 treadmill to find out if we think it will be even better for you than its predecessors.

NordicTrack X16 Treadmill Review: Bottom Line

Star Rating
PriceMSRP: $3,499
ManufacturerNordicTrack
Typenon-folding

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The NordicTrack X16 Treadmill’s steep incline will challenge even the most experienced runners and walkers.

Rating MatricOur Rating

Workout Experience
10
Specs / Features
9
Dimensions / Storability
5
On-Board Workouts & Apps
9
Build Quality
9

Treadmill running is rarely accompanied by the same enthusiasm with which runners join run groups, go on trail runs, and compete in road races. It is missing some crucial element that turns it from a dreaded slog to something fun and rewarding. Yet, I think the NordicTrack X16 might be one of those rare treadmills that starts to tap into whatever that “X” factor is.

When I review a fitness product, I’m always looking for its story or its standout feature. With the NordicTrack X16, I didn’t have to search for it. The -6% to 40% incline is a massive plus for this treadmill. But even without the incline, it would still wow me. That incline overshadows the real feature that keeps me returning to NordicTrack’s incline treadmill line, and that’s the cushioning.

As much as I like the new X16, there is one major aspect about this treadmill you need to fully understand before making it yours. The X16 is fully integrated with the iFIT interactive experience. If you’ve never heard of iFIT before, reading the rest of this review is essential to deciding whether the X16 is for you.

What We Like

-6% to 40% incline range
Soft cushioning
16” touchscreen display
iFIT trainer-led classes
AI Coach, Active Pulse, and SmartAdjust
Entertainment streaming apps
22” x 60” running deck
400-lb weight capacity

Areas for Improvement

Requires an iFIT account to use the treadmill
Few off-screen buttons

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Have We Peaked, or Is This a False Summit?

We can’t wait to try the X16. It feels full of promise, and my hopes are high—mountain high. It can be really easy to get ahead of ourselves with these reviews, especially when a treadmill like the X16 checks almost every box. Fortunately, we can rely on our extensive history and testing of previous NordicTrack machines and experience with the new iFIT layout.

There are some things NordicTrack and iFIT will never change. If they do, I’ll eat my running shoes. It’s also really convenient that the X16 has all of the same training content available on the X32i and X22i treadmills that we have had in our studio for years!

Our team of fitness professionals conducts thorough evaluations of the products we review. While we are off to a great start with the X16, we will certainly update this page with more testing data once we get the X16 in our studio.

Editor’s Note, 1/7/2024: We reviewed the NordicTrack X16 treadmill in anticipation of its release to give you an inside look at what to expect from this new addition to a beloved home fitness brand. We hope to get the X16 in soon for full testing and rview.

NordicTrack X16 vs. Similar Treadmills

The NordicTrack X16 is the new treadmill on the scene. See how it compares to some tried and tested models below.

	NordicTrack X16	Bowflex Treadmill 22	Sole TT8	NordicTrack 2450	Horizon 7.8 AT
Price (MSRP)		$2,7992799		$2,999	$2,399
Star Rating
Bottom Line	The NordicTrack X16 has soft cushioning, a crazy incline range, and high-tech performance features.	An over-built, high-inclining foldable treadmill that streams JRNY content and handles a lot of use.	This non-folding treadmill is rated for home and studio gym use. It features a spacious deck, incline and decline, and a touch screen for streaming Netflix.	A leading folding treadmill in deck cushioning, max speed, and motor power, all with iFIT features like automatic adjustments and Netflix.	Horizon’s premium model features a quick-adjusting motor, roller dials, and Sprint 8 programming for the ultimate HIIT training treadmill.
Awards Earned
Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price
Product	NordicTrack X16	Bowflex Treadmill 22	Sole TT8	NordicTrack 2450	Horizon 7.8 AT
Workout Experience	10	9	8	9	8
Specs / Features	9	9	7	9	8
Dimensions / Storability	5	6	8	8	8
On-Board Workouts & Apps	9	7	8	9	7
Build Quality	9	8	8	9	7
Overall Score	88	81	74	88	79
# of Onboard Workouts	11	10	100+	11	10
Paid Programming - Cost	iFIT - $39/month	JRNY – $19.99/month	Sole+ - free	iFIT – $39/month	N/A
Netflix / 3rd Party Apps	Netflix, Prime Video, Spotify	Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Disney+, Max	YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Max, Peacock, Hulu, Spotify, ESPN, CNN, Audible, Kinomap	Prime, Netflix, Spotify	N/A
Display	16” pivoting touchscreen	22″ HD touchscreen	15.6″ HD touchscreen	24” pivoting touchscreen	9.3" TFT LCD screen, 16-digit LED
Dimensions (In Use)	69.9” x 38.1” x 73.3”	85″ L x 39.6″ W x 70″ H	82.5″L x 38″W x 66″H	77.3” L x 37” W x 63.4” H	76" L x 37" W x 64" H
Deck Size	22” x 60”	22″ x 60″	22″ x 60″	22” x 60”	22" x 60"
Treadmill Weight	445 lbs (in box)	336 lbs	226 lbs	332 lbs	330 lbs
Weight Capacity	400 lbs	400 lbs	400 lbs	400 lbs	375 lbs
Motor Size	4.25 CHP	4.0 CHP	4.0 CHP	4.25 CHP	4.0 HP
Max Speed	12 mph	12 mph	12 mph	14 mph	12 mph
Incline/Decline	-6% to 40%	-5% to 20%	15 incline levels, 6 decline levels	-3% to 12%	0 to 15%
Warranty	Lifetime motor, 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor	15-year frame, 5-year mechanical parts, 1-year electronics & HD touchscreen, 2-year labor	lifetime frame & motor, 3-year deck, parts, & wear items, 1-year labor, 90-day cosmetic items; light commercial: 2-year parts, 1-year labor	Lifetime motor, 10-years frame, 2-years parts, 1-year labor	lifetime frame, lifetime motor, 5-year parts, 2-year labor
Additional Features	SmartAdjust, ActivePulse, soft cushioning	Storage, stable frame, Burn Rate	Wireless charging pad, light commercial grade build, storage	SmartAdjust, Active Pulse, soft cushioning	QuickDial controls, Bluetooth speakers, 3-zone cushioning

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Dimensions/Storability

The NordicTrack Incline trainers are the antithesis of small and compact. They are fitness to the max, and you will need plenty of room for this hulking beast, but it’s worth it. Its dimensions are 69.9” x 38.1” x73.3”, and it does not fold. You will also need to clear extra room around the treadmill to ensure your safety.

An adequate ceiling height is crucial for the X16’s performance. It has a 13.66” step-up height. With the deck fully inclined, you need a ceiling height that is at least 40” taller than the tallest treadmill user. For a 6’ runner, that’s about a 9.5’ ceiling.

The X16 has transport wheels, but it weighs around 400 lbs or 445 lbs as it comes shipped in the box. One person may not be able to lift and roll this treadmill alone. We have typically worked in pairs or reserved, moving a treadmill of this size for the strongest members of our team. It’s not something any of us want to do regularly.

Onboard Workouts & Apps

One of the most important things to know before deciding on the NordicTrack X16 Treadmill is how integral iFIT is to the experience. You need an iFIT membership to access most of the features, and at minimum, you need an iFIT account. The account is free and easy to set up. I actually set up another free account for this review, and it took me about 3 minutes.

A free account gives you access to the manual training mode and ten training programs. These programs are a mixture of featured iFIT classes and preset workouts with a layout similar to the manual training mode screen.

iFIT

With iFIT, you get so much more, and I really recommend subscribing for the best experience. iFIT provides a full suite of performance and training features and has one of the most extensive trainer-led video libraries we have used.

The typical iFIT class is led by a trainer who takes you through a workout on a beautiful outdoor trail. You’ll forget you are on the treadmill as you hike through the Rockies, run through Rome, and train in Thailand. The treadmill automatically adjusts to preset speed levels and matches the onscreen terrain as closely as possible.

While all iFIT treadmills try to match the onscreen terrain, only the incline trainers, such as the X16, can truly match the grades of every iFIT route. If you want to hike mountains or bomb downhill, the X16 might be the best!

In workouts, there are two options for customizing your training sessions even further: you can turn on SmartAdjust or ActivePulse. SmartAdjust uses your past workout history to customize the speed of each workout to your fitness level. Alternatively, ActivePulse uses your heart rate (with a connected monitor) to adjust the speed to keep you in a set heart rate zone.

ActivePulse has been awesome for my training because I often find the workout presets too slow or too fast. However, I have noticed a few instances where iFIT does not give my heart rate enough time to adjust to a new speed, and it increases it again. I hope that the new version of iFIT will improve this feature, but generally, it has been great to have.

For further personalization, try the iFIT AI Coach. This feature is still in development, but it is expected to be a key part of the new NordicTrack treadmills, including the X16. One of our reviewers already has access to the AI Coach. The Coach contacts you via text and updates your iFIT home screen with your workouts for the day.

iFIT is more than treadmill classes. There are training series, challenges, and non-treadmill classes. You can use your iFIT account with other compatible equipment or take strength and yoga classes. You can build your entire fitness routine around iFIT.

The AI Coach uses both treadmill and non-treadmill workouts to build out your routine. It’s a pretty cool feature. I think it could be handy for runners training for a race, especially for anyone who doesn’t have a running coach or training plan already. It is also helpful in ensuring you don’t neglect your strength and mobility training like many runners do.

One of my favorite features included in iFIT 2.0 is the workout builder. The Create tab gives you the ability to create a target program (time, distance, calories) and to build a custom interval workout with speed and incline settings of your choosing.

For those of you who want to zone out with some entertainment while training on the X16, there are several options. First, Netflix and Prime Video are available for streaming if you have an account for either of them. I watched 90 minutes of The Watcher on Netflix yesterday while running on the X22i, and I have to say, I am a fan of this new feature.

If music is more of your jam, Spotify is rumored to make an appearance on the X16. Again, you will need a Spotify account to access it, but it should be a great pairing.We haven’t seen this update yet. We are still rocking out to the Feed.FM radio available on all iFIT machines. Feed.FM gives you six skips per hour and multiple genre radio stations at no extra cost.

One beloved iFIT feature is currently missing from the latest iFIT update: Google Maps. We expect this feature to appear soon. It was previously available on iFIT and allowed you to create a route anywhere. Then, you could watch the Google Maps Street View of the route as your treadmill’s incline automatically matched the real-life grade of the location.

We are still discovering new features. iFIT is also still rolling them out. We will update this review once we test them out on the X16.

Console

The X16’s console notably lacks buttons. There are buttons for starting the treadmill, stopping the treadmill, adjusting the speed by 0.1 mph, adjusting the incline by 0.5%, adjusting the fan, and changing the volume. These buttons may be sufficient but do not include the OneTouch buttons we expected from NordicTrack.

Instead of seeing a physical button for each speed and incline level on the console, these controls are now on the touchscreen only. You can toggle these buttons on and off so they don’t cover your screen the whole time.

While this layout looks sleeker, it reduces accessibility for some users. For example, you can overlay Braille or another tactile writing system onto permanent console buttons with stickers, but you can’t do that with a touchscreen. It also relies on the screen being responsive enough for quick in-workout adjustments. We are eager to test this change to see how practical it is.

The NordicTrack X16 comes with a 16-inch touchscreen display. This screen size is a downgrade from the X22i, which we expect the X16 to replace. However, the layout is much improved. I’m also happy that this screen pivots for off-treadmill viewing. It makes doing those strength and mat classes a lot easier.

Most of the controls are now onscreen. Fortunately, we love the new layout of iFIT. Everything feels very easy to understand and to navigate. We are interested in seeing how easy it is to interact with the X16’s screen at different incline grades. It was hard to reach the X22i and X32i screens at the top incline, so I hope that is fixed with this new model.

The speakers are front-facing. The sound quality has been nice on all of the NordicTrack machines we have tested so far, so we don’t expect anything less from the X16. We don’t know if the speakers are Bluetooth to play audio from your phone, but with streaming apps and Spotify included on the X16, we are content if they are not.

iFIT is all about the hands-free experience. The fan uses Autobreeze technology to sync the fan speed to your training level. If your walk or run intensifies, the fan speed will increase. You can also manually control the fan. There should be three speed modes if the previous NordicTrack treadmill fans are anything to go off of.

Another big improvement for the X16 is the storage. While there are only two cup holders, these look a lot more accessible than the cup holders on the X22i and X32i, which were located almost behind the screen and impossible to reach from some incline grades.

The X16 is Bluetooth compatible. It will pair with Bluetooth headphones and heart rate monitors. Connecting a Bluetooth heart rate monitor is essential to use the ActivePulse technology. The treadmill does not have EKG pulse grips built into it.

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Build Quality

The NordicTrack X16 is almost identical to NordicTrack’s most premium treadmill, the X24. As such, we expect it to have a really robust build quality. Our X32i and X22i have held up well, so we have the same expectations for this treadmill, especially at its premium price.

Frame

All NordicTrack treadmills have steel frames. The X16’s 400-lb weight capacity and non-folding frame are good signs of a well-built treadmill. The uprights and stabilizers look sturdy and supportive of this heavy treadmill. My favorite feature about this build is the redesigned incline handles that sit out of the way of the console and provide support for steep walks and runs.

Because this is a high-performance machine, we are hoping for minimal console shaking, but we won’t know for sure until we test it out.

Motor

The motor is an excellent 4.25 CHP motor. Our previous experience with NordicTrack suggests it will be fast to adjust the speed and incline. This motor responsiveness is great for keeping up with iFIT workouts or following your own HIIT workout. This motor can handle any type of training you throw at it except for commercial-grade use.

The X16 has a maximum speed of 12 mph. I was a little surprised that it doesn’t have a 14 mph cap like the new 2450 does, but 12 mph is still the industry standard. The speed limit should lower as the treadmill grade grows steeper. The X32i and X22i were capped at 6.0 mph at their steepest decline and incline, which I found to be sufficient (and safest) for my training.

We will update this review with the motor responsiveness and noise level when we receive the X16 for testing, so stay tuned!

Deck

NordicTrack has proclaimed the incline series cushioning its softest cushioning. The X32i and X22i, the X16’s predecessors, were the softest treadmills in their price range by far. I am very hopeful that the X16 lives up to that legacy. It is a great option for runners who need a break from the pounding of running on the road and other athletes who want to go easy on their joints.

The deck size is spacious. It is 22 inches wide by 60 inches long. We saw most home treadmills go down to 20-inch widths in the past couple of years, so seeing a return to a more roomy deck is appreciated. The step-up height is about 14 inches, which is one of the highest we see. Be cautious stepping up and down if you have balance issues.

Warranty

NordicTrack has consistently offered a 10-year frame, 2-year parts, and a 1-year labor warranty. They stuck to this template but now also include a lifetime motor warranty! Though “lifetime” can mean whatever a manufacturer wants it to mean (the lifetime of the treadmill model, not your lifetime), this is still an improvement.

Should You Buy the NordicTrack X16 Treadmill?

The NordicTrack X16 Incline Treadmill is poised as a huge improvement upon the already amazing NordicTrack Incline Series. It has a new pivoting screen and better console layout, an improved iFIT platform and training tech, and an ultra-soft running deck. With the -6% to 40% incline range, the X16 continues this line’s powerhouse status.

As a marathon runner, I anticipate this treadmill playing as integral a part in my training as its predecessor, the X22i. It is excellent for the longest training runs, the easiest recovery runs, and everything in between. I’m even more likely to use it now that iFIT has Netflix and Prime Video apps, as well as their next-level training classes.

Runners and walkers of all levels are in for a top-tier workout as long as they subscribe to iFIT, have enough space for this non-folding treadmill, and can afford its premium price. If that’s you, you really can’t go wrong with X16.

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NordicTrack X16 Treadmill Q&A / FAQ

How long do NordicTrack treadmills last?

A treadmill’s lifespan will vary depending on use and maintenance. With adequate care and proper use, we have seen treadmills last 10+ years. For the best experience, follow the maintenance schedule as prescribed by the treadmill user manual. Do not exceed the maximum weight limit, store the treadmill in a climate-controlled environment, and keep the area around the treadmill clean.

Can you use the NordicTrack X16 without an iFIT membership?

You can use the NordicTrack X16 without a paid iFIT membership, but you will need a free iFIT account to access the manual training mode and featured workouts. We recommend subscribing to iFIT to get the best experience.

Can you watch TV on the NordicTrack X16 treadmill?

Yes, you can now stream movies and shows on Netflix and Prime Video if you have an iFIT membership. You will also need a subscription to Netflix or Prime Video to access their services as they are not included with the iFIT subscription.

Is this a paid review of the NordicTrack X16 treadmill?

No, our reviews are not paid for by the brand. We may earn a commission if you use the affiliate links on this page. However, because we work with most home fitness brands, we are not incentivized to sway you toward one brand over the other.

We do our best to remain as unbiased as possible. Our review process includes testing the equipment in person and taking objective measurements. We also collect information from multiple reviewers for the most well-rounded perspective on every machine we review.

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