Run, iFIT, fold, repeat: that’s what we do when testing most NordicTrack treadmills. The NordicTrack 1250 is no different. It’s a newer treadmill from the brand, but does it stand out from best-sellers like the NordicTrack 1750?
Although we hold the 1750 very dear in our hearts as “the treadmill for pretty much everyone,” the 1250’s price, along with its other impressive features, will most likely have you doing a double-take. Sure, I have plenty of NordicTrack treadmills at my disposal to “test” (get in my daily workout on) when I’m on the job. But I find myself going back to the NordicTrack 1250.
Why? Well, iFIT’s expansive library of trainer-led content doesn’t hurt. The folding deck that saves me a bunch of floor space doesn’t hurt. And the fact that it makes my heavy-limbed, heel-striking feet feel springy doesn’t hurt either. Don’t get me wrong, some things irk me about this treadmill, but find out why I’m able to run through the problems below.
NordicTrack 1250 Treadmill Review: Bottom Line
NordicTrack 1250 vs. Similar Treadmills
The NordicTrack 1250 is a great treadmill that holds its own against competitors. See how it stacks up in our comparison chart of comparable treadmills.
 NordicTrack 1250 |  Sole F80 |  ProForm Pro 2000 |  Horizon 7.8 AT |  NordicTrack 1750 | |
| Price (MSRP) | $1,899 | $2,399 | $2,2991799 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | The NordicTrack 1250 has a streamlined design with high-tech features and iFIT training capabilities like other Commercial Series treadmills at a lower price point. | A well-priced running treadmill that folds up and offers standard workout programs and Netflix streaming without an additional subscription fee. | This midrange treadmill is compact, foldable, and includes high-quality training features with iFIT. | Horizon’s premium model features a quick-adjusting motor, roller dials, and Sprint 8 programming for the ultimate HIIT training treadmill. | A high-quality, interactive folding treadmill for most people that streams iFIT and features forgiving deck cushioning. |
| Awards Earned | |||||
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| Product | NordicTrack 1250 | Sole F80 | ProForm Pro 2000 | Horizon 7.8 AT | NordicTrack 1750 |
| Workout Experience | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| Specs / Features | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Dimensions / Storability | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| On-Board Workouts & Apps | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
| Build Quality | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Overall Score | 72 | 82 | 72 | 79 | 84 |
| # of Onboard Workouts | 2 | 100's | 2 | 10 | 2 |
| Paid Programming - Cost | iFIT - $39/month | N/A | iFIT - $39/month | N/A | iFIT - $39/month |
| Netflix / 3rd Party Apps | Netflix, Prime Video (Beta Testing) | YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Max, Peacock, Hulu, Spotify, ESPN, CNN, Audible, Kinomap | Netflix, Prime (beta testing) | N/A | Netflix, Prime Video (Beta Testing) |
| Display | 10″ HD touchscreen | 10.1" touchscreen | 10″ HD touchscreen | 9.3" TFT LCD screen, 16-digit LED | 14" HD touchscreen |
| Dimensions (In Use) | 78.5” L x 35.6” W x 64.7” H | 82.5"L x 38"W x 66"H | 77.3″ L x 35.3″ W x 59.6″ H | 76" L x 37" W x 64" H | 78.5” L x 35.6” W x 64.7” H |
| Deck Size | 20″ x 60″ | 22" x 60" | 20″ x 60″ | 22" x 60" | 20" x 60" |
| Folding? | |||||
| Treadmill Weight | 281.6 lbs (in box) | 274 lbs | 262 lbs (in box) | 330 lbs | 293 lbs (in box) |
| Weight Capacity | 400 lbs | 350 lbs | 300 lbs | 375 lbs | 400 lbs |
| Motor Size | 3.0 CHP | 3.5 HP | 3.25 CHP | 4.0 HP | 3.5 CHP |
| Max Speed | 12 mph | 12 mph | 12 mph | 12 mph | 12 MPH |
| Incline/Decline | -3% to 12% | 15 incline levels | -3% to 12% | 0 to 15% | -3% to 12% |
| Warranty | 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor | lifetime frame, lifetime motor, 3-year deck, 3-year parts, 3-year wear items, 1-year labor, 90-day cosmetic items | 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor | lifetime frame, lifetime motor, 5-year parts, 2-year labor | 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor |
| Additional Features | ActivePulse, AutoAdjust, soft cushioning | Screen mirroring, Sole+ app, wireless charging pad | AutoAdjust, ActivePulse, Google Maps | QuickDial controls, Bluetooth speakers, 3-zone cushioning | AutoAdjust, ActivePulse, soft cushioning |
Dimensions/Storability
The NordicTrack Commercial 1250’s dimensions are 78.5” L x 35.6” W x 64.7” H. The deck folds up and locks into place with a hydraulic assist mechanism, so you don’t have to physically lift a lot of weight. The deck slowly unfolds once unlocked, too.
As far as moving and storage, the 1250 is pretty easy to maneuver around.
Like many other folding treadmills, it does require you to tilt it back to engage the transportation wheels on the front part of the machine, but it’s easy to do so. It’s definitely easier to move around than Bowflex treadmills.
At 281.6 lbs (in the shipping box), the NordicTrack Commercial 1250 is a considerably sized treadmill. For many users, it may be best to keep the 1250 in a dedicated space rather than moving it around. Though, as I mentioned before, it’s not too hard to move it short distances.
Wherever you decide to keep this treadmill, ensure that you have adequate clearance around it and a suitable ceiling height. Standard 9’ ceilings should be more than enough room for a 6’0” runner to train comfortably at an incline.
Onboard Workouts & Apps
iFIT Overview
iFIT is an interactive training program that comes enabled on equipment from NordicTrack. It’s one of the best online training platforms on the market, in our opinion. I’m going to give you a little overview of what to expect with an iFIT subscription, but you can check out our full review to learn more. Here are some things we like and what we think can be improved.
Something to be aware of is that iFIT requires a monthly subscription to access the full content library. Considering the amount of content iFIT offers and the fact that it is a complete training program, it’s worth it. But if you’re not interested in taking fitness classes, you can still use the 1250. I’ll get into this in a moment. Here’s what you get with a subscription to iFIT.
iFIT has over 16,000 trainer-led classes that are available on-demand to take whenever you want.
On the 1250, it’s programmed on the screen, so once you log into your membership, you can scroll through the library and take your pick.
The classes are filmed in professional studios where an instructor guides you through a workout. These are designed to resemble in-person spin classes, however, they’re available on treadmills, exercise bikes, rowers, and ellipticals. There are also mat classes for strength training with free weights, as well as yoga and guided meditations available.
My favorite part of iFIT is the outdoor classes. These are available for all the activities I mentioned, and they’re filmed in locations worldwide. The instructor guides you through locations like Egypt and Thailand. Throughout the workout, the instructor will often tell you about the area and act as a tour guide. Trust me, you’ll never feel bored on a treadmill again with iFIT.
The Google Map feature in iFIT is also a great way to explore areas all over the world on your own. You can literally draw a route on a Google map, and then Google images of the area will appear as you follow the route.
There is music available to listen to, as well as the instructor’s voice. You can mute one or both, too. The music plays in the background and consists of preselected playlists of different genres to choose from. You can change the station at any time during your workout.
The main area where we would like to improve is the music. I think music should be incorporated into the indoor studio classes. Music adds energy to workouts, so it would be nice to hear music the instructor has selected for the class. This way, when we’re running through a sprint interval, it could be during an intense part of a song to help get us pumped to finish.
Overall, though, we highly recommend checking out iFIT. It comes free for the first month when you purchase the NordicTrack 1250.
Related: 30 Days with iFit: The Fitness Game-Changer or Just Another App?
OnBoard Workouts
For those who aren’t interested in paying an additional monthly fee for training content, don’t worry; you can use manual mode for free. When you bypass the login page, you can access manual mode. Usually, a featured iFIT class is available to take for free as well. The iFIT featured class requires connecting wifi to use, but the manual mode does not.
Console
The NordicTrack Commercial 1250 features a 10” touch screen. This is where you can access iFIT’s classes and onboard workouts. It’s also where you get a lot of the functionality of the treadmill and where you see things like your speed, pace, and time. Obviously, the screen isn’t as large as the NordicTrack 2450’s 22” screen, but it’s a good size to be able to see everything you need.
Navigation on the console is straightforward and easy, too.
The piece that the screen is mounted into is very adjustable. It can be tilted up and down and pivoted to either side. This way, if you’re taking a treadmill boot camp class or a mat class after your run, you can see the screen from off the treadmill’s deck.
With this feature, you get even more out of iFIT and the 1250’s screen.
NordicTrack’s treadmills have some of our favorite console layouts and adjustment buttons. On either side of the 10” screen, there are numbered quick-touch buttons for adjusting the treadmill.
The numbers on the left reflect the incline and decline range, while the numbers on the right reflect the speed in mph. What’s nice about these adjustment buttons is that you can press a number, and the speed/grade will change to whichever level you select. For instance, if I press ‘6’ on the right side, the belt will adjust to 6 mph.
If I press ‘6’ and then ‘7’ back-to-back, the speed will adjust to 6.7 mph.
I use these buttons by far the most when I’m using treadmills that have them. Other brands, like Sole, Bowflex, ProForm, and Horizon, include them on their machines, too. The layout of the buttons on NordicTrack’s machines is one of our favorites, though. It makes sense, and it’s easy to use.
There are other adjustment buttons below the screen. These include the start/stop buttons, arrow buttons for speed and incline, and buttons to adjust the fan’s airflow and the speaker’s sound.
The speaker is a soundbar mounted below the screen. It points at you and is plenty loud and clear. What’s nice about its positioning is that when you want to swivel the screen to face the side of the 1250, the speaker is mounted to the moving piece. So, if you’re streaming an iFIT class from your mat, the speaker faces you to be heard well. The speaker is loud and clear, too.
The fan is pretty effective. It points at my face and neck. I’m about 5’1”. Taller users like Matt, who is 6’5”, should point at your chest. It has multiple settings for the airflow.
There isn’t much storage on the 1250. However, there are two places to put your water and/or phone. There isn’t a place to put your phone or tablet so you can stream content from it, though.
This keeps you locked into using the screen and iFIT if you choose to subscribe. Keep in mind, streaming Netflix or watching TV isn’t an option with iFIT or available on the 1250’s screen.
Related: NordicTrack vs ProForm Treadmills: Performance, Durability, and Price Compared
Build Quality
Being in the Commercial Series lineup from NordicTrack, we have certain expectations for the 1250. High-quality construction and well-designed functionality, as well as quiet performance, are the big aspects we expect.
To give you a quick preview, the 1250 has a nice build and checks a lot of boxes.
As far as weight limit, the NordicTrack 1250 has a 400 lb capacity, which we see in other models from NordicTrack. 400 lbs is an excellent weight capacity that exceeds industry standards.
Frame
The frame is made out of steel and supports the base of the treadmill. The frame makes the treadmill feel sturdy and solid. Fastened into the frame are steel uprights that extend on either side of the deck to hold the console and screen in place. This is the same as the other treadmills in this series. It’s also similar to the new design of the Sole F80, as well as the Peloton Tread.
The 1250 looks sleek but is still functional and stable.
The side handles are coated in textured plastic. They don’t feel exactly high-end, but they’re appropriate for balance and don’t get slippery when you’re sweaty, which is most important.
Motor
The NordicTrack 1250 has a 3.0 CHP motor, the smallest we recommend for running. It handles use well, though, and performs comparably to the 1750. For longevity, we recommend using the 1250 for lighter to moderate amounts of work, like casual running, and distances of up to around 5-7 miles a day. Check out the 1750 and 2450 models in the Commercial Series for heavier use.
Overall, the motor is fairly quiet, and responsive, and adjusts evenly and consistently. The incline/decline is especially quiet and only makes a slight noise on top of the drive motor when the deck is adjusting the grade.
We measured the noise of the motor at 3 mph, 6 mph, 9 mph, and 12 mph and found that the noise level ranged from 51.5 dB to 70 dB. For reference, this is about the same as a washing machine.
While the incline was adjusting, the treadmill noise was 53.3 dB and 60 dB for 3 mph and 6 mph, respectively. These measurements were taken without anyone walking or running on the treadmill because foot noise can vary greatly between users. The incline adjustment from 0 to 12% took about 17 seconds. It took only 6 seconds for the treadmill to fully decline.
The belt moves up to 12 mph, inclines up to 12%, and declines to -3%.
This speed is pretty standard and is usually the fastest we see home treadmills go up to, so it works for most. We timed the speed adjustment of the 1250 from 1 mph to 12 mph. It took 23.5 seconds to adjust, which is good for runners and walkers who want to do some interval training.
We love the incline and decline. The decline might not seem like much, but it adds variety to your training by allowing you to train downhill. The 12% incline range is nice and gets my posterior muscles activated and burning within a few minutes, but it is lower than other models like the Sole F80 and the Bowflex T10. We would like to see it increased in future models.
We measured the 1250’s incline grade when inclined fully, “flat,” and fully declined. The results were 12.6%, 1.4%, and -1.4%. While these numbers may not seem like they match NordicTrack’s claimed incline grades of 12%, 0%, and -3%, they are actually very comparable to every other treadmill model we have measured.
These measurements were also taken without anyone using the treadmill. The deck will move down as you run, making these numbers align even more accurately with the claimed incline grades.
Related: Related: Stay Safe While Running: The Ultimate Guide to Treadmill Safety Tips
Deck
The deck is 20” wide and 60” long. The length accommodates most running strides and fitness levels. You should have enough room for hiking on an incline and sprinting. This isn’t the widest running surface out there, but all of our reviewers feel like we have plenty of room. If you like more room to move on, then check out other models like the Sole F80 and Horizon 7.8 AT.
This is my favorite-sized deck.
However, know that the 1250 takes up a little less space because of the narrower deck. I think this makes the 1250 even more friendly for home use since most people probably don’t have a ton of room to designate for their treadmill. So, it’s great to see that it’s functional and a little space-saving.
The cushioning is soft and helps lessen the impact that running involves. It feels comfortable, and for that, treadmills from NordicTrackare some of my favorites to run on. I get discomfort when I run outside on concrete and even on other treadmills with firm cushioning, but I don’t when I run on a NordicTrack.
The 1250 has the same shock absorption as the other models in the Commercial Series, and we’re thankful for that. So, if you have joint issues, this is a model to check out.
The step-up height is pretty slim at about 9” off the ground. This is when the deck is measured from the floor to the top of the side rails at a 0% grade. This means it can work in some spaces with lower ceiling heights, however, it’s important to factor in the step-up height, as well as your height, when determining an appropriate ceiling height to use your treadmill.
Warranty
When you purchase the NordicTrack 1250 it comes with the brand’s standard warranty: 10 years for the frame, 2 years for parts, and 1 year for labor. Assembling is pretty straightforward but having at least 2 people for set up is a good idea.
Should You Buy the NordicTrack 1250
Overall, the NordicTrack Commercial 1250 is a great addition to an already solid lineup of treadmills. The 1750 and 2450 are consistently among the top models that we recommend to users because they’re quiet, comfortable, functional, interactive, and easy to use. The 1250 is all of this at a more affordable price, so what’s not to like?
The soft cushioning makes the NordicTrack Commercial 1250 an excellent choice for walkers or runners who need to recover from training outdoors on the road or sidewalk. The softer landing also makes it great for runners who are building up their running mileage and trying to hit faster paces.
If you’re looking for a treadmill with really thoughtful features and innovation that makes it as enjoyable as it is convenient to use, then we recommend looking into this model.
Still confused? Check out our list of top treadmills by NordicTrack
NordicTrack 1250 Q&A / FAQ
Is the NordicTrack Commercial 1250 worth it?
The NordicTrack 1250 is the most affordable model in NordicTrack’s very popular commercial line. If you want a great treadmill but need to stay under a certain budget, the 1250 is a great choice. It has all of the same features as the popular 1750 and 2450. The main differences are the smaller motor and touchscreen. Still, the 1250 supports both walking and running.
How long will the NordicTrack 1250 last?
There are many factors that determine a treadmill’s longevity. With proper use and care, most treadmill should last 10 years or more, as we have seen many times. Unfortunately, home treadmill owners rarely follow the instructions indicated by the user manual to care for their treadmill.
The most frequent mistakes include not lubricating the belt as directed by the manufacturer and placing the treadmill in a garage without climate control. Avoid these mistakes to ensure your treadmill lasts as long as possible.
Can the NordicTrack 1250 be used without iFIT?
Yes! Though iFIT improves the workout experience on the NordicTrack 1250, you can use it without iFIT. Without a WiFi connection, the treadmill allows you to work out in manual mode, which shows a ¼ mile track. With WiFi, you can still use manual mode or try out the featured iFIT treadmill class. From what we have seen, these featured workouts change once per month.
Is your review of the NordicTrack Commercial 1250 a paid review?
We are not paid to review treadmills. We do, however, receive the treadmills we test from the brands for free in most cases. When we are unable to work directly with brands, we occasionally purchase treadmills ourselves.
We work with all major home fitness brands like NordicTrack, ProForm, Sole, Horizon, and more. Brands do not influence our review process beyond sending us the equipment to review. This relationship with brands keeps our reviews honest and beneficial to you!
If you are wondering how we make money–we earn a commission from affiliate links! When you use the links on this page and others to purchase a treadmill or other home fitness equipment, we may earn a commission that does NOT increase your cost of purchasing the machine. Your support is much appreciated, and we hope you find our reviews helpful!
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