NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical Review – 2024

*TreadmillReviewGuru helps consumers find the best home fitness products. When you buy a product we recommend, we may earn a commission.

Last Updated: May 3, 2023

The NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical is a standard elliptical with some included tech. On the touch screen, iFit is available and offered free for the first month to try out. iFit offers thousands of workout classes so you’ll never feel bored while working out on this elliptical. Users are sure to benefit from a challenging, low-impact workout with 22 levels of resistance and 20% total incline. The front-drive design is heavy and rated to handle up to 350 lbs, so this elliptical should work best for most. In this spec review of the NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical, I’ll walk you through the features, construction, and programming so you know what to expect from this machine.

NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical Review 2024

Check Best Price

Why Trust Our Review Of The NordicTrack 9.9 Elliptical

We review all kinds of fitness equipment here at Treadmill Review Guru. In addition to the equipment we’re able to test in our studio, we also put together spec reviews. In these reviews, we rely heavily on our experience and expertise with equipment. When we see a list of features and specs, we can get a really good idea of how a machine will work. For this review of the NordicTrack 9.9 Elliptical, we’ll be drawing from our years of experience using all kinds of NordicTrack equipment and using the higher-end model of the 9.9, the NordicTrack 14.9 Elliptical.


Pros
  • iFit is enabled on the touch screen and comes complimentary for the first month to offer thousands of guided workouts.
  • There are 22 levels of adjustable resistance paired with 20 levels of incline to offer a lot of training options.
  • The construction is heavy and is built to handle up to 350 lbs of user weight.
  • The console has a fan and added adjustment buttons for an easy-to-use design.
  • The pedals are oversized and cushioned to work with any athletic-type shoe.
Cons
  • The 7” screen is small and might be hard to see for some users.
  • The pedal stride isn’t as adjustable as other models.
  • It is heavy and doesn’t fold up.

FeaturesSpecs
  • 7” Smart HD Touchscreen
  • 30 Day Free Trial of iFit Family Membership Included
  • 22 Adjustable Silent Magnetic Resistance Levels
  • 0-20% Power-Adjustable Incline
  • Quick-Touch Adjustment Buttons
  • AutoBreeze Workout Fan
  • Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers
  • Bluetooth Audio Capabilities (Connect to wireless headphones)
  • Water Bottle Holder
  • Footprint: 68.25” L x 28.75” W x 68.5” H
  • Weight Capacity: 350 lbs
  • Product Weight: 244 lbs In Box
  • 25 lb Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
  • Oversized Padded Pedals
  • Soft-Touch Upper Body Grips
  • Front-Mounted Transport Wheels
  • Oversized Levelers
  • Warranty: 10-year for the frame, 2-year for parts, 1-year for labor

NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical Spec Review

In-depth Review of NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical


iFit

So, what is iFit? I’m going to give you an overview of iFit, but if you want to learn more head over to our full review.

iFit is an interactive training platform that is available on equipment from NordicTrack. When you purchase the 9.9, iFit comes free for the first month. After that, iFit requires a monthly subscription fee, kind of like Netflix. And no, you can’t stream Netflix, any other apps, or the internet on the NordicTrack 9.9. However, no one is stopping you from planting this elliptical in front of your TV if you want other streaming options. You should be able to see your TV while using the 9.9.

With a subscription to iFit, you’ll have access to thousands of workout classes. These classes are led by several instructors who lead you through specific exercises on and off the 9.9 Elliptical.

The classes offered are filmed indoors and outdoors. They’re also on-demand to be taken at any time. The indoor classes take place in a professional indoor studio with the instructor and sometimes other members taking the class in person. The outdoor classes are our favorite because they’re filmed all around the world in different locations.

The classes are offered in a variety of disciplines like walking, hiking, running, and mat classes like strength training, yoga, and meditation. There are specific elliptical classes that are indoors and feature the instructor on an elliptical, however, you can take any of the walking, running, hiking, and even cross-country skiing and ice skating classes on the NordicTrack 9.9.

iFit is also available on other equipment like exercise bikes, rowers, and treadmills. With the range of classes to choose from, you’re sure to be entertained. I personally love how many different types of classes I can take on ellipticals like the NordicTrack 14.9, and NordicTrack FS14i FreeStride Trainer.

iFit uses Feed.FM, which is like listening to the radio in the background of each class. Preselected playlists of songs make up different genre stations that you can change throughout your workout. We would like to see iFit offer some indoor studio classes with music integrated into the workout though.

When you use iFit on the NordicTrack 9.9, the elliptical will even adjust on its own for you throughout the class. So, if you’re hiking up a mountain, the incline will move to match the terrain, and if you’re taking a studio indoor class and the instructor says to turn up the resistance, the elliptical will do that for you. This is my favorite feature of iFit, and it really takes some of the guesswork out of my workouts. As soon as you press one of the adjustment buttons, the elliptical will adjust to whatever level you want it to be at, too.

Preprogrammed Workouts

If you aren’t interested in subscribing to iFit, you can still use the 9.9. Preprogrammed workouts and even a featured trainer-led iFit class are available without a subscription, as well as manual mode. Manual mode is available to use with iFit, too.

Console

One thing to keep in mind with the NordicTrack 9.9 Elliptical, is that it has a small touch screen. We’ve used 7” touch screens on other treadmills from NordicTrack. In our experience, they work just fine, but they can be small, especially for those with limited visibility. If you try to use the screen for the mat training next to the elliptical, you’ll probably have a hard time seeing the instructor to follow along.

If you’re wanting an elliptical with a larger screen, then the NordicTrack 14.9 is the way to go.

I do like that the 9.9 has additional adjustment buttons surrounding the 7” touch screen. These are quick-touch buttons that we often see on treadmills from NordicTrack. On the right side is the resistance, and on the left is the incline. When you press a specific button, the elliptical will adjust to that. We love to see these buttons on consoles because they make using the machine a lot easier and faster. You can also adjust the 9.9 on the touch screen, but since it is so small, it will definitely be easier to use these buttons.

The front-facing speakers should be sufficient for hearing iFit’s content. We haven’t had any problems with speakers on NordicTrack’s equipment that we’ve tested. I can’t say for certain, however, based on our experience using the 14.9, you probably won’t be able to play your own music/content from your device through the speakers. I could be wrong, but you can’t on the 14.9 and this feature seems to be something that NordicTrack has been stepping away from.

The speakers are Bluetooth enabled to connect to your headphones though. And you can adjust the volume to play more or less of the trainer’s voice and/or iFit music.

The fan is a nice addition. We can’t say how powerful it will be, but we’re impressed with the fan on the 14.9 so hopefully, this one is effective, too.

For storage, there is a water bottle holder below the console. It looks like the one on the 14.9 which is positioned a little low. It should hold your water bottle or phone steady though.

There might be a device rack for your phone or tablet below the touch screen. I can’t say for certain, but if there is, this will allow you to use your own device to watch whatever you want. We hope there is one because of the small touch screen.

Overall, we anticipate that this console will be easy to use. It does look like sits low on the machine like the 14.9, so taller users might have to look down a bit at the screen.

Construction Quality / Durability

As far as the overall construction, the NordicTrack 9.9 Elliptical has a lot of similarities and differences with the 14.9.

Starting with the weight limit. The 9.9 has a 350 lb weight capacity like the 14.9. This means that users up to that limit should be able to use the 9.9. This heavy-weight capacity also helps to indicate that this is a hearty machine. The 9.9 is also said to be heavier than the 14.9, which is already a heavy elliptical at over 200 lbs.

Frame

The 9.9 has a steel frame that should feel sturdy when you’re using it. Keep in mind that the 9.9 is large, as most ellipticals are, so it will need a designated space to use it. You will want to have some clearance in the front and behind the 9.9 for the motion of the pedals and handles, as well as proper ceiling height for the incline feature.

The 9.9 doesn’t fold, but it has transportation wheels for when you need to move it. With how heavy this machine is, we don’t recommend having to move it all the time though. The steel handle built into the rear stabilizer will help you lift the 9.9 to engage the wheels.

Pedals

The pedals on the Commercial 9.9 Elliptical are oversized and padded. The padding appears to be similar to the 14.9, which offers a nice cushion under your feet. We assume this cushion will help make the 9.9 more comfortable to use.

As far as the pedal stride, it is like the 14.9. It is adjustable with a range from 17.5” to 18.7”. When using the 14.9, it is hard to tell the difference because it is so small. You most likely won’t notice a difference when trying to adjust the stride length on the 9.9. The 9.9 pedal motion moves horizontally and slightly vertically like a traditional elliptical.

Behind each pedal is a lever to adjust the angle of the pedal. The pedals on the NordicTrack 14.9 have these, too. There are three different settings that position the pedals to level as well as raise the heel of each slightly. This helps reduce numbness in the toes which is common on ellipticals due to the fact that you don’t lift your feet off the pedals.

On the 14.9, we prefer using the middle notch, but this allows you to get the angle that works for you.

Handles

One thing to keep in mind is that even when the 9.9 is unplugged, the pedals will still move. So when stepping up onto the pedals, they’ll start moving. Thankfully, there are stationary handles to hang onto when you’re mounting and dismounting this elliptical. These are useful for this and for lower body targeted training.

The moving handles appear to be the same as the 14.9. I’m about 5’1” and the lower half of these handles work best for me when I’m using the 14.9. The upper handles work for your taller users over 6’. These handles provide multiple grip options so you can change up how your upper body muscles are worked on the 9.9. These handles don’t appear to have adjustment buttons though.

FlyWheel

The NordicTrack 9.9 Elliptical has a 25 lb flywheel. It is a little lighter than the 14.9’s 32 lb flywheel, but we anticipate that this weight will help the 9.9 feel stable and smooth to use. This is a front-drive elliptical so the flywheel is mounted on the front of the machine. We like this placement of the flywheel because it helps to make the console, handles, and pedals feel stable whenever we use front-drive ellipticals.

Incline

What makes ellipticals from NordicTrack unique is their inclining mechanism. The steel piece under the pedals that the rollers move on, adjusts up to a 20% incline. This mechanism appears to be the same as the 14.9. The incline range will provide more training options. The incline will also position you higher on the elliptical, so keep this in mind if you have lower ceilings.

Taller users might also not be able to use the full incline. On the 14.9, our 6’5” reviewer is close to hitting his knees on the stationary handles when it’s fully inclined to 20%. This might be the case with the 9.9 as well.

Overall though, users should find that the incline when used with the resistance is a nice addition to diversify their training.

Resistance

The Commercial 9.9 Elliptical uses magnetic resistance which is adjustable. There are 22 levels to work with. This is a good range and should provide a nice amount of resistance. Some ellipticals don’t offer a large amount of tension to pedal and move the handles against, but other ellipticals from NordicTrack offer a good amount that we find challenging.

Since we don’t have the NordicTrack 9.9 in our studio for testing, yet, I can’t say how noisy this elliptical is. However, considering it is very similar to the 14.9, it should be pretty quiet to use. The 14.9 is very quiet, so we hope the 9.9 is, too.

Warranty

To back up the construction, NordicTrack includes a 10-year frame warranty. A 2-year parts and 1-year labor warranty is included with that.

NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical Spec Review

Bottom Line Review: NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical

Overall, we expect the NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical to perform and function similarly to the 14.9 elliptical that we’ve thoroughly tested. The 9.9 should perform like a standard elliptical with an added bonus of inclining up to 20%. This mechanism and the adjustable resistance should make for a challenging low-impact workout. As far as the design, we love the added buttons on the console to make quick adjustments, and that it’s enabled with iFit. The screen is pretty small, but most should be able to enjoy and follow along with all kinds of classes from iFit while working out. We love that this elliptical is heavy and has a large weight capacity to handle users of most sizes. If you’re looking for a hearty elliptical for your home that has interactive programming, then check out the NordicTrack 9.9 Elliptical.

POST REPLY