The ViewPoint is Right on Track because I Can Watch Oprah
Written: Sep 18 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: More features than I've seen. Did I say amazing?
Cons: Too expensive for many.
The Bottom Line: Great machine. It has more features than many need but if you are looking for a feature rich, comfortable treadmill this may be it.
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| jo.com's Full Review: NordicTrack Viewpoint TV Treadmill |
I gave the Nordic Track Incline Trainer X 10 five stars for those already training. My mom rented a condo this summer in Massachusetts (from Florida) with a state of the art fitness room. It was the first time I saw the Nordic Track ViewPoint TV Treadmill. I spent a lot of time with her and in the fitness room. I had seen treadmills with computers a few years back in a very upscale hotel’s spa in San Diego. I haven’t seen one since and this was my first experience with a television. At $2300 it is pricey. You can buy a $200 treadmill. My feeling is that you should spend $1500 for a good treadmill unless you plan on using it as a coat rack. I will do a bit of comparing of the X10 and the ViewPoint since they are both Nordic Track treadmills in the same price range. NordicTrack is owned by ICON.
The features, what I like and don’t like:
I like to review fitness equipment by taking you on a tour. As a personal trainer I am more familiar with equipment than many. In spite of that, although I do not own this, I have been on it several times. I never “test drive“ a piece of equipment. I have strong feelings about that and you are free to e-mail me if you need more information about how I review products.
Over the course of 3 months I asked both the manager of the condo and people working out on this machine if there were ever a “being repaired” note on it. I was told there hadn't been.
The ViewPoint has everything but the kitchen sink. For those who do not want every single detail I will try to keep this simple. If I don't mention something you want to know, just leave a question.
There are a number of things I look at when I see a piece of equipment. I notice if it has a bottle holder! I cannot imagine a machine without one but I have come across them. The bottle holder on the ViewPoint is nicely placed right in front of me and easy to access.
I then got on it and noticed the belt. The belt on the Nordic Track X10 is 20 inches by 56 inches. The belt on the ViewPoint is 22 inches by 60 inches. If you read my review How to buy a treadmill you will see that the size of the ViewPoint's belt is more than adequate for anyone. If you are a runner who tends not to run in a straight line or a walker who is a little shaky you don’t have to worry about your feet hitting the front of the ViewPoint. I thought the belt on the X10 to be adequate as well but the ViewPoint's is extra large.
The cushioning on the belt is just one of the amazing features on this machine. It has what is called an auto response. What this means is that the belt literally adjusts to my steps. It doesn’t do this automatically. That would be scary. But with a touch of buttons on the console I can adjust it if I am walking, power walking, walking up a hill, or if you are running. (I don't run.)
The treadmill is as quiet as a treadmill with a horsepower of 3 CHP can be. At 3 CHP it is at the top with the average at 1.5. Like the X10 it has a continuous duty motor. What this means is that the motor can maintain the 3.0 HP no matter how heavy you are as long as you don’t exceed the recommended weight load of 350 pounds. I don’t weigh that much but I could tell the ride was quite smooth. There are 15 settings for the cushioning of the belt. I turned a dial to change how firm I want the treadmill or how flexible. I had the ability to save this setting. So if you are a runner and never want to change the cushioning you can save your setting and not think about it again. The belt has a high performance lubricant on it. Amazing!
It has 2 fans on each side of the console. There are three settings from which to choose – low, medium and high. What was really amazing was that the air from the fans changed automatically depending on my settings. So for example (Though in general I don’t like fans.) if I had it on low and went from 3.0 mph to 4.0 mph, more air came out but it will still be low. I would have to change it to medium to get a medium range of air.
The ViewPoint doesn’t have any traditional handlebars on it. There aren’t even short bars which are one feature I like especially for older clients. There are side bars on which to hold but if you start to fall there is no side railing to stop you. But the machine has a clip you can put on your clothes. Put a key into the keyhole and this safety feature will be activated. So if you do start to fall, the key will come out and the machine will stop.
There was a nicely placed handle with built in heart rate monitors. My heart rate showed up on the console and the words Heart Rate were seen. I had to hold onto the bar for about a dozen seconds before the numbers stopped. Remember 220-your age is your maximum heart rate though you really don’t have to know that with this machine. You will not have to worry too much about that number. After you put in your personal data the machine will adjust itself so you can reach your target heart rate. There is a training zone on the console that lights up to show you where you are at in your workout. At any time any of the features I mention can be changed either by the up and down arrows or through the remote control.
Looking at the console I saw some familiar and unfamiliar features. It has what it called remote performance control. You will not have to slow down to change the speed or incline of your treadmill. I just pressed buttons on the remote and the console changed. This remote takes 3 AAA batteries.
At the time I wrote the X10 review I said that it tracked more information than any machine I’d been on. Well I found one that tracks certainly as much if not more. The odometer on both machines still amazes me. These are the only two I’ve seen these 3 setting which show my current workout distance, total treadmill mileage, and one that can be set for your own personal workout.
One brand new feature for me is the Carb Counter. You read that right. There is a display on the console that told me how many carbohydrates I’m burning. It also showed my speed, time, incline, pace, time elapsed and distance. The ViewPoint will store four personal settings. So after I put in my stats – age, weight, etc. I can then save them so I don’t have to input it next time. This is great for a family and it saves a few seconds.
Like the X10 the ViewPoint has 25 preprogrammed programs that automatically control the speed and incline of the treadmill. There are 4 custom programs that I can save in memory. In addition to aerobic such as weight loss (which is essentially an interval training changing from high to low, fast and slow); endurance; performance; hills and small hills and random there are 4 heart rate programs. The ViewPoint’s programs are almost identical to the X10s. there are a few minor differences. What is the same is if I preset a program I want, for example if I preset interval training, the machine automatically controlled the resistance. It is just like a preprogrammed program (small hills for example) only I chose all the levels as I wish. I can also choose a manual program where I will totally control my speed and incline.
It has a one step power incline and speed like the X10. I love this feature. If I am walking at 3 miles an hour and want to go to 4 rather than pressing the up arrow, which is what is usually done, I just press 4 and it immediately jumps to 4. It is a really neat feature. I do not have to press the up arrow repeatedly to get where I want to be. I can press the arrows if I choose or use the remote. The incline goes from 0 to 12%.
The treadmill warranty covers the motor for life, the treadmill frame for ten years and other parts as well as in-home service for one year from your purchase date. Extended warranties are available.
The machine is on wheels but at 270 pounds it is hardly portable. This is almost 100 pounds more than the X10. It is about 83 inches long x 38 inches wide by 63 inches high. The X10 is about the same size however the X10 folds and the ViewPoint does not.
The TV
Did I save the best for last? I would rather have a computer than a television though I do love the TV because I don’t wear my contacts to the gym so I really can’t see the TV unless the room is small where I am working out. The TV is a 10 inch flat-screen television with built-in speakers. The speakers are on the console. I would have to hire some one to assemble this machine. It requires connecting a cable TV pin to the treadmill to view the channels. I can tell you that the screen was really clear as was the sound. It is in color. I really did like working out with the TV right in front of me. I often read which can be difficult at times if the magazine rack is far away or there is no magazine rack. Watching Oprah for an hour makes the time just whiz by. Since I am not reading, turning pages or concentrating I found that I can really power walk rather than take the lazy way out and take a leisurely stroll while reading my favorite mystery novel.
Like more and more exercise equipment the ViewPoint has the iFIT Interactive Personal Training system. You can use CDs, videos or the Internet to control the speed, incline and resistance. I have never used this feature. With the television I would have no need to. However if you are contemplating various machines I think having the iFIT technology is a nice feature.
My final thoughts:
Another 5 star machine for half the price is the ProForm CS17e. You will have to search for this one since it seems that new models have replaced it. However you can get a treadmill by ProForm, for example for a lot less money but it probably won’t have the iFIT technology which many want.
The ViewPoint is amazing. However if you are buying this for your home you probably can put a small television right in front of you as you work out and save some money. Since I only recommended the X10 to those already in shape I will recommend this for any adult as long as you have spoken to your doctor before starting an exercise machine.
I love the features. I think it is an incredible machine on which to walk. My feet feel great after even an hour on it. In spite of many not needing all these features, the machine warrants 5 stars.
I would also like to comment that I have dealt with Nordic Track's customer service people on many occasions usually because I am at a client's house and we have a question. (I have always been treated well and my questions answered promptly. I do not work for this company nor do I know anyone who does.)
Please feel free to leave a comment or question. Most of my fitness related reviews can be found on my profile page. Thanks for reading. jo
Recommended:
Yes
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Member: Jo
Location: On a bluff overlooking the ocean.
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Spent one glorious day on the beach. The sun came out!
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