shopping for a new treadmill - Advice?

[BernardandMissBianca]

My pro-form 525 si is dying a slow painful death. Not surprising since it's lasted me almost 15 years (pretty darn good!). So I'm in the market for a new treadmill, and boy have things changed in 15 years!!

Specifically I'm looking at the Nordictrack Incline trainer X7i and the Nordictrack C900.

Does anyone have any experience with either? The only thing right now that's swaying me is the X7i has a shorter floor which would be good because I lack floor space in the basement.
There seems to be more reviews on the X7i on the Nordictrack site then on the C900. Both have good reviews though.

I'm at a total loss here.

I mostly walk but have been running while training for a 5K.

Any advice would be appreciated!!

 

[ohMom]

I copied this to the Events subforum...lets see if you can get some input there

 

[cewait]

I replaced a treadmill last year and came close to ordering the x7I trainer. But then I love to run hills and use my mill for hill running more than flat land running. I really like the 40% incline feature of the x7I. What I did not like was the console’s position on the machine. I felt it was in the way when one was running flats. Note that I understand the positioning of the console but was looking for a little more room in front of me.

I have not seen the C900 but did go to the web site. It has the same motor and 5” longer tread length as the x7i. I think I would look more at the 1250 or 1500 unit just for the added motor size and weight. The larger motor means less work for the motor and a less jerky motion when running. The weight means a more solid feel. The two options I mention come with free shipping.

I have run on the x7I at a club. I can say that the way the frame is built the machine rides like a large machine with very little bounce. I would be afraid the C900 would be a bouncy machine when running at a 2-4% incline and higher. As a frame of reference, I ended up with the 2009 version of the Life Fitness T7.0 http://www.lifefitness.com/home/cardio/treadmills/t70baseunit.html I retired a 9 year old PaceMaster. I find this machine to be as substantial as a club machine. It does not have the best electronics package, no iFit, no fan and no iPod dock… but it will run all day at 7 mph and you will never go through a period or elevation wondering if the machine is about to bounce you off.

Of the two you mention I would select the incline trainer. It you are not looking for inclines, then I would upgrade and select a machine of comparable costs to maximize the heft of the machine. I think you will appreciate the construction of the new machine as compared with your old pro form

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Thanks for your input!!

We are finally getting some decent weather so I've got some time to do some more research.
I don't really need to ifit, the fan or even the dock, for now I just set my phone in the cup holder. DH really liked the ifit and he liked the preprogramed hills, especially Diamond Head because we used to live there. LOL

I like the life fitness one that you have too and Dick's Sporting goods has them so I may try to get down there and check them out, we have just looked at Sears and they mostly had NordicTrack.

You've given me a lot to think about, thanks!!