NordicTrack T Series 10 Review: a treadmill for walkers, joggers and runners

NordicTrack didn’t hike the price with the T Series 10 Treadmill, which I’m surprised about as it’s basically a replacement for their EXP 10i Treadmill. Except the T Series 10 is even better.

So what these guys have managed to do is produce a treadmill for running that includes all the latest tech they offer. Even the tech from their high-end line treadmills is featured on this thing, and they kept the price under $1500.

The NordicTrack T Series 10 Treadmill is a heavy-duty machine that packs a punch way higher than its price tag. And the reason NordicTrack can offer such good deals on a treadmill like the T Series 10 is because they make so much money from their app iFit.

I remember the days when they used to offer a free treadmill if you signed up for 3 years of iFit.

So yes, the NordicTrack T Series 10 offers more than most treadmills at this price point and certainly boasts the most advanced tech, but there’s a catch. To get the most out of this machine and its features, you’ll need a pro iFit subscription, which costs $39 a month, so unless you love subscription apps, the T Series 10 may not seem like such a great deal.

If you love your tech, you gonna love this treadmill. There’s a ton of it for $1500, but let’s push the tech to one side. What are you left with? Well, NordicTrack has been at fault in the past for focusing too much of its efforts on the tech and its app and forgetting the treadmill’s essentials.

Thankfully, they have got all the essentials right with the T Series 10. There’s a decent balance of tech and build quality.

This treadmill is solid for its price point, weighing 230lb out of the box. It’s a study treadmill, which is what you really want regardless of the tech. The build quality is the most important.

It’s certainly a machine I want to take a much closer look at. And today, we’ll deep dive and look at everything the new T series 10 has to offer, including any drawbacks.

At the end of the review, I also want to compare the T Series 10 to one of my favorites in this price bracket: the Sole F65 Treadmill. It will be interesting to see how these two match up.

First a quick look at the product specs!

Why Do We Like The NordicTrack T Series 10 Treadmill?

You have to love this treadmill just for what it offers for under $1500. NordicTrack has gone the extra mile.. The tech is second to none, and that 10″ pivoting HD screen is crystal clear. I was impressed, even though I’m not a tech guy.

But it’s not just the tech with this treadmill. NordicTrack has got all the essentials right as well. This is much more important than an HD screen and subscription apps.

Mid-priced treadmills like the T Series 10 must get all the essentials right first before they can boast about all the fun tech stuff. And they have.

Most importantly, this treadmill doesn’t feel cheap. It’s a 230-lb solid machine, and its weight is a telling sign that it is made from high-quality parts.

When it comes to treadmills, the heavier, the better. You want a sturdy machine that doesn’t move around when you’re running on it.

The 230lb all steel construction ensures this machine stays firmly planted on the floor, which is exactly what you want from a home treadmill. The closer you can get to the feel of a commercial machine, the better.

3CHP Motor – Is it Enough For Running?

Yes, it is! It doesn’t quite have enough power for serious athletes, marathon training, etc., but for most of us, running 30 minutes to an hour a day, a 3CHP motor can handle it.

The good thing about this motor from NordicTrack is that it’s rated at 3CHP (Continuous Horsepower). A motor rated in CHP is typically more heavy-duty than one rated in peak performance HP.

Yes, a 3CHP motor will have a peak performance of around 4 or 5HP. That’s pretty powerful for a mid-level treadmill like the T Series 10. There’s enough power for daily running.

So far, so good with this treadmill from NordicTrack. The build quality is there; it doesn’t disappoint. Also, the motor is powerful enough. It’s great to find a 3CHP in a mid-level machine. The next most important thing to consider when looking for a treadmill, especially if you want to use it for running, is size the running belt.

Click here to check price of the T Series 10 on Amazon

20″ x 60″ Running Belt

The T Series 10 boasts a 20″ x 60″ running belt, which is impressive. This means the max height for running on this treadmill will be around 6’1″, which is great for sub $1500 treadmill.

The belt size is always one of the most important features you should consider, as it determines who can use the treadmill and for what purpose.

Commercial treadmills use 22″ x 60″ belts, which is about as good as it gets, so we’re not far off commercial size with the T Series 10. A belt this size allows for all types of workouts, including running. You have the build quality, power, and belt size for running. Nice.

Also, iFit has some great running trainer-led workouts for you to try if you decide to subscribe. What’s cool about trainer-led walking, hiking, or running workouts is that the trainers adjust the incline and speed, allowing you to focus fully on your workout.

Check the video below for a quick peek at some running workouts.

Adjustable Deck Cushioning (SelectFlex™)

Another impressive feature of this treadmill is the deck cushioning system, it’s adjustable.

The T Series 10 is the only treadmill in the under $1500 price range to include adjustable deck cushioning. It’s a feature normally reserved for high-end commercial machines, so it’s excellent to see its feature here.

I like this feature so much because most treadmill cushioning systems are too soft. If you’re used to road running, it can take some getting used to running on such a soft surface. So, having the option to choose between soft, medium, or firm is a big plus, especially if you’re training over the winter and want to recreate the road conditions.

Still, even if you’re not a roa runner, an adjustable anti-shock system has many benefits. One of those is to protect your joints.

On the soft setting, the T Series 10 cushioning system will reduce the impact of each footstrike by a whopping 30%, so if you don’t like the idea of running on heavy impacts surfaces like roads, you can choose the soft setting to help protect joints.

Advanced Monitor With iFit and 10″ Pivoting HD Touchscreen

The monitor and its features is where this treadmill really starts to shine. It’s feature-packed. And what I liked about the touchscreen is how clear it is, and I love that it pivots; you can get the perfect angle to view it easily when running.

The best feature of this monitor is the smart adjust feature; this is a cool feature that allows the iFit trainers to adjust the incline and speed depending on what workout you’ve chosen. This leaves you fully concentrated on your workout without the hassle of having to adjust the incline or speed.

 iFit

What is so important about the latest version of iFit is just how many workouts and global routes there are, over 10,000. You’ll never get bored using this treadmill. There’s always going to be something there to keep you challenged and coming back for more.

I don’t want to discuss iFit too much—I could write a whole article on all of its features. Let’s just say it’s one of the best fitness/running apps out there, and it really will bring something extra to your workouts.

One of the features of iFit that’s worth a mention is the ActivePulse feature, a really useful feature for those who love to train in their chosen heart rate zone.

Active Pulse automatically adjusts intensity to keep you in the right heart rate zone. This is a handy feature that I know many people will use. 

Still, iFit is a subscription app, and if you want to get the most from this treadmill and its high-end features, you’ll need to subscribe to it. The monthly subscription cost is $39. It may not sound that much, but over the years, it really starts to add up.

The subscription is the only major drawback of the T Series 10 treadmill.

Yes, you’re getting a high-end treadmill at a mid-level price point, but as I mentioned in the intro, you only receive such a good deal on the treadmill because the company makes nearly all its profits from the app.

If you love fitness apps like iFit, this is the perfect deal. If not, then of course the deal isn’t so sweet.

Work the Glutes, Hamstrings, and Calves With a 12% Incline

Surprisingly, the NordicTrack T Series 10 doesn’t boast the most impressive incline in the price range. The Sole F65 holds that badge with a 15-level 15% incline, but the NordicTrack incline feature is impressive, even though it is a little on the loud side when adjusting.

With the T Series 10, you get a max of 12%, which is easily enough for hill walking or running. To adjust it, you can either use the large quick-access buttons on the monitor or use the smart adjust and allow the iFit trainers to adjust it for you.

I’d never go without an incline feature when choosing a treadmill. Walking, jogging, or running on an incline will more than double your calorie burn, and it’ll tone and strengthen those hard-to-train muscles in your legs, like your glutes, calves, and hamstrings. It really is one of those essential features.

Make sure any treadmill you choose in this price range comes with a decent incline feature.

Soft Drop Folding System (Hydraulics)

Mid-size treadmills have fairly large running decks, so they are pretty heavy to fold after a workout. You need a decent folding system that does most of the lifting for you, like the SoftDrop system used on the T Series 10 treadmill.

This soft drop system uses hydraulics; the hydraulics do all the heavy lifting. Just give the hydraulics a little kick to lower the running deck. There is no lever or button, so a light kick and the running deck will fold down gently in front of you.

Folding the deck is almost as easy. You can fold it with one hand. Once folded, the treadmill’s overall footprint is almost halved. This is a handy feature for those of you who are tight on space.

Will I need a Treadmill Mat?

The NordicTrack T Series 10 is a fairly heavy, sturdy machine. Its weight is enough to keep it planted on the floor, so you shouldn’t need a treadmill mat to aid stability.

If you want to protect your polished floors from scratches, then yes, you’ll need a treadmill mat.

Another reason you may need a treadmill mat is if you live in an apartment. The mat will help soak up a lot of the vibrations from your workouts.

I’ve found that Sunny Health & Fitness makes the best cheap treadmill mats. I’ll leave a link below.

Sunny Health & Fitness Treadmill Mats

Alternative

Sole F65 Treadmill

Sole has been around for years. Its history includes making semi-commercial and commercial-grade treadmills and ellipticals for hotels and gyms, which means they’ve got a ton of experience making heavy-duty machines.

And it really shows with all their gear. Even their mid-level treadmills, like the Sole F63 and F65, are heavy-duty beasts, and that’s why I like these guys. When you buy a product from Sole Fitness, you know it’s going to be a solid heavy-duty machine made by a company with a lot of experience. Plus, their warranties are the best in the industry.

The Sole F65 is one of Sole’s best-selling midlevel treadmills. It’s a beast of a machine for its price range and weighs nearly 270lb. This treadmill is rock solid, and many users say it doesn’t feel that much different from a gym-quality treadmill.

Even the running belt is commercial-size, measuring 22″ x 60, slightly larger than the T series 10 belt. The F65’s incline is more impressive, with 15 levels, and it adjusts so smoothly you can hardly hear it.

The F65 is another treadmill priced under $1500 that can be used for running (it is actually $300 cheaper than the Series 10). It has a heavy-duty build, power, and belt size to cope with just any type of workout you can throw at it.

The T Series 10 and Sole F65, along with its little brother, the F63, are the top three treadmills in this price range that can be used for daily running.

Is it better than the T Series 10? Well, the F65 is slightly more heavy duty, and the belt is larger, plus the incline is more impressive, but the F65 monitor is faulty basic.

The F65 monitor doesn’t include an HD touchscreen. Sole is a company that puts most of its efforts into the essentials. The tech always comes second with these guys. So, hands-down, the T series 10 beats the Sole F65 on the tech side by miles.

Still, I like the F65 monitor. It’s easy to use, has built-in workout programs, and you can download all your workout stats to the free Sole+ app. There’s also BlueTooth and a 1/4-mile feature. It’s a decent monitor with a 9″ LCD. And there are no expensive subscription apps to deal with.

It’s a close call between the T Series 10 and F65 treadmills. Both are excellent machines, but the T Series 10 shines because it has all the latest tech and has most of the essentials right. It’s an impressive all-rounder, but the subscription to iFit holds it back.

With Sole F65, it’s the heavy-duty build, commercial size belt, best incline in class, and excellent warranty that sells it. The only drawback for some might be the basic monitor.

To Sum Up

If I didn’t have to pay $396 for a yearly membership to iFit Pro to get the most out of the T Series 10 Treadmill, I’d probably say it’s the best treadmill under $1500 on the market right now.

NordicTrack got everything right with this treadmill. The build quality is high, and the essential features, like the belt, incline, and motor, are all very impressive. Of course, the tech is the best in this price range. As I mentioned, it’s the best all-rounder out there. If you love iFit, this really is the treadmill for you. You won’t be disappointed.

NordicTrack T Series 10 Treadmill FAQs

What Does 10 Mean on a Treadmill?

With most treadmills, the 10 usually means 10mph or a 10% incline, but with the NordicTrack T Series 10, the 10 refers to the touchscreen size.

Can I watch TV on a NordicTrack T Series 10?

While the T Series 10 touchscreen is designed for an immersive workout experience with iFit, Google Maps trails, and comprehensive stats monitoring, it’s important to note that iFit now offers access to popular streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Spotify. This means you can enjoy your favorite shows and playlists while you exercise, making your workouts more enjoyable.

Can You Use The NordicTrack T Series 10 Without iFit?

Yes, you can still do without the iFit subscription. The T Series 10 is basically a manual treadmill; no built-in workout programs exist. Many of the features, such as SmartAdjust, Google Maps, and Actipulse, don’t work without iFit, and the 10″ touchscreen will be useless as it can’t be used with any other fitness app. In a few words, unless you like iFit, it’s better to look for another treadmill with similar specs, like the Sole F65 or F63, which are not subscription-bound.

Can You Run on The NordicTrack T Series 10 Treadmill?

Yes, you can; it has the power 3CHP motor, a running belt length of 20″ x “60, a top speed of 12mph, and a high-quality build. All of these features are what you need to look for when choosing a treadmill for running. Still, it doesn’t quite have the power or the build quality for marathon training. Those types of treadmills (commercial grade cost $4k+), but for light running an hour or so a day, the NordicTrack T Series 10 is a good choice.