Stylish and durable, ideal for cardiovascular conditioning and overall muscle toning.
Large adjustable cushion pedals with 3 customizable angle options.
Versatile training options with one-touch resistance control.
24 levels of resistance and 20 degree digital incline.
Ultra smooth transitions through varied exercise programs help maximise every workout.
Powerful AutoBreeze™ workout fan allows for extended training even on warm days.
Soft grips for comfortable handling and prolonged upper body training.
Built-in transport wheels allow easy moving from room to room.
Heavy, may require some assistance to move (assembly is easy enough).
Large footprint may not be ideal where space is at a premium.
Not suited for extremely obese people as the maximum user weight limit is 145kg therefore balance might become an issue.
Built-in speakers sound rather thin.
Now the fun starts as we get into techie-quality territory -machines that combine advanced user customization and adjustability with state-of-the-art tracking and monitoring capability. The NordicTrack Elite 12.5 aims to bring it all together in one package.
The NordicTrack Elite 12.5 is stylishly made -constructed out of heavy duty quality materials and comes packed with solidly put together features such as an adjustable incline and custom fit pedals. This model also comes with a 5-year warranty on the frame, and 2 years parts and labour.
The Elite 12.5 has been designed to provide a natural striding motion as a comfortable method of exercise. The easy-to-customize toe-to-heel angle offers superior traction and control (your feet will stay planted without rising up) aiding a steady, rhythmic yet relaxed movement. There is also an AutoBreeze™ workout fan which is a tremendous boon in warm weather days when you might be feeling lethargic due to humidity and fall asleep than workout! There is a convenient water bottle holder to help ensure you stay hydrated throughout your training.
If you like the idea of getting more involved, it’s good to know that this machine is also iFit Live™ Technology compatible. This basically means you can hook up to the iFit fitness platform and get connected to online interactive training tools (including being coached by Jillian Michaels, America’s toughest trainer) to help track your fitness, plan your workouts and adapt to your progress. With iFit you can also join a supportive community that help you to accomplish your fitness goals and it’s such great fun to, for example, compete against someone in another country!
You’re off on a good footing when you know you can adjust the footplates, the stride and the incline to suit you and tailor your workout perfectly instead of having to adapt to some awkward design quirks or limitations. When it comes to getting the most out of the Elite 12.5, that’s easily achieved by adjusting the above (plates, stride and incline) as these increase the training effect on your hamstrings and glutes. Altering the incline to shorten your stride engages your calves and quads more.
The machine’s heart rate sensors on the handlebars are sensitive and reliable and you also get a wireless chest strap included which sends a continuous reading to the display to help you stay in the right training zone for better, faster results. The machine proved surprisingly quiet considering its size, weight and 14kg flywheel. We found that exercising on the Elite 12.5 made for a satisfying experience, and its smooth operation impressive.
The built-in speakers are a bit of a let down though, and are average at best – they could be slightly larger than the 2 inch ones onboard to allow for some bass- but given the quality of the machine as a whole this is a negligible niggle, you can always use your headphones or portable sound system if you prefer.
In short, for your £899, you get a beast, a lot of bang for your buck here. This is one of the better elliptical cross trainer packages on the market. It scores admirably across all the important categories as well as in the realm of style, comfort and durability. It’s packed with all the innovative technology you could want to make your workouts that much more challenging and interesting. Worthy of note is that NordicTrack, as one of world’s leaders in fitness equipment also have a very customer friendly team that is second to none and are always on their toes to help you out with your queries.
As far as an all-in-one solution for training indoors goes, the NordicTrack Elite 12.5 is a difficult proposition to beat. It gives a satisfying workout, is easy to use despite being quite advanced, it’s comfortable and will certainly help you on your way to fast weight loss with regular use if that’s one of your physique aims. We highly recommend this machine if you’re interested to kick-start your home fitness regime and have the space to accommodate it. Alright, so the speakers don’t quite pack a punch but the rest of the machine certainly does.