I applaud Nordic Track on having higher end machines that aim to match machines in the $1,000- $1,500 range, but in their attempt to do so they carried along a lot of the same material issues that have plagued NordicTrack from the start.
People are unfortunately fooled by the price tag and buy the machine thinking that it is a much better machine than lower priced machines Nordic Track already sell. This I believe is a mistake.
Nordic Track Elite 1300 Elliptical Specifications
- Stride Legnth: 20″
- Type of Resistance: Magnetic
- Resistance Levels: 16
- Dimensions: 78″ x 27″ x 72″
- Product Weight: 220 lbs
- Max User Weight: 300 lbs
- Display: Matrix with message boxes
- Programs: 15
- Warranty: 1 year Frame, parts, and labor
The features are good, but for a $1500 machine they are not great. Having a 20″ stride is a start but it does not make the 1300 a great machine, that fact alone does not even make it an adequate one.
Lacking in many of the higher end features commonly included on machines in this price range, namely a decent warranty, the Elite 1300 doesn’t have any unique features to brag about.
Squeaky and Jerky
An 18 pound fly-wheel can occasionally be excused if it does not result in a noticeable lack of smoothness. In a $1500 machine I would expect a heavier flywheel and a smoother operation, but alas they are missing in this machine.
The good points of the machine might be a decent variety of programs and pedals which are actually quite comfortable and enjoyable, but beyond that the machine is severely lacking in all quality which matches its price range.
Although it is quite common for cheaper machines to start have major vibration and noise issues after the first few months, at $1500 the machines are usually not prone to having great deal of noise complaints.
With the Nordic Track Elite 1300 noises are common even early on and can range from squeaks and groans to high pitched rasping noises. In some cases proper maintainence will greatly help this problem but even with proper lubing the Elite 1300 is a rather noisy machine.
At the price I also usually expect to see a decent console and a number of entertainment options, but on this machine that is not the case. More that anything I was disappointed that the Nordic track line can be so large but still have the same problems on its small and its large machines.
Poor Value For Money
Companies like Smooth and Sole have a number of machines that a similarly priced to the Nordic Track Elite 1300, they all carry a better warranty, have better features, and provide a much better value. It surprises me that the Nordic Track can be so poor yet keep a prestigeous name.
Customer reviews of this machine are often misleading because customers review the product before things go wrong 6 months after using the machine 5 times a week.
I suggest to talk to someone who has extensively used any nordic track machine you are interested in for years before you purchase it.
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