NordicTrack Spacesaver SE7i Elliptical Review

Those who build their own home gym often want to include cardio equipment on top of their strength equipment, but may have trouble finding the right product to fit in an already crowded area. That’s where the NordicTrack Spacesaver SE7i comes in handy. Due to its foldable design, and the ability to store it vertically, you can make the most of your available space by stashing it in the corner of a room. That’s not the only reason it could be the next great addition to your fitness oasis, though. It also features a 10-inch touchscreen monitor loaded with thousands of iFit workouts and automatic adjustments to your resistance during trainer-led sessions.

This rear-driven elliptical offers up to 22 levels of magnetic resistance. It has a stride length of 18 inches, features an 18-pound flywheel, and boasts a handle and wheels to make it relatively easy to move around your space. NordicTrack also includes over 10 radio stations featuring popular music, and the integration of Google Maps™ allows you to “travel” to different cities in the world for your workouts. Bluetooth capabilities mean you can connect your headphones to listen to your instructor, and pair your heart rate monitor for an accurate reading of your burned calories. If you’re tight on space and looking for a great low-impact cardio workout, we think the NordicTrack SE7i is a solid option to consider. 

Main Takeaways

NordicTrack Spacesaver SE7i Elliptical Video Review

Our Reviews Writer, Jake, takes the SE7i for a spin during his detailed video review. Follow along as he breaks down everything you need to know about this elliptical, from the price to the build, specs, and much more (including a full demo).

NordicTrack Spacesaver SE7i Elliptical Highlights

Mapping out your available space in your home for furniture can be a daunting task, and that is intensified with workout equipment. This is why we think the SE7i could be a great purchase for small home dwellers. The innovative design means that after your cardio session, you can store it vertically and bust out the dumbbells to get a quick pump in. The 10-inch touchscreen monitor and automatic resistance adjustments mean it’s one of the most high-tech pieces of equipment out there, as well.

The pair of two-inch speakers under the monitor offer a solid amount of sound for your sweaty sessions, but you can always pair your headphones for quieter workouts. Speaking of noise, this elliptical isn’t going to drive your family members, roommates, or neighbors mad, as its magnetic resistance keeps things relatively quiet. Even though there aren’t any built-in heart rate sensors, you can always pair an existing heart rate monitor to accurately track the number of calories you’re burning.

One of our favorite things about this product is that during your trainer-led classes, you can opt for automatic adjustments to your resistance depending on each specific workout. You can always turn this feature off though, and override it with manual adjustments. One downside that users who stand over six feet tall may experience is that the stride length is only 18 inches, and may prevent you from stretching out the way you’d like. Others may not be too crazy about the 18-pound flywheel either. We didn’t find the resistance levels to be a problem, but you can certainly find a 20-pound flywheel on other ellipticals if you’re looking for more of a challenge.

Who Should Buy the NordicTrack Spacesaver SE7i Elliptical

• Anyone dealing with space issues who wants a high-quality piece of cardio equipment will be pumped that you can store the SE7i vertically.
• Those who don’t want to become complacent with their cardio will likely enjoy the virtual training and automatic resistance adjustments here.
• Even though it’s more expensive than other ellipticals, anyone looking for one of the biggest bang-for-your-buck purchases may find the $1,300 price tag here a steal. 

Who Shouldn’t Buy the NordicTrack Spacesaver SE7i Elliptical

• Even though the SE7i features a low price tag considering the features, anyone not willing to spend $1,300 will want to look for a cheaper option. Just remember, this is a top-notch product that will be of higher quality than many cheaper options. 
• The ability to vertically store this elliptical will certainly save you space, but it still might be a little too big for some small apartment home dwellers. 
• Anyone over six feet tall may not be able to stretch out properly for their workouts, and others may find that the 18-pound flywheel doesn’t provide enough of a challenge for them in terms of resistance. 

Price

The base value of the NordicTrack Spacesaver SE7i Elliptical is around $1,300 on the NordicTrack website. However, your final price tag will be determined by the type of iFit membership plan you choose, any additional warranty you want to add, and whether or not you want white glove assembly. So let’s say you want to save money long-term by going with the three-year membership plan, you want to add on the three-year maintenance plan, and also are opting for white glove assembly — your price tag will then be about $2,650 (which is the highest possible price tag). If you want all of those things but don’t want to pay it all upfront, you also have the option to finance this purchase over a year or 39 months. 

Compared to the rest of the market, that $1,300 price tag for this product is fairly average, considering it’s less expensive than many competing products, but also more expensive than many basic ellipticals. We think the price tag here is justified if you’re looking for a top-of-the-line product. However, you might be better off seeking a budget elliptical if you don’t care about the high-tech bells and whistles.

Overall Build and Quality

While the foldability of the SE7i might make it seem like a small product, it’s still pretty big. It’s over 6.5 feet long (the height when stored vertically), right at 5.5 feet tall when unfolded, and just over 2.5 feet wide. It also weighs 215 pounds, but thankfully, it has a handle and wheels that make it easier to maneuver around your space. Another thing we like about NordicTrack is that they feature a ten-year warranty on the durable steel framework of their products, so you can rest assured you’ll have this product in your for the foreseeable future. This product also has a 325-pound weight limit, which is a relatively high number for cardio equipment.

Features

The 10-inch touchscreen monitor is stocked with trainer-led iFit classes and will track all of your metrics throughout your workouts — but if you’re looking for a more accurate reading regarding calories burned, we suggest pairing a heart rate monitor.

The two speakers under the monitor offer ample sound for your class streaming, but don’t forget, you can always pair your favorite headphones via Bluetooth. The automatic resistance adjustments are a great tool in our eyes, but you can also make these adjustments manually along with your class.

Stats Tracking and Metrics 

During your cardio sessions, you’ll notice a bar at the top of the screen displaying all of your stats — from distance traveled to the number of calories burned. But since the SE7i doesn’t feature any built-in heart rate sensors, you might want to connect a heart rate monitor for an accurate reading on the number of calories you’ve burned and your heart rate variability.

Display

The 10-inch touchscreen display on the SE7i is where you can browse through all the iFit workouts. Since it operates on Android 9 OS Technology, there isn’t much downtime when loading. However, we still recommend being relatively close to your router because of the amount of data loaded onto the monitor. You’ll also notice a camera on the top of the monitor. This camera doesn’t currently serve any purpose, but in the growing world of virtual coaching, we think this might change in the future.

Included workouts

Even though this elliptical does not feature any preloaded workouts, you can always use the manual workout option if you don’t opt to take any of the iFit classes. 

Workout App and Subscription Options

iFit is a great tool users can take advantage of on this elliptical. If you aren’t familiar, iFit is a fitness streaming platform that offers over 16,000 live and on-demand classes that range from elliptical classes to cycling, running, strength, and even yoga. Your completed workouts and stats will be saved to your profile, and you can track your progress directly through the monitor or on the companion app with your phone.

You can also stream workout classes from your phone if you’re on the road and still want to exercise. This is especially helpful for any class that doesn’t require the SE7i, such as strength training or stretching classes. 

The Google Maps™ feature you can access with iFit is another reason we love this elliptical. You can select any city you wish and get a feel for the lay of the land as this feature adjusts the resistance on the elliptical in correspondence with the city streets. 

It’s worth remembering that you do have to pay for iFit to gain access to the platform. First-time buyers receive a free month of this service with their elliptical purchase, but you will ultimately have to choose from one of the four payment options once that runs out.

You can go down the most non-committal route and pay about $40 a month or choose from the three yearly plans. The one-year plan is about $400, the two-year plan will cost you around $700, and the three-year plan is about $900. Even though those yearly plans impact your original price more significantly, they’ll save you money long-term. For example, that three-year plan will save you about $500 over those three years compared to the $40 per month option. 

Feel and Comfort

During our time with the SE7i, we noticed its magnetic resistance offered one of the smoothest rides we’ve felt on an elliptical. Though the 18-inch stride length was solid for us (and most users), it may not be ideal for those over six feet tall. So if you are on the taller side, you might want to search for an elliptical with a longer stride length.

Heart Rate Monitoring

Since there are no built-in heart rate sensors, those who want to track their heart rate variability will want to pair an existing heart rate monitor via Bluetooth.

Fans

Because you’re likely bound to sweat while working out with the SE7i, the fan located underneath the monitor can help cool you off properly thanks to its four different speeds. 

Speakers

The pair of two-inch speakers under the monitor offer great projection for your instructor’s voice or any music playing while you’re working out. And if you don’t want both audio options (coaching and music) coming through the speakers simultaneously, you can adjust their volume levels separately. 

Water Bottle, Cup Holders, Tablet and Phone Holders

NordicTrack included a water bottle holder on the SE7i. But we found it to be pretty small, and unable to accommodate many reusable water bottles. This is also applicable with shaker bottles for those who are sneaking in a pre-workout before working some cardio. 

Bluetooth and Audio Options

The SE7i has Bluetooth capabilities, so you can pair your headphones and/or heart rate monitor when using it. The option to pair headphones may be crucial for those who work out late at night or early in the morning and don’t want to wake anyone up. 

HDMI, USB and Other Inputs

You won’t find any inputs or outputs with the SE7i, but with all the included technology and the ability to stream iFit classes on the touchscreen (rather than on your device), you likely won’t be missing a charging port for your phone during your workout session.

Product Specs

The NordicTrack SE7i is one of the most high-tech ellipticals on the market, especially thanks to iFit and the option for automatic adjustments to the resistance during your workouts. But don’t forget you can always adjust everything manually when you see fit.

The foldable design here makes it possible to store this elliptical vertically — plus, it makes it easier to utilize the included handle and wheels for portability. You’ll find this machine features a high weight limit and is honestly pretty quiet during use, thanks to the magnetic resistance. 

Elliptical Type and Materials

This is a standard rear-driven elliptical that features an 18-pound flywheel. While there isn’t that much of a difference between front, center, and rear-drive ellipticals, a rear-driven one may have the most natural feel since it can allow you to stretch out the most while also offering a flatter movement pattern. The framework is primarily made of steel but does feature some plastic, and the monitor is glass.

Resistance

The NordicTrack SE7i features 22 levels of magnetic resistance. This is arguably the quietest form of resistance available, and on top of the automatic adjustments to the resistance during iFit workouts, you can always adjust it manually. 

Pedals and Arms

The pedals and arms on this elliptical are connected and will move in unison, providing a natural feel. The pedals are about 16 inches long and six inches wide, accommodating most users.

The textured pedals will help prevent your feet from sliding, and you can raise the heels for comfort, which may also make your workout more quad-driven. 

Dimensions and Weight

Despite the foldability of the SE7i, it’s still a pretty large piece of equipment. When unfolded, you’ll find it to be about 5.5 feet tall, 6.6 feet long (which is the height when stored vertically, as well), and just under three feet wide. It also weighs a hefty 215 pounds, but thankfully there’s a handle and a set of wheels that can help to move it around. 

Weight Capacity

The weight capacity for the NordicTrack SE7i is an impressive 325 pounds.

Foldability and Portability

Even though this elliptical weighs 215 pounds, it’s pretty easy to move, thanks to the handle and wheels. To fold the machine, just unscrew the knob under the water bottle holder, lift up the tab located on the opposite side of the frame, and gently fold it down. After it’s folded, you can guide it around your space using the handle and wheels. 

Electrical Requirements

Unlike a lot of the other NordicTrack equipment, the SE7i has a basic power cord that only features two prongs and lacks a “brick.” To best prevent a power surge, we suggest unplugging the SE7i after your cardio session.

Noise

A piece of cardio equipment like the SE7i is bound to make noise during use. The problem that so many people want to avoid is their machine making too much noise. Thanks to the magnetic resistance, you won’t have to worry about that. In all honesty, the audio may actually be louder than the resistance. So you can rest assured that you won’t be that obnoxious neighbor or roommate. 

Warranties

The NordicTrack SE7i features a 10-year warranty on the frame, two years on parts, and one year on labor.

Places to Buy

You can purchase the SE7i directly through the NordicTrack website. 

Company Information

NordicTrack is one of the leaders in the fitness industry in terms of their cardio equipment, which ranges from exercise bikes to treadmills, rowers, and of course, ellipticals, like the SE7i. If you want to speak to a customer service team member, you can call them at 1-888-308-9616.

Final Word

NordicTrack is changing the game with their new line of ellipticals, which includes the SE7i. This elliptical is foldable, which makes it a great addition to small home gym spaces. We also love the inclusion of iFit on the 10-inch touchscreen monitor, which offers tens of thousands of workout classes. Each class you join features automatic adjustments to the resistance settings. But you can always adjust those variables manually if you prefer.

The 18-inch stride length and 18-pound flywheel may not be ideal for taller folks or advanced athletes (respectively), but we think both were necessary for the SE7i to be as portable as it is. If you’re searching for a great low-impact cardio product that’s compact enough for a small home gym space, you might want to consider this affordable, high-tech elliptical from NordicTrack.

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