Even though cardio may not be everyone’s favorite form of exercise, it’s still an important part of overall health and fitness. Ellipticals are great if you want to implement a low-impact form of cardio, and NordicTrack has some of the best options on the market — specifically the NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i. Its ability to fold and store vertically is a game changer for anyone who’s tight on space in their home gym; plus, thousands of iFit workouts are loaded onto the 14-inch touchscreen monitor.
This elliptical features automatic adjustments to both the 24 levels of magnetic resistance and 10 degrees of incline during iFit classes — but you can always adjust the difficulty manually if you prefer. It has a stride length of 18 inches, an 18-pound flywheel, and a handle and wheels for easy portability. If you’re looking for an elliptical that allows you to make the most of your available space and will push you to your limits with virtual training options, we think the SE9i from NordicTrack could be an ideal fit.
Main Takeaways
- The SE9i can fold and store vertically when you’re done with your cardio session.
- During your trainer-led iFit workouts, your resistance and incline can adjust automatically according to the class you’re taking, but you can also adjust both manually.
- Your purchase includes a free month of iFit, which provides access to over 16,000 live and on-demand workout classes.
This elliptical features a foldable design, 24 levels of magnetic resistance, and 10 degrees of incline. The SE9i offers automatic adjustments to the resistance and incline during the trainer-led iFit workouts, but you can always adjust your difficulty manually.
NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i Elliptical Video Review
Our reviews writer, Jake, tests out this elliptical firsthand during his detailed video review. Tag along as he breaks down everything there is to know about this piece of equipment — from the price to the many features it offers.
NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i Elliptical Highlights
The SE9i is one of the most innovative ellipticals on the market. It has a foldable design, so you can store it vertically after your workout to maximize your space. The 14-inch touchscreen monitor is where you’ll navigate through the seemingly endless number of iFit cardio, strength training, and even yoga classes. Two two-inch speakers are located directly under the monitor, but you can always pair your headphones via Bluetooth if you prefer. This elliptical also tracks your stats on the touchscreen display, but there aren’t any built-in heart-rate sensors, so you’ll need to pair a heart-rate monitor for an accurate reading on that stat.
During your trainer-led workouts, the SE9i offers automatic adjustments to your resistance and incline, but there’s also a manual adjustment option if you want to set the difficulty yourself. Due to the foldability, the SE9i has a stride length of 18 inches and an 18-pound flywheel. The stride length will likely only affect those over six feet tall, but an 18-pound flywheel may not provide enough resistance for all athletes. Overall, the space-saving features, 24 levels of resistance, 10 degrees of incline, and inclusion of iFit on the 14-inch touchscreen display make the SE9i a great all-around option worth considering.
Who Should Buy the NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i Elliptical
- Folks who are tight on space but want a solid piece of cardio equipment will enjoy the foldable design and option to store the SE9i vertically.
- Anyone who wants an instructor to lead them through a virtual workout will be pleased with the free month of iFit you receive with your purchase here.
- Those who want a product that adapts to their workouts for a challenge will enjoy this machine’s automatic adjustments during your cardio workout. The SE9i will auto-adjust the resistance and incline as you follow along with the iFit instructor.
Who Shouldn’t Buy the NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i Elliptical
- Even though NordicTrack designed this elliptical to save you space, it still isn’t necessarily small. So if you don’t have a ton of space to work with, you might want to see if you can find a more compact alternative.
- Though not the most expensive machine on the market, this elliptical is still fairly pricey if you don’t intend to use it multiple times a week.
- The touchscreen monitor cannot be tilted to accommodate your height, so some people may have to crane their necks a bit when navigating the menus.
Price
The NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i Elliptical is available for around $1,500 on the NordicTrack website. However, your overall cost will be determined by which iFit membership you choose, whether or not you want to add on an extended warranty, and the addition of white glove assembly. If you add the one-year iFit membership, the three-year extended warranty, and the white glove assembly, your initial cost will jump to around $2,300.
Even though this is a top-of-the-line elliptical, we understand that not everyone wants to pay $1,500 all at once for one piece of equipment. If you want to finance this purchase, NordicTrack will calculate your payments based on the various add-ons we just broke down, and provide a couple of payment plans.
Overall Build and Quality
Despite its foldability, the SE9i is still a relatively large elliptical. The SE9i is 67 inches tall when unfolded, 80 inches long, and 32 inches wide. It’s also pretty heavy, weighing around 220 pounds, but thankfully the handle and wheels help with portability. NordicTrack includes a ten-year warranty on the frame, and this machine has a 325-pound weight limit. The 325-pound weight limit is fairly high for cardio equipment; overall, we found it felt extremely stable when we tested it.
Features
The 14-inch touchscreen monitor allows you to browse through thousands of iFit workout classes and tracks your stats throughout your workouts. The foldable design and option to store this elliptical vertically allows you to make the most of your available space when you’re done using it.
The speakers provide a clear sound while working out, but you can always pair your Bluetooth headphones. You can also pair a heart rate monitor for an accurate reading of the calories you’ve burned. Even though the trainer-led workouts feature automatic adjustments to your resistance and incline, you can manually adjust the difficulty if you’d rather.
Stats Tracking and Metrics
A stat tracking bar at the top of the screen will display everything you need to know about your sweat session. This includes the resistance and incline levels, time, distance traveled, estimated calories, and speed. Since no heart rate monitors are built into the movable arms, you’ll have to pair a heart rate monitor for an accurate reading of your burned calories.
Display
The 14-inch display on the SE9i is where you can browse the available iFit classes. It features a crystal clear HD picture, and operates on Android 9 OS Technology. This software is standard across all of NordicTrack’s equipment, and all of the monitors have a camera that doesn’t serve any purpose at this time, but that may eventually change.
Included workouts
The SE9i does not feature any preloaded workouts, aside from what is available through iFit. However, you can always utilize the manual workout option if you don’t want to pay for iFit.
Workout App and Subscription Options
This elliptical offers iFit integration. iFit is a fitness streaming service with over 16,000 live and on-demand classes that range from elliptical classes to yoga, strength training, running, and pilates. Tracking your progress over time is easy thanks to the iFit companion app. You can view your completed workouts and see any challenges you’ve accomplished. Plus, you can stream any workout from your phone, which will come in handy when you’re traveling or if you select a type of workout that doesn’t involve the SE9i.
Another cool feature you’ll find when choosing a workout is the integration of Google Maps™. You can explore the world and “travel” to different cities that you may never actually have the opportunity to visit in real life. By using the Google street cam view, you’ll get the feel of the actual city as you work out — although it isn’t a seamless presentation as it does jump around a little bit.
When you’re checking out, you’ll see three different options for your iFit membership. The one-year plan will run you around $400, the two-year plan is about $700, and the three-year plan will cost you an additional $900 or so on top of the price for the SE9i. While you will be saving money in the long run with one of those three plans, you can always choose to pay a $39 monthly fee instead.
Feel and Comfort
The SE9i offers a pretty smooth stride when working out. The only issue some people may experience is a fairly short stride length of 18 inches (this isn’t ideal for those over six feet tall).
You can find an elliptical with a longer stride length, but since NordicTrack wanted this elliptical to be foldable, 18 inches was the max it could accommodate. The flywheel is also 18 pounds — we felt like this provided plenty of resistance, but some athletes may be searching for a 20-pound flywheel since it may offer more resistance.
Heart Rate Monitoring
Since the NordicTrack SE9i doesn’t have heart rate sensors built into the handles, you will want to pair a heart monitor via Bluetooth to track your heart rate, or get an accurate read on your calories burned.
Fans
The built-in fan underneath the monitor features four different speeds to help cool you off.
Speakers
The SE9i features a pair of two-inch speakers to amplify the instructor’s voice during iFit classes and preloaded music.
Water Bottle, Cup Holders, Tablet and Phone Holders
The SE9i does have a water bottle holder, but it’s pretty small. We found it couldn’t fit our reusable water bottle, but we think it could fit an average-sized 16-ounce plastic bottle. There also isn’t any storage, so you won’t have anywhere to place a phone or tablet while you work out.
Bluetooth and Audio Options
This elliptical does feature Bluetooth connectivity. You can pair your headphones and/or a heart rate monitor for your cardio sessions.
HDMI, USB and Other Inputs
The SE9i does not feature any type of input or output ports. However, we didn’t find a port to be necessary, thanks to all the built-in technology in the console.
Product Specs
The NordicTrack SE9i features automatic adjustments to the incline and resistance. During any iFit workout that involves the elliptical, the incline and resistance can adjust automatically to match the commands or terrain of the virtual workout. Still, you can also utilize the manual adjustment buttons if you prefer. Thanks to its foldability, this is a highly portable elliptical, but it still requires a decent amount of space for your training.
Elliptical Type and Materials
While there is some plastic (and glass in the monitor, of course), the framework of the SE9i is made primarily of steel, so durability shouldn’t be a cause for concern. This is a rear-driven elliptical, which refers to the positioning of the flywheel.
There isn’t too much of a difference between front, center, and rear-drive ellipticals, but a rear-driven one like the SE9i may feel the most natural. This rear positioning may also be the most ideal in terms of foldability.
Resistance
NordicTrack features 24 levels of magnetic resistance. This is the quietest form of resistance, and you can adjust the levels here manually, or they can also auto-adjust along with any iFit class.
Pedals and Arms
The foot pedals on the SE9i are going to accommodate the majority of athletes. They’re about 16 inches long and six inches wide, and feature a textured surface to prevent your feet from sliding. The heel of the pedals can also be raised to fit your comfort level. The movable arms are connected to the pedals to provide a natural feel while working out.
Dimensions and Weight
Even though the SE9i features a foldable design meant to make the most of your available space in your home gym, it’s still a bit large. When unfolded, it’s 67 inches tall, 80 inches long (this will be the height when stored vertically), and about 32 inches wide. It weighs around 220 pounds, so the handle and wheels available make it easier to move.
Weight Capacity
The weight capacity for the SE9i is an above-average 325 pounds.
Foldability and Portability
Despite it weighing around 220 pounds, the SE9i is honestly pretty portable. The handle on the front of the frame allows you to lift it to use the wheels and slide it around on your floors. Folding the machine is also an easy process.
Just unscrew the knob located underneath the water bottle holder, then lift up on the “tab” located on the front of the frame, and you’re free to fold it. This dramatically cuts down on the size and allows you to stand it upright for storage. That way you can bust out your dumbbells, a kettlebell, or any other equipment to add some resistance training into the mix.
Electrical Requirements
The SE9i only needs a standard 110v outlet. Don’t forget to turn it off and unplug it after your workout though to prevent a power surge.
Noise
It’s inevitable that a piece of equipment like the SE9i will make some noise during usage, but overall, this machine is relatively quiet. You’ll hear the motor that drives the incline adjustments during your cardio burnout, but even that wasn’t very loud. And the magnetic resistance is about as quiet as it comes, so if you’re looking for an elliptical that won’t wake up your roommates, this is it.
Warranties
NordicTrack includes a 10-year warranty on the frame of the SE9i to go along with two years on parts, and one year on labor.
Places to Buy
You can purchase the SE9i directly through the NordicTrack website.
Company Information
Known as one of the leaders in cardio equipment, NordicTrack has an impressive selection of exercise bikes, treadmills, rowers, and even strength equipment. If you need to speak to a customer support representative or want to inquire about their operations, you can reach out to their team at 1-888-308-9616.
Final Word
NordicTrack makes a lot of innovative cardio equipment, and that is especially true with the SE9i Elliptical. Space is always an issue when looking to add a new piece of equipment to a home gym. Thankfully, this elliptical can fold and be stored vertically using the two “feet” located on the back of the frame. The touchscreen monitor provides access to over 16,000 workout classes from iFit, and each class features automatic adjustments to incline and resistance — a great option for anyone who is worried about becoming complacent in their cardio training.
We love that NordicTrack features Google Maps™, so you can choose any city in the world and take a stroll around town as you stride. Even though the 18-inch stride length and 18-pound flywheel may not be the best fit for all athletes — specifically those who are over six feet tall, and anyone who wants more resistance than what an 18-pound flywheel can provide. Overall, we think the innovative design and all of the luxury features make it worth the $1,500 price tag. So if you’re looking for a low-impact cardio workout, and you want to make the most of your available space, we think the NordicTrack SE9i is a great option for you to consider.
FAQs
Are there any preloaded workouts on the NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i Elliptical?
Unfortunately no, there aren’t any preloaded workouts. However, there is a manual workout option if you don’t want to pay for iFit, but we think you would be doing yourself a disservice if you were to opt-out of iFit. The option to take iFit classes on-screen is one of the coolest features here.
How much space do I need to work out with the NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i Elliptical?
Due to its relatively compact design, you don’t need to make too many accommodations to get a proper workout in with this elliptical. It’s 80 inches long, and the 18-inch stride length really doesn’t stick out too far from the framework of the product. You should be good with about seven square feet of space.
Do I need a special outlet to power the NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i Elliptical?
No, you do not need to make any special accommodations in order to power this elliptical. Just plug it into any regular 110v outlet in your home, and you’re all set.
