NordicTrack T13.0 Treadmill Review

As the flagship brand in the world’s largest fitness equipment manufacturer, the NordicTrack brand needs little introduction! Manufactured by Icon, NordicTrack equipment represents the premium end of their portfolio, so we were keen to test the T13.0 to find out how it stacks up in the uber-competitive mid-priced segment.

Like many treadmills, your first exercise session will be assembling the machine! Fortunately, the instruction manual is one of the better ones we’ve come across and is straightforward to follow. The whole process should take about 45 minutes and it’s advisable for have a 2nd person to help – not so much with heavy lifting, but just helping to line up components and keep them in place whilst they’re screwed together to fasten.

Once built, the machine does looks rather nice with its grey and black finish and looks like a serious piece of kit. With the machine itself weighing in at over 100kg, it certainly passed our ‘shake test’ with flying colours and we were eager to jump on and see what it feels like to run on!

When using a treadmill, you’re always meant to stand on the side rails when hitting start on the console to get the belt going (to reduce loading on the motor). On a NordicTrack, this is essential as the console doesn’t provide a count down before starting the belt, but gets it going (at low starting speed) pretty much instantly. The motor makes light work of speeding the belt all the way to its top speed of 20 kph  – albeit we only used it for a short period at the top speed as it immediately challenged your reviewer’s fitness levels! 🙂 From a size perspective, the running deck is a full 51cm (20″) wide by 140cm (55″), so it’s got plenty of room for all but the very tallest of runners.

The deck is certainly very kind to the joints! Its ‘Quad Flex’ cushioning with a pair of springs on either side of the deck does a great job in absorbing impact from heel strikes. It’s absolutely perfect if you’re using a treadmill to increase fitness levels. If, on the other hand, your primary purpose for using a treadmill is training for road running, then the deck is perhaps a little too soft to fully prepare for running on the road.

NordicTrack certainly haven’t cut any corners in the specification of the console of the T13.0! We’re pleased to see a great selection of speed and incline short cut buttons clearly positioned on both ends of the main console (12 buttons each!), making this a very easy treadmill to control when being used in manual mode. Also nice is the health club style LED windows which clearly important workout information such as speed, distance, incline, exercise time, calories burnt and pulse rate. In addition, there is a segment display, which provides a 400m track when in manual mode, or represents the course profile of any given programme being used. There’s even a small window specifically for instructions when needed!

Speaking of which, boredom is something unlikely to set in quickly with this Nordic treadmill, as there are a huge array of programming options. There are 16 preset programmes, grouped into 8 weight loss related ones and 8 performance training related ones. In addition, for those with the right type of iPod and willing to purchase the optional extra module, you can record your sessions on the iPod and synchronize with NikePlus.com to measure progress towards fitness goals. More interestingly, this treadmill is iFit Live compatible: used along with a home wi-fi connection, a module and subscription to iFit.com, a whole world of training possibilities open up. The more observant will notice a little lip above the speakers on the console and this is to hold a tablet or a laptop. It’s not feasible to go into all of the features of iFit Live (would require a mini book!), but definitely worth highlighting that the functionality that allows a course to be plotted using Google Maps and for the incline profile of this to be automatically translated to a programme that controls the incline level of the deck (max 12%) is rather nice. Better still, running the custom designed course with a tablet resting on the console showing progress in Google’s street view mode is great fun!

The build quality of the machine seems pretty good and it’s reassuringly sturdy in use and it’s certainly robust enough to handle the weight of heavier users. NordicTrack have give a maximum user weight of 150kg on this machine, backed up with a comprehensive warranty covering lifetime on the frame, 10 years on the motor 2 years parts and labour on everything else!

NordicTrack are well known for building machines with lots of features and gadgets and the T13.0 doesn’t disappoint on this front. There are speakers built into the console (whose sound quality is actually ok) and a multi-speed workout fan which manages to actually move some air and provide a bit of cooling (much better than some machines where the fan just makes noise and achieves little else!).

Another point that’s worth noting is that the T13.0’s folding mechanism is actually rather good. When folded, the machine only takes up a floor space of about 1 square meter, which really is rather compact for a full sized machine. There are transport wheels, but given the weight of the machine itself, it’s not advisable to be trying to move it around too frequently.

 

 

Best Price

The NordicTrack T13.0 is not currently available from any retailers we're aware of in the UK.
It may be worth looking for a used machine on ebay

Review Summary - In Brief

A powerful motor, stylish looks, absorbent running deck and a console packed full of technology make for a compelling proposition when priced at under ÂŁ800! The very vertical folding mechanism that shrinks the footprint of the machine right down when folded is the icing on the cake for this treadmill. We think NordicTrack have a big winner on their hands with the T13.0 and have no hesitation in recommending it!

NordicTrack T13.0 Specifications

  • 2.75chp continuous duty motor
  • 0-20 km/h (0-12.4mph) speed range
  • 0–12% incline
  • 51cm (20”) x 140cm (55.1”) running deck
  • Dimensions in use (L x W x H): 193cm (76″) x 90cm (35.4″) x 150cm (69″)
  • Dimensions folded (L x W x H): 99cm (39″) x 90 cm (35.4″) x 174cm (68.5″)
  • Console with LED display
  • 16 programmes (8 performance, 8 calorie goal)
  • Heart rate measurement via hand pulse sensors or a wireless receiver
  • Conveniences: foldable, transportation wheels, Intermix Acoustics™ 2.0 sound system, iPod compatibility, iFit Live compatibility, cooling fan
  • 104kg (229lbs) product weight
  • 150kg (330.7lbs) maximum user weight
  • Guarantee: Lifetime frame, 10 years motor, 2 years parts and labour warranty

NordicTrack T13.0 Treadmill - Console / Display Unit

NordicTrack T13.0 Treadmill - User Reviews

The Pros

  • Powerful motor
  • Feel of the deck and cushioning
  • Easy controls
  • iFit Live
  • Clear LED display

The Cons

  • No user profiles
  • No heart rate control progs
NordicTrack T13.0 Treadmill Reviewer Ratings

Power - 9
Appearance - 9.5
Running Area - 9
Comfort - 9
Reliability - 9
Noise - 8.5
Ease Of Use - 8.5
Controls - 9.5
Warranty - 9
Value for Money - 10
Best Price

The NordicTrack T13.0 is not currently available from any retailers we're aware of in the UK.
It may be worth looking for a used machine on ebay

Also see our Treadmill Comparison Table

Whilst every effort is made to give you accurate information we cannot guarantee the technical specification. Models change on a regular basis and may differ slightly from the above review. We recommend you contact the retailer if you have a question regarding technical data. Please read our Legal Disclaimer

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