NordicTrack C 1650 Treadmill Review

Capable of manufacturing some of the best domestic treadmills in the world NordicTrack has a good record of building great value for money products while maintaining high standards in build quality. We took a look at the NordicTrack C6150 treadmill to see how it measures up to other models in the range and against models from rival manufacturers. Here’s what we found…

Like most treadmills of this size, assembly is definitely a two-person job and while it’s not complicated there’s more of it than is to be found on many other running machines. It would appear that in an attempt to keep the manufacturing costs down, NordicTrack has simply reduced the amount of assembly that’s taking place in the factory. There’s nothing wrong with this of course. It’s labour costs that are being kept down here and it’s not a case of using cheaper parts to reduce costs. So you still get the quality that you’d expect from a NordicTrack machine, it’s just there’s a bit more work to do before you can use it.

Once built this is pretty looking, sturdy treadmill. It has a 10″ full-colour touch-screen display and a crossbar between the posts for added stability. Giving it the ‘shake’ test confirms that this is still a substantial running machine despite its (relatively) small 202cm x 90xm (79.5″ x 35.4″) footprint. It’s a tad smaller than it’s direct competitors and that, unsurprisingly, translates into the running area too. At 51cm x 152cm (20.1″ x 60″) it’s about the same length but narrower than other machines in this price range. But, it’s the width more than the length that makes a difference when we’re talking about machines in this class. The extra width provided by other models allows more freedom to move around as tiredness sets in making them feel nicer to run on than the C 1650. It’s not that this is a small running deck by any means, but it’s not oversized either and considering the asking price that’s a bit of a letdown.

On a more positive note, the cushioning system employed on this model is NordicTrack’s Flexselect™  system that allows you to adjust the stiffness of the deck. Most runners will most likely leave it “as is” out of the box but if you like a particularly bouncy running surface or prefer something more akin to running on the road then it’s possible to set the deck up to your preferences.

The C 1650 is powered by a well-sized 3.5 horsepower motor that makes light work of driving the belt up to a maximum 22kph (13.7mph) which is plenty fast enough for all but the most serious athletes, though the incline doesn’t feel as steep as the stated 12% should do. We ran the calibration program a couple of times just to double-check that it was set up correctly and all seemed well on that front so we’ll assume that our test machine was as it should be. It’s still reasonably steep but fitter runners out there that are already used to intense sessions may find that this isn’t the most challenging incline they’ve come across.

The 10″ display has characters large enough for you not to have to strain to see what’s going on and is intuitive in its set-up. The menus are easy to find your way around and after a bit of initial trial and error, it’s easy enough to navigate the menus without having to refer to the user manual for the basic functions. For most, the more complex functions, especially those to do with iFit, will require a bit more reference to the user manual but there’s nothing here that’s impossible for the average head to digest.

Training feedback including incline, time, calories burnt, distance, vertical feet climbed, speed, track, pace and heart rate are easy to follow mid-run and there are several different displays you can choose to track different aspects of your run. In addition to the selection of standard onboard workouts, a 12-month iFit subscription is also included with this treadmill. This means that you get access to literally thousands of workouts, including a massive selection of video workouts that you can stream directly to the console (you need a good internet connection for this to work smoothly). The video workouts are engaging and well-produced and a lot of fun and many runners will really enjoy this particular aspect of this treadmill. You can also train with target-based workouts, heart rate control workouts and there’s also a manual mode for those that just want to go for a run and aren’t interested in any of the advanced stuff (though if that’s your aim, there are other machines out there well worth looking at before committing to this particular model).

Other features include handgrip pulse sensors, Bluetooth wireless heart rate receiver, 2″ stereo speakers, cooling fan, tablet holder and water bottle holder. The warranty includes lifetime cover on the frame, 10 -years cover on the motor and 2-years cover for parts and labour (registration within 28 days of purchase and getting 2nd year of coverage required).

Best Price

The NordicTrack C 1650 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

The NordicTrack C 1650 has some nice things going for it. It's relatively easy to use, it's well-built, it has a good range of workouts built-in and it comes with an iFit subscription which opens up a huge range of training options. But there are areas where it's less impressive. The deck is narrower than other models which cost about the same, and the incline is not as steep as you'll find on competing machines either. A good example of a model that has more for less would be the Proform Pro 5000 which features a more powerful motor that makes for a gym style machine, has a wider running deck and a steeper incline 15% incline and has a decline function too, but costs a good bit less than the C1650.

NordicTrack C 1650 Specifications

  • 3.5 HP Rapid-Response Commercial Motor
  • 0 – 22kph (0 – 13.7mph) speed range with OneTouch™ controls
  • 0-12% incline range
  • 51cm (20.1″) x 152cm (60″) running deck with Flexselect™ Cushioning
  • Console with 10″ HD touch display
  • Console feedback: incline, time, calories burnt, distance, vertical feet climbed, speed, track, pace, heart rate
  • Programs prepared by the world-class personal trainers including HIIT, fat-burning, cardio, strength training, and more (requires iFit account)
  • Heart rate measurement via dual EKG pulse grips & wireless Bluetooth receiver
  • Additionally: 1-Years iFit Family Membership attached, Google Maps™ workout technology, dual 2″ speakers, Autobreeze™ workout fan, integrated tablet holder, water bottle holder
  • Conveniences:  SpaceSaver® folding design with EasyLift™ Assist, 1.9″ Roller
  • Product weight: 92kg (202.8Ibs)
  • Max. user weight: 135kg (297.6lbs)
  • Dimensions in use (L x W x H): 202cm (79.5″) x 90cm (35.4″) x 154cm (60.6″)
  • Dimensions folded (L x W x H): 107cm (42″) x 90cm (35.4″) x 181cm (71.3″)
  • Warranty includes lifetime frame warranty, 10 -years for motor, 2-years for parts and labour (registration within 28 days of purchase and getting 2nd year of coverage required)

NordicTrack C 1650 - Console / Display Unit

NordicTrack C 1650 - User Reviews

The Pros

  • iFit subscription included
  • PT videos are excellent
  • Sturdy construction
  • Adjustable cushioning

The Cons

  • Deck is only standard width
  • Incline not all that steep
  • Assembly not the quickest
NordicTrack C 1650 Reviewer Ratings

Power - 8.5
Appearance - 7.5
Running Area - 7
Comfort - 7.5
Reliability - 8
Noise - 7.5
Ease Of Use - 7.5
Controls - 7.5
Warranty - 8.5
Value for Money - 5
Best Price

The NordicTrack C 1650 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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