Both NordicTrack and PaceMaster offer a line of durable treadmills suitable for home or light commercial use. There's a lot of overlap between these two product lines, so it's the fine details, like the PaceMaster Platinum Pro VR's 6 virtual reality courses or the NordicTrack X7i Incline Trainer's impressive calorie-nuking 40 percent incline, that will tip the scales in favor of one brand or the other.
Motor
NordicTrack treadmill motors range from 2.0 horsepower in the Incline Trainer X3 Interactive to 4.0 horsepower in the Elite 9500 Pro. Most NordicTrack treadmills have a motor in the 3.0 to 3.5 horsepower range.
All PaceMaster treadmills come with a 3.0 horsepower motor.
Maximum Speed
NordicTrack treadmills offer a maximum speed of 12 miles per hour, with the exception of the Incline Trainer X3 Interactive, which has a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour.
PaceMaster treadmills feature a maximum speed of 12 miles per hour on most models; the Silver Select XP and Bronze Basic both have a maximum speed of 11 miles per hour.
Incline
Most NordicTrack treadmills adjust between a minimum incline of 0 percent and a maximum incline of between 10 and 15 percent. The two exceptions to this incline range are the X7i Incline Trainer and the Incline Trainer X3 Interactive, both of which adjust between 0 and 40 percent inclines.
Most PaceMaster treadmills offer incline adjustments between 0 and 15 percent, although the Platinum Pro VR features the unique ability to offer you a downhill slope, with an incline adjustable between -3 percent and 12 percent.
Maximum User Weight
All NordicTrack treadmills have a maximum user weight limit of 350 lbs., except for the Incline Trainer X3 Interactive, which has a maximum user weight of 300 lbs.
Most PaceMaster treadmills support a user weight of up to 350 lbs., although the Silver Select XP and Bronze Basic models can only support 300 lbs.
Cost
As of May 2010, NordicTrack treadmills retail for anywhere from $800 to over $3,000. PaceMaster treadmills occupy a narrower price range, with the least expensive model priced at about $1,800 and the more expensive models still coming in under $3,000 before shipping, installation and accessories.
Features
Not surprisingly, both NordicTrack and PaceMaster treadmills offer a range of features that are now typical on high-quality treadmills. These include one-touch adjustable incline and speed controls, a digital readout that displays information like time, speed, distance and calories burned, built-in heart rate monitors and customizable programs that let you design your own workout.
Standout features for NordicTrack treadmills include in-console fans, built-in Google Trails workouts, folding decks for easier storage, touch screen displays and an optional iPod-compatible audio interface.
Standout features on PaceMaster treadmills include fitness evaluations, virtual reality fitness courses and multiple user IDs to store individual information and programs.
Member Comments