NordicTrack EXP 14i - New Entry Level Series Model

The EXP 14i is the newest member of the entry level EXP series, the most affordable line offered by NordicTrack. It joins the EXP 7i and EXP 10i, and even though all three are under $2,000, they have features and capabilities typically found on much more expensive treadmills.

NordicTrack has built a reputation for providing pretty much everything you're looking for in a home treadmill...tons of workouts, touch screen displays, incline and decline capability, large cushioned decks and so much more. As such they have become quite popular over the years.

The EXP 14i is no exception...as the top model in the EXP Series, it gives you everything you need to get a great workout in, with programs diverse enough that you can do a different routine every time you get on the treadmill.

Let's jump into our review to see what this one is all about...

EXP 14i - The Machine

The EXP 14i is silver and black with blue accents, and features a very modern, sleek design. It's about 80" long and 35" wide, and stands 59" tall. It weighs about 229 lbs., so it's not as heavy as some of the bulkier treadmills on the market.

Let's look at some of the other important specs...

• 3.5 CHP Plus Motor
• 20" x 60" Tread Belt
• 14" HD Touch Screen
• 0-12 mph 1-Touch™ Speed
• -3-12% 1-Touch™ Incline/Decline
• FlexSelect Cushioning
• Bluetooth Audio
• iFit Enabled
• 300 lbs User Weight Capacity
• AutoBreeze workout fan
• Warranty: Ten years on frame, motor, deck; 2 years parts, electronics; 1 year labor

The Buzz

NordicTrack caters to all budget and fitness levels, so you can always find a treadmill that is right for you. With the EXP Series, which replaced the previous T Series, the company aims to offer as many features as possible without raising the price too much to make it no longer affordable.

Whereas the previous series treadmills had basic displays, all of the EXP Series models, including the base EXP 7i treadmill, have touch screen displays. This is still quite unique as there are many pricier treadmills on the market that still don't have touch screens...so NordicTrack has really been leading the pack in this regard.

All of the treadmills also come with iFit, which is an incredible immersive membership program that provides unlimited workouts on and off the machine, automatic incline/decline and speed adjustments, Google maps of locations around the world, tracking and sharing and a whole lot more.

This makes workouts so much more enjoyable and rewarding, and motivates you to reach your fitness goals sooner.

Looking at the EXP 14i specifically, the specs are very impressive. You get a large 14" touch screen display. You get the iFit workout program that we mentioned and it's typically free for the first month so you can try it out.

You also get incline up to 12% and additional decline capability to -3% not found on the EXP 7i treadmill. You get a strong 3.5 CHP motor, large 20" x 60" cushioned running deck that can accommodate runners of any size, easy folding capability with a touch of a button and a workout fan as well.

The EXP 14i offers Bluetooth for audio as well as accurate heart rate monitoring, although you do have to but the monitor separately.

So as you can see this treadmill really has everything you need, and makes a great addition to the EXP lineup. You can see how the EXP 14i compares to the rest of the NordicTrack treadmills below.

How Does the NordicTrack EXP 14i Compare to the Other Models?

With all of the different models it can be difficult to decide which one is the right choice for you. Here is an overview of how the EXP 14i compares to the other NordicTrack treadmills...

As we mentioned, the EXP Series is the entry level series and it consists of the EXP 7i, EXP 10i and EXP 14i.

The base EXP 7i has a 20" x 60" deck, incline up to 12%, speed up to 12 mph, a 3.0 CHP motor and a 7" HD touch screen display.

The mid-level EXP 10i has everything that the EXP 7i has, plus decline to -3%, a stronger 3.5 CHP motor and a 10" HD touch screen display.

The top end EXP 14i, as you read about above, has everything the EXP10i has...the only real difference is the larger 14" touch screen. It also has ActivePulse which keeps you in your ideal target zone...something the other two EXP models don't have.

Moving up you have the popular Commercial Series, which consists of the Commercial 1750, mid-range 2450 and top end 2950. These are a bit more expensive than the EXP Series treadmills, but also give you a bit more of everything.

These treadmills give you strong motors, larger running decks (22" x 60"), incline up to 15% instead of 12%, and larger touch screens (up to 22"). They also have more advanced technology and larger 2.5" rollers, as opposed to 1.9" on the EXP models. Larger rollers mean smoother motion on the belt.

You then have the Incline Series, consisting of the popular X22i and X32i. Here you have 22" and 32" touch screens, respectively, stronger motors, additional incline to a whopping 40% and decline to 6". The X32i has an even larger 22" x 65" running deck.

So in a nutshell, as you move up in the lineup you're getting larger touch screens, more powerful motors, larger decks on some models, more incline and more decline. Of course you are paying more for these additional features.

The EXP Series is going to be your best bet if you're on a budget and just going to be doing some moderate running. If you're more of a serious runner and the budget is a bit more open consider one of the Commercial Series models...those are going to be more advanced than the EXP Series.

If both incline and decline are important, and you really want to replicate outdoor hill training, then look at the Incline treadmills. Again, those are pricey, so make sure that's what you need.

If not, any one of the EXP Series treadmills is a great choice.

NordicTrack EXP 14i Review - Bottom Line

For those seeking a solid treadmill for the home that doesn't break the bank and has a ton of features and capabilities, the EXP 14i is definitely a great option.

It has tons of workouts through iFit, incline and decline, a large running deck with good cushioning, speed up to 12 mph and easy folding capability, as well as Bluetooth capability.

Also consider the Commercial Series models, including the similar Commercial 1750 which is a step above the EXP 14i, if you want something more durable.

If you want to save a little money look at the EXP 7i as well, which is similar to the EXP 14i just with a smaller touch screen display.