Elliptical trainers, also known as cross trainers, are one of the most effective and safe exercise machines available. Able to deliver an intensive cardio workout while minimizing the risks of damaging cartilage, joints, and muscle tissue, elliptical trainers are ideal for individuals of all fitness levels. Cross trainers are also used extensively in rehabilitation training for individuals that are recovering from accidents and injuries.
The fitness industry has made a wide range of cross trainers and hybrid cardio machines available to both gym owners and home fitness enthusiasts alike. Choosing the right cross trainer for your needs can be a difficult process, but it’s made easier by new developments in the design of new elliptical trainers that incorporate a wide variety of functions and are able to offer a degree of interactivity that helps fitness enthusiasts reach their training and health goals.
The NordicTrack Freestride Trainer FS7i is a new breed of cross trainer that delivers more than the average elliptical. Offering trainers the functions of three different training machines combined with a range of cutting edge features and high tech interactivity, the FS7i is one of the most advanced cross trainers available on the market.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the design, features, functionality and benefits of the SFS7i to help you decide whether it’s the right fitness solution for you.
What is the NordicTrack FreeStride Trainer FS7i?
The Freestride FS7i Trainer is a three-in-one fitness trainer that incorporates a wide range of functions and features. Manufactured by international fitness equipment manufacturer NordicTrack, the FS7i doesn’t fit into any of the existing categories of fitness equipment, able to operate in a series of different configurations.
The adjustable, dynamic design of the FS7i can be used to deliver the functionality of a stepper, a traditional treadmill, or an elliptical trainer. The ergonomic design of the FreeStride Trainer is built to intelligently adapt to the movements of the user, providing a degree of flexibility and safety not found in other training equipment.
The drivetrain of the FreeStride is unlike anything else on the market. Instead of relying upon a traditional roller drivetrain, the FreeStride FS7i uses a unique and innovative method to create resistance, movement, and stride length.
The cushioned pedals of the FS7i ride on belts, as opposed to crank-mounted rails, and are thus able to deliver smooth, consistent, and unattached rotation that minimizes the overall impact on the joints of the legs.
The unique belt design of the FS7i offers a particularly attractive training method to individuals that suffer from chronic shin splints, a condition that is exacerbated by the hard impacts that are generated from treadmill of static crank cross trainers.
The floating stride mechanism that reduces the overall impact of each step can be used to perform short up and down steps, long, widely spaced strides, or resistance base elliptical swings.
The NordicTrack FreeStride FS7i also incorporates a robust and easy-to-use resistance management and incline range adjustor. The incline range of the FS7i, which ranges between 0 and 10 degrees, can be adjusted along with stride angle through a simple “OneTouch” control system. Quick access to stance, angle, and resistance allows users to rapidly change up workouts and attack different muscle groups for maximum effectiveness.
NordicTrack FreeStride Trainer FS7i Design & Construction
The most interesting aspects of the FS7i, however, aren’t found in the unique and intuitive design. NordicTrack have a reputation for creating high quality fitness equipment that incorporates the latest cutting-edge analytic software and user interfaces, a tradition that is maintained in the tech packed into the FreeStride Trainer.
The control computer of the FS7i consists of a 7-inch adaptive touchscreen that is used to access the FS7i iFit experience. Users of the FreeStride are able to “travel the globe” with a virtual coach that draws terrain and landscape data from Google maps to create a dynamic virtual travel experience during workouts.
Local landscape data can be viewed through the touchscreen while the FreeStride adjusts incline and resistance to match terrain data, offering one of the most immersive workout experiences on the market.
The 7-inch color touchscreen also offers a wide range of training programs, tracking systems, and user functionality. Almost every form of workout, from HIIT to calorie and heart rate tracking is available, along with a vast library of hundreds of different training programs.
The iFit functionality of the FreeStrde can even be used to view the Google street view data of the terrain in targeted geographic regions, providing fitness enthusiasts with a realistic, motivating sensation of progression during exercise.
The control board of the NordicTrack FreeStride FS7i is complete with a water bottle holder, integrated hand controls that can be used to change resistance and incline on the fly, and an Autobreeze workout fan that automatically adjusts airflow speed and intensity to match that of the current workout. The center drive of the FS7i is roughly half the frame size of traditional elliptic trainers and offers improved stability, reducing the risk of overbalance and injury.
The flywheel of the FS7i weighs in at a little over 20 lbs, delivering smooth performance and more natural resistance, and as the overall weight capacity of the FreeStride is 375 lbs, it’s suitable for all body types and fitness levels. The software suite of the FreeStride offers users 35 different workout apps that have been designed by a team of certified personal trainers to help users achieve their fitness goals.
Complete with 24 different digital resistance levels, a wireless chest strap which incorporates heart rate tracking, and web functionality, the FS7i offers a wide range of features not found anywhere else.
The Verdict On NordicTrack FreeStride Trainer FS7i
The NordicTrack FreeStride FS7i is one of the most advanced and innovative fitness machines available on the market. Offering comprehensive fitness training programs, ergonomic styling, energy-saving design and a broad range of functionality, the FreeStride is able to increase the overall productivity of a workout while engaging users with an immersive and interactive iFit simulation system.
If you’re looking for the best elliptical trainers on the market, the FS7i is a serious competitor.
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