The NordicTrack Commercial 1300 Elliptical with Power Incline Ramp

The NordicTrack Commercial 1300 elliptical offers advanced training thanks to a power incline ramp which increases the level of difficulty of workouts, targeting all parts of your lower body. In addition, the moving handlebars help to tone and strengthen your arms, shoulders, and back.

What You Get

The bright console on the NordicTrack Commercial 1300 elliptical displays your time, speed, distance, resistance, pulse, RPMs, carbs burned and calories burned.

The Quick Target Toning feature is a plus; just press the muscle group displayed on the console and the machine picks the program! If you want a more strenuous workout, increase the level of the power incline ramp, and you can even dial up the resistance by pressing the 1-Touch Resistance button.

Here’s the full list of specs on this machine:

• SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance – 16 levels
• 18 Workout Programs
• Power Incline Ramp
• Upper body workout handlebars
• 18" Stride Length
• CardioGrip™ Heart Rate Monitor
• Rear flywheel
• 350 lb. user weight capacity
• CoolAire™ Fan
• Warranty – 90 days parts and labor; lifetime frame

The Word on the Street

UPDATE:  The NordicTrack Commercial 1300 elliptical has been discontinued and replaced with all new, upgraded models.  Check out the latest NordicTrack elliptical reviews here.

Elliptical reviewers have trouble with ICON’s insistence on using the word “commercial” in the model name. Despite the steel frame and balanced flywheel, there’s nothing commercial-quality to be found in a $900 machine -- in other words, you won’t find these units used at a health club open 24/7 where the machines must stand up to constant and heavy use.

The NordicTrack Commercial 1300 continues to land on many Best Buy lists, but it is beginning to get only average reviews now that NordicTrack has come out with newer, more exciting designs, such as the FreeStrider 35S.

Consumers give positive feedback in elliptical reviews for most areas including adjustability, comfort, the power incline, oversized pedals, and overall quality. The warranty on the NordicTrack Commercial 1300 tends to give buyers pause, though, and for good reason -- this is a weak warranty, far too short (90 days) for parts replacement and in-home labor.

Our Thoughts on the 1300

The NordicTrack Commercial 1300 compares in design, features and price to the AudioStrider 990, but the 990 also comes with the iFit workout card plug-in, a better warranty, and a fold-up design.

If you want a rear drive model check out the SpaceSaver SE7i, which is a much better option.

Our only complaint on this $899 model, other than the weak warranty, is that they should have put a better incline motor into it. We recommend you purchase a longer warranty since the NordicTrack Commercial 1300 elliptical is actually a “budget” and not a “commercial” machine.