If you’ve found yourself pondering a gym membership over the past few winters, just for the use of a treadmill, it might be time to invest in an indoor running alternative that’s all your own.

Since 2017, the Pacific Northwest has seen two massive snowstorms and now, a pandemic that begs people to stay away from gyms and large groups of people. Fortunately, there are many more reasons to invest in a treadmill than a few weeks of miserable winter weather and a global health crisis, but for sanity and safety purposes, these reasons float treadmill ownership to the top of our list.

Ultrarunners often train through sleet, snow, mud and wind, but when the trails and roads become impassable or the temperatures drop below bitter cold, there’s a good chance that running for hours on end isn’t going to make any positive gains. Stepping back inside and hopping on a treadmill will not only save you the trouble of layering with extra gear but also give you a variety of workouts to choose from.

NordicTrack’s x22i Incline Trainer is used by elite ultrarunners like Ian Sharman, Jeff Browning and Kyle Pietari. When it comes to the benefits of using a treadmill, Jeff Browning said this:

“As an athlete trying to balance my time between a full-time coaching business, a father of three kids and trying to train, sometimes I’m crunched for time. The treadmill is a perfect tool for grabbing a workout without having to drive to a park or trailhead, or simply supplement my training with a quick 20-30 minute uphill power hike after my kids are in bed. Another pro with treadmill training is the safety factor. You can run at any time of the day, including the middle of the night. Handy if you live in a location where running at midnight might not be a wise choice.”

The staff at UltraRunning Magazine has been busy testing the x22i over the last several months and here’s what we found.

The x22i Incline Trainer appeals to trail runners due to its ability to reach a 40% incline within a few seconds. While it sounds too steep to be true, the belt is wide and comfortable enough without feeling like a slight misstep will keeping you holding onto the siderails for dear life.

This particular model is user-friendly with a “plug-in-and-go” mode. Beginners will find the control panel easy to decipher with the left side including incline + or – buttons (0-40% ascent or 0-6% descent). There’s also “OneTouch % Grade” shortcut buttons that allow you to select your grade every 5% going up and 3% going down, so you’re not stuck repeatedly pressing the “+” or “-” buttons. The steep incline feature saved me during my final month of training for Western States last spring, after I was unable to run for a couple of weeks due to a bruised bone. Power-hiking on the x22i became a go-to workout when running wasn’t an option.

The right side of the panel also includes “+” and “-“ buttons for speed control, along with numbers 1-12 (miles per hour) which can be used to increase or decrease your pace quickly. A dual speed fan can also be used for cooling off during a high-intensity workout.

The center of the console includes a 22” interactive HD touch screen that transitions from manual workout mode to iFit – NordicTrack’s collection of workout videos which feature a variety of athlete trainers running on trails all over the world. If you’re stuck running inside, you might as well do it while following ultrarunners like Lucy Bartholomew traverse the landscape in South Wales, Australia, or Tommy Rivers Puzey leading you through Morocco. The choice of workouts is extensive and updated every week, but a majority of ultrarunners will likely gravitate to the mountain climbs and wilderness trails. Each run/hike includes a video narrated by the trainer, along with accurate elevation adjustments automatically made by the treadmill throughout the workout. We preferred to turn this particular feature off as it was difficult for us to run in place with the constant rise and fall of the platform. A year of iFit comes free with purchase and costs range from $15 – $33 per month after the year is up.

While the featured trails and variety of workouts are a great way to pass the time, we also found that using “manual” mode while watching our favorite videos or streaming Netflix allowed us to run longer and customize our distance and speed. Treadmills can be an effective way to get in your speed or climbing intervals, which also conveniently helps pass the time. Here is an example of a climbing workout I used during my injury prior to Western States. The climbing helped keep my heart rate up and my leg strength in peak climbing condition:

(Find a challenging and sustainable hiking pace you can sustain for each of the 10-min hills, then recover during the flat 2-min intervals. As the incline decreases, your speed should increase.)

The Incline Trainer provides a solid surface with reliable stability underfoot with NordicTrack’s Reflex™ Cushioning. Running at both fast and slow speeds offers runners a comfortable ride with zero to minimal bouncing on a surface that’s more forgiving than pavement and concrete, similar to a hard-packed, dirt trail.

The manual feature offers a clear view of a 400-meter track on the screen and keeps tabs on your run by indicating your distance as you move around the track during each lap. With mileage, elevation gain/loss, calories burned, pace and more located at the top of screen, the runner is well-informed throughout a workout and can adjust accordingly.

While most of us probably avoid using the handrails during our workouts, the Incline Trainer includes additional sled grip rails for steep vertical climbing. They are perfectly positioned for times when the climbing gets tough and reaching up for rail support helps to keep the body steady.

The adjustable vertical grade on the x22i Incline Trainer multiplies the versatility of this machine ten-fold. Ultrarunners training for steep mountainous terrain will benefit from its ability to quickly shift up to a 40% grade. The iFit software complements this feature by taking runners across the globe onto some of the world’s most rugged trails such as those in the Alps and Grand Canyon National Park.

For those of us who find it difficult to carve out time during the day and don’t have regular access to hilly terrain, NordicTrack’s x22i Incline Trainer is a great alternative, especially when running outside isn’t the best option.

More information can be found at nordictrack.com.

MSRP: $2,999 (Finance options available) Free delivery and assembly Free year of iFit membership

Dimensions: Length – 5 ft. 10 in. Width – 3 ft. 4 in. Height – 6 ft.

NordicTrack provided the product above free of charge. The review above is the author’s opinion only and has no influence by the manufacturer.

Amy Clark is the Editor of UltraRunning Magazine. She began her career at a small advertising agency in Bend, Oregon, where she enjoyed the fast pace and creative environment. For over 15 years, lunch hour runs were a ritual. Amy also joined the board of the local running club, became a race director and finished her first ultra. She has completed over 35 marathons and ultras combined, and continues to run long distances while encouraging both kids and adults to ignite their own passion for running.

When I purchased mine in January there was no free delivery and assembly.

There was a free delivery option, but that meant they’d leave it on the curb. That would have been a nightmare. The box, which is more like a Crate, is Enormous, and Super heavy. I chose the $99 option so that they would deliver it to inside the door of my house. The delivery guys had trouble getting it through my front door.

Hi Wes, NordicTrack is offering a deal right now that includes free scheduled delivery. Our local delivery service asked for specifics of location (stairs, etc) and it was delivered and installed by four people. It’s definitely a large piece of equipment.

It was great to see a review by a reputable source on the Nordictrack product. I’m happy you like it.

Another comment: The photo in this article shows Jeff Browning using an incline trainer in a garage. NordicTrack made it clear to me that using this equipment in a garage or a space that is not climate controlled voids the warranty.

Ours is currently set up in our house, and it works pretty well. The touchscreen is a little slow to react, sometimes actions take two or three taps to register. I have started a support ticket about this problem.

Great review. I am intrigued by you saying that you are able to set the X22i to manual mode and then watch Netflix? I wad on the phone with a NordicTrack rep just last week when I contemplated buying this exact same model. When asked if I could use the 22″ screen to watch Netflix or YouTube, I received a resounding NO.

Could you please expound on how you were able to watch Netflix while you had the treadmill on Manual mode?

I would have ordered the treadmill but was told they were not offering “white glove service” where they bring the treadmill into your house and set it up.

Hi Elena, Apologies for the confusion on streaming Netflix while running on the NordicTrack x22i – we have ours set up in a position that faces a flat screen TV that has internet access. As you discovered during your call to NordicTrack, we aren’t able to use the 22″ screen on the treadmill to watch anything other than the iFit workouts. Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Hi there, there is a hack available that allows you to watch Netflix, YouTube and Facebook videos which I do. Just google it😊

It’s no problem to install netflix on this machine. It runs android. If you access the “privilege mode” you can install the netflix app, or any other entertainment app that you want. Nordictrack probably says “No” to this because they don’t want you installing virus’ etc.. and messing things up. Personally, I installed the Plex app on my X22i, which allows me to stream over 60TB of content from my PC while using the machine.

We loved our treadmill x22i and the iFit programs. Sadly our x22i treadmill broke( would not even turn on) within 6 weeks of use. A second treadmill was sent out when replacement parts would have take much longer to receive. The replacement treadmill broke down (belt would not turn even though the program was running and the incline was working) within a month. We are done with Nordictrack who would not even consider sending a different model (1750). They would not give us a refund because we had the treadmill more than 30 days. Going to purchase Sole treadmill. Hopefully we have better luck with that.

I had the same experience as Sunti with the X22i. I received it July 31, and hopped on to workout a few nights ago and the belt no longer moves. I had to wait on hold for customer service for an hour. When I finally got through, the agent was nice enough and ordered my part, until I asked when I could expect to receive the part, at which point I was laughed at, told it was backordered, and they had no idea when it would be available. Since this happened, I have been doing research and found out that there was a bad batch of controllers and a lot of us have recieved equipment that stops working within 2 months. I could be a lot more understanding if Nordictrack would at least apologize and do what they could to make it right. But I (and many others) paid over $3000 for something that worked for somewhere between never and 2 months, and the company is unapologetic, has no sense of urgency about making it right, and continues to ship out knowingly faulty products. When this treadmill worked, I was thrilled with it. And I loved it enough that I’m waiting for the part and prepared to attempt the repair myself (the warranty for service is void due to the pandemic, so if you are planning to be covered by the service warranty, think again). If you are considering purchasing this treadmill, be aware that there is a known problem with the controller, and that there has been no recall issued, and that these faulty products are still being shipped. If you’re like me and you really want something with this much incline, you might want to monitor BBB complaints and other places like Victims of Nordictrack on Facebook and Twitter, and wait until these faulty products stop showing up on people’s doorsteps. Unless you like storing a 500 lb, $3000 paperweight in your home for an undetermined amount of time until Nordictrack can get around to sending you a part, and you’re prepared to become a treadmill mechanic whenever it arrives.

Lisa, this is very depressing. i’ve seen too many comments like yours. I really need a treadmill, and the x22i seems a great fit, except for comments like yours and the poor warranty. it’s oct 21, do you have an update? I need the soft/ortho belt/deck, like the ifit/interactive, and high incline. considering Sole tt8, but worried not as soft, no interactive and less incline. also looked at Landice, but price double these, and these are pricey. Your prior comments were well written and intelligent…. can you provide update? thanks!

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