| Pretty much everyone on the planet over the age of | | | | NordicTrack machines has increased drastically and |
| 15 has heard of the inimitable NordicTrack Ski | | | | has forced all reviewers to re-examine the brand. |
| Machines. A wildly popular and original machine that | | | | Icon has created a series that hits right at the sweet |
| has been around forever and continues to hold a | | | | spot price points (below $1000, $1500-2000, and sub |
| small devoted fan base much like Saab or Volvo. If | | | | $3000). Brands that have previously dominated these |
| you have ever tried out one of their skiers, you | | | | ranges, especially the higher ones, need to watch out |
| would not forget your first time. I remember the | | | | for these new products that could grow to dominate |
| feeling that I was on ice before I wildly grabbed hold | | | | them in their own ballparks. Icon has the best |
| of the frame in order to keep myself from achieving | | | | distribution and most efficient manufacturing in the |
| a horizontal position on the floor. I've seen people put | | | | industry, these two facts alone mean that they can |
| the skis through walls, dogs and cats start living | | | | deliver far greater value than the competition, and |
| together, the dawn of the apocalypse…well | | | | now that they have turned their focus on to higher |
| maybe I'm being overly dramatic. It should suffice to | | | | quality their brands-especially NordicTrack-could put |
| say that learning to use one of their skiers is akin to | | | | the old guard in a world of hurt. |
| riding a bicycle. It is not the easiest thing to learn but | | | | The consumers need look no further than the new |
| once you learn it, you have it for life. Towards the | | | | NordicTrack S3000 treadmill to prove this point. The |
| end of the run of the original NordicTrack company, | | | | machine retails for roughly $2700 and delivers higher |
| they branched off into weight trainers, electric | | | | quality than brands like Landice and Lifefitness in this |
| treadmills, manual treadmills, and some products that | | | | price point. In Ellipticals NordicTrack tends to shoot |
| we won't discuss because to do so would border on | | | | lower in the price categories and the prices most of |
| verbal pornography. | | | | its models are between $700 and $1500. These are |
| The brand was bought by Icon Fitness after the | | | | really strong market prices and along with their quality |
| bankruptcy of the original NordicTrack company in | | | | improvements should put NordicTrack in a dominating |
| 1998 and they have since moved the lineup into | | | | position. The only Achilles heel of the brand remains in |
| more mainstream sales venues such as Sears. The | | | | the area of service. Like many big companies, think |
| name holds a certain level of cache and Icon has | | | | of your local cable company, Icon does not have the |
| taken advantage of this to bump up into higher | | | | responsiveness of many of the smaller companies. In |
| pricing brackets than most of their other brands | | | | the past, it has been a headache dealing with Icon if |
| could attain. Unfortunately, until a few years ago the | | | | you had a problem and that fact was exacerbated |
| price was the only thing about these machines that | | | | by the fact that their machines were not made with |
| was high. If you had one of the original EXP1000 | | | | the quality that they are today. Icon has made a big |
| machines, our sympathies are with you. They had | | | | push to improve in this area so we'll see if the |
| problems with everything from the plastic parts, to | | | | changes have had the desired effect. Time will tell |
| electronic grounding problems, to failed consoles. It | | | | but if they get their act together in service, many |
| wasn't a pretty picture. | | | | companies will go the way of the dodo. |
| We believe the big driver of this changeover has | | | | Check out some reviews of the NordicTrack |
| been Johnson. The maker of the Horizon brand has | | | | Treadmills and Ellipticals before you take a trip to go |
| given the large sales venues an alternative and while | | | | buy a new piece of equipment and see what you |
| Johnson was producing higher end machines for the | | | | think. The most important factor in your new |
| US market and moving down in price point, some of | | | | treadmill or elliptical is what you think. If it feels good, |
| the quality carried over. Not to say Johnson hasn't | | | | you will be more likely to use it and that's the most |
| had their own missteps, but overall they have been a | | | | important thing. You can have the best quality |
| big reason why everyone has had to step up in | | | | machine in the world but it doesn't do you any good |
| quality, including Icon. | | | | if it isn't used regularly. |
| Over the past few years though the quality of the | | | | |