Strengths:
Quick Target Toning - This is a unique tool that helps you target and tone specific problem areas like the glutes, quads, hamstrings, upper-body, etc. You choose which muscle group to focus on and the elliptical will alter the incline and resistance of your machine to target that area.
Power Incline For More Effective Workouts - Incline (not the same as resistance) allows you to automatically increase your workout slope and work different muscle groups.
This helps you burn more calories, get a better workout by targeting different muscle groups and helps to avoid overtraining. Incline is a feature that is usually only found on $3000 commercial models however Nordic Track is starting to put it on some of their machines.
The commercial 1300 elliptical comes with Power Incline which means you don't have to get off the machine to adjust the incline manually - you just press a button while on the machine to change the incline.
18 Inch Stride Length - Many cheaper ellipticals offer stride lengths of only 14 or 16 inches. The larger stride length ensures you work the full range of leg muscles and burn maximum calories.
Heavier Construction With A 350 lb Weight Capacity - Most ellipticals at this price point only give you a 250 lb capacity - so this is a great indicator of higher stability. Also the construction on this elliptical is a bit more heavy duty than other budget machines with a heavy-duty steel frame, traction-control pedals and balanced flywheel.
18 Built-in Workouts - The Commercial 1300 comes with 16 different Personal Trainer workouts that automatically adjust the resistance of the machine to focus on aerobic, weight loss, and performance goals. You also get 2 customizable workouts where you can create your own workouts and save them.
Heart Rate Monitor - You can monitor your heart rate using either the handle bars with built-in pulse sensors or the heart rate chest strap for hands-free pulse monitoring.
Weaknesses:
While the lifetime frame warranty on this machine is great, all other parts and labor are only covered for 90 days - which is very short. So you may want to pick up extra warranty coverage upon checkout.
Summary:
The Nordic Track Commercial 1300 elliptical is getting a lot of buzz. And it does give you some great features for a very affordable price like 18" stride, power incline, heart rate monitor, 18 built in workouts and quick target toning.
It's also a lot more solid than many other ellipticals at this price point with a higher user weight capacity and heavier, more substantial construction.
Is it really a commercial machine? Probably not - but it does outshine most ellipticals at this price range in both workout features, stability and user weight capacity.
Where To Buy At A Discount:
You can buy the Nordic Track Commercial 1300 elliptical direct through the Nordic Track Manufacturer. You can save money on store markup, sales tax and also get Free Shipping.
It also goes beyond what most ellipticals give you with the Quick Target Toning feature. This helps you work on specific trouble spots. You just press the muscle group you want to focus on and the elliptical automatically adjusts the resistance and incline for you.
So is it the right buy for you? Here's a review of the NordicTrack Commercial 1300 to help you decide:
Features:
Price: $899 (Sale)
Stride Length: 18"
Resistance Type: Magnetic
Resistance Levels: 16
Built In Workout Programs: 18
Upper Body Arms: Yes
Heart Rate Monitor: Pulse Grip
Water Bottle Holder: Yes
User Weight Capacity: 350 pounds
Warranty: Lifetime Frame, 90 days parts and labor
