Nordic Track T6.5s Treadmill Review

Walking, jogging, and running are popular workouts. While you can head out and exercise outdoors, a lot of people prefer to work out in the comfort of their own homes. Of course, if you want to walk, jog, or run at home, you’re going to need a suitable treadmill.

With literally thousands of different makes and models available, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to buying a treadmill. To make your decision easier, we’re going to review the very popular Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill so you can determine if it will be a good choice for your home workouts.

Nordic Track T 6.5 S Treadmill Review

The Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill is an entry-level treadmill that is ideal for home use. It’s compact, folds away for easy storage, and will deliver a great workout regardless of whether you are a beginner walker or an advanced runner. It’s budget-friendly and offers many of the key features usually only found on more expensive machines.

Made by treadmill and fitness equipment experts Nordic Track, the T 6.5S Treadmill is a good workout option for anyone who wants to exercise at home but doesn’t want to break the bank doing it.

Key Features

The Nordic Track 6.5S Treadmill offers a wide range of features to ensure your workout is as productive and enjoyable as possible. Those features include:

• EasyLift folding design for space-saving storage
• 20 x 50-inch useable running belt area
• Easy to read backlit LED display screen
• Self-cooling 2.6 horsepower motor with a top speed of 10 mph
• Incline up to 10%
• 20 preset workout programs
• Built-in heart rate monitor handgrips
• FlexSelect feature for customizable shock absorbency
• 300-pound user capacity
• One-touch controls for easy use
• Built-in iPod/MP3 compatible speakers
• Built-in water bottle holders
• Phone/tablet/MP3/book/magazine shelf
• iFit technology which allows you to track and control your workouts via an app for a unique, personalized exercise experience (subscription to iFit required, sold separately)

All these features combine to make what is basically a budget treadmill feel like a top of the range model. It might not have the top speed of other, more expensive models, but it’s fast enough for all but very advanced runners. For most exercisers, the 10-mph top speed, combined with the 10% incline, will deliver more than enough workout intensity.

 

Dimensions

If treadmills have a downside, it is that they tend to be big, heavy, and all but impossible to move. The Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill gets around this problem by being foldable. Once your workout is done, simply lift the end of the treadmill up, and it will fold neatly for upright storage, such as against a wall. The EasyLift assist technology uses hydraulics to make raising the end of your treadmill much easier. So, even if you aren’t built like a weightlifter, you’ll have no problem folding and unfolding your treadmill.

That said, you still need to make sure you have enough space to unfold and use the Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill. Its dimensions are:

• Weight – 193 pounds
• Size – 73.5 x 36 x 54 inches

This is an electric treadmill, so you also need to make sure that wherever you put it, it is within easy reach of an appropriate power source.

Treadmill design

Nordic Track are world-renowned treadmill manufacturers. They make lots of different models, and each one is designed to provide a great workout. The Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill is no different.

Made for home use, the Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill is compact, so won’t take up too much space in your home, especially if you use the EasyLift function and fold it up against a wall. However, even though it’s a small treadmill, the useable tread belt surface is wide enough and long enough that you won’t feel restricted, even while running fast.

Easy to use, all of the essential functions such as speed, incline, start, and stop are accessible with a single press of a button, leaving you free to concentrate on your workout. The large, backlit display takes pride of place on the Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill’s dashboard, providing you with real-time workout information without having to squint or crane your neck to see it.

Unlike a lot of budget-friendly treadmills, the Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill is suitable for serious use. It’s got a powerful motor, a decent 10 mph top speed, and an impressive 10% incline. This all adds up to a very well-designed machine that will deliver effective workouts for many years.

Computer Features

The Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill has an excellent built-in workout computer. Keeping an eye on the computer display, you’ll have no problem controlling your exercise session. You’ll also feel motivated as you see your performance increase over the coming weeks and months. The functions and features of the computer include:

• Speed
• Distance
• Time elapsed
• Incline
• Calories burned
• Heart rate

Most of these functions are accessible with a single button touch. This is a handy feature as changing speed, incline, or display while you are exercising is not always easy – especially if you are going fast or are starting to get tired.

Also, the onboard computer allows you to choose from 20 different workouts, each of which can be modified to match your goals and needs.

iFit

If you want a more interactive workout experience, you can subscribe to iFit – a fitness training app that will guide you through over 16,000 different workouts, including global running routes, interval training, lift and run programs, and much, much more.

While this is a paid service, your Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill comes with a one-month free trial, so you can see if this additional feature interests you. iFit is like working out with a personal trainer and will add a new dimension to your workouts.

You can even use iFit to replicate real running routes. Linking to Google maps, you can adjust your treadmill incline to match the terrain of your chosen walking or running trail. This means you can use iFit to train for specific events by practicing the course you’ll be competing on.

Ease of Use

The Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill is very easy to use. The one-touch controls mean you can start and adjust your workout at the touch of a single button. There is nothing complicated about this treadmill; the display and controls are very easy to understand, and using it should feel very intuitive. That said, the T 6.5S comes with a comprehensive user manual and is backed by various video tutorials.

Assembly

The Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill requires some assembly before use. All you need is an adjustable wrench and a Philips screwdriver, neither of which are supplied. Reviewers report that putting the Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill is not overly tricky. Still, it is definitely easier if two people are working together. Assembly takes anywhere between 45-90 minutes. You can also pay an additional fee to have your treadmill assembled for you if you prefer.

Warranty

The Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill has an excellent warranty. That’s good news even though Nordic Track products are usually very high quality and totally reliable. The frame is covered by a lifetime warranty, the motor is covered for 25 years, and there is a one-year parts and labor warranty too. It’s good to know that, in the unlikely event of your treadmill developing a fault, you are fully covered.

Bottom Line

The Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill might be a budget-friendly treadmill designed for home use, but it’s as well-built and has many of the features as a much more expensive commercial treadmill. The extended warranty shows it’s made to last, and the manufacturers have a lot of faith in their products.

Despite its myriad features, the Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill is very easy to use, mainly because most of the important controls are accessible via a single button press. The built-in iPod/MP3 compatible speakers are also a nice touch, so you can listen to music or podcasts without headphones as you work out.

If it’s missing anything, the Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill would benefit from wireless heart rate monitoring and a fan to keep you cool while you work out. However, these are minor inconveniences that aren’t generally found on this level of machine anyway. If you are looking for a compact but well-equipped treadmill for home use, the Nordic Track T 6.5S Treadmill is an excellent choice.