NordicTrack A.C.T. Commercial
Elliptical Trainer Review

When I recently was at the NordicTrack headquarters, I was particularly curious to check out the A.C.T. Commercial elliptical trainer. I was getting a number of inquiries from my readers.

This is a center drive elliptical, in comparison to a front or rear drive. Several other manufacturers are producing models with this design, including LifeCore, Landice and True. The appeal is the compact footprint, easy access and extra stability.

Benefits of a Front Drive Elliptical Trainer

Compact Design — Elliptical trainers can be space hogs. Some models have very long lengths, particularly front wheel designs. Of course, there are some very compact rear wheel designs, but they are usually cheap models that are not very stable. The center design condenses the mechanics and results in a machine that is only 47" long. In comparison, the Sole E95 front drive elliptical is 82" in length. The A.C.T. is ideal for apartment and condo dwellers.

18" - 22" Adjustable Stride — The one flaw with an elliptical trainer is you need to find the right model whose stride length suites your physique. For example, taller individuals will want to opt for a longer stride. If you have multiple users at different heights, that can be an issue. With an adjustable stride, individuals can find the right stride and their comfort zone.

The other advantage of an adjustable stride is the fact you can change the stride length and focus your workout on different parts of your lower body. The adjustable stride provides more of a "full body" workout than a standard stride elliptical.

Very Stable — Unless you get a very heavy model, many elliptical trainers are not that stable. They may tend to rock, especially during a strenuous workout. The center drive ellipticals have a square base that contributes to a solid, stable feel.

Level Motion — There is some controversy over which is better, a front or rear wheel elliptical trainer design. Now the discussion needs to include center design. Although it is a matter of preference, there are a couple of advantages with the A.C.T. Commercial center design.

First, you are centered over the motion. In comparison to the front design, you tend to have to lean forward when using the handlebars. I find the center design to be more natural in positioning and in the motion of the stride.

Second, I also thought the position of your body in relation to the handlebars gave you a better upper body workout. I have a front drive elliptical, and unless I make a conscious effort to put pressure on the handlebars, my arms tend to just go through the motions. I thought the center drive did a better job of distributing the resistance and the benefits.

Pedal Distance — One additional advantage to the center design of the NordicTrack A.C.T. is the pedal distance. They are closer than many models. This is an attractive feature to females of average to below average height. Many complain about the discomfort of the pedal distance of many front and rear drive ellipticals.

Other Features...

iFit Live Compatible — With iFit Live you have the several motivational features that make exercising in place more exciting. First, you can create a fitness goal profile at iFit.com and an 8-week workout routine with audio coaching will be downloaded onto your elliptical. Your specs are downloaded onto your iFit.com account, allowing you to track your progress.

In addition, you can map out a route on Google Maps and the NordicTrack A.C.T. elliptical will simulate the terrain by adjusting the resistance. You can view your progress with a laptop or smart phone. Slots are available on the console to place your laptop. This feature requires WiFi and the purchase on a WiFit module.

20 lb. Flywheels — With the new 2012 model they upgraded the flywheels from 12 lbs. to 20 lbs., giving the elliptical motion a more smoother and natural feel.

Cooling Fan — According to the staff at NordicTrack this feature is very popular with their customers.

26 Workout Programs — The various programs adjust the resistance of the elliptical to focus on aerobic, weight loss, or performance goals. It gives you variety and helps to motivate the users.

Sound System — The sound system is not as good as the premium system on their treadmills, but it is still adequate and convenient. You can plug-in MP3 players.

Heavy Unit Weight — The NordicTrack A.C.T. weighs in at approximately 240 lbs., giving it a very stable and solid feel.

Warranty — For the 2012 model they upgraded the warranty to 2-years parts and 1-year labor coverage.

Our Review - NordicTrack A.C.T. Commercial Elliptical Trainer

Of the few center drive ellipticals, the A.C.T. Commercial is one of the better values when priced under $1,000. NordicTrack promotes it as a commercial model. In reality it is a residential cardio machine and I would not buy it for heavy commercial use. However, in the home this machine will excel. I found it to be solid, stable and it runs quieter than most elliptical trainer. It can accommodate users of different heights, and it appears to be durable enough to handle multiple users. In fact, a prominent consumer magazine gave it a "Very Good" rating for construction.

I would say NordicTrack has a winner with the A.C.T. Commercial trainer when priced is competitively.

For more information go to NordicTrackEllipticals.com.

Customer Review

Great machine. Very stable and comfortable for a medium sized female adult, male adult and teenager. Good programs. Very compact as advertised. They are selling them for $1000.00 at Sears, but with no extended warranty $200.00 shipping cost. You can call up Nordic Track and they will give you the same price with no charge for shipping and you can buy an extended warranty. Excellent machine, I love it. There was a little confusion on the Nordic Track side in the ordering (they lost the order) but they were nice about it and took off an extra $50.00 for my having to call a number of times to get everything straightened out. I would definitely recommend this machine and buying it from Nordic Track. - Debbie