A Review of NordicTrack iFit Live Technology

During my recent trip to the Icon Fitness headquarters in Logan, UT, I had the opportunity to test iFit Live on a NordicTrack Treadmill. Icon Fitness is the parent company for a number of fitness brands including NordicTrack, ProForm, Weslo, Gold's Gym, Reebok and Epic. Being one of the largest fitness equipment companies in the world they have the resources to spend on research and development. The results are some of the most innovative features found on any treadmill. iFit Live is a case in point. There are basically two features to iFit Live. Customized Workout Programs - The most popular aspect of iFit Live is the ability to have personalized workout programs loaded onto your treadmill based on your fitness goals. For example, let's say you want to lose 10 lbs. in three months. You go to iFit.com and define your goals, and iFit Live will design a series of customized progressive exercises. They will control the speed and incline of your treadmill and provide audio coaching from your choice of personal trainers, including Jillian Michaels. As you workout your treadmill feeds vital stats back to iFit.com, so you can track your progress. If you find the workout does not satisfy your desired level of exertion, you can increase or decrease the intensity. Google Maps - NordicTrack partnered with Google in providing an interactive experience that allows you to virtually run throughout the world . In the process your treadmill will simulate the terrain while you can visualize the experience through Google Maps. This is how it works. You map out a route, either on streets of paths. If Google has a street view you can actually watch as you are running down the street, otherwise you can get the satellite or terrain view. To utilize this feature of iFit Live you need a browser display. Meaning you have to either place your laptop or smart phone on the console. There are tabs for your laptop. However, NordicTrack will be releasing a couple of models in December that will have a colored display with an Android browser. I tried this intriguing feature and was able to run down a street in my locale and I could see my neighbor's homes. Meanwhile the treadmill adjusted the incline as I ran up hills. There will be a couple of models released in December that will actually decline and incline with the terrain. There is also a library of existing routes including cityscapes and national park trails. One last feature, if this isn't enough. NordicTrack runs regular races where you can compete virtually against other iFit users, or you can schedule a race with a friend who has an iFit Live equipped treadmill. Note: There is an additional cost for iFit Live. To learn more about the individual models that offer iFit Live to to the NordicTrack Treadmill Reviews. You can also find iFit Live on many ProForm Treadmills. There is an additional cost for this feature, but several NordicTrack models come with an initial one year subscription.