NordicTrack X24 Review

First impressions, not a verdict

This is my assembly video and my first ride on the NordicTrack X24. I built it by myself, set it up, and took it from a walk all the way up to a 40% incline. So take this as first impressions. I just got it, and I can't tell you yet how it holds up over time.

NordicTrack provided this X24 as part of my partnership with them. If you buy through my link, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Who it's for

If you're a hiker or a trail runner, this is the treadmill. It goes up to a 40% incline and down to a 6% decline, so you can train hills without leaving the house.

I've never really been a runner. But after one ride on this thing I'm excited to start doing some trail hiking. If that's you too, it's a good fit.

The one thing that decides it for a lot of people is ceiling height. More on that next, because it changed where this treadmill lives in my house.

Check your ceiling first

The deck sits about 13 inches off the floor. NordicTrack lists the step-up height at 13.66 inches. That's a lot when you're 6'5".

The plan was to put it in my basement so my wife and I could both use it inside the house. My basement is just under 8 feet, and I realized after it shipped that I'd hit my head on the ceiling. So I had to pivot.

It went in my garage gym, where the ceiling is almost 11 feet. Before you order, take your height, add the deck, add room for your stride, and measure the room you want it in.

The box won't fit through your door

I was not expecting the box to be as big as it is. It was so big and so wide that I couldn't get it through the regular door. Every door in my house was too small.

The only way in was the garage. I opened it there and carried it into the gym piece by piece. Unless you have double doors, plan on doing the same, or have somewhere outside to open it up.

NordicTrack also offers installation. They'll deliver it and set it up for you in one go if you'd rather not do any of this.

Delivery

Shipping was easy. You place your order with NordicTrack, then a freight company reaches out to schedule delivery. They let me know the day before and the morning of, and they showed up a little early.

They brought it right into my garage for me. No complaints there.

Putting it together by myself

The hardware comes bagged and labeled by step, and the tools you need are in the box. The manual says to use a second person for the uprights. I did it by myself.

The uprights come as one piece. You set them on the base, start six screws, connect the base wire to the upright wire, then put on the monitor, the console covers, the console wiring and the handrails. The wire connectors snap together with a click, and the monitor has a notch that lines it up so it holds itself in place while you start the screws.

The hardest part was the base. It's all one piece and it's heavy and awkward. Getting it into the gym by myself was really difficult. If you have a second person, take advantage of that. If you're somewhat strong, you can do it alone.

Last step, make sure it sits flat on the floor and adjust the feet if it rocks. Then clip in the safety key, because it won't run without it.

Easier than the 2450

I've also built the NordicTrack Commercial 2450, and that one was a lot more involved. Each upright came separately.

With the X24 the uprights come together as one piece, and that made the whole thing simpler. It didn't take very long to put together.

Power, wifi and iFIT

You need power close by. I'm running an extension cord for now and I'll come up with a better way to hide it. In a garage gym, make sure you have an outlet near where it's going to sit.

It also needs wifi. Like any connected machine it runs software updates, and I upgraded my mesh system so I'd have better coverage out in the garage.

Setup walks you through it. I already had an iFIT account, so I scanned a QR code and logged in. If you want programming and a guide, I think the iFIT membership is worth it. My dad has been using iFIT on the 2450 at his house, and hiking different places around the world without going there is his favorite part.

The first ride

Before I got on, I pulled it away from the wall a little in case the incline was too much. I didn't want to go tumbling into the wall. Then I put the safety clip on and clipped it to my pocket.

I hit quick start and walked. The deck has a little give to it, so it doesn't feel like you're on concrete. Speed goes up in small steps or with quick buttons. I jumped to six for a little jog, then eight, then ten. Ten surprised me. It goes up to 12 miles an hour, and I'm not ready for that.

Then the incline. I dropped to two miles an hour and punched 40%. I tried to go without holding on and couldn't. My calves were burning almost right away. If you hike, this would be fantastic for hills.

It also goes down. At 6% decline it feels like walking downhill. The screen has start and stop buttons, volume, a fan with some real power to it, and you can pair a Bluetooth heart rate sensor.

Does it hold a big guy

I'm 6'5" and 275 pounds, and it felt pretty solid under me. My thinking is if it stands up to me, it's going to stand up to a lot.

NordicTrack rates it for 400 pounds. How it holds up after months of use is the part I can't answer yet.

The catches

Ceiling height is the big one. With the deck that high, it can only go certain places if you're tall.

The box is too big for normal doors, and the base is heavy and awkward to move alone.

And you need power and wifi where it sits. None of these are problems with the treadmill. They're things to figure out before it shows up.

Would I recommend it

Yes. That incline is ridiculous, and I'm genuinely pumped to have it. If you're a hiker or a trail runner, it's the one I'd tell you to look at.

Just check your ceiling, your doors and your outlet before you order. I'm glad I had a high enough ceiling in my garage gym to put it in. I'll post updates once I've put some real time on it.