Nordictrack T Series 6.5S vs 6.5Si Review – Know Everything About the Top Choice for Home Fitness 

NordicTrack T Series Treadmills

August 5, 2019

Getting a great workout means challenging your entire body. That means working your muscles AND your cardiovascular system. A great way to get in a terrific cardio workout is to train on a treadmill.

When it comes to home use treadmills, the quality runs the gamut from terrible to terrific. For the end user, that means that you have to be a discerning shopper. Among the most reliable and respected brands out there is NordicTrack.

In this article, we zoom in on two of NordicTrack’s most popular offerings – the NordicTrack 6.5s and the closely related NordicTrack 6.5Si. We’ll discover their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide if they are for you.

Who is NordicTrack?

A quarter of a century ago, an innovative new piece of cardio equipment entered the market. The NordicTrack skier became a home fitness sensation, allowing the NordicTrack fitness company to establish itself as a real force in the market. In the late 1990’s NordicTrack began to expand its home cardio equipment product range. They introduced an acclaimed line of treadmills, ellipticals and incline trainers. 

NordicTrack is a brand of ICON Health and Fitness. Their products are available worldwide with distribution centers in a number of countries. Their head office is located in Minnesota.

Comparing the Specifications:

NordicTrack T 6.5S

NordicTrack T 6.5Si

NordicTrack NTL17915 T 6.5 S Treadmill - Includes a 1-Month iFit Membership - A True Club Membership with World-class Personal Training in the Comfort of Your Home (Credit Card Required)
NordicTrack T 6.5 Si Treadmill World-Class Personal Training in The Comfort of Your Home

Display:

5" Backlit Display

Display:

10" Touchscreen HD

iFit:

Compatible

iFit:

Includes 1 year membership

Motor:

2.6 CHP Motor

Motor:

2.6 CHP DurX™ Commercial Plus Motor

Running Belt:

22" X 55" Tread Belt

Running Belt:

20” x 55” Commercial Tread Belt

Warranty:

25y (motor) - 1y (parts) - 1y (labor)

Warranty:

10y (frame) - 1y (parts) - 1y (labor)

NordicTrack T Series Treadmill 6.5S

NordicTrack NTL17915 T 6.5 S Treadmill - Includes a 1-Month iFit Membership - A True Club Membership with World-class Personal Training in the Comfort of Your Home (Credit Card Required)

The NordicTrack T series 6.5S is among the company’s least expensive in its budget range of home use treadmills. This extremely popular, compact and program packed model is a smart option for beginners.

Specs:
  • Motor HP: 2.6
  • Deck: Flexselect Cushioning
  • Incline: 0-10%
  • Treadbelt: 20” x 55”
  • Folding: Yes
  • Speed: 0-10 mph
  • Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
  • Built-in Programs: 20
  • Dimensions: 73" L X 37.5" W X 67.5" H

Workout Programs

The console on the NordicTrack 6.5S provides you with 20 different built-in workout programs. That’s impressive for a treadmill at this price point. This level of variety will prevent workout boredom while also offering targeted workout programs for specific training goals, including fat loss, hill and HIIT training. You also get access to the iFit app so, if you have a subscription, you have access to many, many more workout programs. Your purchase does come with a free 30-day subscription to iFit.

NordicTrack NTL17915 T 6.5 S Treadmill - Includes a 1-Month iFit Membership - A True Club Membership with World-class Personal Training in the Comfort of Your Home (Credit Card Required)

Heart Rate Monitoring

You don’t get accurate heart rate monitoring on many budget treadmills. But this one provides you with dual grip CardioGrip heart rate monitoring sensors. This allows you to keep tabs on your training heart rate to ensure that you are working out within the fat burn zone. 

NordicTrack NTL17915 T 6.5 S Treadmill - Includes a 1-Month iFit Membership - A True Club Membership with World-class Personal Training in the Comfort of Your Home (Credit Card Required)

FlexSelect Cushioning

The cushioning provides you with the innovative flex select system. This provides you with the ability to turn the cushioning on and off. Running with the cushioning off gives you a more rigid surface whereas, when it’s on, you’ll receive greater joint support with a softer, more cushioned running belt. 

Foldable

The 6.5S has been designed with NordicTrack’s patented SpaceSaver design with EasyLift Assist. This means that you can easily fold up the machine with just a single action. 

NordicTrack NTL17915 T 6.5 S Treadmill - Includes a 1-Month iFit Membership - A True Club Membership with World-class Personal Training in the Comfort of Your Home (Credit Card Required)

Technology

For a budget treadmill, the NordicTrack 6.5S provides you with some impressive tech features. The 5-inch backlit iFit display gives you an attractive easy to read and view display. You also get an auxiliary music port, dual two-inch digitally amplified speakers and iFit coach ready capability.

What’s Not So Good

- Noisy

The 6.5S is quite noisy when in operation. That means that you won’t be able to run in the lounge while others are watching TV (without annoying them, that is!). 

- Basic Console

The console is pretty simplistic when you look beyond the twenty built-in programs. There is no cooling fan more any storage space for your keys or iPad.

- Limited Incline

The maximum incline on the 6.5S is just 10%, which may not be challenging enough for intermediate or advanced treadmill users. 

NordicTrack T Series Treadmill 6.5Si

NordicTrack T 6.5 Si Treadmill World-Class Personal Training in The Comfort of Your Home

The NordicTrack T Series Treadmill 6.5Si has similar features to the 6.5S, apart from the addition of a large display screen and a 12-month subscription to iFit (the 6.5S gives you a one-month subscription).

Specs:
  • Motor HP: 2.6
  • Deck: Flexselect Cushioning
  • Display: 10” full color capacity touch display
  • Incline: 0-10%
  • Treadbelt: 20” x 55”
  • Folding: Yes
  • Speed: 0-10 mph
  • Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
  • Built-in Programs: 20
  • Dimensions: 73" L X 37.5" W X 67.5" H

Full Color Display

The 6.5Si provides you with a 10-inch interactive coaching touchscreen. Included is an innovative (and extremely cool) technology which allows the trainer on screen to actually make changes to your machine’s decline incline and speed in real time. The console has an in-built library of twenty programs featuring world class fitness trainers. 

NordicTrack T 6.5 Si Treadmill World-Class Personal Training in The Comfort of Your Home

12-Month iFit Subscription

Your purchase of the 6.5Si comes with a full 12-month subscription to iFit. That’s a value of $396! With this subscription, you will have access to a whopping 16,000 different workout programs. 

NordicTrack T 6.5 Si Treadmill World-Class Personal Training in The Comfort of Your Home

Non-Flex Rollers

The 6.5Si comes fitted with non-flex rollers to allow for a smoother, jerk-free tread movement. That means that you’ll be able to run more freely with less joint strain. Of course, the 6.5Si also provides you with the same patented FlexSelect cushioning as you get with the 6.5S. This allows you to select the level of underfoot cushioning that you wnt to run on. 

NordicTrack T 6.5 Si Treadmill World-Class Personal Training in The Comfort of Your Home

What’s Not So Good

As the 6.5Si is essentially the 6.5S is the same model but with some added features, it has the same drawbacks. It, too is a bit too noisy for comfort, has limited incline options and does not feature a cooling fan.

Customer Feedback

So, what do customers think of the NordicTrack 6.5S series? Here are a couple of typical responses . . .

I am 5'2 and 196 lbs. I used to be a runner but then I had kids. Between work, kids and making dinner I found little time to exercise. Now I am so happy I made the choice of buying this treadmill. This treadmill is well made and sturdy. It does not shake when I run and is easily portable.

Myra Hernandez

I've had it a week and I've used it almost every day. I love it! I can't believe I waited so long to get it! As an avid runner, an athlete and half marathoner this treadmill is perfect. I haven't even used any of the settings yet but the basic machine itself is wonderful (Incline and speed, comfort, etc). Spacious enough to not fall off the back, a wonderful ridge to hold an iPad but still able to see the information display, etc. It's awesome! I see a lot of time spent with it this pregnancy and even in the future once baby #4 is here (running during naps, walking if he won't sleep with him in the ergo, etc). Such a great machine at a great, affordable price.

Runnergirl014

Final Thoughts

The NordicTrack 6.5S is a very impressive entry level treadmill that gives you more than you’d expect to pay in this price range. The twenty programs, FlexSelect cushioning and foldability are great. However, be aware that it’s noisy and has limited incline capability. For a step up in program display and interactivity go for the NordicTrack 6.5Si.

About the author 

Kevin Lee

Health and fitness have always been a passion for me; whether its being in the weight room, going for a run before work or even participating in a half iron man triathlon. ShapeJunkie was created to share to knowledge and love of fitness with others.

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