NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill Review for Home Gyms

NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill Review for Home Gyms

The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 consistently ranks among the best-selling premium treadmills, combining a powerful motor, wide incline range, and a large HD touchscreen with iFit integration. But for apartment dwellers building small home gyms, the critical question is whether this full-size treadmill can work in limited space without disturbing neighbors. We tested the 2024 model for 6 weeks in a 650 sq ft one-bedroom apartment.

Specifications at a Glance

Dimensions and specs per manufacturer documentation. Current retail pricing varies with iFit promotions.

Build Quality and Running Surface

The Commercial 1750 lives up to its name with a robust steel frame that eliminates the flexing common in sub-$1,500 treadmills. The 3.5 CHP motor handles everything from walking to sprint intervals without straining, and the 22-inch by 60-inch running surface accommodates tall runners with a natural stride.

The FlexSelect cushioning system lets you adjust deck firmness through a manual dial. The "cushioned" setting reduces impact on joints by an estimated 15-20% compared to road running — a meaningful difference for apartment dwellers who cannot afford joint stress that leads to downtime. The "firm" setting more closely mimics outdoor running for race training.

The 14-inch HD touchscreen is responsive and bright enough for use with apartment lighting. It tilts for viewing angle adjustment, which matters when running at steep inclines.

The Folding Mechanism: Critical for Small Spaces

The EasyLift Assist folding system is what makes the 1750 viable for apartments. A hydraulic assist raises the deck to a near-vertical position, reducing the unfolded depth from 80 inches to approximately 36 inches. In our testing, one person could fold and unfold the deck smoothly.

Space comparison:

With the deck folded, the 1750 occupies roughly the same floor space as a small bookshelf. You will still need ceiling clearance — the folded unit stands 73 inches tall. Standard 8-foot ceilings (96 inches) provide adequate headroom.

Critical apartment consideration: The 1750 cannot be stored vertically on its end. It always requires that ~10 sq ft of floor space, even when folded.

iFit Integration: Motivation or Mandatory?

The 14-inch touchscreen exists primarily to deliver iFit, NordicTrack's subscription training platform. iFit provides thousands of guided workouts including studio classes, global trail runs with automatic incline matching, and progressive training series.

The subscription question: iFit costs approximately $39/month after any included trial period. Without iFit, the 1750 functions as a manual treadmill with basic stat tracking — you lose the interactive content, auto-adjusting speed/incline, and most of the features that justify the premium price.

For apartment users who rely on instructor motivation (since you cannot easily run with a group from home), iFit adds genuine value. But factor the ongoing cost into your budget: $468/year is nearly half the treadmill's purchase price annually.

Noise Level Testing

We measured noise output in a carpeted apartment with the treadmill positioned on a 3/4" rubber mat:

The neighbor verdict: Walking and light jogging at reasonable hours generated no complaints. Running above 8 mph produced audible footfall impact through the floor. We recommend this treadmill for apartments only if you primarily walk or jog, or if you live on the ground floor.

A high-quality treadmill mat is non-negotiable for apartment use. We tested with and without a 3/4" rubber mat; the mat reduced transmitted vibration by an estimated 30-40%.

Pros and Cons

What We Liked

• Excellent incline/decline range from -3% to 15% for training variety
• Large HD touchscreen delivers immersive iFit content
• Smooth, powerful motor never hesitates even during interval sprints
• Folding mechanism is genuinely easy for one person
• Spacious running deck at 22" x 60" accommodates all stride lengths

What Concerned Us

• iFit subscription dependency — the full experience requires ongoing payment
• Substantial footprint even when folded — requires dedicated space
• Running noise may disturb downstairs neighbors in multi-story buildings
• Heavy unit at 340 lbs — moving it into an apartment requires help
• Premium price point with significant ongoing subscription costs

Alternatives to Consider

The Sole F80 offers comparable build quality without subscription dependency, though its screen and content ecosystem are inferior. The Horizon 7.8 AT connects seamlessly with third-party apps like Zwift and Peloton, making it ideal if you prefer those platforms over iFit. The EXP 7i is NordicTrack's compact alternative — smaller screen and motor, but $1,000 less.

Apartment Suitability Verdict

The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 can work in an apartment, but with important caveats:

We recommend the 1750 for apartment home gyms if: you live on the ground floor or have concrete subflooring, you primarily walk and jog rather than sprint, you have a dedicated 10+ sq ft storage area for the folded deck, and you value iFit's guided content enough to pay the subscription.

We do not recommend it if: you live above neighbors sensitive to noise, you plan to do frequent high-speed running, your apartment lacks space for a 40" x 36" folded footprint, or you want to avoid ongoing subscription costs.

Bottom Line

The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 is a premium treadmill that delivers on build quality, feature depth, and training variety. The incline range, iFit integration, and folding design are genuinely impressive. For apartment dwellers, however, the noise at running speeds and the subscription dependency create meaningful compromises.

If you are an apartment-based walker or jogger with ground-floor placement or tolerant neighbors, the 1750 is an excellent long-term cardio investment. If you need a running-focused machine in a noise-sensitive environment, consider the Sole F80 or invest in additional sound dampening flooring.

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