The NordicTrack X22i promises a mountain in your spare room. After digging into what it actually delivers, here is the honest verdict.
NordicTrack X22i Incline Trainer — Top Pick
With a 40% incline, a -3% decline, and a 22-inch swiveling touchscreen running terrain-matched iFIT classes, the X22i is the standout home incline trainer in 2026, as long as you will use the subscription that unlocks it.
In a hurry? That's our pick. Want the reasoning and the full comparison? Keep reading.
The NordicTrack X22i is the machine that shows up in every 'best incline trainer' list, and for good reason. It climbs to a brutal 40% incline, drops to a -3% decline, and wraps the whole thing around a 22-inch swiveling touchscreen that streams trainer-led classes right in front of you. On paper it looks like a full mountain gym folded into a treadmill. The question is whether it earns its spot in your home, or whether you are paying for features you will not use.
This review breaks down what the X22i genuinely nails and where it will frustrate you, including the part most sales pages tuck away: the iFIT subscription. The hardware is impressive on its own, but the X22i is built to be used with iFIT, and that ongoing cost is the single biggest thing to weigh before you commit. Below you get the full honest picture, plus three strong alternatives if the X22i is not quite your fit.
Key Takeaways
- The NordicTrack X22i climbs to a 40% incline and drops to a -3% decline, giving you serious hill training most treadmills cannot touch.
- The 22-inch swiveling HD touchscreen and iFIT trainer classes are the heart of the experience, and they are excellent when you actually use them.
- The honest catch: iFIT is a paid subscription, and without it the X22i loses much of its value, so budget for the ongoing cost.
- Want a bigger 32-inch screen and even more immersion? The NordicTrack X32i is the natural step up.
- Prefer to skip the subscription entirely? The Sole F80 gives you a rugged, no-subscription treadmill that just runs.
What the X22i Nails: Incline, Screen & iFIT
The headline feature is the incline, and it lives up to the hype. The X22i climbs to a genuine 40% grade and drops to a -3% decline, a range most treadmills do not come close to. That matters more than it sounds. Steep incline walking torches calories at a low impact, spares your knees compared with pounding out fast miles, and lets a compact machine deliver a mountain-hike workout in a spare bedroom. The decline is the rarer trick: it trains the muscles you use going downhill, which is exactly what most treadmills ignore. If hill training is your goal, the X22i is one of the few home machines that truly delivers it.
Then there is the 22-inch HD touchscreen, and it is the centerpiece for a reason. It swivels, so you can spin it away from the belt and follow a strength, yoga, or mobility class off the machine using the same subscription. The panel is sharp and bright, and paired with the iFIT platform it turns a workout into something you actually look forward to. iFIT trainers guide you through studio classes and filmed global routes, and here is the clever part: during those routes the machine auto-adjusts your incline and speed to match the terrain on screen. Climb a filmed Alpine trail and the deck rises under your feet. That trainer-controlled, terrain-matched experience is what people are really buying when they choose an X22i.
The rest of the hardware backs it up. The X22i runs a strong commercial-grade motor rated in continuous horsepower, so it holds pace under a heavier runner without bogging down. The deck is cushioned to soften impact through your joints, the running surface is roomy enough for a natural stride, and the frame supports a generous weight capacity that suits most households. It also folds away with an assisted lift, so it tucks up when you are done rather than dominating the room. This is a serious, well-built machine, not a flimsy folding treadmill dressed up with a tablet.
The Downsides + How the Alternatives Compare
Now the honest part. The X22i is built around iFIT, and iFIT is a paid subscription that renews for as long as you use it. You can run the machine in a basic manual mode without it, but you lose the guided classes, the filmed routes, and the automatic incline and speed control that make the experience special. Strip those away and you are left with an expensive treadmill whose best trick sits behind a paywall. If you are the type who will genuinely use the classes, the value is real. If you suspect you will cancel after a few months, you are paying flagship money for features you will let lapse, and that is the single biggest reason to pause before buying.
The hardware has smaller quirks too. This is a large, heavy machine, so you need real floor space and a plan to move it, and the swiveling screen adds bulk. The touchscreen runs a closed ecosystem, so you are living inside iFIT rather than freely browsing any app you like. None of these are dealbreakers, but they shape who the X22i is right for. If any of them give you pause, the alternatives below each solve a specific piece of the puzzle.
Want everything the X22i offers but with more screen? The NordicTrack X32i keeps the same 40% incline and -3% decline and blows the display up to a 32-inch panel for a far more immersive filmed-route experience. If value is your priority, the ProForm Carbon Incline comes from NordicTrack's sister brand, plays nicely with the same training platform, and costs noticeably less by trimming the incline range and screen size. And if the subscription is the whole problem, the Sole F80 gives you a rugged, no-subscription treadmill that simply runs, with room to stream your own apps on the side.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Best For | Screen | Incline | Subscription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordicTrack X22i | The reviewed flagship | 22" HD swivel touchscreen | -3% to 40% | iFIT for full value |
| NordicTrack X32i | Big-screen immersion | 32" HD swivel touchscreen | -3% to 40% | iFIT for full value |
| ProForm Carbon Incline | Best value | Compact HD touchscreen | 0% to 15% | iFIT-friendly, lighter cost |
| Sole F80 | No-subscription runners | Display + your own apps | 0% to 15% | None required |
1. X22i — The Reviewed Flagship
NordicTrack X22i Incline Trainer
The X22i is a genuine standout, and after weighing it fully it earns its reputation. The 40% incline and -3% decline give you a range almost nothing else in the home offers, and paired with iFIT's terrain-matched, trainer-led classes on that swiveling 22-inch screen, it turns a treadmill into a destination you want to step onto. The commercial-grade motor rated in continuous horsepower, the cushioned deck, the roomy running surface, and the solid weight capacity all say the same thing: this is built to be used hard for years, not replaced in one.
The catch keeps it from being a blind recommendation, and we want you clear-eyed. The X22i is designed to shine with an iFIT subscription, and that is an ongoing cost. Skip it and you lose the classes, the filmed routes, and the auto-adjusting incline that make this machine special, leaving a pricey treadmill in basic mode. It is also large and heavy, so plan your space. If you will genuinely lean on the classes and you want the best incline experience at home, the X22i is worth it. If not, look hard at the alternatives below.
Pros
- Brutal 40% incline plus a rare -3% decline for true hill training
- Sharp 22-inch swiveling touchscreen you can use on and off the deck
- iFIT classes auto-adjust incline and speed to match filmed terrain
- Strong continuous-horsepower motor and cushioned deck for daily use
- Folds away with assisted lift and supports a generous weight capacity
Cons
- iFIT subscription is needed to unlock the machine's full value
- Large and heavy, so it demands real floor space and a moving plan
- Closed screen ecosystem keeps you inside iFIT rather than any app
2. X32i — Best Big-Screen Alternative
NordicTrack X32i Incline Trainer
If the X22i's only shortcoming for you is that you want more screen, the X32i is the direct answer. It keeps the same fierce 40% incline and -3% decline and the same well-built running platform, then swaps in a huge 32-inch HD touchscreen. On filmed global routes that extra glass genuinely changes the feel, pulling you deeper into the scenery so the miles pass more easily. It is the same terrain-matched, trainer-led experience, just bigger and more cinematic.
The trade-offs are simple and honest. The larger screen commands a higher price than the X22i, and it leans even harder on the iFIT subscription to justify itself, since the whole point is that immersive filmed content. It is also a bit more of a presence in the room. If you have the space and the budget and you want the most engaging at-home climb available, the X32i is the upgrade to reach for.
Pros
- Massive 32-inch swiveling touchscreen for deep immersion
- Same 40% incline and -3% decline as the X22i
- Terrain-matched iFIT routes feel more cinematic on the big panel
- Well-built deck, cushioning, and fold-away design carry over
- Great for households that want the most engaging experience
Cons
- Costs more than the X22i for the larger screen
- Leans even harder on the iFIT subscription to earn its keep
- Bigger footprint and more visual presence in the room
3. ProForm Carbon — Best Value Alternative
ProForm Carbon Incline Treadmill
The ProForm Carbon comes from NordicTrack's sister brand and is the smart pick when you love the training platform but not the flagship price. It plays nicely with the same trainer-led class ecosystem, so you still get guided workouts and filmed routes, just on a more compact screen and with a more traditional incline range topping out around 15%. For most people that incline is plenty for a challenging walk or run, and you keep the cushioned deck and fold-away convenience.
You give up the dramatic 40% climb and the -3% decline, and the smaller screen is less cinematic than the X-series panels. But you also spend far less to get onto the platform. If you want the guided experience and solid hardware without stretching your budget to the flagship, the Carbon delivers the core of what makes these machines fun at a much friendlier entry point.
Pros
- Noticeably lower price than the X-series incline trainers
- Works with the same trainer-led class ecosystem
- Cushioned deck and fold-away design for easy home use
- Standard 15% incline covers most everyday workouts
- Great entry point into guided treadmill training
Cons
- Incline tops out around 15% with no decline mode
- Smaller screen is less immersive than the X-series
- Still leans on a subscription for the full guided experience
4. Sole F80 — Best No-Subscription Alternative
Sole F80 Treadmill
If the whole iFIT subscription question is what is holding you back, the Sole F80 is your machine. Sole built its reputation on rugged, no-nonsense treadmills that simply run, with a heavy-duty frame, a strong continuous-horsepower motor, and a cushioned deck that many runners praise for going easy on the joints. There is no locked ecosystem and no monthly fee gating the experience. You get a solid display, and you are free to prop up your own tablet and stream whatever training app you already like.
You trade away the star features of the X22i: no 40% incline, no decline, and no terrain-matched auto-adjusting classes. The incline maxes out around a standard 15%. But you also never pay a subscription, and the build is famously durable. For the runner who wants a dependable machine that will still be running years from now, and who bristles at recurring fees, the F80 is the honest, freeing choice.
Pros
- No subscription required, ever, to use the machine fully
- Rugged heavy-duty frame with a reputation for durability
- Strong continuous-horsepower motor and joint-friendly cushioned deck
- Freedom to stream any app you like on your own device
- Great long-term value with no recurring costs
Cons
- No 40% incline or decline, tops out around 15%
- No terrain-matched auto-adjusting guided classes
- Built-in screen experience is basic compared with the X-series
Which Should You Choose?
Buy the X22i if you want the best incline experience and will use iFIT
The NordicTrack X22i is the right call when hill training and immersive guided workouts are the whole point, and you know you will actually use the classes. The 40% incline, -3% decline, and terrain-matched iFIT routes on the 22-inch swiveling screen deliver a home workout almost nothing else matches. Just go in committed to the subscription, because that is what unlocks its full value and justifies the price.
Go bigger with the X32i if you want maximum immersion
If the X22i sounds perfect but you crave more screen, step up to the NordicTrack X32i. It keeps the same fierce 40% incline and -3% decline and adds a huge 32-inch panel that makes filmed routes far more cinematic. You pay more and lean even harder on iFIT, but if you have the space and budget and want the most engaging climb at home, the bigger screen is the upgrade worth making.
Skip the subscription with the Sole F80 if fees bother you
If the recurring iFIT cost is the sticking point, the Sole F80 sets you free. It drops the 40% incline and the guided classes, but it gives you a rugged, dependable treadmill with a strong motor and cushioned deck that simply runs, no subscription attached. Stream your own apps on your own device, pay nothing extra month to month, and enjoy a machine built to last for years.
Ready to Bring the Mountain Home?
The NordicTrack X22i folds a 40% climb, a cushioned deck, and a 22-inch trainer-led screen into your spare room. Check current pricing and see if the flagship incline trainer is the right fit for you.
Explore Brainstamped's Free ToolsFrequently Asked Questions
The NordicTrack X22i is worth it if you will genuinely use iFIT and you want serious incline training at home. The 40% incline, -3% decline, and terrain-matched trainer classes on the 22-inch swiveling screen are excellent. The catch is that the machine is built around a paid subscription, so it is worth it for committed users but overkill if you plan to cancel iFIT early.
You do not strictly need iFIT to run the X22i, but you need it to get the machine's full value. Without it you lose the guided classes, the filmed global routes, and the automatic incline and speed control that adjust to the terrain on screen. In basic manual mode the X22i still works, but its best features sit behind the subscription, so budget for that ongoing cost.
The main difference is screen size. The X22i has a 22-inch swiveling touchscreen, while the X32i has a larger 32-inch panel for a more immersive experience on filmed routes. Both share the same 40% incline, -3% decline, cushioned deck, and iFIT platform. The X32i costs more and leans even harder on the subscription, so choose it if maximum immersion matters to you.
Yes, you can use the X22i in a basic manual mode without iFIT, controlling speed and incline yourself. But you lose the guided classes, filmed routes, and terrain-matched auto-adjustments that make the machine special. If you want a treadmill with no subscription at all, the Sole F80 is a better fit since it is designed to run fully without any recurring fee.
The NordicTrack X22i climbs to a 40% incline and drops to a -3% decline, a range most home treadmills cannot match. The steep incline delivers a low-impact, high-burn hill workout that is easier on the knees than fast running, and the decline trains the muscles you use walking downhill. That wide incline range is one of the biggest reasons people choose the X22i.