NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike Review: Is It Worth the Price?
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The NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike is a smart workout bike that is packed with special features to provide a cycling studio-like experience in the comfort of home.
It has a variety of indoor cycling classes, built-in speakers, and multiple levels of digital resistance, and is one of the few stationary bikes that has trainer control.
You may wonder if it is worth the cost.
The NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike is reviewed in this article to help you decide if it is the right bike for you.
Pros
- A built-in touch screen allows for live and on-demand workout classes.
- There are 24 levels of digital resistance and incline/decline levels.
- The device has built-in speakers, automatic trainer control, and is equipped with wi-fi and adjutng.
- The bike has a higher weight capacity than other bikes.
- The competitor has a shorter warranty.
- It is easy to use and assemble.
- can be used with cleats.
Cons
- more expensive than some alternatives, such as the Peloton Bike
- Monthly iFit membership is one of the additional costs to consider.
- There are reports of issues with touch screen responsiveness.
The S22i Studio Bike is a high tech workout bike produced by NordicTrack, a company that manufactures multiple types of fitness equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals, and rowing machines.
The S22i is a popular device among fitness enthusiasts because of its built-in touch screen and compatibility with the iFit training app, which features interactive workout classes led by trainers from around the globe.
It is one of the few workout bikes that offer incline and decline levels.
The NordicTrack S22i has a rotating touch screen that you can use to stream live and on-demand exercise classes from iFit.
It displays metrics of your workout, including time, distance, speed, and pace.
Using your iFit membership, you can stream other types of workout classes as well, including high intensity interval training, cardio, yoga, meditation, and strength.
You can use the S22i in manual mode without iFit.
The bike has incline and decline levels of 10% to 20%.
“It also has automatic trainer control, which adjusts your resistance and incline levels to match your trainer’s levels.”
Other notable features are the two built-in speakers, ergonomic padded saddle, dual water bottle holders, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity that make it easy to pair your headphones or heart rate monitor with your bike.
The bike has a pair of 3-pound dumbbells.
It has dual-sided pedals that allow you to choose between wearing athletic shoes or cycling shoes.
The NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike is 61 inches in height. The length is 155 cm and is 22 in. It was wide and tall at 58 in. The person is tall.
It can hold a maximum weight of 350 lbs. The unit can be adjusted to accommodate different sizes.
NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike quick specs
- Dimensions: 61 x 22 x 58 in. (155 x 56 x 147 cm)
- Weight: 205 lbs. (93 kg)
- Max user weight capacity: 350 lbs. (159 kg)
- Warranty: 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor
- Resistance: 24 levels of digital resistance
- Workout programs: live and on-demand classes using iFit
- Screen: 22-in. (56-cm) rotating touch screen
- App connectivity: pairs with iFit app
- Other features: automatic trainer control, incline and decline levels of -10% to 20%, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, built-in speakers, included pair of 3-lb. (1.4-kg) dumbbells, transport wheels
The NordicTrack S22i is free of charge and comes with a 30-day iFit family membership.
Your purchase is protected by a number of warranties, including 10 years on the frame, 2 years on parts, and 1 year on labor.
You need to renew your membership to keep using it after the first month is free. You can choose between a family plan that costs $39 per month or an individual plan that costs $180 per year.
NordicTrack offers several financing options for qualified customers, which you can apply for online during checkout.
The NordicTrack S22i is easy to assemble and comes with detailed instructions to help you get started. It takes less than an hour to assemble and set up.
The frame is very heavy, so it may require two people to lift it.
You can adjust the seat position on the bike using the knobs, which are located vertically and horizontally. You can move the handlebars as needed.
The iFit app is simple and straightforward to use.
You can scroll through the rides and workouts on the app and choose from them using the touch screen.
“If you don’t want to follow an ifit class, you can use the touch screen to adjust the bike’s incline and resistance manually using the buttons on the left and right handlebars.”
Some customers have reported issues with the responsiveness of the touch screen and the app crashing in the middle of a workout.
It can be difficult to find rides on the app if you are looking for a specific class, which is one of the reasons why it is a common complaint.
The NordicTrack S22i is a great option for fitness enthusiasts looking for a high quality stationary bike.
The NordicTrack S22i is a better bike for training than some of the other ones on the market, including automatic trainer control and multiple levels of incline and decline.
It also provides access to an extensive library of workout classes through ifit, which includes many other exercise options in addition to cycling to help mix up your routine.
“If these features aren’t important for you, there are other bikes that offer a similar set of training options.”
NordicTrack is not currently accredited by the Better Business Bureau but holds an A+ rating from the organization, which is based on factors like the company’s business practices and response to customer complaints.
As of the time of publication, NordicTrack also has an average rating of 2.1 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, based on 1,000 customer reviews.
Some reviewers have reported issues with the long-term function of equipment and responsiveness of customer service.
Some customers of the S22i Studio Bike have had issues with faulty or missing parts, as well as difficulties in assembling the bike.
Reviewers appreciate the many features and training options that the S22i provides, the easy ordering process, and the long warranty that comes with the bike.
Several comparable exercise bikes on the market offer a similar set of features to the NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike.
The S22i has a few competitors, including the Echelon Connect EX-5s, and the Bowflex VeloCore.
| S22i Studio Bike | Peloton Bike | Echelon Connect EX-5s | Bowflex VeloCore | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | • $1,899 • free standard delivery |
• $1,445 • free delivery and assembly |
• $1,799 or $1,999, depending on screen size • shipping fees applied at checkout; free shipping with 1- or 2-year membership |
• $1,799 or $2,199, depending on screen size • free delivery |
| Warranty | • 10-year frame • 2-year parts • 1-year labor |
12-month limited | 12-month limited parts and labor | • 2-year frame and parts • 1-year electronics • 1-year labor |
| Screen | 22-in. (56-cm) rotating touch screen | 21.5-in. (55-cm) touch screen | 10-in. (25-cm) or 22-in. (56-cm) tilting touch screen | 16-in. (41-cm) or 22-in. (56-cm) touch screen |
| Training options | live and on-demand classes through iFit ($39/month after 30-day trial ends) | live and on-demand classes with All-Access membership ($44/month) | live and on-demand classes with Echelon Fit app ($39.99/month) | • on-demand classes with JRNY app ($19/99/month after 1-year trial ends) • compatible with Peloton and Zwift apps |
| Pedals | dual-sided with SPD clips and toe cages | Delta-compatible aluminum pedals | dual-sided with SPD clips and toe cages | dual-sided with SPD clips and toe cages |
| Resistance | 24 levels | 100 levels | 32 levels | 100 levels |
| Incline/decline | -10–20% | none | none | none |
| Weight capacity | 350 lbs. (159 kg) | 297 lbs. (135 kg) | 300 lbs. (136 kg) | 325 lbs. (147 kg) |
| Other features | • built-in speakers • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity • automatic trainer control • 3-lb. (1.4-kg) dumbbells |
• built-in speakers • Bluetooth, ANT+, and Wi-Fi connectivity |
• built-in speakers • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity |
• built-in speakers • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity • leaning mode and stationary mode • Bluetooth-compatible heart rate armband • 3-lb. (1.4-kg) dumbbells |
Can the NordicTrack S22i be used without a subscription?
“You don’t need a subscription to use the NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike, it has a free 30-day ifit membership. You can use the controls on the handlebars to adjust your resistance and incline on the bike.”
Do you need special shoes to ride the S22i?
The S22i has dual-sided pedals, so you can use it with regular athletic shoes or cycling shoes.
Which one is better, NordicTrack or Peloton?
Whether NordicTrack or Peloton is a better fit depends on your training needs, budget, and preferences.
The NordicTrack S22i is more expensive, but the Peloton Bike is less expensive. The Peloton Bike has a lower weight capacity and a shorter warranty, but it requires specific cycling shoes.
The price of the features of the Peloton Bike+ is higher than the automatic trainer control and rotating touch screen.
The NordicTrack S22i has more training options than the Peloton Bike, such as automatic trainer control, incline and decline levels, and a rotating touch screen. It is also more expensive.
The NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike has a long list of features.
It is a good choice if you enjoy streaming interactive workout classes and are looking for an exercise bike with plenty of training options to choose from.
However, if you don’t need some of the S22i’s special features, you may want to consider a more budget-friendly exercise bike.
