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The Proform Pro 9000 and NordicTrack 2950 are two treadmills that look similar at first. However, there are some differences that will influence your choice.
Some of the main differences between the Proform Pro 9000 and the NordicTrack 2950 are that the NordicTrack 2950 has a stronger motor, bigger rollers, a few more incline options, and a slightly wider running surface.
On the other hand, the ProForm Pro 9000 is a good amount more budget-friendly.
If you plan to use the treadmill intensely and a lot, are on the heavier side of the 300 pounds (136 kg) weight limit, and/or have a big budget, it can be worth investing more into the NordicTrack 2950.
Even so, if you have an average or light body weight, don’t plan to train that much, and/or don’t care that much about the few extra incline levels, the ProForm Pro 9000 is still a solid treadmill.
Important differences Proform Pro 9000 vs NordicTrack 2950
The ProForm Pro 9000 and NordicTrack 2950 have many features in common but there are also differences you want to keep in mind. These will make one or the other treadmill the better choice.
Not all differences are equally important. In the first table below, you can find the ones that are most likely to play a role in your decision.
| Feature | ProForm Pro 9000 | NordicTrack 2950 |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Power | 3.6 CHP | 4.25 CHP |
| Rollers | 1.9” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers | 2.5” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers |
| Incline Options | 0% to 12% | 0% to 15% |
| Running Surface | 20″ x 60″ | 22″ x 60″ |
| Price Category* | $$$ | $$$$$ |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Price category at the time of writing
Other features Proform Pro 9000 and NordicTrack 2950
Before choosing one or the other, you may also want to look at the smaller differences and common features of the ProForm Pro900 and NordicTrack 2950.
| Feature | ProForm Pro 9000 | NordicTrack 2950 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Limit | 300 Pounds (136 kg) | 300 Pounds (136 kg) |
| Decline Options | -3% to 0% | -3% to 0% |
| Speed Range | 0-12 mph (19.31 kmh) | 0-12 mph (19.31 kmh) |
| Automatic Speed & Incline Control | With Certain IFIT Workouts | With Certain IFIT Workouts |
| Screen | 22” HD Touchscreen | 22” HD Touchscreen |
| Workout Programs | 30-Day iFIT Family Membership Included | 30-Day iFIT Family Membership Included |
| Screen Entertainment Options | Nothing Besides IFIT | Nothing Besides IFIT |
| Weight | 251 Pounds (113.9 kg) | 357 Pounds (162 kg) |
| Dimensions | 77.3” L x 35.3” W x 59.6” H | 79.5” L x 39.2” W x 66.6” H |
| Foldable | Yes | Yes |
| Shock Absorption | Yes | Yes |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Bluetooth, Bought Separately | EKG Grip Sensors And iFit Bluetooth Chest Strap Included |
| Bluetooth Audio Capabilities | Bluetooth Speakers | Bluetooth Speakers |
| Color Screen | Yes | Yes |
| Workout Fans | Yes | Yes |
| Warranties* | 10 Years Frame Warranty, 2 Years Parts Warranty, 1 Year Labor Warranty | 10 Years Frame Warranty, 2 Years Parts Warranty, 1 Year Labor Warranty |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
Differences Proform Pro 9000 vs NordicTrack 2950 in detail
Individuals who are more experienced with treadmills may be able to make a decision between the ProForm Pro 9000 and NordicTrack 2950 based on their feature and price differences.
That being said, most people are not entirely sure about what certain features mean, why they are important, and how much they should influence their decision.
Motor power
Two of the most important parts of a treadmill are its tread (moving belt) and the motor to make this belt move. Motors can vary in a few details including motor power.
The ProForm Pro 9000 has a motor power of 3.6 CHP. The motor of the NordicTrack 2950 is a decent amount stronger at 4.25 CHP.
Something to note is that heavy runners generally want a treadmill motor power of 3 CHP or higher. That should make it clear that the motor powers of both the ProForm Pro 9000 and NordicTrack 2950 are relatively strong.
At the same time, the motor of the NordicTrack 2950 will generally perform better with heavy runners and intense workouts. Stronger treadmill motors also typically last longer.
The more and more intensely you plan to use your treadmill, the more the stronger NordicTrack 2950 becomes worth considering.
Winner: NordicTrack 2950
Rollers
Another important feature of a treadmill is the rollers. These are the rotating cylinders the belt is stretched around. The ProForm Pro 9000 has 1.9” rollers. The rollers of the NordicTrack 2950 are a good amount bigger at 2.5”.
Bigger rollers, within limits of course, are generally preferred for a few reasons. First of all, smaller rollers tend to cause wear and tear on the belt and treadmill motor faster.
Next, a slipping belt tends to be less common with bigger rollers.
Something to note is that your treadmill motor does need to be strong enough to deal with bigger rollers. However, as mentioned before, the motor power of the NordicTrack 2950 is relatively high.
Exactly how the roller-motor interaction of the ProForm Pro 9000 and NordicTrack 2950 will be is hard to predict. That being said, the NordicTrack 2950 does win in terms of size.
Winner: NordicTrack 2950
Incline options
An incline treadmill simulates walking or running up a hill. This engages your muscles in a somewhat different ratio and burns more calories but for most people, the main benefit of incline options is variation and fun.
These incline options will also make certain of the IFIT immersive sessions where you walk/run uphill feel more immersive.
The ProForm Pro 9000 has the option to go from 0% to 12% incline. The NordicTrack offers just a bit more with options ranging from 0% to 15%.
Both treadmills also have the ability to auto-adjust these incline levels in certain IFIT workouts.
How important the difference in incline options between the ProForm Pro 9000 and NordicTrack 2950 is depends on whether you will use these 13% to 15% options and how often.
Winner: NordicTrack 2950
Running surface
A treadmill running surface is basically the size of the usable part of the treadmill belt.
The ProForm Pro 9000 has a running surface of 20″ x 60″ (50.8 cm x 152.4 cm). The NordicTrack 2950 is just a bit wider at 22″ x 60″ (55.88 cm x 152.4 cm).
Most people will prefer bigger running surfaces. Longer ones reduce the risk of bumping against the monitor. Wider ones reduce the risk of bumping against the handles and feel (and are) more spacious.
That being said, individuals with limited mobility may prefer the narrower walking surface of the ProForm Pro 9000 because the handles are closer to each other and closer to the middle.
Winner: NordicTrack 2950 (but some people prefer a narrower surface)
Price
So far, most people will prefer the NordicTrack 2950 over the ProForm Pro 9000 in the important features. Even so, you need to keep in mind that these features do come at a higher price.
The exact difference depends on where you get your treadmills and can change over time. However, at the time of writing, the NordicTrack 2950 is a good amount pricier than the ProForm Pro 9000.
Keep in mind that you also want an IFIT subscription to get the most out of both treadmills.
Winner: ProForm Pro 9000
User reviews
The ProForm Pro 9000 and the NordicTrack 2950 come from the same overall company so you can expect that the feature and price differences give a good idea about what model is the right one for you.
Even so, sometimes customer reviews uncover unexpected downsides or trends in quality control issues. In the case of the ProForm Pro 9000 and the NordicTrack 2950, the reviews are very similar.
First of all, there are some people who are not happy with how important the IFIT subscription is to use the treadmills. If you know this in advance, this becomes less of an issue.
Besides that, similar to other big cardio machines with many moving parts, the assembly can be challenging and there are some quality control issues and squeaking treadmills here and there.
Both treadmills can use some improvement but customers still tend to be relatively happy overall with the ProForm Pro 9000 and the NordicTrack 2950.
Is the Proform Pro 9000 or NordicTrack 2950 right for you?
In short, the NordicTrack 2950 has a stronger motor, bigger rollers, a few extra incline options, and a slightly wider running surface. On the other side, the ProForm Pro 9000 is a good amount more budget-friendly.
The more someone plans to train, the heavier they are, and the bigger their budget, the more it becomes worth investing the extra amount into the NordicTrack 2950.
For individuals with an average or light body weight who don’t plan to train on the treadmill that often and who don’t care a lot about the few incline options less, the ProForm Pro 9000 is still a solid pick.
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