Getting back into shape can be an uphill battle. Having the desire to lose weight and get back into shape is one thing. Having the right tools and equipment is another.
The Nautilus T614 Treadmill has been instrumental in helping me shed some of the extra pounds I’ve gained over the years, and I hope to tell you a little more about it with this Nautilus T614 Treadmill review.
Benefits of Owning a Home Treadmill
Home treadmills can be a great way to do cardio exercises from the privacy of your home.
While there are some other ways to use treadmills, most will primarily use it to walk or to run on.
Since you’re shopping around for treadmills, you should at least be aware of some of the benefits of owning a home treadmill.
Treadmills are great for being able to work out at any time of day – morning or night – for those with irregular schedules.
They’re great to have for working parents who are juggling multiple things and are only able to squeeze in short periods of time for themselves and their fitness.
In addition, they’re a great piece of fitness equipment to have for walking or running exercises.
Benefits of Walking
If you’re looking for ways to stay active and healthy, walking can be a great low impact way to improve your overall fitness level, strengthen your bones, and burn calories.
Walking is great because it’s a part of our natural lives – anyone can do it because we all do it everyday.
By increasing the amount we walk, we can also reduce the risks of lifestyle diseases like Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Cancer.
Benefits of Running
If you’re ready to increase the intensity of your physical activity, running is definitely something you can do more of on a home treadmill for cardio exercises.
All of the benefits you are able to get from walking, you can also get from running, just multiplied.
Running is great for increasing your heart rate and strengthening your heart.
If you were burning just a few calories walking, you can multiply the number of calories burned by running.
Those who run regularly also report lower levels of stress and anxiety.
Not only that, it’s very cost efficient to do and doesn’t require any spectacular skill, making it accessible for beginners and nonathletes alike.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Treadmill
So now that you are aware of some of the benefits of owning a treadmill and the exercises you can do on them, you’ll want to think about a few things before moving forward with your purchase.
Here are a few things that may help you as you start to narrow down which treadmill will work best for you and your situation.
Available Space
Adding fitness equipment to your home or garage gym will require you to have the space to accommodate it.
While treadmills aren’t necessarily the smallest or most portable of fitness equipment, there are various treadmills on the market today that have features that allow it to be folded up or wheels to allow you to roll it to another part of your home.
If space is an issue for you, make sure you look for these features that will allow you to maximize your living space.
Available Budget
Just like any big purchase, you’ll want to take a look at your budget and see what you can or can’t afford.
If you’re serious about a treadmill and are confident in your commitment to use it, in some cases, it might be more cost effective than a gym membership.
Even if your budget is a little tight, you should be aware that there may be financing options available for you as well.
I guess the takeaway is that when prioritizing your fitness, don’t let excuses keep you from doing what you need to do – find a way.
Fitness Goals and Capabilities
Finally, you’ll always want to take into consideration your fitness capabilities and what it is you want to achieve.
It’s always a good idea to check in with your doctor or physician before starting any new fitness activity – especially if you have been inactive for some time and are just getting back into physical activity.
The last thing you want to do is injure yourself or aggravate any prior injuries.
In addition, you’ll want to consider if buying a treadmill is the best piece of fitness equipment to invest in to help you achieve your fitness goals.
Introducing the Nautilus T614 Treadmill
After doing my research and shopping around, the treadmill that really stuck out to me the most that I felt would meet my needs the best was the Nautilus T614 Treadmill.
I would have to say that running was actually enjoyable on this machine, and that’s because one of the features of the Nautilus T614 Treadmill is a StrikeZone cushioning system that enables you to have a smooth run.
In addition, the treadmill is powered by a 2.75 CHP motor that is both responsive and higher performing.
During my weight loss journey, I was able to track my exercise goals using the Goal Track capability of the Nautilus T614 Treadmill.
There are 22 programs to choose from for your workouts and a 12 percent motorized incline if you’re looking to challenge yourself or burn some extra calories.
This is a very satisfying treadmill to use, and another high quality piece from an established brand, Nautilus.
Pros
- Great customer service
- Deep, secure cupholders
- Easy to put together
Cons
- Display is hard to see
- Tinny-sounding speakers
- Fan is small and not very powerful
Features & Benefits of the Nautilus T614 Treadmill
There’s a lot to like about the Nautilus T614 Treadmill that makes the running, walking, or jogging experience enjoyable.
Here are a few of the features and benefits of this treadmill that really drew me in.
Performance Tracking
Goal Track on the Nautilus T614 Treadmill with the Blue backlit LCD display allows you to set individual exercise goals and track your progress while using the machine.
Knowing how far you’ve walked or ran, how many calories you’ve burned, and how long you’ve used the machine are all very important to keep track of for improving your performance.
Easy to Use Console
The console on the Nautilus T614 Treadmill features a media shelf that allow you to place your tablet or phone on while working out, allowing you to catch up and stay on top of your favorite shows or podcasts.
If you’re like me and like to listen to music during your workouts, you’ll also like that the Nautilus T614 Treadmill has speakers with an MP3 input port.
Not only that, but if you’ve had your devices run out of battery on you during a workout, you’ll be happy to hear that the Nautilus T614 Treadmill also features a USB charging port to keep your devices running while working out.
Long Running Path
Having a long running path can provide a sense of comfort, especially if you have long strides or are a tall user of treadmills.
The Nautilus T614 Treadmill gives you 20”x55” of running or walking space to work with so you won’t ever have that feeling of falling off a treadmill because of a lack of running space.
Folding System
The Nautilus T614 Treadmill allows you to move and store it easily with its SoftDrop folding system.
If you don’t have much room in your apartment or home, it helps to be able to fold up the running path of the treadmill onto itself.
With the SoftDrop folding system, you don’t have to worry about the treadmill falling on your toes while moving it around or folding it up when you have to put it away.
Strong Motor
The Nautilus T614 Treadmill comes built with a 2.75 CHP motor that’s reliable and responsive, and has the capability to support up to a 12 percent incline that will absolutely set your calves on fire at the highest level.
Cushioning System
For me, personally, I love the StrikeZone cushioning system as it minimizes the impact and stress on your knees and joints, thereby allowing you to run longer over time and reducing any knee fatigue or foot pains that can really sidetrack you as you look to increase your fitness levels.
What Others Think of the Nautilus T614 Treadmill
Surveying the available reviews for the Nautilus T614 Treadmill, I found that many people really enjoyed using this machine and that it either met or exceed their expectations.
Those who liked their experience with the Nautilus T614 Treadmill mentioned how quiet it was, and they appreciated the cushioned run from the StrikeZone cushioning system.
Those who had any issues with the machine also mentioned that the customer service was excellent, responsive, and helpful.
For those who did not enjoy using the Nautilus T614 Treadmill, they mentioned it was because the MP3 sound quality was poor and that the display was difficult to read.
Alternatives to the Nautilus T614 Treadmill
Choosing from a sea of treadmills can be tough.
I know, because I went through the experience.
Let me save you some trouble and point out a few that are worth your attention if you’re feeling like the Nautilus T614 Treadmill won’t meet your needs.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 Treadmill
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 Treadmill has a very similar feel to the Nautilus T614 Treadmill, offering similar features like its Soft Drop system that prevents the treadmill from slamming on the floor when you open the treadmill.
However, it doesn’t do it to the same degree that the Nautilus T614 Treadmill does.
When compared, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 Treadmill comes with only 9 workout programs to choose from, as opposed the the Nautilus T614’s 22 programs.
Furthermore, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 Treadmill can only incline up to 4.37%, while the Nautilus T614 Treadmill can incline up to 12%.
ProForm 705 CST
While offering a similar experience to the Nautilus T614 Treadmill, the ProForm 705 CST distinguishes itself with the iFit personal training program.
This treadmill is able to support your fitness goals by offering personal training from the comfort of your home with this feature, allowing you to access a library of thousands of trainer-led workouts at any time.
Not only does it offer you an extensive library, but you can take your workouts around the world with workouts that match different environments featured in the personal training courses.
If studio classes aren’t available in your gym or just plain expensive, the iFit studio classes are a good alternative where your trainer also controls your treadmill’s incline and speed to match the workout.
The ProForm 705 CST is a great treadmill for those looking beyond simply having a machine to walk or run on, and who are looking for a more commercial gym experience from the comforts of their own home.
NordicTrack C 990 Treadmill
If you’re looking for a powerful treadmill, then look no further than the NordicTrack C 990 Treadmill.
This treadmill features a 3.0 Continuous Horsepower Drive System, as opposed to the Nautilus T614 Treadmill’s 2.5 CHP.
Not only that, this treadmill has a 7-inch web-enabled touchscreen that’s easy to read and allows you to really interact with your treadmill.
Much like the ProForm 705 CST, the NordicTrack C 990 Treadmill also allows you to sync up with iFit where you can use Google Maps to run anywhere in the world, get daily workouts, and access high definition video workouts.
If you’re a purist and don’t care much for a softened running experience, the FlexSelect feature allows you to change the treadbelt to a firm surface so it feels like you’re running on the road.
Final Thoughts
I was never going to lose weight just sitting there.
Thankfully, I found the Nautilus T614 Treadmill to help me with my weightloss journey.
With a healthy diet and regular exercise on the Nautilus T614 Treadmill, I was able to get back in shape and get active again – all without having to leave the house or sign up for a gym.
If you struggle with weight issues and are not really a gym person, investing in your health by investing in a home treadmill is one way you can approach it that I would recommend from my own personal experience.
