Walking or running on a treadmill is a great way to get in shape. In fact, it’s how I started my weight loss journey – mainly because it looked less intimidating than the other equipment in the gym.
However, I quickly came to realize how much this one machine was benefiting me, so I decided to get a Nautilus T618 Treadmill for home use.
Of course, this decision was made after a ton of research to make sure it was right for me. Now I’m sharing that research with you!
Why Buy a Treadmill?
There are many benefits to buying a treadmill. Treadmills are actually a common piece of fitness equipment found in many homes. They make getting a great cardio workout into your schedule easy because you can do it from the comfort of home.
Not only that, but you can control the intensity of your workout, from low impact all the way to high intensity, based on your fitness needs.
Exercising regularly is important to maintaining a good level of health, and having a treadmill in your home makes it easy to do.
Things to Consider Before Buying the Nautilus T618 Treadmill
To start, I’ll tell you that this treadmill is amazing. However, it might not be right for everyone.
Here are a few areas of consideration that you should know about before diving deeper into the features of the treadmill.
Technology
If you’re a tech geek, you’ll love this treadmill. It’s full of modern technology!
It has technology such as telemetry, Bluetooth connectivity, apps, and even social media.In fact, in regards to technology, it’s one of the most advanced treadmills on the market.
On the other hand, if you’re a person that dreads technology, this may not be the best choice for you.
Price
I hope you don’t think you get all of that awesome technology for a low price.
I don’t normally use price to determine a buy, but it’s worth mentioning that the Nautilus T618 treadmill is expensive.
It’s not the most expensive on the market, but I’m not going to put it in the affordable category either.
This treadmill is an investment piece. It’s well worth the money if you can fit it into your budget.
Weight Capacity
The Nautilus T618 has a “middle of the road” weight capacity.
The max recommended is 350 pounds (158.8 kg). This is great for most people, but if you’re heavier than this, you’ll probably want to choose another treadmill.
Now that we have the niceties out of the way, I’ll present you with the Nautilus T618 Treadmill.
The Nautilus T618 Treadmill: An Advanced Treadmill for Your Fitness Goals
The Nautilus T618 treadmill is the crown jewel of the Nautilus T600-series treadmills.
It’s sturdier, has a wider running path, and offers more features than the other treadmills in the series. It’s very tech-rich and highly interactive on a global level.
Despite the high amount of technology and digital features, you don’t have to be a computer scientist to run it. It’s a treadmill like no other.
The Nautilus T618 can be thought of as a full home running solution. Trust me, you won’t want another treadmill after using this one.
Pros of the Nautilus T618
- 15 yr warranty on frame & motor; 5 yrs electronics; 2 yrs labor
- Quiet 3.5 HP motor
- Convenient buttons on the handles for speed and incline
- Has a fan to keep you cool
Cons of the Nautilus T618
- Has to “ramp up” before beginning your workouts
- It’s very heavy, weighing 253 lbs. (114.8 kg)
- Sometimes the Android app won’t automatically sync
Features and Benefits of the Nautilus T618 Treadmill
Features
Full, Interactive Console
At first glance, the console looks intimidating.
There are numerous buttons and controls all over the place. It’s a lot to take in and a lot to learn.
However, the large LCD screen in the middle, plus the smaller one right on top help you to easily navigate through all the options.
I mentioned this before but I will point it out again – if you don’t like technology, you’re probably not going to like dealing with all of these options. They’re borderline excessive.
The good news is that the treadmill comes with a very detailed instructions manual.
You may have to carve out a chunk of your day to learn everything, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be good to go.
Explore the World App
This is a free app provided by Nautilus that automatically syncs with your treadmill and wireless device via Bluetooth.
It’s a great app that allows you to walk or run different routes all over the world.
The app has 19 locations with 27 routes to choose from and you get to see the route as you are walking or running.
It’s also a social app – you get to share the experience with users around the world.
I do want to note that, while the app itself is free, not all of the routes are free. Nautilus starts you off with a few free routes and the rest of them you’ll have to pay for.
Wireless Heart Rate Chest Strap
The treadmill has heart rate monitoring tabs on each handle, but it also comes with a wireless heart rate chest strap.
It’s great to have this option because, if you’re like me, you don’t keep your hands on the handles while running.
Size and Weight
The Nautilus T618 treadmill is not a compact machine.
You’re going to need a good amount of space wherever you set it up. The dimensions of the machine are 72.4″ x 35.2″ x 57.6″ (184 x 89 x 146 cm).
You should also make sure you have a minimum of 12 inches behind the treadmill to safely get on and off.
I mentioned weight earlier. At 253 pounds, you’ll likely need at least two people to carry it and possibly two to set it up.
It’s also a bit complicated to set up, so bring your muscles and patience.
Benefits
Of course you’ll get all the typical benefits of a treadmill, but there are a few benefits you’ll get with the Nautilus T618 treadmill that you won’t get with many others.
One of these benefits is the ability to interact with more than one fitness app.
While Nautilus does offer the “Explore the World” app, you aren’t limited to only using their app.
The treadmill can interact with third party apps such as My Fitness Pal and Google Fit. This gives you versatility in the way you track your workouts.
Another benefit is the Rebound Cushioning System.
It absorbs the impact which dampens the reaction that goes back to the runner.
The result is a low-impact running session. The rebound cushioning system is great for everyone, but I highly recommend it to anyone with knee or ankle issues.
Reviews from Previous Customers
From Sara Cox, Walmart
★★★★★5 out of 5 stars
Indoor running improved.
I have been using a Proform treadmill fairly often over the last 12 years and it preformed well for an in home treadmill. I always felt the treadmills in the gym were easier to ran on and made for a smoother work out. I assumed the Nautilus T618 would be more like home equipment but to my delight it feels just like the gym equipment. The noise reduction is the most profound difference in my house. Everyone in the house does not have to hear me run and I can hear my iPad. I do not know if it is a mental thing but I can run longer and faster on the Nautilus than I ever could on the Proform. I am still getting uses to the programed workout and extra gadgets- I did not have those options on the Proform when we got it 12 years ago. I would recommend Nautilus equipment-especially the treadmill- to my friends looking for in home gym equipment because it feels solid and just like the professional equipment. We will consider the other Nautilus equipment when we complete our home gym.
From PineHunt, Dick’s Sporting Goods
★★★★★5 out of 5 stars
Great Treadmill
Very well put together treadmill!! Easy to assemble, the delivery guys were great ….. Love it!!!
From STEM, Best Buy Canada
★★★★★5 out of 5 stars
So far so good!
I have had this treadmill for less than a week, but I have used it for approximately 30-45 mins a day since I’m combination with my Peloton app. Here is what I can provide an honest review on at this point: 1. The u it is SUPER heavy, so while it’s hard to move around it makes it really stable and sturdy while running which is amazing! 2. The motor is super quiet and increases/decreases speed/incline quietly and effortlessly, there is a little lag between the call outs of the app and being able to reach the said speed/incline but that could be cause they are going too quickly. Without the app you wouldn’t notice. 3. When I keep increasing/decreasing speeds, the unit is flawless and doesn’t jolt (one at a gym did and it always a safety hazard) 4. It has an audio Jack so you can listen to your own music or follow peloton using the built in speakers and media stand. 5. I like the fan (3 speeds) but find it makes me feel too cold! So I keep it off for now. I haven’t used many of the built in features yet but I aim to train for a marathon with this and will provide an update on how it holds up/performs long terms!
Comparisons to Similar Treadmills
NordicTrack T 6.5 S Treadmill
I want to start by saying that this NordicTrack T 6.5 S Treadmill is great but it’s wildly overpriced.
You’d essentially be paying for a name, because the treadmill doesn’t have half of the features that the Nautilus T618 does. It’s a lightweight, compact, folding treadmill that only has a 10% incline (Nautilus has 15%) and a mediocre LCD display.
It does have a cushioning system and an app, so it’s not completely horrible. Also, it’s an average of 33% less than the Nautilus T618.
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Sunny Health & Fitness T4400 Folding Treadmill
The Sunny Health & Fitness T4400 Folding Treadmill is a lightweight treadmill made for lightweight people.
It’s very compact and folds for easy storage. Like the T618, it has an LCD display with many functions but nowhere near the amount of functions that the T618 has.
The Sunny treadmill is a great budget option – an almost basic treadmill for people who just want to run.
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Exerpeutic TF1000
The Exerpeutic TF1000 is a great treadmill for people who may be a little more than plus size. It supports up to 400 lbs. (181.4 kg).
This is amazing given it’s compact size. It’s also folds so it can be stored almost flat. Price is a big difference in these two treadmills – the Exerpeutic costs, on average, 50 to 75% less than the Nautilus T618.
However, it does have significantly less features and technology, plus it doesn’t last as long as the T618.
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Final Thoughts
The Nautilus T618 treadmill is a great product to invest in. Sure it’s expensive, but it’s worth every dollar, especially since it comes with up to a 15 year warranty.
It has everything you could possibly need out of a treadmill unless you need something compact. If you have the space and the budget, you certainly won’t be disappointed with this treadmill.
