Connect with us

Fitness

Train harder with the NordicTrack S22i exercise bike

Published

on

Train harder with the NordicTrack S22i exercise bike

About the NordicTrack S22i exercise bike

Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi

An excercise bike designed to take on Peloton.

The S22i is one of NordicTrack’s most popular exercise bike models. Like other connected exercise bikes, the S22i features a touchscreen to stream cycling classes from its exercise programming platform, iFit. The S22i’s 22-inch HD touchscreen tilts and rotates 360 degrees for easy viewing during off-bike exercise classes.

During cycling classes, you can use the auto-follow setting to match your instructor’s incline and resistance automatically or set your own levels. (Unlike other stationary bikes, the S22i has both incline and decline settings for a more immersive workout experience.) The S22i ranges from a 20% incline to a 10% decline and it has 24 levels of resistance. You can use it with or without cleats and it comes with two 3-pound dumbbells that you occasionally use during iFit classes.

It’s 61 inches long, 22 inches wide, and 58 inches tall, about average for an exercise bike. It weighs 205 pounds and has a 350-pound weight limit—one of the better weight capacities among bikes we’ve tested.

Advertisement

What does the NordicTrack S22i exercise bike cost?

The S22i costs $1,999, and you get a 30-day free trial of iFit. After your trial period, an iFit membership costs $39 a month, or you can pay upfront for an extended plan and save some money. A year-long membership costs $396 ($33 a month), a two-year membership costs $699 ($29 a month), and a three-year membership costs $899 ($25 a month).

Shipping is free, but you can upgrade to room-of-choice delivery and assembly for $199.

It’s less than our favorite exercise bike, the Peloton Bike+, which costs $2,495 plus a $44 monthly membership fee. However, our best “basic” bike, the Schwinn IC4, costs only $999—though, you won’t have a touchscreen to stream exercise classes on.

What we like about the NordicTrack S22i exercise bike

iFit gives you a challenging workout

NordicTrack S22i screen

Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi

You can do training regiments with iFit, as well as take off-bike courses for strength and other exercises.

The S22i made it easy to get my heart pumping and legs working. I just hopped on the seat, started a class, and let the bike do the rest. The auto-follow setting makes it easy to focus on your instructor and your feet as the bike automatically adjusts to various inclines and resistance levels.

Advertisement

iFit offers thousands of classes spanning all expert levels and durations. I enjoyed taking classes anywhere from 30-45 minutes at the intermediate level. I don’t cycle often, but these classes didn’t feel too challenging or overwhelming. I was able to push myself and get my heart rate up without worrying about injuring myself or feeling too fatigued to finish class.

You can still adjust the difficulty to your liking when using the auto-follow setting. When you adjust the incline or resistance, iFit modifies the rest of your session accordingly. This made it easy to adjust the difficulty without having to start over and find a whole new class.

It’s easy to take off-bike classes

While I love cycling for a low-impact cardio workout, I enjoy switching up my routine with strength training and yoga sessions for a more well-rounded exercise regimen. iFit offers all sorts of workout classes, and the S22i’s swivel screen makes it easy to follow your instructor during off-bike sessions.

I enjoy iFit’s strength, yoga, and Pilates classes just as much as its cycling programming. The instructors are equally as fun and informative, and there are hundreds of classes to choose from based on your experience level, desired duration, and goals.

The bike is quiet

Though spin bikes aren’t necessarily known for being as noisy as treadmills or rowers, I was pleasantly surprised at how quiet this bike is. Its electromagnetic resistance is near silent, even when the incline and resistance levels adjust.

Advertisement

The bike’s almost silent operation makes it easy to hear your music and instructor, and you don’t have to worry about disturbing neighbors during early-morning workouts.

What we don’t like about the NordicTrack S22i exercise bike

The seat isn’t the most comfortable

Woman using the NordicTrack S22i sitting up.

Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi

The seat can be a bit stiff.

The seat is too stiff for my liking and gets uncomfortable during bike rides longer than 30 minutes. After a handful of rides, it started to wear in and now feels more bearable, but I would still recommend a good seat cover to make your workouts more pleasant.

What other people are saying

The S22i has a 4.8-star rating on NordicTrack’s website from more than 100 reviews. Many reviewers love the quality of the bike and iFit’s workout classes.

“We have really enjoyed the bike so after a couple of months,” one reviewer says. “The variety of rides and trainers is great. Trainers are top notch and the exercise regimen is challenging but flexible enough to adapt to your level of fitness. Highly recommend!”

Advertisement

The main complaints users have about the S22i is that it can be difficult to figure out how to set up and adjust, and that iFit can be difficult to navigate.

“The screen is somewhat insensitive to touch,” one reviewer says. “Sometimes you really have to pound on it to get it to respond. It is also a little too far away to reach easily when riding. As far as getting started with the bike, the manual is not all that great. It is hard to figure out basic settings at first, like how to adjust volume for the trainer and music. The ‘follow the trainer’ auto-adjust is confusing and [getting] to the settings and toggles is not very obvious.”

Warranty

NordicTrack offers one of the better warranties compared to those offered by competing brands we’ve tested—10 years on the frame, two years on parts, and one year on labor.

You can purchase a three-year extended warranty for parts and labor for $200, or a three-year maintenance plan which extends the parts and labor warranties to three years each and includes an annual fifteen-point maintenance check.

Should you buy the NordicTrack S22i exercise bike?

Yes, it’s an excellent workout bike for all

Woman leaning forward on NordicTrack S22i

Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi

It’s a good alternative to Peloton.

Advertisement

I love using the S22i. iFit’s classes are fun and challenging and it’s easy to adjust the workouts to your abilities and goals. The bike is quiet and its 350-pound weight limit means people with many different body types can use it.

My only complaint is the seat isn’t very comfortable, especially on longer rides. However, it started to break in after a few sessions, and if it’s still stiff, this can easily be solved with a good seat cover.

Product image of S22i

S22i

The S22i is a great exercise bike and iFit’s classes are some of the best we’ve tried.

Meet the tester

Esther Bell

Esther Bell

Senior Staff Writer, Health and Fitness

Advertisement

Esther is a writer at Reviewed covering all things health and fitness.

See all of Esther Bell’s reviews

Advertisement

Checking our work.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you’re confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we’ll compare notes.

Shoot us an email

Advertisement

Fitness

‘WH’ Editors Put These Fitness Gifts On Their Wishlist

Published

on

‘WH’ Editors Put These Fitness Gifts On Their Wishlist

For The Runner Who Loves Music

SHOKZ OpenRun Headphones

OpenRun Headphones

Sweat-proof, waterproof, and featherweight, these wireless headphones for working out are a runner’s dream. “These allow me to hear oncoming traffic, people, and other outside noise with their wrap-around, open-ear design while delivering feel-good jams,” says Nicolette Accardi, WH’s fitness commerce editor, who loves using ‘em on her runs.

For The Friend Who’s Always At Barre

Gaiam Yoga Barre Socks

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

Yoga Barre Socks

If your friend lives at barre class, snag them a few pairs of these non-slip barre socks. Machine-washable and grippy, these socks come in a variety of cute colors, including mulberry and sky blue. Isabel McMahon, WH’s assistant social media editor, loves that they have crisscross straps to help keep her feet steady during her yoga and Pilates classes. “I wouldn’t mind finding a few more in my stocking this year!”

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

For The Traveling Fitness Lover

TheraBody TheraGun Mini

TheraGun Mini

With its compact size, ergonomic grip, and 150 minutes of charge time, the Theragun Mini is the ideal gift for that person who’s always traveling around the world to run marathons (or just makes really good use of the hotel gym).

Accardi loves hers, keeping it handy in her gym bag for on-the-go muscle relief. “It works wonders at alleviating my muscle soreness during tough training cycles,” she says.

Advertisement

For The Friend Who Needs A New Gym Bag

BALEINE Gym Bag

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

Gym Bag

Soft, machine-washable, and waterproof, your gym-going pal will love this bag. It’s a bestseller among WH readers. From toting it to dance class to carrying all their pickleball essentials, they’ll appreciate its separate compartment to store things like shoes and wet swimsuits, as well as its additional storage pockets for all their other workout accessories. Plus, they’ll look super stylish wearing it in this gorgeous bubblegum pink color.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

For The Fitness Lover Always On The Go

Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray

SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray

Is your friend constantly squeezing in workouts between WFH meetings, or maybe doesn’t always have enough time to shower post-sweat? Gift them this facial toner to keep their skin issues at bay and prevent breakouts. Fitness editor Talene Appleton always keeps a bottle in her gym bag so she can spray it on her face and chest after every workout.

For The Friend Who Doesn’t Like To Wear Fitness Watches

Oura Ring Gen 3

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

Ring Gen 3

The Oura ring isn’t just a buzzy wellness product—WH editors love this smart ring to help them monitor their sleep, activity, stress, heart rate, and more. Better yet, it’s lightweight, comfortable to wear, water-resistant, and has a stylish design that’ll seamlessly blend in with your friend’s aesthetic. It also boasts a great battery life—WH’s executive health and fitness director Jacqueline Andriakos says hers generally lasts a whole week.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Advertisement

For The Friend Who Lives In Leggings

Lululemon Align Pant

Align Pant

It’s no secret that WH editors are obsessed with these Lululemon leggings. They’re awesome for any sort of workout—HIIT, yoga, boxing, you name it—with their buttery-soft fabric, weightless fit, and high-rise waistband. Your friend will adore these leggings so much, they’ll even wear them on their recovery days relaxing at home or running errands around town. Better yet, they come in an assortment of colors, including espresso, teal, and raspberry.

For The Fashion-Forward Fitness Girly

Vuori Halo Slim Flare

Halo Slim Flare

Flared leggings are so in right now, says assistant fashion editor Rose Lauture. “They elevate every look, are super flattering, and versatile.” Style and comfort combine in this pair from Vuori, making them the perfect fit for every activity—from lounging at home to grabbing breakfast with your girls. “Not only do flared leggings make great yoga pants, but you can also wear them out and about paired with a boot or a sneaker,” Lauture adds.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

For The Friend Who Loves The Outdoors

Homesick Scented Gone Hiking Candle

Scented Gone Hiking Candle

Your loved one is sure to appreciate this WH-favorite candle that’s specifically designed to smell like hiking (yup, that’s a thing), with refreshing top notes of pine, cassis, and fresh waters. They’ll appreciate being able to experience (kinda) the great outdoors while they’re stuck inside working this winter.

For The Yogi

Advertisement

Manduka The Pro Yoga Mat

The Pro Yoga Mat

Dubbed the best overall thick yoga mat by WH, this mat is a game-changer for your yogi friend with bad knees or wrists. Featuring ultra-dense cushioning and a supportive grip, it provides comfort and stability for even the toughest poses.

Available in a wide range of colors, you can pick out your friend’s favorite hue. “I never slide when busting challenging moves and also love it for mat pilates workouts,” says Accardi. Plus, with a lifetime warranty, your friend is all set for countless yoga seshes to come.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

For The Fitness Lover Who Works From Home

Merach Walking Pad

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

Walking Pad

Got a pal who’s always trying to hit their step goal? Gift them this walking pad (aka an under-desk treadmill) so they can strut their stuff while crunching numbers or typing away on their computer. “I love using it while working at my desk—it easily rolls right underneath!” says Accardi. It’s the perfect present to help them stay active throughout the day without interrupting their workflow.

For The Woman Who Wants To Get Into Strength-Training

Women’s Health The Woman’s Guide To Strength Training: Dumbbells

The Woman's Guide To Strength Training: Dumbbells

This new Women’s Health guide, designed by trainer Nellie Barnett, CPT, is packed with 12 weeks of dumbbell-only strength-training routines that can be done in just 30 minutes. It’s the perfect gift for any woman looking to improve muscle mass or just experience the benefits of regular movement.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Advertisement

For Cold-Weather Workout Warriors

Smartwool Merino 150 Wool Top

Merino 150 Wool Top

A WH reader-favorite, the merino wool material on this long-sleeve base layer shirt makes it both moisture-wicking and odor-resistant. The fitted silhouette is uber-flattering while offering unrestricted movement in the arms and chest. They’ll love sporting this cozy shirt on the slopes (or just at home) all day. A bonus? It comes in several cute colors, like fuchsia and rose.

For The Avid Runner

On Cloudmonster

Cloudmonster

Experts say regular runners are supposed to replace their running shoes every four to six months. Gift your friend who’s overdue for a replacement a brand new pair from cult-favorite brand On. Extra cushiony, bouncy, and airy, this running shoe is built for long-lasting comfort and performance. Accardi felt unstoppable wearing them during her half marathon, appreciating their breathability, secure fit, and durability.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

For The Tech-Savvy Exerciser

Apple Watch Series 10

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

Watch Series 10

If they’ve been eyeing the newest Apple Watch, there’s no better time than the holidays to splurge and treat them to one—because they deserve it! WH readers love using this waterproof smartwatch for optimizing workouts, monitoring sleep, tracking their heart rates, and so much more. Your fittech-loving friend will never want to take it off.

For The Friend Who Wants To Level Up Their Hot Girl Walk

Advertisement

Bala Bangles

Bangles

These wrist weights from Bala went viral on TikTok for their sleek design and ability to elevate any workout. Whether your friend is walking or doing pilates, these stylish wrist weights will add light resistance to tone arms and enhance muscle endurance. Flexible and comfortable, they make a thoughtful gift for anyone looking to level up their fitness routine. An added pro: They come in several cute colors, like blush and sage.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

For The Friend Who Loves To Track Their Training

Cossac Fitness Log Book & Workout Planner

Fitness Log Book & Workout Planner

Practical gifts are always appreciated. Designed by experts to help exercisers track progress and stay motivated, this WH reader-topselling workout journal will become your friend’s ultimate gym companion. It offers structured pages to log exercises, sets, reps, goals, and even diet preferences and nutrition. Compact and sleek, they can easily toss it in their gym bag and even travel with it to keep themselves accountable.

For The Friend Who Loves A Multipurpose Fitness Gift

Trigger Point Therapy Grid Foam Roller

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

Therapy Grid Foam Roller

Accardi has tried her fair share of foam rollers over the years but always returns to this one. Known for its firm yet flexible design, this roller targets deep tissue to help relieve soreness and improve flexibility. Plus, with free online instructional videos, your friend can learn the best techniques for effective muscle recovery. Whether they’re prepping for a race or recovering after a tough workout, this foam roller is a must-have.

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

For The Acupuncture Enthusiast

Advertisement

ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set

Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set

WH readers and editors say that this cult-favorite acupressure mat is great for soothing stiff muscles, relaxation, and general pain relief. If the person in your life is into all things recovery, there’s no doubt they’ll love testing this tool out. While it’s TBD if the physical benefits aren’t just a placebo effect, studies have found that taking the time to use one and relax can lead to a reduction in stress levels.

For The Fitness Lover Who Adores A Matching Set

Beyond Yoga Spacedye Slim Racerback Cropped Tank

Spacedye Slim Racerback Cropped Tank

Matching sets are *so* in. Buttery soft, comfortable, and ultra-flattering, your friend will love unwrapping this matching set from Beyond Yoga. The pieces are sold separately so be sure to grab the matching leggings. Perfect for yoga class, cardio workouts (hello, built-in bra!), or even just strolling around, McMahon loves that this set comes in a wide range of colors, too—like ruby red, mocha, and deep moss—so you’re sure to find one your friend will love.

Headshot of Jasmine Gomez

Jasmine Gomez is the Commerce Editor at Women’s Health, where she cover the best product recommendations across beauty, health, lifestyle, fitness, and more. When she’s not shopping for a living, she enjoys karaoke and dining out more than she cares to admit. Follow her @JazzeGomez.  

Lettermark

Mark Stock is a food, drink, and outdoors writer from Portland, Oregon. He spent years making, selling, and sipping Pinot Noir in the Dundee Hills before a full return to his journalistic roots in 2016. In addition to Men’s Health, he writes for SevenFifty Daily, Sip Northwest, The Somm Journal, The Drake, Willamette Week, Travel Oregon, and more.  

 
preview for Women's Health US Section - All Sections & Videos

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Advertisement

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below

Continue Reading

Fitness

This type of exercise suppresses hunger in women more than men, study proves

Published

on

This type of exercise suppresses hunger in women more than men, study proves

Find yourself with a bigger appetite on rest days than after logging your hardest workout of the week? Same. It usually takes me an hour or two to feel hunger after an intense session, and while there are plenty of existing studies that have attributed this to a decrease in the hunger hormone grehlin and an increase in the hormone peptide YY, which helps you feel fuller for longer, new research suggests women are more susceptible to this response than men.

Granted, the study was conducted on only a small sample of participants (eight males and six females), but this is the first review to have included women at all, and the findings were notable.

The method was pretty straightforward: participants were asked to fast overnight, before completing bouts of cycling at varying levels of intensity the next morning. These were then followed up with blood tests (to measure amounts of lactate) and self-reports to analyse appetite levels.

LumiNola//Getty Images

Science shows that high-intensity exercise suppresses appetite more in women than men

Results showed that the females had higher levels of total ghrelin (the hormone that makes you feel hunger) at baseline compared to the males, while they also had ‘significantly reduced levels’ of acylated (AG) ghrelin after intense exercise compared to males. Ghrelin levels were, in fact, much lower in both males and females after intense exercise compared to moderate exercise, meaning that all participants felt ‘less hungry’ after high-intensity exercise compared to after moderate exercise, but this was even more significant for women.

Advertisement

‘We found that moderate intensity exercise either did not change ghrelin levels or led to a net increase,’ the study noted. The authors added that exercise above your lactate threshold may be necessary to elicit a suppression in grehlin. Lactate threshold is the point at which lactate builds up in your bloodstream faster than your body can remove it – it occurs during high-intensity exercise.

Why is this useful to know? The author of the study, Kara Anderson, PhD, says: ‘Our research suggests that high-intensity exercise may be important for appetite suppression, which can be particularly useful as part of a weight loss programme. Exercise should be thought of as a “drug”, where the “dose” should be customised based on an individual’s personal goals.’


More fitness stories:

Cut through the noise and get practical, expert advice, home workouts, easy nutrition and more direct to your inbox. Sign up to the WOMEN’S HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Lettermark

Bridie is Fitness Director at Women’s Health UK. She spends her days sweating over new workouts, fitness launches and the best home gym kit so you have all that you need to get fit done. Her work has been published in Stylist, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and more. She’s also a part-time yoga teacher with a habit of nodding off mid savasana (not when she’s teaching, promise).

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Fitness

Working out but not seeing results? A PT confirms whether 30-minute workouts are top-tier for boosting fitness

Published

on

Working out but not seeing results? A PT confirms whether 30-minute workouts are top-tier for boosting fitness

While some of you have your healthy lifestyle down to a tee – balanced nutrition, adequate sleep and a finely tuned workout regime incorporating strength, cardio and flexibility training – others struggle to know where to start when it comes to fitness. And with Google searches for “Is 30 minutes of exercise a day enough?” spiking, it seems that many of you aren’t sure about the length of time or number of workouts to aim for weekly.

And to make matters even more confusing, knowing how often you should workout isn’t always as simple as it should be. You see, your progress will depend on a combination of factors which might seem unconnected to exercise but still have an impact. Sleep, for example, has been shown in various studies (like this one, published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology) to affect physical performance, while research also shows a bi-directional relationship between exercise and stress.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending