For over the past five years, the Nordictrack S22i Studio Bike has continued to be one of the most popular picks for indoor bikes. What makes this bike unique among others is its focus on instructor-led outdoor rides, paired with its ability to automatically incline or decline based on the current terrain.
There have been lot of upgrades made to the Nordictrack S22i over the years as well. This review has been fully updated to reflect everything new for 2024.
Table of contents
A quick overview of the NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike
The NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike is an indoor exercise bike with a 22″ HD touchscreen and automatically adjusting incline and decline. This incline will self adjust from a 20 percent incline to a negative 10 percent decline, to as it simulates the terrain of the iFIT classes you see on the screen.
The touchscreen can also be fully rotate in any direction, allowing you to get take additional iFIT class types such as strength, yoga, and pilates classes.
Pros
- Auto-adjusting incline and decline
- Auto-adjusting resistance (24 levels)
- Rotating 22″ HD touchscreen
- Thousands of classes through iFIT
- Included fan
- Included pair of 3lb dumbbells
- Easily adjustable seat and handle height
Cons
- High price (when not on sale)
- iFIT membership required for anything other than ‘Free Ride’ mode
NordicTrack S22i Studio Bike: Video Review
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NordicTrack S22i: Specs
| Display | 360° Rotating 22″ HD Touchscreen |
| Sound | 2 x 30 watt front-facing speakers |
| Resistance | 24 levels of Magnetic Resistance with both automatic and manual adjustments |
| Incline Range | +20 degree incline -10 degree decline |
| Footprint | 61” L x 22” W x 58” H |
| Weight | 205lbs |
| Max User Limited | 350lb max weight 4′ 10″ to 6′ 10″ max height |
| Pedals | Dual sided: Toe cage and SPD clips |
| Included Additions | Built-in Fan, Dual Water Bottle Holders, Pair of 3lb Dumbbells |
| Warranty | 10-Year Frame, 2-Year Parts, and 1-Year Labor Warranty |
Nordictrack S22i: Design
Size and Ergonomics
While the 61” L x 22” W footprint of the Nordictrack S22i is fairly standard for indoor bikes, it is noticeable heavier than most other options. In large part, this is due to the additional incline motors that makes the S22i unique. The extra weight does have some benefits as well, including a very stable ride and a max user weight of 350lbs (the Peloton Bike in comparison only supports 275lbs).
The Nordictrack S22i features a three-way adjustment system. The handlebars and seat can both be adjusted up and down, and the seat can also slide forward and backward. The adjustments allow for a pretty large range of user heights. NordicTrack says this supports heights between 4’10” to 6’10”, but after testing I think this is a bit of a stretch. Personally, I think the correct range is closer to 5’0″ to 6’6″, which still should be in a good range for most users (my wife unfortunately is 4’8″).
The included pedals are dual-sided, allowing users to wear both regular and cycling shoes with SPD clips. The included seat is a bit firm, but should feel fine for most users after a week or two of use. The seat can easily be replaced with other softer options if desired.
Adjustable Incline and Decline
The NordicTrack S22i’s most unique features is the ability to automatically incline (up to 20%) and decline (down to -10%) based on the terrain you see on screen. This feature really helps to make the instructor-led scenic rides much more immersive and enjoyable.
See a hill coming up? You know you are going to feel it!
Likewise, you can get a big sense of relief when you start to go downhill, as you feel the incline drop and the resistance lower, allowing you to pick up speed.
Magnetic Resistance
Like other premium indoor bikes, the Nordictrack S22i uses magnetic resistance which can be both manually or automatically adjusted. The magnetic resistance also allows the S22i to remain very quiet while in use.
Like most NordicTrack bikes, the resistance is broken up among 24 levels. The resistance level can be adjusted manually or automatically if you use iFIT’s ‘Smart Adjust’ feature. When using ‘Smart Adjust’, the resistance will increase or decrease based on a combination of the terrain, the instructors directions, and your current fitness level. Most of the time, it feels and works great. Occasionally though, you may need to manually make an adjustment (via controls on the handlebar) to make the workout a bit harder or easier.
Nordictrack S22i: Classes
While the Nordictrack S22i Studio Bike can be used in ‘Just Ride’ mode without a subscription, to take classes you will need an iFIT membership.
iFIT has a library with thousands of classes that work well for any fitness level. Many of these classes are instructor-led scenic rides, which take you all over the world to some very unique locations.
While there are also more traditional studio classes as well, the best part of iFIT remains to be the scenic rides. These are where you really can appreciate the auto incline/decline that matches the terrain you are riding. It really helps to make the entire experience much more immersive.
iFIT also offers a ton of additional strength, yoga and other types of classes. Most of these are done well, though they can feel a bit more limited in scope when compared to other online fitness memberships. It does help to have the rotatable touchscreen so you can take these classes right alongside your bike.
The iFIT Membership allows for up to five different profiles and currently costs $39 per month, or $396 per year.
NordicTrack S22i: Final Thoughts
I’ve been using the Nordictrack S22i Studio Bike on and off for several years, and I still think it is one of the best options out there. Despite the high price, the automatic incline and decline combined with the fantastic scenic rides through iFIT, help justify the purchase.
If you prefer the idea of scenic rides with instructors taking you all around the world, then I definitely suggest considered the S22i for your home gym.
Nordictrack S22i: FAQs
Can you use the Nordictrack S22i without a membership?
Yes, though without an iFIT membership you will not have access to any classes and will be limited to a ‘Just Ride’ mode.
Do you need cycling shoes for the NordicTrack S22i?
No, the newest models of the S22i come with dual-sided pedals, so you can use regular shoes or cycling shoes depending on your preference.
How does the Nordictrack S22i compare with Peloton
Both Peloton and the Nordictrack S22i have a lot of similarities, though with the automatic resistance adjustments, it may be more comparable to the Peloton Bike+. The biggest and most important difference between the two bikes is that Peloton offers a better studio class experience, and iFIT offers a better scenic ride experience. Since both require a membership that is similar in price, I would recommend choosing the bike that best fits your preference of class type.
How does the Nordictrack S22i compare with the NordicTrack S27i?
The S27i, while more expensive has several upgrades including a 27″ touch screen, faster incline motor, and easier to adjust handlebars. You can see a full comparison of the two here.
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