Incline trainers are treadmills built for steep hill walking, up to 40% on NordicTrack's X series, with 6% decline. They're the tallest machines in a home gym on two counts. The deck starts high, at about 13.7 inches on the X24 and X16 according to NordicTrack's spec sheet. Then at full incline the front of a 60-inch deck lifts your feet more than another foot. A room where an ordinary treadmill fits easily can be too low for one. The checker tests incline trainers at their full 40%, so you can see where you stand.
How much the incline lifts you
Your feet sit a little forward of the middle of the belt, so they rise with the deck. On a 60-inch belt:
| Incline | 0% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 30% | 40% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feet rise | 0 | 3.6 in | 5.3 in | 7.1 in | 10.3 in | 13.4 in |
Minimum ceiling for an X24 or X16
Walking at each incline, with an inch for shoes, an inch of stride bounce and 6 inches clear. The last column is for running at up to 6%.
| Tallest user | 15% | 20% | 30% | 40% | Running, 6% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5′4″ | 7′7″ | 7′9″ | 8′0″ | 8′3″ | 7′6″ |
| 5′8″ | 7′11″ | 8′1″ | 8′4″ | 8′7″ | 7′10″ |
| 6′0″ | 8′3″ | 8′5″ | 8′8″ | 8′11″ | 8′2″ |
| 6′4″ | 8′7″ | 8′9″ | 9′0″ | 9′3″ | 8′6″ |
Based on NordicTrack's published 13.66-inch step-up and a 60-inch belt. One reviewer suggests allowing 40 inches above the tallest user for the X24, a few inches more than these figures. If you're close to the line, use the larger number.
So for a 6-foot user, an X24 at full incline wants a ceiling of almost 9 feet. A standard 8-foot ceiling only works at full incline for people under about 5′1″.
The highest incline you can use under your ceiling
If you already own an incline trainer, or want one despite the room, this is the safe limit to stay under.
| Ceiling | User 5′4″ | User 5′8″ | User 6′0″ | User 6′4″ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7′6″ | 12% | Flat only | Doesn't fit | Doesn't fit |
| 8′0″ | 29% | 17% | 6% | Doesn't fit |
| 8′6″ | 40% | 36% | 23% | 12% |
| 9′0″ | 40% | 40% | 40% | 29% |
Walking, 6 inches clear above the head. "Doesn't fit" means even the flat deck leaves less than 6 inches.
Watch automatic incline. iFIT workouts on NordicTrack machines can raise the incline for you as the trainer's route climbs. If your ceiling only allows part of the range, switch off automatic incline control or choose workouts that stay under your limit.
Do you need 40%?
Often not. The popular 12-3-30 workout (12% incline, 3 mph, 30 minutes) runs on any treadmill that reaches 12%, and most good folding treadmills reach 15%. If your ceiling caps an incline trainer at 15 to 20%, you'd be paying for a range you can't use, on a deck 5 to 6 inches taller than a regular treadmill. A 15% treadmill with an 8-inch deck, such as the Sole F80 or Horizon 7.0 AT, gives a 6-foot walker the full 15% under an 8-foot ceiling with room to spare.
The incline trainer earns its place when you have the height (roughly 9 feet for a 6-foot user) and want to train for steep hiking, rucking or mountain trips.
Check your room. Choose "As steep as it goes" in the checker. It tests every model at its own maximum incline and tells you whether an incline trainer fits or a 15% treadmill is the better buy.
Check my ceilingCommon questions
How high does my ceiling need to be for a NordicTrack X24?
For walking at the full 40%, about 35 inches more than your height: 13.7 for the deck, 13.4 for the incline, 2 for shoes and stride, and 6 clear. In practice: about 8′11″ for a 6-foot user, 8′7″ for 5′8″ and 8′3″ for 5′4″.
Can I use an incline trainer in a basement?
Usually only with a limited incline. Under a 7′6″ basement ceiling a 5′4″ user can go to about 12%, and a 6-foot user can't use one safely at all.
Does decline need extra ceiling height?
No. Decline lowers the front of the deck, so it never needs more room than flat.
What is the step-up height of the NordicTrack X16?
The same as the X24: 13.66 inches on NordicTrack's spec sheet.