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 34.7 cm on the X24 and X16. Then at full incline the front of a 152 cm deck lifts your feet by about another 34 cm. In a standard 2.4 m UK room, where an ordinary treadmill fits easily, one can be too tall to use at full incline. 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 152 cm belt:
| Incline | 0% | 10% | 15% | 20% | 30% | 40% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feet rise | 0 | 9 cm | 13.5 cm | 18 cm | 26 cm | 34 cm |
Minimum ceiling for an X24 or X16
Walking at each incline, with 2.5 cm for shoes, 2.5 cm of stride bounce and 15 cm clear. The last column is for running at up to 6%.
| Tallest user | 15% | 20% | 30% | 40% | Running, 6% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 163 cm | 2.32 m | 2.36 m | 2.44 m | 2.52 m | 2.30 m |
| 173 cm | 2.42 m | 2.46 m | 2.54 m | 2.62 m | 2.40 m |
| 183 cm | 2.52 m | 2.56 m | 2.64 m | 2.72 m | 2.50 m |
| 193 cm | 2.62 m | 2.66 m | 2.74 m | 2.82 m | 2.60 m |
Based on a 34.7 cm step-up, as listed for the X16 by UK review site HomeTreadmill and matching NordicTrack's spec data, and a 152 cm belt. One US reviewer suggests allowing about a metre above the tallest user for the X24, a little more than these figures. If you're close to the line, use the larger number.
So a 183 cm user needs about 2.72 m for full incline, well above a standard 2.4 m room. Under 2.4 m, full incline only works for people under about 151 cm.
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 163 cm | User 173 cm | User 183 cm | User 193 cm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.30 m | 13% | 2% | Doesn't fit | Doesn't fit |
| 2.40 m | 24% | 13% | 2% | Doesn't fit |
| 2.50 m | 37% | 24% | 13% | 2% |
| 2.60 m | 40% | 37% | 24% | 13% |
| 2.70 m | 40% | 40% | 37% | 24% |
Walking, 15 cm clear above the head. "Doesn't fit" means even the flat deck leaves less than 15 cm.
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, about 5 km/h, 30 minutes) runs on any treadmill that reaches 12%, and many good folding treadmills reach 12 to 15%. In a 2.4 m room an incline trainer gives a 173 cm user only 13%. You'd be paying for a range you can't use, on a deck about 15 cm taller than a regular treadmill. A 15% treadmill with a 20 cm deck, such as the Sole F80, gives that same user the full 15% with room to spare.
The incline trainer earns its place when you have the height (roughly 2.7 m for a 183 cm user) and want to train for steep hill walking, fell walking 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 89 cm more than your height: 34.7 cm for the deck, 34 cm for the incline, 5 cm for shoes and stride, and 15 cm clear. In practice: about 2.72 m for a 183 cm user, 2.62 m for 173 cm and 2.52 m for 163 cm.
Can I use an incline trainer in a room with a 2.4 m ceiling?
Only with a limited incline: about 24% for a 163 cm user, 13% for 173 cm and almost none for 183 cm. Over 190 cm, not 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?
34.7 cm, the same as the X24.