The Nordictrack Freestride Trainer FS9i is currently the premium version of the Freestride elliptical, and it comes with all the extra bells and whistles you don’t get with the FS7i or FS5i models.

The great advantage of the Freestride trainer is that it is like a new and improved elliptical trainer. Instead of the traditional crank-connected pedal, it uses a floating suspension system.

This removes the traditional limits of a set stride length that you get with standard ellipticals. So you can basically set your own stride length, up to 38 inches (traditional elliptical stride is about 18 to 20 inches).

In fact, you set your stride yourself based on the force and direction you push the pedals. So you can take short strides for stair climbing, longer strides for jogging, or even longer strides of the hurdle type.

This means you can constantly change your movement and ultimately get a much more effective workout overall.

The Freestride Trainer FS9i also comes with an incline and decline option that other models don’t have to add even more cross training to your workouts. Incline and decline change the incline of your running path and is great for adding more cross-training challenges and burning more calories.

Another benefit of this trainer is that you get the largest full-color web browser Nordictrack makes (a total of 10 inches). You can surf the net while exercising, read emails, or catch up on the latest business news. This is a great way to stay entertained (or distracted) while exercising.

And this trainer also integrates with iFit LIVE. So you can connect and download new workouts to your machine or track your workouts stats over time.

You can also choose to hike famous trails around the world, from Hawaii to Paris and Sydney. Real benchmarks run across the console screen to give your workout a virtual reality feel, very good.

The Nordictrack Freestride Trainer FS9i also has incline and resistance controls on the swing arm bars, something not found on the FS5i. So you can change your resistance or incline from the moving arm bars, without reaching for the console (and stopping your upper body workout).

A final benefit of this machine is that you also get more levels of resistance than the other models, so there is more room to grow and challenge yourself as you get in better shape.

So those are some of the main pros of the Nordictrack FS9i Freestrider – are there any downsides?

Well, the only main drawback is that it is a luxury machine at a luxury price. Coming in over $ 2000 is not for the buyer on a budget. If you want the benefits of the Freestride trainer design at a more affordable price, you may want to go for the simpler FS5i model, which costs about $ 1000 less.

If you don’t plan on heavy or frequent use of your trainer (and you don’t mind having the web browser or the tilt), you may be fine with the FS7i or FS5i. So it really depends on what you are looking for.

But if you’re looking for more than just a traditional elliptical trainer with the ability to set your own pace and get a more effective lower body workout, the Nordictrack Freestride Trainer FS9i is definitely worth checking out.