NordicTrack Ultra 1 Wins the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026

NordicTrack’s flagship Ultra 1 treadmill has won a Red Dot for design, its third major honor in under a year after Esquire and TIME.

PARK CITY, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The NordicTrack Ultra 1 has won a Red Dot Award for Product Design, one of the oldest and most competitive honors in the field. It is the third time in under a year the treadmill has been singled out: Esquire named it Gadget of the Year, TIME put it on its 2025 Best Inventions list, and now a Red Dot jury has added its name.

NordicTrack has built home fitness machines for five decades, and the Ultra 1 sits at the top of its range. The treadmill anchors a deliberate move upmarket into premium connected fitness, a direction iFIT is now extending across a growing Ultra line. Recognition from three independent juries in under a year suggests the strategy is connecting.

The Ultra 1 won by not looking like exercise equipment. Red Dot has presented its product-design award since 1955, judged by an international jury that scores each entry over several rounds on function, usability, responsibility, and aesthetic quality. The treadmill was recognized for design that reads more like furniture than fitness gear.

NordicTrack sums up the Ultra 1 in a line: movement deserves a room. Most home treadmills end up in the basement, out of sight; this one was designed to stay in view. The company replaced the usual plastic and steel with a steel frame wrapped in walnut or maple, knurled brass controls, wood louvers along the sides, and ambient lighting beneath the deck. It comes in two finishes, Dark Walnut with Black and Light Maple with Bronze.

The hardware is serious. A brushless motor runs quietly, and the cushioned deck absorbs up to 52% of each stride’s impact, by the company’s measure. A 24-inch touchscreen swings out from the console to reach more than 10,000 iFIT classes, played through eight speakers. As the workout runs, speed and incline adjust on their own to match the trainer on screen or the runner’s heart rate.

“Our goal was to make the ultimate treadmill in both design and performance," said Rick Hoobler, VP of Design at iFIT. "We also wanted to make an iconic product that would fit into your home, into your living spaces, not be relegated to the basement or garage. The wood, bronze, and clean, furniture-like shapes achieve exactly that aesthetic."

“The Ultra 1 is the clearest expression of our strategy to lead the premium tier of connected fitness,” said Kevin Duffy, CEO of iFIT. “When the design world’s most respected award lands alongside honors from Esquire and TIME, it tells the market our investment in design and engineering is paying off.”

Esquire, which named it Gadget of the Year, put it this way: “the makers so very clearly set out to make a truly premium machine and then invested in every single detail completely.”

The Ultra 1 has since grown into a range. NordicTrack has brought the same materials and swing-out screen to Pilates with the Ultra 1 Reformer and the Reform RX-S.

AVAILABILITY

The NordicTrack Ultra 1 is available now at NordicTrack.com for $15,000, with white-glove delivery, assembly, and haul-away included. High-resolution images, full specifications, and additional press materials are available in the online press kit at https://athena.iconfitness.com/portals/jrfeyzri/NordicTrackUltrafamily(PRportal)#36592b73-1dea-4f6e-9824-b787e5dcd4be.

ABOUT NORDICTRACK

NordicTrack, a brand of iFIT Inc., has been a pioneer in connected home fitness for over 50 years. From treadmills and bikes to strength and Pilates, NordicTrack combines premium hardware with the iFIT platform to deliver personalized, expert-led experiences that meet members wherever they are in their fitness journey. For more information, visit NordicTrack.com.

ABOUT IFIT

iFIT Inc. is a global leader in fitness technology, pioneering connected fitness to help people live longer, healthier lives. With a community of more than 12 million athletes around the world, iFIT delivers immersive, personalized workout experiences at home, on the go, and in the gym. Powered by a comprehensive ecosystem of proprietary software, innovative hardware, and engaging content, the iFIT platform brings fitness to life through its portfolio of brands: NordicTrack, ProForm, Freemotion, and the iFIT app. From cardio and strength training to recovery, iFIT empowers athletes at every stage of their fitness journey. For more information, visit iFIT.com.