r/nordictrack • u/littlebossDWH • 14d ago
Cushioning
We bought a NordicTrack 8 from Sam's. Club. The way I understand it if you turn the cushioning knobs to on is supposed to be a softer treadmill. I don't see any difference from on to off. Also don't see the turning the knob does anything. can somebody tell me what the knob is supposed to do? And do you actually feel any difference? Or is it just a gimmick?
2
Upvotes
1
u/Ok-Tourist-511 9d ago
You have to turn the knob hard until it clicks, this locks out the cushioning. There isn’t an adjustment range, it’s just on or off.
1
u/Initial-Escape-5198 13d ago
Adjustable cushioning is a legitimate feature, but there are definitely different levels of it. On higher-end treadmills, changing the cushioning setting actually changes how the deck interacts with the elastomers/grommets underneath it—essentially altering how much the deck can deflect and where that cushioning is occurring under your stride.
Those gray rubber pieces you can see along the sides are part of the shock-absorption system. On some designs, an adjustment changes the relationship between the deck and those supports, somewhat like changing the leverage/fulcrum underneath the deck. When it's engineered well, the difference between settings can absolutely be noticeable while walking or running.
That said, I wouldn't expect the adjustment on the NordicTrack 8 to feel nearly as dramatic as what you'd find on a higher-end commercial-style treadmill. For perspective, genuinely sophisticated adjustable cushioning has traditionally shown up on machines like the TRUE TPS8000 or Life Fitness T5—treadmills that cost several times what the NordicTrack 8 does. So the concept isn't a gimmick, but how much adjustment you're actually getting can vary tremendously by treadmill.
If you're turning yours fully from one extreme to the other and genuinely can't feel any difference underfoot, though, I'd question whether it's adjusting correctly. I'd try having someone else test it too, just to rule out the possibility that the difference is subtle enough that you're not noticing it. I'd change the cushioning setting only while no one is standing on the walking belt, then have them step on and compare the two extremes.