An elliptical is a good cardio machine for people regardless of their fitness level. As a beginner, it can help you build great physical endurance and flexibility. You can challenge yourself with its automated resistance levels and workout programs.
One such machine we will review today is the Life Fitness X3 elliptical cross trainer. The X3 is a sturdy rear drive elliptical. It can take up floor space owing to its design.
Life Fitness X3 Elliptical Cross Trainer
- Pedals are optimally spaced to minimize stress
- LCD display tracks your distance
- 300-pound capacity
- ErgoGrip stationary handlebar for stability
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A maximum user weight of 350 pounds is supported on the machine. It offers great features like an eddy current resistance system, preset workout programs, and a fairly long stride length.
The assembled elliptical is heavy. It is a pretty old model manufactured by the Life Fitness treadmill brand; hence it doesn’t support any connectivity features like Bluetooth.
In this article, we are going to provide a detailed review of this machine and help you decide whether you should buy the X3 elliptical or not.
| Product Overview | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Life Fitness |
| Model | Life Fitness X3 Elliptical Cross Trainer |
| Assembled Machine Dimensions | 81 x 30 x 59 inches |
| Assembled Machine Weight | 225 lbs |
| Package Dimensions | 81 x 21 x 32 inches |
| Package Weight | 242 lbs |
| Maximum User Weight | 350 lbs |
| Resistance Levels | 20 Eddy Current resistance levels |
| Stride Length | 20 inches |
| Workout Options | Preset workout options available |
| Power Supply | 120 V (US), 220 V (Europe), 240+ V (Australia) |
| Warranty | Frame - Lifetime Limited, Electrical and Mechanical Parts - 3 years, Labor - 1 year, Cushioned Pedal Insert - 6 months |
About Life Fitness
Life Fitness is a famous brand in the fitness space with over 50 years of experience. In 1968, the brand created the first electronic exercise bike.
Today, Life Fitness equipment has grown to offer fitness equipment for commercial and home use, digital consoles, and fitness experiences. Their cardio range includes treadmills, indoor cycling, exercise bikes, ellipticals, arc trainers, and rowers.
The brand offers free custom home gym design, which includes delivery and installation by the local Life Fitness technician team.
You can request service or order parts on the Life Fitness website.
Who is the Life Fitness X3 Elliptical Cross Trainer for?
The X3 elliptical is specifically designed for fitness freaks who want to add cardio to their routine. The elliptical machine also offers low-impact, effective workout modules to help you if you are struggling with joint issues or injuries.
As an avid fitness enthusiast, you can upgrade your workout routines to new heights with high resistance levels and challenging preset workouts. It helps you target specific muscle groups like arms and glutes.
The elliptical must be installed in a ventilated area. It should be kept away from swimming pools or high-humidity areas. You must acquire a spacious room for the machine’s installation process that will help you to move freely when you work out.
5 Important Factors We Tested the Product On
We tested the X3 elliptical on parameters like build quality, design, ease of setup and use, features, and workout versatility.
Here is how the Life Fitness elliptical is performed.
1. Design
Once assembled, the elliptical dimensions are 81 x 30 x 59 inches. Its flywheel is located at the back. Rear drive designs take up more space compared to front and center drive ellipticals. You should additionally leave 12 inches of area around the elliptical from all sides.
The elliptical weighs around 225 lbs. This is a testament to the build quality of the elliptical. The machine is equipped with transport wheels, but since it is heavy, be careful when moving it around.
The elliptical has a welded steel frame. It comes with oversized foot pedals suitable for different body types. You can work with the fixed or moving handlebars to get a total body workout.
You can use the cushioned pedal inserts during your workout for added comfort.
The elliptical comes with an accessory tray below the console. You then have two water bottle holders on either side of the tray.
Upgradation to a Track Connect console is currently unavailable for the X3 Life Fitness elliptical machine; hence, the X3 model is pre-ordained with a basic Go console mode.
This console has a small, blue backlit display that can store information for up to two user profiles. It can track information like time, distance, calories burned, and RPM, among others.
2. Ease of Assembly
As mentioned above, the X3 elliptical is a heavy machine. Assembling all its equipment tools for installation and functioning process might be a little complex for beginners.
You will receive an assembly instruction booklet with the package. Every assembly step includes details like parts and tools required. You will need a Phillips head screwdriver, a 17 mm socket wrench, and a 17 mm open-end wrench for the assembly.
You should be able to put together the elliptical in an hour or two. Take help from another person to speed up assembly.
Depending on the vendor, you can get delivery and installation services at an extra cost.
3. Ease of Use
To turn on the machine, connect the power cord on the back of the elliptical to the wall outlet. The LCD display should light up. You can press a button on the console to confirm.
You can start with a manual workout or pick any of the built-in programs. You can set up two user profiles and have unique workout goals.
You can easily increase your workout intensity by a simple click on the resistance levels. The eddy current system will effectively ensure that your workouts are quiet.
The elliptical has a 20 inches of stride length. The stride length works perfectly for users as tall as 6’0”.
One drawback of the X3 elliptical is that it does not support incline changes. It is quite disappointing for an elliptical with this price point.
Thus, the fitter users may not find the elliptical challenging by relying only on higher resistance levels.
4. Workout Options
With the Go console, you get up to 12 preset programs and two custom workouts. These workouts include:
- Sports
- Hill
- Heart Rate
- Cardio
- Fat Burn
You can also set goal-based workouts like reaching a particular distance or time.
Life Fitness offers an app with on-demand workouts and tracking abilities. But, as the X3 elliptical is an older model by the brand, it does not support Bluetooth capability.
Compared to other elliptical models like the ones from Schwinn or Nautilus, the X3 has limited workout options.
5. Weight Capacity
The X3 elliptical is designed using quality materials and is durable. The warranty offered by Life Fitness is proof of the trust they have in their product quality.
The elliptical can support a maximum user weight of 350 lbs. This is good support offered by home gym equipment.
The machine comes with levelers at the front. These levelers keep the elliptical fixed to the floor while you are using it.
Ensure the leveler is touching the ground at all times. Adjust the leveler if you feel the elliptical is unstable or has a slight rocking motion.
What Sets the Life Fitness X3 Elliptical Cross Trainer Apart From its Competitors?
In order to provide workout variations, the X3 elliptical console is equipped with a CoachZone. It provides two workout enhancement types – ArmToner and GluteToner.
You can easily choose a specific muscle group workout mode like leg movements, arm flexings, and many more like that. For example, if you select the arm toner, the instructions like pull, push, or use fixed handles will be highlighted.
The push instruction focuses on the chest and triceps, and the pull instruction works on the bicep. And lastly, the use of fixed handles instruction gives your upper body a rest.
Similarly, the glue toner highlights instructions like forward, reverse, and squat. These can target leg muscles like the hamstring, glute, quad, and calf.
The upper and lower body movements will always be in conjunction. The CoachZone is a good add-on that improves your workout quality.
Should You Purchase the Life Fitness X3 Elliptical Cross Trainer?
The X3 is a rear-drive elliptical with eddy current resistance systems. So your workouts can be whisper quiet even at high intensities. It offers a good stride length of 20 inches.
The elliptical is straightforward to put together and use. You can work with its preset programs or customize your session with the manual mode.
The X3 is no longer available on the Life Fitness website. You can try buying it from third-party vendors like Amazon.
Here are some pros and cons to consider before purchasing the X3 elliptical.
Pros
- It supports a maximum user weight of 350 lbs.
- It has an eddy current resistance system with 20 levels.
- The X3 has a stride length of 20 inches, which works well for tall users.
- You can target specific muscle groups with CoachZone workout enhancements.
- Life Fitness offers a good warranty on the X3 elliptical.
Cons
- It does not provide incline options.
- It does not support Bluetooth connectivity.
- It can be an expensive elliptical.
Price
The price for the Life Fitness X3 elliptical starts from $1499. The elliptical falls in the range of mid to high-priced home gym equipment.
A third-party vendor may charge you additional for an in-house assembly service.
Our Rating
FAQ’s
Life Fitness has been around for over five decades. They are known to provide quality cardio machines with impressive warranties. If you are looking for mid-priced ellipticals with features and workout options, Life Fitness is a good brand.
On a monthly basis, Life Fitness recommends cleaning the top surface of the pedals, display console, and exterior surfaces with mild soap, water, and a soft cotton cloth. Check the power cord and other parts for wear and tear signs.
You can monitor heart rate using the chest strap or the pulse sensors on the fixed handlebars. The hand pulse sensors may work differently for different body types, so Life Fitness recommends using the chest strap more often. In both cases, though, the heart rate value should only be used as a reference.
Summary
The Life Fitness X3 elliptical cross trainer has a rear-drive design. The sturdy elliptical offers features like a 20-inch stride length, a maximum user weight of 350 lbs, and an eddy current resistance system.
It includes a Go console. You get 12 preset workout programs. You can target specific muscle groups with its CoachZone feature.
The X3 is easy to set up and use. Life Fitness also offers a good warranty on the machine. The X3 is an old and pricey model. It can also take up space. So, ensure you look through the space and power requirements before purchasing.