Life Fitness Treadmill Review

Last Updated Jan 26, 2023

Brand Rating: 9.6/10

Company Overview: Life Fitness first earned fame in the late ’70s producing cutting-edge machines. Shortly after its 1977 founding as Lifecycle, the company made the world’s first fitness equipment with computerized workout programs. It was a stationary bicycle. The company then expanded to build ergonomic treadmills, stair climbers, and other cardio machines. Today they also have the Hammer Strength lineup with free weights, incline presses, and other durable strength training equipment.

Home Treadmills: Life Fitness offers seven home treadmill models. All are high quality and bring the feel of health club fitness machines to any home gym. The least expensive are the folding treadmills, the F1 and F3. These and most of the non-foldable home treadmills are available with a choice of consoles.

The non-foldable Life Fitness treadmills are the T3, T5, Club Series and Platinum Club. The T3 is one of the brand’s bestsellers. The top-of-the-line Platinum Club Treadmill is available with a 19″ TV or a tablet computer console.

What We Like: – Life Fitness Home Treadmills

Superior Quality: We are very impressed with the level of quality from Life Fitness Home Treadmills. These treadmills come with commercial grade parts including large track rollers for easy use on all floor surfaces and wax-free tracks. This ensures that you can use your treadmill with ease no matter where you live. On top of that, their consoles are very user friendly while remaining up to date with the latest technological advancements. The machines also have very high weight capacities, with the top model supporting a 400-pound user. They also have impressive max speed ratings of 12 mph.
Track Incline: What’s unique about Life Fitness is the fact that both their commercial and residential treadmills can incline up to 15% in 0.5% increments. Not all treadmills offer small increments, which works well for continual progress. Putting the treadmill on an incline can really boost your overall calorie expenditure and ensure you are burning the maximum amount during each and every session.
Cushioning and Support: One of the most important factors in any workout machine is the degree of cushioning and support. Life Fitness treadmills offer a FlexDeck system that reduces the level of impact by up to 30%. On some models, this cushioning is also adjustable (which is helpful if you are training for say a road race and want to mimic real road conditions).
The track sizes of Life Fitness models range from 55 inches to 60 inches long and 20 to 22 inches wide. Be sure to factor this into your decision.
Heart Rate Monitors: For those who like to keep tabs on their workout stats, Life Fitness offers both contact and wireless monitors with each treadmill. Most models also have a HeartSync workout program that will adjust and adapt based on your readout. This is especially helpful for beginners.
Consoles: To see the many different offerings Life Fitness brings to consoles, you’ll want to take a look at our in-depth reviews of the specific models. Their machines typically offer between 13 and 16 built-in programs and are compatible with third-party apps for both Apple and Android. This allows for a vibrant workout variety that prevents boredom from halting your progression. Opt for the Platinum Club Series, and you’ll also get touchscreen consoles to make working out even more convenient.
Accessories: Nearly all of the Life Fitness treadmills offer reading racks, water bottle holders, and accessory trays.
Motors: The motors on the Life Fitness treadmills don’t disappoint. They have a quiet MagnaDrive Motor System with a 3 or 4 CHP. What’s special about this motor is that it will actually detect a user’s weight and adjust the output of the treadmill accordingly.
Warranties: You’ll get a lifetime warranty on frame and the cushioning system if you opt for a T5 model and a 10-year warranty on the motor. They also offer a seven-year warranty on the electrical and mechanical parts along with one year of labor.
Safety: Life Fitness keeps safety in mind by offering electronic safety locks.

What We Don’t Like:

Price: Life Fitness treadmills are not economy-priced machines. The prices are justified given the products’ quality and long warranties, but most models are out of the average buyer’s price range.
Size: Life Fitness treadmills are larger than most. For instance, the T3 has a footprint of about 79″ x 34″. The foldable units take up almost as much space when in use but fold vertically to free up a few feet of floor space between workouts.

Learn more about Life Fitness Treadmills on video!

Our Verdict

Life Fitness treadmills can be pricey, but are well worth the investment. Most trainees can expect the treadmills to outlast their 10-year warranties. Customers and fitness industry experts alike regard Life Fitness treadmills as durable machines with excellent cushioning and an appealing selection of consoles.

Overwhelmed by the choices? The popular Life Fitness T3 is a good starting point for research. It costs less than the T5, but is pretty much the same treadmill.

Recent Updates

November 2, 2022: Added FAQs to the page.

Are Life Fitness treadmills worth it?

While treadmills from Life Fitness are known to be more expensive than many other brands and models on the market, if you're looking for a durable machine that will last you over a decade of use, it will be a worthwhile purchase.

How much are Life Fitness treadmills?

On average, Life Fitness offers a range of treadmills that are priced between $3,199 (F3) all the way to $10,999 (Platinum Club Series).

How long does a Life Fitness treadmill last?

The average lifespan of Life Fitness treadmills is about 10 years, and many models outlive their warranties.

What kind of fitness machines does Life Fitness manufacture?

Aside from their popular treadmills, Life Fitness also makes ellipticals, exercise bikes, arc trainers, rowers as well as strength and conditioning equipment and accessories.

What is the typical weight capacity for a Life Fitness treadmill?

Life Fitness treadmills are larger and more durable than most. Their maximum user weight capacities typically range from 350 to 400 lbs.