The Life Fitness Club Series + Might Be the Best Trainer Yet

The Life Fitness Club Series + is one of the newest elliptical trainers from the well-regarded company, giving you all of the best features of the home and commercial series combined.

With plenty of workouts, a new touch screen display and a sleek, modern design, this one might just be the best model in the entire series.

What You Get

The Club Series + is all black with dark gray accents, with a streamlined profile, large user-friendly console and sturdy design.

Let's take a closer look at some of the best features...

• 20" stride length
• 11 built in programs
• LifePulse Digital Contact Heart Rate Monitoring
• Polar Wireless Chest Strap Included
• Multigrip stationary handlebar
• Oversized Flexform Pedals
• 7" LCD touchscreen
• Unit weight: 301 lbs
• Dimensions: 86" x 29" x 64"
• 400-lb. user weight capacity
• Warranty – Lifetime frame; 3 years parts; 1 year labor

The Word on the Street

The introduction of the Life Fitness Club Series + elliptical was a very big deal, as it was the first model to bridge the gap between the popular commercial series and the more accessible residential models.

The company took cues from the base as well as the Platinum Club Series, incorporating their durability into a much more modern, sleek, streamlined design to create the Plus model.

The result is one of the most attractive machines in the lineup...a club quality elliptical trainer without the usual bulky, intimidating frame.

The Club Series + retains the smooth, natural motion that Life Fitness is known for, with a fixed 20" stride, oversized 15" FlexForm pedals and up to 25 resistance levels to choose from.

You can measure your heart rate with the grips or with the included wireless chest strap for more accuracy.  Some of the improvements include the 7" LCD touch screen, a big jump from the basic display on the base Club Series elliptical.

There are a number of different workouts to choose from, including random, intervals, hills, speed, heart rate and more.  You can challenge yourself with a different type of workout each time.

You also get a nice 400 lb. max weight capacity and an impressive warranty, both of which speak to the durability and quality of the machine.

How Does the Club Series + Compare to the Rest of the Life Fitness Ellipticals?

The Life Fitness Club Series + is one of the newer models to be released, so it is a lot more advanced and modern looking than most of the other ellipticals that the company offers.

The best comparison you can make is to the other commercial grade models:  the base Club Series elliptical and the Platinum version.  Let's take a look at all three to see how they compare....

Club Series - Base Model

The base Club Series elliptical features a basic LCD display, standard moving arms and a 350 lb. max weight capacity.  It is most like the commercial version of the machine.

Club Series - Plus

The newest of the three models with a much more modern and sleek look.  It improves upon the base model with a more advanced display with touch screen and Bluetooth technology, multi-grip moving handles, more comfortable pedals and a higher 400 lb. max weight capacity.

Club Series - Platinum

The most advanced model with three different console choices, 4 different frame colors, additional workout programs and resistance levels, with the same heavy max weight as the Plus model.

What about the rest of the Life Fitness elliptical machines?

There are a number of other Life Fitness ellipticals, more residential in nature than commercial.  If you want to save a little money, you can opt for one of these instead.

The least expensive models are the X series, including the X1 and X3, both of which just have the basic Go console and a 350 lb. max weight capacity.

Moving up you have the E series, with the E1, E3 and E5 giving you an additional console option as well as higher 400 lb. max weight capacities.

Lastly, you have the FS series, also new and featuring a center drive, compact design as opposed to the rear drive design that the Life Fitness Club Series + and all other trainers have.  The FS4 gives you a longer fixed stride of 22", and the FS6 gives you an adjustable stride from 18" up to 26".

Which Life Fitness Elliptical Trainer Should You Choose?

If you are considering the higher end models, then the Life Fitness Club Series + is your best option of them all for several reasons.  Here are just a few of them...

1. It is the only new model, as the other two have not be redesigned in quite some time. 

2. It  gives you the higher max weight capacity of the Platinum Series, without the hefty price tag of that model.

3.  It has Bluetooth capability for workout tracking and sharing...something you can't do with the base model.

4.  The touch screen console is much more advanced than the basic one you get on the base model in the series.

5.  It's only about $500 or so more than the base model, and gives you much more for your money.

If you want to save some money, then definitely consider one of the X, E or newer FS models.  

The E series is a little more advanced than the X series, with higher max weight capacities, so if there are multiple users or anyone on the taller or heavier side, the E models will be your better bet.  The E5 is one of our favorites, with an adjustable stride that the other E models don't giveyou.

If space is a concern, as it is for many home users, take a look at the compact FS4 and FS6.  Both incorporate the newer touch screen display that the Life Fitness Club Series + has, and they both have longer strides than many of the other models.

Our Thoughts on the Club Series +Elliptical

The new Life Fitness Club Series + is definitely a welcome addition to the lineup, with a look and feel that is much more modern than the rest of the Club models.

It gives you plenty of workout options, grip and wireless heart rate monitoring, an advanced touch screen display with Bluetooth technology and a heavy max user weight of 400 lbs.

It's definitely the best of their higher end ellipticals, but if you want to save a little money consider the lower priced X, E and FS trainers as well.  All of them have their strong points, so take a look at all of them before you make your final decision.