The Life Fitness X3 Elliptical Cross Trainer – Commercial Quality Workouts

With a Life Fitness X3 elliptical cross trainer in your home gym, you no longer have to battle weather and traffic to get to a health club to work out on good equipment...now you can experience the same commercial quality workouts at home.

What You Get

There are two console options to choose from for the Life Fitness X3 elliptical cross trainer: a Basic Go Console or the advanced Track + Console.

The basic console offers 12 built in and 2 custom workouts while the Track + gives you 14 built in and 12 custom workouts. 

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

• WhisperStride technology
• 20" stride length
• ErgoGrip stationary handlebar
• Contact and wireless heart rate
• Oversized non-slip pedals
• Step-up height – 7 inches
• Unit wt/dimensions: 215 lbs/ 81 x 30 x 59 inches (LxWxH)
• 350-lb. user weight capacity
• Warranty – Lifetime frame; 3 years parts; 1 year labor

The Word on the Street

UPDATE: As of mid 2018 it looks like the X3 may no longer be available.  It's not currently on the company site.  But it may be reintroduced by the time you read this review, so keep checking if that model appeals to you.  

Check out the nearly identical Life Fitness E3.

The Life Fitness X3 elliptical features one the most natural and smooth strides you will find and WhisperStride technology to keep things remarkably quiet.

It also has oversized cushioned pedals and a roomy 20" stride that can accommodate all sized users.  If you're looking for more flexibility the FS6 offers an adjustable stride up to 26".

In addition, the Life Fitness X3 cross trainer works hard to keep you engaged and focused while you exercise. The console features CoachZone Activity Zone with GluteToner and ArmToner workout enhancements.

As for the ride, the ellipse motion is relatively flat so this is a good machine for seniors or anyone wanting a basic low-impact elliptical trainer workout.

Solid in construction and easy to assemble, elliptical reviews praise all points of the Life Fitness X3 elliptical cross trainer in terms of design and function. From pro trainer and technician reviews, it scores high in critical areas such as ergonomics, smooth ride, quiet operation, and reliability (based on the quality of near maintenance-free rear-drive components).

You get a choice of two consoles, one with app integration, one without, so it's a matter of choosing which appeals to you more.  You also get a free wireless heart rate monitor included with your purchase so you'll get more accurate readings to keep you in your ideal zone.

How Does the X3 Compare to the Other Life Fitness Elliptical Trainers?

There are a lot of Life Fitness ellipticals, so it can be hard to decide which one you should choose.  The best way to go about doing it is to compare it the other models to see which one has the features and capabilities that you need.

Currently, you have the X Series, the E Series, the new FS Series and the Club Series.  

The E Series is very similar to the X, but you get higher max weight capacities, console options and stronger warranties.  

The FS Series is center drive, as opposed to rear drive on all other models.  The Club Series is more commercial-grade, like the machines you find at high end gyms.

Let's take a look at all of them to give you a better idea of what they are all about...

The X Series

Here you have the X1 and the X3, two of the most affordable Life Fitness elliptical trainers.

The X1 has the basic Go Console, patented Link6 drive system, grip and wireless heart rate, WhisperStride technology, a 20" stride and a 350 lb. max weight capacity.

The step-up X3, as you've learned about above, has all of the features of the X1 model, plus CoachZone targeted training.

The E Series

Here you have the E1, E3 and E5, which are a little more advanced than their X Series counterparts.

The E1 is very similar to the X1, but it adds the additional Track Connect console option, higher 400 lb. max weight capacity and an additional 2 years on the parts warranty.

The step-up E3, is very similar to the Life Fitness X3 elliptical, but adds multi-grip handles and all of the extras that the E1 has: additional console, higher weight, better warranty.

The top-end E5, which used to have an X5 counterpart that is no longer being sold, improves upon the E3 with adjustable strides from 18" to 24" and Activity Zone training workouts.

The FS Series

These are the newest Life Fitness ellipticals: the FS4 and FS6, which feature a center drive design, making them much more compact than the rest of the models, and allowing for cross training.

The FS4 comes in two color choices, titanium and dark walnut, side platforms and resistance band attachment points, touch screen console and Bluetooth connectivity.  It has a fixed 22" stride.

The step-up FS6 gives you everything that the FS4 has, but with an adjustable 18" to 26" stride.

The Club Series

These are the more commercial-grade ellipticals, closer to those that you find at high end health clubs.

The base Club is nearly the same as the popular gym version, with a 20" stride and 350 lb. max weight.

The step-up Club +  has the touch screen and Bluetooth like the FS6, as opposed to the basic console on the entry-level Club model.  It also has more resistance levels and a 400 lb. max weight capacity.

The Platinum Club gives you three console choices, four frame cokor choices, fingertip resistance controls and the same max weight as the Club + model.

The Platinum Club FlexStrider gives you everything the Platinum Club offers plus a fully adjustable stride up to 36" to really stretch out as much as you'd like.

Which Life Fitness Elliptical Machine Should You Choose?

When trying to decide which one to choose, consider your budget and what you want/need in an elliptical trainer.

We'll try to help you out here by breaking it all down...

If your main concern is budget, look at the X1 and X3, as these are going to be the least expensive models.  The Life Fitness X3 is going to give you the CoachZone training which is a nice plus if you can swing the additional few hundred dollars.

If your budget is more open, the E series is going to give you the Track Connect console option which is much more advanced and gives you Bluetooth capability, workout tracking and sharing, syncing with your mobile device and a lot more built in workout programs.

The E Series also accommodates higher max weights and extends the parts warranty.  So it's worth considering.  The E5 is the only X/E series Life Fitness elliptical with the adjustable stride.

If you need something compact to fit into smaller spaces, the FS4 and FS6 have a much more home-gym friendly footprint.  They also have longer stride lengths than most of the other models, including the Life Fitness X3.

Finally, if your budget is wide open and you just want the best of the best, look into the Club Series ellipticals.  Our favorite there is the new Life Fitness Club +, as it combines the bet features of all of the others.

The X3 Elliptical Review - Bottom Line

The Life Fitness X3 elliptical is a great choice, and is a nice step-up model in the series with plenty of features and capabilities.  

Take a look at the E3 cross trainer as well if your budget is more open, as it offers multi-grip handles as well as a higher max weight capacity and lower step up height.

The X3 will last for years to come with very little maintenance required, and will serve you quite well and help you reach your fitness goals.  It's a sold club quality machine with everything you need to succeed.