You'll never come back from Lifefitness Road......
Written: Sep 22 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fairly smooth, fairly sturdy, adjustable stride length, excellent whole body workout
Cons: Sticker shock, consumes a LOT of space, somewhat ugly
The Bottom Line: While different from club models, the Lifefitness x5i is a very good elliptical machine especially if you are tall or want to work out at variable stride lengths.
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| charliewest's Full Review: Life Fitness X5i Cross-Trainer |
I just discovered epinions yesterday. This is a great site. I wish I would have known about it when I was trying to decide which elliptical model to buy this spring. Anyway, hope I can help someone with my thoughts on the Lifefitness x5i…
This January while in Northern Iraq with my Army National Guard unit I hurt my left knee on a mission and was unable to run much more than a half mile at a time without incurring some pretty nasty pain.
I'm a fairly big guy anyway (6'3, 240lbs) and to be honest, I've never really liked running, but I'd still run 9-10 miles a week to stay in shape and keep the weight off.
Anyway to make a long story short, when I got the chance, I strolled across base to the gym to see what cardio equipment they had. I tried the treadmill but that didn’t last long due to the knee. There were no stairmasters in the place but they did have a couple Lifefitness elliptical machines.
I had never been on a cross-trainer before. I guess I always thought people looked somewhat laughable on these machines so I had never given them a chance. Anyway, that day I had some time and wasn’t real concerned about looking screwy so I tried one out.
This machine I worked out on while in Iraq and several months later in Kuwait was the Lifefitness 9500 I believe. Anyway it was the top of the line club model that you see in gyms across the US.
I was surprised at the the workout I was actually able to receive on these machines despite the seemingly unnatural short stride. When programmed right I felt the cardio workout was pretty close but not equal to running while the fat burning aspects were about the same. Anyway, I managed to keep weight off, and the smooth, low impact aspect of this club model machine was great for my knees.
I liked the machine so much that I vowed buy one for myself when I returned home… Once back at Ft. Bragg I continued using the club model at one of the base gyms. They may have been a little bit older Lifefitness model but produced the same solid results and were easy on the knees.
About this time I also started investigating the cost of buying the club model or x9i for my home. I wasn’t completely shocked at the cost but I wasn’t real happy either. The thought of paying over $4000 for an exercise machine just didn’t seem right to me.
At this time I also discovered the other Lifefitness models available. The only other one that held my interest was the x5i because it had the adjustable stride mechanism and at that time more workouts programmed into it than the pricier x9i.
The store I dealt with was so-so knowledgeable about the Lifefitness machines they sold but and they didn’t have any in stock. They didn’t seem to worry about getting any in anytime soon either for me to try out. They were pretty much take it or leave it. However, the price quotes (and there were several but that is not relevant here) they gave me were seemingly decent compared to what I had seen on the net. So sight unseen, with little to no input from the dealer I decided based on the adjustable stride mechanism, additional programs and adequate sturdiness to buy the x5i at $2700. The x9i was offered at approximately $100 more. It was a tough decision for me since I still think that’s a lot of money for an exercise machine but I went through with it anyway, put in my order and then I waited and waited and waited and waited…
It would have been comical but I was somewhat perturbed anyway because I was still not supposed to be running and the store owner hadn’t exactly won me over in my dealings with him. After taking my x5i order he had proceeded to call me back to try to get me to pay up front (sidebar-I had ordered and PAID for over $1000 worth of weight equipment 2 weeks before from the same guy). Anyway I refused to do this on principal telling him I would pay him on delivery of the x5i. Still waiting….
Anyway several excuses and a month later my machine came in (most of it anyway, a plastic cover piece took another month and I had to go pick it up myself). I even helped the guy unload it, which in his defense I had agreed to do when I called about its whereabouts the day before.
My wife was initially appalled at the looks and size of this thing. The x5i takes up a good bit of room and is not the prettiest thing to look at. But she was then still happy to just have me home and knew I really wanted it so she didn’t complain too much.
At first I wasn't overly impressed with the machine. It’s sturdy enough, even for me, but it’s not the same as the Lifefitness club models – it’s not really better and not really worse…it’s just different. That’s what you have to understand about this model – it’s a good machine but it is different in small ways from the from club model.
Good differences I've noticed compared to the top of the line Lifefitness club models:
-The adjustable stride length is great. This should really be available on the higher end model. My wife and I are both able to enjoy the machine at different stride lengths and burn different areas when working out. To me this makes a big enough difference that I’d buy the x5i again if I had the choice.
-The chest heart rate monitor with the x5i is better than having to keep your hands on certain areas of the arm handles.
-The x5i is smooth but a different smooth than the club models I’ve used before. I think it has different inner workings but its all relative really.
-Machine doesn't have that annoying beep.
Bad differences compared to the top of the line Lifefitness club models:
-The club models I used before, if my memory serves correctly did seem to be a little more solidly built. The x5i is well built but it does seem to be a little noisier and creakier (especially the foot pedals) than the club models.
-While I’m no pansy, I’m not a big fan of the rubberized handle covers on this thing. I can see why some people would have to wear workout gloves while on it.
-I think the real club models have a better overall feel than the x5i but not by much.
Tossups:
-The x5i does function at a different angle but that’s pretty much unnoticeable after the first couple workouts.
-Computer seems to be the same in x5i as in club models I’ve used.
-Both models are big and ugly.
-No mechanical problems thus far (knock on wood) but I paid $2700 for it and I’ve only had it for less 4 months so it should still work.
Anyway, my wife and I like the machine a great deal. As stated before it’s not the same as lifefitness club models I’ve used but it’s still a good piece of equipment and well worth the cost if you use it. I work out on it 5 to 6 times a week an hour at a time and feel it’s been a blessing for my knees. Additionally, with this and my garage weight room (wife still doesn’t like it), I'm enjoying the time (and eventually maybe the money) I am saving not paying for a gym membership.
As for the x9i, I’ve never used it, so I can’t really comment on it. The website says it used to be the club model so I’m sure it’s nice but it’s my thought that if you’re over 6’ tall you’re probably better off with the x5i and the adjustable stride length. But that’s just my opinion.
As for the Lifefitness / PreCor debate, I think you fall into one or the other camps. I used a PreCor for 3 weeks while in Connecticut on business in August. I prefer my x5i machine to the one I used there. This PreCor had the moving arms but seemed to me to be more like a stairmaster than the Lifefitnesses that I have used. However to each their own – many of my friends and co-workers prefer the PreCor machines for whatever reason.
Anyway, to wrap this up, I'd recommend the x5i to anyone. It's pretty expensive but if you use it, it's probably well worth the cost. If you're tall, I'd definitely recommend the x5i - if you're really short and no one else will be using it then I'd recommend trying out the x9i - if you have that option.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
charliewest
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Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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