I returned my Precor and bought the Life Fitness X-3. The dual action makes all the difference. The ramp on my Precor felt "artificial" and hurt my knees. I am very pleased that the store was able to swap me into this elliptical.
(Posted on 12/3/10)

I think I paid $2,800 out the door if I'm not mistaken, So the current sale price is killer. I noticed that the past reviews were written a couple/few years ago, so I thought I contribute regarding the newest design.
It is not much different although I think they have newer quieter "Whisper" bearings in this one. The LCD screen (see below) is different, too.
I started looking at cheaper machines in Dicks, Champs, and Sears. However, nothing bothers me more than clicks, squeaks, and wobbles that tend to arrive after a a few months.
After a visit to a local LifeFitness dealer, I saw the clear difference in quality... but had to get over the sticker shock... 2x to 4x the price of the usual elliptical.
Realizing that I wasn't getting any younger, and that exercising was critical to my health, I decided to commit to a real-deal elliptical.
Here it is 4 months later, and I am still a daily user.
I have already lost all the weight that I needed to lose. Now, I was not all "overweight", but for a guy who has always been slim... I was putting on a nice layer of weight that I had never seen before. It is now gone.
The best part is that the exercise is quite comfortable. Getting to the proper heart rate and maintaining it is remarkably easy and far more comfortable than you'd expect. I keep my heart at 80% of maximum, and I can do so without the discomfort of jogging, stair climbing, or treadmills. This "feature' can't be overstated. Uncomfortable exercising is the quickest way to turn your exercise routine into a temporary fad. Comfort is imperative.
The thing is totally silent and feels like a well oiled, solid machine.
You can always just go outside and exercise, but the thing is, it can't be a fad. Whatever you do, you must keep at it. This is why I took the risk of spending so much on this big machine. Regardless of the weather, it would be waiting for me... TV, MP3 player, towel... always ready to go. So on a whim, you can just jump on. You can do this in total privacy (of course), too.

Here's my latest discovery, I can work out in my Crocs! No running shoes needed... just barefoot in my Crocs and I notice no discomfort or ill effects.. so you don't wear out your running shoes and don't soil a pair of socks. The machine is almost zero impact, and the crocs work totally perfectly and comfortably on the big foot paddles. Cool! I totally don't understand one would benefit from wearing the usual shoes of any sort on one of these machines.

The most disappointed aspect is the "Advanced" console. It is oddly slow to react when you press a button, and has very limited features. I wish it kept a record of my workouts (this is easy stuff, folks). Also, it would be very nice if I could just select my name (my profile) on the screen and do my usual workout without having to press a bunch more buttons. This console added almost $500 to the price, and although it looks slick... it is actually rather crudely programmed... and as simple as it is, it isn't terribly easy to use! My watch has more features and costs $39.
I would skip the fancy console and just get the "basic" one.
I bought the advanced console for one of it's main features, though: I like to be able to tell it where to keep my heart rate so that it automatically adjusts the resistance to maintain my heart rate in the proper training zone while I mindlessly shuffle along watching TV or listening to music. The basic console doesn't have this feature. (Posted on 12/3/10)

For the health and fitness minded or the athlete in training, this elliptical trainer is hard to beat dollar for dollar. I have tried all types of trainers - from those offered at Sears to Sports Authority, Sam's Club and just about any exercise specialty shop. My main goal when looking for an elliptical trainer was to have a smooth, natural stride which I will want to ride on again and again. I wanted a machine to maintain my cardio fitness level and also shed about 15 pounds on.

I must admit, though. I was a bit biased from the beginning as I had used the top of the line LifeFitness elliptical trainer (the HR9500) at a health club I used to frequent. It was simply awesome! Great feel, nice features, but it cost over $5,000; out of my league. If you are a serious exerciser and are in tune with your body, you will definitely appreciate the great feel and stride the X3 has. Is it as good as the top of the line LifeFitness offers in its commercial line? No. If I had to guesstimate, though, I'd say the X3 is at least 80% as good of a stride and feel as the $5,000 model...which is good enough for me. The X3 is the entry level trainer for consumer or home use.

I couldn't rationalize spending hundreds more dollars for heart rate monitoring - I simply wear my Polar strap on Heart Rate monitor (about $100) and am guaranteed of EKG accurate monitoring - not to mention I don't have to wait for the LED display to "scroll" to heart rate to see what I am doing.

If you are serious about your heart and health and want a quality machine - the X3 is it. Yes, it IS a lot of money - but hey, the way I look at it is this: Spend several hundred bucks on a cheap elliptical trainer which doesn't push you hard, squeeks, breaks down, doesn't feel natural and which will ultimately end up in the corner collecting dust OR buy a machine that will entice you to use it, will provide years of problem free use AND will give you something more important than any amount of money in return: Good Health! (Posted on 12/3/10)

I have been using a Life Fitness 9500HR elliptical trainer at the gym for a few years. I like the workout an elliptical provides and feel it is one of the greatest fitness machines ever made. The gym is 10 miles from my house one way and is only open until 8 PM.

My wife is an avid runner and found out she was pregnant. Living in Colorado it is hard to run outside in the winter due to snow and ice. My wife wanted a piece of exercise equipment to prevent a lot of weight gain and it relieved me to know that she wouldn't be taking a chance of falling on the ice and possibly hurting herself or the baby.

We looked around at a couple of other brands but went with Life Fitness due to the feature, cost and our experience with their products in the past. We chose the X3with the advanced console due to the length of the stride, the smoothness of the motion and the advanced features of the machine.

I bought the machine and set it up myself. The box was nearly 6 feet long and it weighed nearly 275 pounds. Set up was easy and the directions were very clear. If someone is not mechanically inclined, does not have any tools or does not have a helper then I would recommend paying the dealer to set the machine up for them. Set up took me 2.5 hours, but I saved $150 picking it up myself and putting it together.

One assembled I was ready to try it out. My X3 feels better than the 9500 I use at the gym! I like the heart rate programs that automatically adjust the tension/levels to maintain your heart rate. Because I bought the advanced console, it works with a chest heart rate strap, if you buy the basic console it does not have the heart rate programs and will only display your heart rate when you grab the handles in the middle of the machine. It is very nice having this machine in my basement and being able to workout whenever it is convenient. I like to use the elliptical and then perform strength training with my Bowflex. My wife love this machine and we are happy with the purchase. Yes, it is very expensive. We paid $2000, the MSRP on the Life Fitness website for the X3 advanced is $2700. The frame comes with a lifetime warranty. The parts warranty is 3 years and 1 year labor. I have had no problems to date and really do not expect any.

If You want to get in shape or increase your level of cardio fitness, look no further than the Life Fitness X3! (Posted on 12/3/10)

About a year ago I moved into a new house and decided I finally had room for an elliptical trainer. I had used Life Fitness e-trainers in my health club for years, and felt comfortable buying one of their machines.

The salesman at the fitness store told me that due to my weight--about 250lbs, built like a football player--the cheaper e-trainers would not be stable enough. Tried some cheap machines, saw exactly what he was talking about, and purchased his recommendation--the X3--for about $2200. This seems like a lot of money, but I have always felt any money spent on health and fitness is a wise investment.

The X3 is very smooth and easy to use. I didn't even have to adjust the legs, I just set it up on a rubber mat and it remains very stable despite my weight. It's not hard on the knees, and it's pretty easy on my arthritic feet.

This is a basic, high-quality machine. It doesn't have the bells and whistles, but it will do the job quite nicely. I have put a lot of miles on this thing in the past year, and have had no problems.

My sister, who spent about $3000 on a different e-trainer, likes mine better and her husband wants to sell theirs and get an X3. A friend of mine tried it and wants to buy one as well (Posted on 12/3/10)

Although this piece of exercise equipment is very costly, the price is more than made up for in its many benefits. I used a similar model while working out at my local gym for a year. I lost about 20 lbs. and firmed up. When I moved, I could no longer go to the gym so I decided to purchase one for my home. After spending $2400 on this piece of equipment, there was NO way I was going to let it sit in my house unused. That is the first thing. You will feel obligated to use it!

Secondly, I tried so many other machines and they couldn't even compare. This machine is extremely smooth. The pedals are at a perfect incline so there is no shock to the knees. This was extremely helpful to my fiance who had knee surgery in the past. Every other machine he tried hurt his knee.

You will burn calories faster than walking or riding a bike because you are getting a TOTAL BODY WORKOUT. Both your arms AND your legs are moving at the same time (you can opt not to move your arms by holding on to the grip bar in the middle of the unit). You will see the difference in firmness in both your arms and legs and you will see a decrease in your waist size. I find that when I don't use the machine, I have less energy to make it through my busy day.

Another great feature is that it is very quiet. You can watch TV and not have to turn the volume all the way up.

The Display Console is simplistic yet extremely informative. You can tailor your workout to meet your specific needs. On your X3's console you will find the following Keys:

Time (measures time elapsed)
Distance (measures distance attained)
Level (increase or decrease your workout level)
Quick Start (enter a manual workout)
Cool Down(automatic cool down sequence
CT Reverse (places the monitor in reverse mode)
Clear/Pause (pauses your workout and workout summary)

In additional you can choose a Workout Profile which consists of the following options: random, hill, EZ Resistance and Sport Training. There are also optional Fat Burning and Calorie Burning modes (heart rate monitor sold separately).

Just remember, this is a BIG machine. Make sure you have ample space before purchasing - this unit is not portable!Overall size of this unit assembled is 65"L x 27"W x 62"H and it weighs 200 lbs.

Your Life Fitness X3 Cross Trainer should be kept in a cool, dry area. Maximum user weight for this machine is 300 lbs. The X's frame is constructed of 2" x 3" robotic welded steel and the product carries a lifetime frame warranty, 3 year warranty on parts and electronics and 1 year warranty on labor.

I honestly think that if I had settled for a less expensive machine it would be sitting in my garage right now collecting cobwebs! (Posted on 12/3/10)