The Life Fitness Club Series Treadmill Review – Health Club Quality Model

The home version of the popular Life Fitness Club Series treadmill features the same express controls and quality components that are found on the high-caliber health club model.

If there was ever a machine to wow the treadmill purists, this might be the one.

As such, it has once again been chosen as a Best Buy in the High End Category.

Club Series - The Machine

The Life Fitness Club Series treadmill has an LED display console with on-the-fly programming, and shows incline, speed, time, distance, heart rate, target HR, calories, and pace.

It also has a 16-character scrolling message center. The 16 pre-programmed workouts include Classic (Manual, Hills, Random), Time-based Sports Training, Heart Rate (Fat Burn, Cardio, Intervals, etc.), and Goal, plus Personalized and Custom workouts.

Let's take a look at some of the most appealing specs....

• 4.0 CHP Continuous Duty DC MagnaDrive Motor
• 20" x 60" Tread Belt
• 0-15% Incline in 0.5% increments
• 0.5-12 mph
• 16 Workouts
• Polar® Wireless HR Chest Strap
• Lifepulse Digital Contact HR monitoring
• FlexDeck® Shock Absorption System
• 3.5" Precision Crowned Rollers
• 400 lb. Weight Capacity
• Weight / Dimensions: 431 lbs / 37" x 63.5" x 83"
• Warranty: Lifetime on frame, shock absorbers, & motor, 10 yrs electrical/parts, 1-yr labor

The Buzz

UPDATE:  As of late 2018 it looks as though the base Club Series is no longer being sold, and is being replaced by the new advanced Club Series Plus treadmill.

The Plus is a completely redesigned treadmill with a more sleek, modern, updated look, as well as a new HD touch screen display, Bluetooth capability and a lot more built in workouts.

If you were considering the Club, absolutely look at the new Club Plus as an alternative.  It's a real beast of a machine, and looks much better than the rest of the lineup.

What sets the Life Fitness Club Series treadmill apart is the impressive list of components that are installed including a 5/8” commercial grade multi-ply deck with FlexDeck shock absorption system, big 3.5” precision crowned rollers, and a 4.0 CHP motor.

The 431-pound unit weight listed on the specs, however, is somewhat questionable according to treadmill techs.

It is a heavy machine, but it’s not that heavy. Yet even that is a non-issue; this is just a great machine.

If you love the smooth, quiet ride of the treadmills at your health club, then you’ll love the Life Fitness Club Series.

That’s because they use many of the same features that are found in the commercial models, which are designed for near constant use.

Several leading experts have named this machine as one of their Best Buy winners because of its solid construction and engineering.

In addition to all the great features listed above, you will appreciate that the Lifepulse Contact heart rate sensors and wireless capability deliver precise and accurate monitoring during the workout.

The clean lines of the attractive design make it a machine you will be proud to show off in your home gym.

The Club Series is as good as it gets, but the one thing it is missing is a web-enabled touchscreen.  

If that's something you're interested in take a look at the new Life Fitness Club Series Plus or the Platinum Club Series model.

How Does the Club Series Compare to the Other Life Fitness Treadmills?

There are currently seven Life Fitness treadmills as well as a treadmill desk, so there are a number of different models to choose from.

The Club Series includes the higher end machines, and consists of the base, Club Series + and Platinum Club Series machines.

Let's take a closer look at all of the models so you can see how they compare to each other...

F1 Smart

The base model in the series is foldable and compact, and has a 20" x 55" deck, a 2.5 CHP motor, FlexDeck cushioning, incline capability and up to 10 mph speed.

F3

The up-level F3 also folds, and gives you a stronger 3.0 CHP motor, a tablet rack, cup holders and two console choices, on top of everything found on the F1 Smart treadmill.

T3

The T3 is the non-folding version of the F3, but it has a longer 20" x 60" deck and speeds up to 12 mph.

T5

The T5 adds a wider deck: 22" x 60", FlexDeck Select cushioning and workout recall functionality.

Club Series

As you read about above, the Life Fitness Club Series is just like the treadmill you use at the gym.  

You get a strong 4.0 CHP motor, up to 15% incline, lots of workouts and a 400 lb. max weight capacity.

Club Series +

This is the newest Life Fitness treadmill to be introduced, bringing you everything you love about the base model combined with all of the best features of their F and T models.  

You get the large deck size of the T5 and the touch screen console of the Platinum, along with all of the features and capabilities that are a hallmark of the Club Series.

Platinum Club Series

The premier model in the series, with three different console choices, four different frame color choices, a 22" x 60" deck, wireless heart rate monitoring and premium construction.

Which Life Fitness Treadmill Should You Choose?

If you can swing the higher price tag of the Life Fitness Club Series treadmills, then they are a great choice.  

They are going to give you the highest level of construction, the most advanced cushioning systems, the strongest motors and the largest running belts.

Although the base Club Series has been our favorite for years, we definitely prefer the new Life Fitness Club Series +, as it gives you the best of everything and has a much sleeker, more modern look and feel.

The base and the Platinum are both great, but they have not been updated in years.  

The + version incorporates the latest technology, and gives you the long-awaited touch screen which isn't available on any other models besides the Platinum.

So our picks in the Club Series would be the Plus, followed by the base model and finally the Platinum, which is a bit too expensive and unnecessary for home use.

If you want to save some money and/or want something that folds up for storage, consider the F1 and F3, both rock solid treadmills that are about $2500-$3000 cheaper than the Club Series models.

If you don't need a folding machine, the T3 will give you a longer deck than the folding F3, and the T5 will give you more width if any of the users will be on the larger side.

Life Fitness Club Series Review - Bottom Line

If you are training for a marathon or just need to get in shape, the Life Fitness Club Series treadmill is the ultimate machine, as close to an in the gym feel as you can get.

Life Fitness is quickly becoming the first name that comes to mind when discussing the upper tier of home treadmill manufacturers, and they have certainly earned a spot among them — a list which includes names such as Cybex, Landice, Matrix, Precor, StarTrac, and True.

The Life Fitness Club Series treadmill is a pricey, but if money is no object for putting a first-rate machine in your home gym, it’s a Great Buy. It rates 5 out of 5 stars.

Also look at the new Life Fitness Club Series +, which is only a couple hundred dollars more but is an incredible new entry, with a larger running deck, touch screen console and plenty of built in workout programs.