LifeCore Elliptical Trainers
LifeCore Fitness may not be one of the most well known brands but they’ve been working hard to build a reputation for solid elliptical machine with excellent overall design. LifeCore has been steadily gaining popularity a few of their elliptical models received “Best Buy” and “Best Over All” from a trusted consumer magazine. Many LifeCore elliptical reviews from customers report that they based their purchase on the “Best Buy” rating and have been happy with the results. Though LifeCore has only become more popular among consumers in recent years the company has a long history in the fitness business. They got their start as owners of fitness retail stores, which shows in their dedication to provide excellent customer service. Their experience in fitness retail gave them an edge when designing equipment because they understood exactly what customers need in fitness equipment.
Lifecore Elliptical Review
LifeCore CD400 Elliptical
LifeCore CD500 Elliptical
LifeCore CD600 Elliptical
LifeCore CD700 Elliptical
LifeCore lc985VG Elliptical
Most LifeCore ellipticals feature a center drive design, rather than a front or rear design. Center drive elliptical trainers, sometimes referred to as side flywheel elliptical trainers, feature dual flywheels on either side of the machine rather than one large flywheel on the front or back. The main benefits of the center drive design include closer foot pedal spacing, and a square base that’s less prone to rocking. While LifeCore does offer a rear flywheel elliptical, the LifeCore 985VG, most LifeCore models sport a center drive design with foot pedal spacing as low as 2” apart, resulting in an extremely comfortable stride. The design also allows the user to stand upright, rather than leaning on the handrails, which helps to burn more calories during a workout. Another benefit that comes from the center drive design is a short footprint. Center drive LifeCore elliptical trainers tend to only take up about 42” to 52” lengthwise.
LifeCore Fitness elliptical trainers tend to come with at least a 21” stride length, which is important in order to push your leg muscles to their limit and get the most out of a workout. A few models like the CD500 and the CD700 offer adjustable stride lengths that range from 17 to 25 inches. The most obvious benefit to a wide range like that is that it provides comfortable ranges for several users of varying heights. But the other benefit lies in its ability to provide short, mid and long strides to the same user who wants to target different muscle groups. Extending all the way to 25” helps to increase flexibility as well as work the core muscle, rather than just the legs.
Part of LifeCore’s emphasis on strong design is evident in the way they construct their machines. LifeCore uses welded single piece frames rather than bolted parts that will loosen and squeak over time. They also use sealed bearings rather than bushings in all pivot points and use Poly-V Flexonic drive belts that never stretch over time. These features may seem unimportant to uneducated buyers, but they have everything to do with how long an elliptical will last.
Compared to some other brands LifeCore may seem expensive, especially when you consider their lack of bells and whistles a lot of other home elliptical trainers include like speakers, workout card technology or intuitive high resolution console displays. While those features can be great, especially when it comes to motivation and entertainment, it’s also important to realize that the money spent on a Life Core elliptical goes into quality design rather than unessential gadgets and accessories.
