Customer Reviews

Lifecore LC5000 Self Powered Light Commercial Grade Elliptical Trainer

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased the Lifecore LC5000 from Amazon about a month ago and have been using it regularly since then.

Initial observations -- this is a large & heavy unit. Make sure you measure your space and have the room to set it up so it does not feel cramped. You are also more elevated than you are with most gym machines when using it -- I'm 5'10" and have maybe 6-8" clearance above my head with 8' ceilings. Set-up was very straight-forward and took about two hours once I had everything out of the box and laid out. It is a very solid unit and when assembled, looks like a commercial gym machine.

Pros:

Overall, I'm very pleased with this machine and would buy it again, particularly at the price I paid at Amazon ($1299, free shipping). It is incredibly smooth, relatively quiet and has a solid feel so long as it is planted on the ground (see below). Once you get into a smooth rhythm, it feels indistinguishable from the $5K machines at my local YMCA. The heart rate pick-ups (both remote & on the handles) work great.

Minor nits (reason for the 4/5 rating):

(i) the base is too narrow - the machine itself is fairly wide, and the base could have been designed to be several inched wider without impacting clearance through doors, etc. As it is, if I pick up the pace and get sloppy about focusing on staying centered, it rocks side to side a bit. I'm ~200 lbs and imagine this would be less of a problem for lighter people and maybe more of a problem for heavier folks.

(ii) the reciprocating arm handles are further back than the gym machines I am used to; I'll probably adjust to it, but at this point it does not feel completely natural. This could be compensated by foot platforms that extend more toward the back. I've thought about trying to try to engineer an extension for the platforms so I can position myself back further.

(iii) the water bottle holder is tucked under so you can't see it when you are on the machine. It's not a huge deal, but if you want a drink, you need to break your stride to either bend down to see it or grope around - it would have been fairly simple to design it so you can see it at a glance while working out.

(iv) you can't select the info that is displayed as a default on the console during your workout. For example, I like having the timer always on; on the LC5000 you need to hit a button to show the timer and after a few seconds the display then reverts back to its default mode. If your workout is 30 min or longer, you can get a sense of the relative time into the workout based on which vertical bar is flashing, but I really prefer to see the time in minutes elapsed or remaining.

The Lifecore LC5000 is very well built, and is really the equivalent of a professional-grade machine for a fraction of the price. Fit and finish are excellent, and minimal assembly is required. You do need quite a bit of space, such as a room with a high ceiling (otherwise head clearance will be minimal for a taller person). It is also very heavy, so be sure to have help bringing it inside (most of the assembly has been done for you, other than the handlebars and trim pieces). I liked the way that the relatively few hardware pieces were packaged to reduce the chance of anything being missed during packaging. This is a very durable trainer that should last for many years. It also would be suitable for heavier people, because of its very strong construction .

This machine is made to last. Heavy guage steel and quality welds insure a long life. The movement of the machine is very smooth. The display isn't great, you can't record your workouts. But if you want a machine that will last and is a pleasure to use, get this one.

This LC-5000 elliptical is truly a commercial machine. This machine is very smooth and comfortable. The LC-5000 has a self generating feature so no need to plug it in. The console is large and very easy to see the programs. The foot pedals have cushion on them which feels really good on my feet after a long day at work. Search no more!!