More and more people have taken up exercising at home and for this reason have sought out their own personal equipment, such as treadmills. They look for high-quality machines that will help them achieve their goals so that they don’t have to go through the inconvenience of going to the gym.
Life Fitness offers two excellent treadmill models, the T3 and the F3. We are going to compare them based on convenience and size. We will base our recommendation on user needs.
Life Fitness T3
The T3 features a 350-pound weight capacity, extra-wide 60-inch track, 15% incline, and 3.0 horsepower motor.
The Track console allows users to connect with LFConnect.com for fitness tracking. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, it works with Android and Apple-supported third-party apps. Other customization options and built-in apps are offered with the console.With 16 built-in workout programs, the Track console will keep users going.
This treadmill also features FlexDeck cushioning, which causes up to a 30% reduction of the impact on joints. It can help users enjoy the benefits of working out over many different terrains by offering an incline of up to 15%. Additionally, the incline can be achieved in 0.5% increments.
Two types of heartrate monitors are included, contact and wireless. These monitors are particularly useful for heartrate-controlled workouts as they ensure that users are exerting the correct amount of energy.
The T3 offers a maintenance-free track that features excellent rollers. This means the unit will endure for many years. Also, it automatically reduces its power consumption when not in use. The motor will adjust to the user’s weight and the machine will only operate at full capacity when absolutely required.
The unit also has two cup holders as part of its accessory tray. These cup holders are dishwasher safe. Also featured is a reading rack to allow hands-free reading while exercising.
A silent Magna Drive motor powers the T3. In addition to its 3.0 horsepower, it offers speeds ranging from 0.5-12 mph. It is covered by a 10-year warranty. The electrical and mechanical parts are covered by a 5-year warranty and the console by a 3-year warranty.
There are a couple of downsides to this model. First, its large size makes it harder to accommodate. Second, it does not feature a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Third, it does not come assembled, and assembly costs extra.
Life Fitness F3
The F3 features a 350-pound weight capacity, an incline of up to 12%, and a 3.0 horsepower motor.
While both the T3 and F3 are large treadmills, the F3 offers users the ability to fold it up out of the way to take up less space. The F3 is slightly smaller in track length than the T3. Both feature excellent shock absorption with FlexDeck.
The Go console offers users everything they need to get going with their workouts. It includes 12 programs. Up to two users can create and save custom profiles for a rapid start. The Quick Start button brings up the user’s preferred settings for running, jogging, and walking.
Most folding treadmills are missing components and features to accommodate the folding feature. The F3 is not like this as it is quite robust. Additionally, it comes with a five-year electrical and parts warranty, which is longer than most foldable treadmills.
With an incline of 0.5-12%, users will be able to dramatically increase their metabolic rate. This is a rare feature for a foldable treadmill.
The F3 will automatically reduce its energy consumption if it is plugged in but not in use. Additionally, its motor will adjust to the user’s weight and will only draw maximum power when absolutely required.
The console features a reading rack, an accessory tray, and dishwasher-safe cup holders.
Included with the treadmill are contract and wireless heart rate monitors. These can be used in combination with the F3’s heartrate-controlled workouts.
The F3 is powered by a quiet Magna Drive motor. It’s 3.0 horsepower and under a 10-year warranty.
There are a couple of downsides to this treadmill model. First, the track is too short for a taller runner. Second, it takes up a good deal of space when unfolded.
Our Recommendation
Clearly, both treadmills offer excellent options when it comes to working out at home. However, we must offer users an explanation of the differences before they make a purchasing decision. The T3 has a 60-inch track, a 15% incline, and 16 built-in programs but it does not offer folding capabilities. We recommend this unit for users who have more space to work with as well as those who need a more intense workout requiring a higher incline.
On the other hand, the F3 offers foldability but has a shorter track at 55 inches and the incline only goes to 12%. We recommend this model for users who need the ability to fold up their treadmill and who can accommodate the shorter track length.