The best treadmill reviews you can trust
Your gym has a fantastic treadmill; if you want that quality and type of treadmill at home, we might know the one to suggest. This review of the Life Fitness Run CX Treadmill reviews what makes this residential treadmill similar to commercial machines.
Updated: September 12, 2023
The Life Fitness Run CX Treadmill is a premium treadmill with a large running surface and ample storage. The Run CX is a non-folding treadmill that needs a large dedicated space. You won’t want to move this treadmill around often, if at all. The Run XC requires no subscription to access its onboard content, but it has four user profiles with three custom workouts each. The Run CX is ideal for users trying to bring their gym experience home.
The Life Fitness Run CX has a durable frame. It supports a maximum user weight of 400 lbs. The two curved uprights are large, which improves the console stabilization. The treadmill arms are very nice. They are long, cushioned, and feel nice to grip. They don’t feel too slippery for sweaty hands. The foot rails are wide enough to support standing on either side of the deck, and their texture ensured that I felt stable.
The Run CX has a 3.0 HP motor with a 6.0 HP peak strength. The motor is underpowered for the price of this treadmill. I would expect a treadmill to have a 4.0 CHP motor in this price range, so Life Fitness could improve upon this. That said, this treadmill’s build quality should support long-distance running and more than one user. The motor noise is on par with other treadmills. I did not find it to be remarkably quiet or loud. If left sitting unused, the treadmill may be louder initially.
The 22” x 60” running surface is tough to find in the residential treadmill market these days. Most brands have slimmed their treadmills down to 20-inch widths. Fortunately, the Run CX is among the few that retain the larger belt size. The treadmill feels roomier than most. Larger users or runners who have trouble staying centered on the belt will appreciate this extra width.
As a treadmill reviewer, I highly recommend that consumers keep up with their exercise equipment’s required and suggested maintenance. Alas, in real-life scenarios, many consumers have no idea that they need to be conducting maintenance on their machines. While the Run CX does need routine cleaning and inspection, the belt is low maintenance and lubricant-infused, not requiring regular lubrication. Not only does the infused belt save time, but it also is one less maintenance task to forget accidentally.
The Run CX is a non-folding treadmill. Shoppers should consider the Run CX’s size and space requirements when planning their fitness space. The Run CX has two wheels beneath the front of the treadmill and can be tilted from the end of the deck onto them. The treadmill’s 341 lb weight makes lifting the deck no easy task. Many users will find this impossible to do alone. I recommend assembling the Run CX, where it will stay permanently.
The Run CX treadmill inclines to a maximum grade of 15%. It does not decline, which is underwhelming. Many commercial-grade treadmills do not decline, but it limits the type of training you can do. The Run CX feels smooth during its incline transitions, which is very important. Some treadmills jostle while adjusting during running, but the Run CX does not.
The Run CX offers most of the same features you will find on a gym treadmill. There are some nice training customization options that improve the Run CX’s performance. Since the Run CX, does not provide video training content, the features are lower-tech than some users may prefer, especially at this price point.
The Run CX’s console is not very intuitive. It provides four user profiles with custom user settings for workouts, calorie burn based on user demographics, and assigning values to the quick adjust speed and incline buttons. Yet, for all the customization it offers, the button navigation is very hard to use.
The setting controls and workout buttons do not provide any tactile feedback, so it can be difficult to know if you have successfully pressed them. Rather than use the tip of my finger to press the buttons, I had more success pressing my whole finger pad against the button, which felt unnatural. As a result, it takes a very long time to set up your user profile. Thankfully, unless you will change your settings often, just set aside a block of time to input your preferences when first setting up the Run CX treadmill.
Beneath the main console, the Run CX has an activity pad with three speed and incline buttons. These buttons are not labeled beyond symbols representing low to high speed and low to high incline progression. They are pre-assigned values of 2 mph, 4 mph, and 6 mph for speed. The incline is 1.5%, 3%, and 5%. These values can be customized in each user profile. Thus, all four profiles can have different walk, jog, and run speeds, as well as low, moderate, and high incline grades. Though I prefer quick access buttons to all the speed and incline settings, this is probably the best option for not including buttons for each number.
The activity pad also includes buttons for start, stop, speed up/down, and incline up/down. The speed up/down buttons change the speed by increments of 0.1 mph, while the incline up/down buttons change the grade in increments of 0.5%.
The Run CX does not have a touchscreen display. It instead uses a 7” LCD screen to show messages, workout metrics, and workout progress. The screen is bright and high contrast, allowing users to read it easily.
The Run CX console has two angled cup holders. These are located on either side of the console and are moderately sized. They are harder to reach while you are running but do not shake or jostle the items within.
A tablet rack is located at the top of the console. It has two rubber pieces that provide grip and compression to keep your device from shifting during your workout. I like the tablet rack and found it quite stable. I appreciate Life Fitness including this rack as it makes it easier to view third-party entertainment and training content.
The Run CX has one additional storage compartment located at the bottom of the console. This space is ideal for storing a phone, keys, a protein bar, or other small items. The Run CX has a great amount of storage for keeping all your needed belongings on hand.
The Run CX has Bluetooth features, allowing you to connect a smart device or watch. Supported watches include Apple and Samsung Galaxy watches. Connecting a tablet or phone enables apps like Kinomap, Zwift, Wahoo, and Rouvy to provide training content.
The Life Fitness Run CX has built-in pulse grip sensors protruding from the activity pad. They are conveniently placed for gripping but are less effective or accurate than a heart rate wrist or chest strap. Fortunately, the Run CX also includes a free heart rate monitor chest strap. The strap is much easier and safer for performance to use. Heart rate metrics will automatically populate on the screen when either heart rate monitoring device detects a heart rate.
The Life Fitness Run CX is a great treadmill for users looking for a gym-quality treadmill. The spacious deck and non-folding frame recall commercial-grade equipment without the matching price tag. With the Run CX, you pay for the construction, not the extensive smart features. The Run CX is best for runners and walkers who want a durable frame and treadmill deck. The low-maintenance running belt removes one task from your to-do list.
I like the positioning of the activity pad, though some users will find that it extends too far out over the deck. I often hit treadmill motor hoods when I run indoors, so having a console design that pushes my back from the motor hood improves my workout. Plus, the 22” x 60” deck is so spacious that I did not feel like I would fall off the back, even when running fast.
The Run CX is a great treadmill for a quick start workout. I found the onboard workouts a little tedious to navigate and program. The treadmill performed better when I was following my own plan. The speed and incline adjustments are moderate–neither fast nor slow. I wouldn’t rate the Run CX as the best treadmill for short interval workouts, but if you are doing longer (1-minute+) intervals, the programmable speed and incline buttons are really convenient.
The treadmill deck is nice. It is not as soft as a NordicTrack treadmill nor as firm as a Sole. It falls into that Goldilocks category that I would choose when selecting only one treadmill for all of my training. The Life Fitness Run CX is a comfortable treadmill. Its treadmill arms are soft to the touch and not slippery, lending themselves to the premium feel. Unlike other premium treadmills, the Run CX doesn’t skimp on storage compartments, which I appreciate after running on treadmills without cup holders or tablet racks. To summarize, the Run CX is great for long walks or runs, thanks to all of these comfort features.
The Life Fitness Run CX offers a few onboard training options. These options are improved by custom workout options. These workouts can take some time to program, as the console navigation is slow and not very intuitive, but it will be worth it if you plan to perform all your running workouts on the Run CX. There are three custom workouts per user profile, giving each member of your household control over their training.
There is no paid subscription content built into the treadmill, but runners or walkers are encouraged to use third-party content with their smart devices. The Bluetooth connectivity between the Run CX and these apps is quite limited. I will update this review if I discover features to the contrary, but it does not seem like third-party apps can control the speed or incline settings. At best, the treadmill can export live or completed workout metrics.
The Life Fitness Run CX Treadmill isn’t as flashy in the short term as other premium treadmills, but it is built to last. The treadmill boasts a lifetime warranty on the frame and shock absorbers, while the motor is covered by a 10-year warranty. The Run CX Treadmill brings the gym experience home with its large running deck, durable non-folding construction, and high user weight capacity.
