Life Fitness 95X Elliptical Cross-Trainer Review

A special opportunity for luxury elliptical shoppers, the Certified Used Life Fitness 95x Inspire is a pre-owned fitness club cross-trainer that’s been expertly refurbished for home use. “95x” refers to the base of the machine and “Inspire” is the console. Overall the pair create a classic fitness club elliptical with above-average electronics. Life Fitness sells Certified Used 95x ellipticals for far less than the machines’ brand-new price — about $3500 versus $6000 — so it competes well against the best high-end residential models. And because it’s powered by user energy, the 95x Inspire doesn’t add to monthly electricity bills. A one-year parts and labor warranty is included.

The machine is rear drive, a style that most easily lends itself to comfort and durability. It has a 20” footpath, which lets the majority of trainees take natural-feeling strides with very low impact. A 7” touchscreen is integrated with the console. It features a motivating mix of 24 preset workouts and fitness tests such as Foothills, Hill, Kilimanjaro, Extreme Heart Rate, and Navy PRT. Data can be saved to a USB drive for long-term tracking.

Additionally the Inspire touchscreen gives access to personal iPhone/iPod music and video menus and volume controls. Shoppers can upgrade the 95x Inspire with a 17” LCD TV. It supports a network of 1000 digital TV channels and can also play iPod video files.

The Certified Used 95x Inspire has a one-year standard residential warranty on parts and labor.

Our Favorite Features

• Durable commercial quality components; refurbished and new parts from the original manufacturer
• Spa-quality ergonomics with a rear drive, 20” stride and wide range of adjustable tension
• Great program variety with 24 preset workouts and fitness tests
• Touchscreen control center with seamless iPod/iPhone compatibility
• Charges mobile devices
• Compatible with a 17” HD TV
• Energy-conscious with the option to power the machine entirely with user-generated energy

Life Fitness 95X Elliptical Cross-Trainer - Notable Specs:

Overall Rating:	5-stars
Compact / Folding:	No
Incline:
Stride Length:	20"
Flywheel:
Programs:	24
Fan:	No
Weight Capacity:	350 lbs
Dimensions:	88.1" L x 30.7" W x 65" H

Our Least Favorite Features

• Fixed 20” stride may be too long for shorter adults, plus it provides less versatility than an elliptical with adjustable stride or incline
• One-year warranty on parts and labor is short compared with standard warranties for most high-end residential ellipticals

The Bottom Line

The Life Fitness 95x Inspire is a classic cross-trainer seen in leading health clubs. Sold “Certified Used” it has a discount price that makes it compete well against other ellipticals under $3K. Earning five stars for value it’s a great option for trainees who’d like a fixed 20” stride, which is the health club standard. An alternative with a shorter stride and less advanced console  is the refurbished Life Fitness CLSX.