Name: Life Fitness F1 Smart
Brand: Life Fitness

Quick Summary

Foldable and portable, the Life Fitness F1 Smart Treadmill is designed to fit virtually any home workout area.

It’s far superior to typical folding treadmills in terms of shock absorption, electronics and overall quality.

This unit is very similar to the more expensive F3 but has a bit less horsepower and a unique console.

Read on for the full FitRated review of the Life Fitness F1.

Specifications

Model	Life Fitness F1 Smart
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the treadmill's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	86.3%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$2,598
Best Price Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the current best price. Note: MSRP stands for Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.
Speed Treadmill Speed is measured in Miles Per Hour (mph). Average running speed is 5-9 mph.	.5 - 10 mph
Incline Treadmill Incline measures the angle of the deck, and how steep it is relative to the floor (0% is flat, and 15% is like a steep hill).	0 - 12%
Motor The Treadmill Motor is what turns the belt as you run. We recommend at least 2 HP (Horsepower) motors, 2.5+ HP for jogging, and 3.0+ HP for running.	2.5 HP DC motor
Deck Treadmill Deck dimensions are measured in inches: Width x Length. The wider and longer the deck, the safer it is (55-60 inches long recommended for running).	22" x 55"
Belt The Treadmill Belt is the surface you run on. The thicker the belt, the less impact on your joints. At least 2-ply (1 inch) recommended.	Flexdeck Shock Absorption System
Folding? Some treadmills are designed to conserve space by folding up. This is a convenient option, but some features might be reduced.
Programs Treadmill Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	12
Max. Weight Treadmill Max User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that it can safely support, which can represent durability.	300 lbs
Heart Rate Heart Rate programs allow you to track how many times your heart is beating per minute (bpm), and some control the workout for you.	Handle grips Wireless Chest Strap
Dimensions Dimensions are included to help you figure out if this treadmill will fit properly (Length x Width x Height and Height x Depth).	77" x 34" x 59"
Display Treadmill Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	2 Console Options
Cooling Fans Treadmill Cooling Fans are designed to help keep you cool during an intense workout.
Accessory Tray Some treadmills include an accessory tray for holding items such as water bottles, wallets, keys, or MP3 players like iPods.
Speakers Treadmills that include a sound system allow you to listen to your MP3 player/iPod through built-in speakers (no headphones).
Quick Controls Quick Controls allow you to select speed, incline and even workout programs with the touch of a button (usually on the handles).
Warranty The warranty is a very important part of your investment. The longer the warranty, the longer you can get free/discounted repairs by the manufacturer.	Frame and Deck: Lifetime Motor: 10 Years Parts: 5 Years Labor: 1 Years

Our Rating

Rating: 86.3/100. The Life Fitness F1 Smart Treadmill is one of the better folding treadmills on the market. Unlike cheap folding treadmills, the F1 offers the quality of a good traditional treadmill. It weighs a hefty 259 pounds but can easily be folded and wheeled away after workouts. Its full price is $2,298.

Key points are a 2.5 HP motor, an impressive FlexDeck cushioning system, a 55″ track, a power incline with range of 0.5% to 12%, and wireless heart rate monitoring. Additionally the F1 Smart Treadmill is iPod-compatible and can connect with popular fitness apps.

The Life Fitness F1 has a 77″ x 34″ footprint. The treadmill is easily folded for storage and has transport wheels attached.
Pros:

Full-sized track for walking (55″ x 20″)
Top speed 10 mph
Power incline (Maximum 12%)
FlexDeck cushioning
Smart 2.5 HP motor (Output adjusts to user weight)
iPod compatible
Third party workout app integration
Seven preset workout programs
Quick start mode uses your preferred incline and speed
Wireless heart rate receiver
Contact heart rate receiver
Cup holders
Accessory tray
Foldable
Transport wheels
High user weight capacity (300 pounds)

Cons:

Track isn’t long enough for taller runners
Priced higher than non-folding treadmills with comparable horsepower

The Life Fitness F1 is very similar to the F3, which costs $299 more. The F3 has a more powerful motor and includes a choice of two consoles, each with at least 12 preset workout programs.

Introduction

The Life Fitness F1 is a sturdy folding treadmill priced at $2,298. It easily outperforms typical folding treadmills and fares well against traditional treadmills too. The F1 has good motor power, very effective cushioning and wireless heart rate monitoring. It has seven preset workouts and can recall your preferred speed and incline for Quick Start walking, jogging and running. Additionally it can connect with popular fitness apps; one option is using LFConnect to transfer workout programs to the treadmill. Overall the F1 Smart Treadmill is intended for shoppers who would take advantage of the mobile options. For other shoppers the F3 with plenty of built-in workouts is a more popular choice.

Workout Programs

The F1 treadmill computer has an LED display with blue lighting. It has seven preset programs to simplify training with specific goals for calorie burn, distance and other variables. The Quick Start feature recalls your preferred settings for speed and incline. The big strength though is connecting with mobile apps for guided training and automated data tracking. The LFConnect app is one option for accessing additional treadmill workouts.

Life Fitness F1 Smart Features

Whether folding or non-folding, Life Fitness treadmills use FlexDeck cushioning. The FlexDeck system helps reduce the impact of exercise on your joints, which lowers the risk of injury and promotes your endurance. It reduces the stress of exercise by up to 30% compared with asphalt surfaces.

The comfortable running surface can also be power-adjusted to simulate uphill running. The track can incline if half-degree increments up to 12 degrees.

A dock for your iPod is placed at the lower center of the console. The F1 is compatible with iPod Nano 5th generation + below, iPod Classic, iPod with Video and first and second generation iPod Touch.

To help you train efficiently, the F1 can track your heart rate wirelessly or with touch sensors.

A “green” feature on Life Fitness treadmills is their self-adjusting motors. This treadmill can run constantly at 2.5 HP, but if you weigh less it will use less energy.

This treadmill is a space-saver; it’s designed to let you easily fold the deck upward. Transport wheels are attached.

Warranty & Guarantee

The Life Fitness F1 Smart Treadmill warranty includes:

– Frame: Lifetime

– Deck: Lifetime

– Motor: 10 years

– Parts: 5 Years

– Labor: 1 year

Conclusion

The F1 Smart Treadmill is a very good folding treadmill with a long warranty on its parts. Its 2.5 HP motor and 55″ track are ideal for walkers but could be limiting for runners. This unit doesn’t offer the built-in workout variety of the F3, but options are endless if you connect mobile fitness apps.

The F1 is high quality but faces good competition from the F3, which costs little more. We also like the feature-rich NordicTrack Commercial 2950, which has a stronger motor and a lower sale price.