Name: Bowflex LateralX LX5
Brand: Bowflex

Quick Summary

Literally taking fitness in new directions, the LateralX LX5 cross trainer lets you move three ways. You can push and pull; stand and squat; or move side-to-side to build strength and burn calories. To optimize your exercise time, the Bowflex LateralX mobile app provides 30 full-session workout videos for everyone from exercise novices to toned athletes… and Bowflex Radio can energize each workout with playlists for every musical taste. Read on for FitRated’s in-depth Bowflex LX5 review!

Specifications

Model	Bowflex LateralX LX5
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the elliptical's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	91.2%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$2,699
Best Price Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the best price we've found.	$2,699
Resistance Resistance is what determines calories burned per stride. The more levels, the more precisely you can control the difficulty.	10 Levels
Resistance Type The type of resistance affects the performance of your elliptical. Magnetic and Eddy-Current are the most common types.	Electronically Adjustable
Stride Length Stride Length is important for comfort and smooth strides. A stride length of 18-21 inches is ideal for most heights (5'3 - 6'7).	Adjustable
Pedals Elliptical pedals can be cushioned and adjustable for maximum comfort and minimum impact on joints for injury prevention.	Adjustable
Incline Some elliptical trainers can be set at an incline to increase difficulty and burn more calories.	no
Flywheel The flywheel controls the smoothness and resistance of your workout. In general, the higher the better.	N/A
Programs Elliptical Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	10
User Profiles For each profile the elliptical allows, you can create a custom user account with saved programs and goal settings.	4
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.	Contact heart-rate monitoring system Wireless-chest-strap heart-rate monitoring system
Display Elliptical Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	7.5” LCD screen
Max. Weight Max User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that it can safely support, which can represent durability.	300 lbs
Dimensions Dimensions are included to help you figure out if this elliptical will fit properly (Length x Width x Height and Height x Depth).	63.2″x 53.6″x 46.6″
Upper Body Most ellipticals have handles to hold while you're working out that provide an upper body workout.
Accessory Tray Some ellipticals include an accessory tray for holding items such as water bottles, wallets, keys, or MP3 players like iPods.
Speakers Ellipticals that include a sound system allow you to listen to your MP3 player/iPod through built-in speakers (without headphones).
Cooling Fans Cooling Fans are designed to help keep you cool during an intense workout on your elliptical.
Folding? Some ellipticals are designed to conserve space by folding up. This is a convenient option, but some features might be reduced.
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 an important part of your investment. The longer the warranty, the longer you can get free/discounted repairs.	Parts: 3 years Frame: 3 years Electronics: 3 years Labor: 90 days

Our Rating

Rating: 91.2/100. Real life has ups, downs and sideways motion too. The Bowflex LateralX LX5 helps people enjoy active lifestyles by toning all major muscle groups and the cardiovascular system in short workouts.

This unique fitness machine is similar to an elliptical cross trainer, which lets you exercise with low impact… but by allowing more diverse movement, the LX5 can sculpt your muscles in different ways. The dynamic motion can also tone your cardiovascular system and can blast calories very quickly.

Ten resistance settings are available to meet a wide range of strengths and preferences. To help you train like a pro, Bowflex provides 10 built-in workout programs and also supplies 30 exercise videos via the LateralX mobile app. The app can also automatically store your results for each workout session, helping you track your progress long-term.

Meant for home workouts, the Bowflex LX5 is sized sensibly for most living spaces; it’s larger than a standard elliptical but takes less floor space than a treadmill. Still it lets you move your whole body, as you can see in LateralX promo videos.

The new LX5 is the top model of LateralX and sells for $2699. Here are pros and cons to consider.

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Get $300 off + $25 Shipping by entering the coupon code at checkout on this discount page.

Pros:

Allows three styles of total-body exercise for fast calorie burn and muscle toning
Low-impact design for minimal risk of injury or soreness
Adjustable stride width and pedal angle
7.5” LCD screen plus room for a tablet computer
Four user profiles
10 resistance levels to support beginners through advanced athletes
Four hand grip positions to diversify upper-body training
10 on-board workout programs
30 training videos on the LateralX app for iOS and Android
Compatible with Polar® heart rate monitors
Automated data logging with the LateralX mobile app
Operates quietly and is sized reasonably for most homes
Three-year warranty on frame and parts
Six-week buyback to help guarantee satisfaction

Cons:

Assembly is time-consuming and requires two people
Short labor warranty (90 days)
Long time for standard shipping (up to 20 days)

Workout Programs

The LateralX LX5 has 10 on-board workout programs that can adjust the machine’s tension to support different exercise goals. By adding the Bowflex app with your mobile device, you can also train with 30 videos designed for the machine. Together the videos comprise a three-month fitness regime for beginning, intermediate and advanced trainees.

The built-in LateralX workout programs are named:

X-mode 16 Minute Interval
Lateral Stride Interval
Thigh Toner Interval
Quad Power Interval
Total Body
Stand Squat
Dual Direction
Fat Burn
Calorie Goal
Manual

These programs generally have preset durations of 16 or 30 minutes but can be customized for your preferences. The Bowflex LateralX LX5 user manual advises that you start with fewer than 16 minutes per session and gradually increase the challenge.

Bowflex LateralX LX5 Features

The Bowflex LateralX is just over 4 feet tall, and its footprint measures about 4’ x 5’. With classic Bowflex style the unit is colored black, red and brushed nickel.

Ten resistance levels cater to a wide range of trainees.

Multigrip handlebars help you take different positions to diversify upper body training.

Adjustable stride width on the LX5 can add to your workout diversity. Remote control for lateral stride is built into the handlebars along with resistance controls.

The pedals have a vertical range of ten degrees.

A 7.5” LCD monitor shows overall fitness data such as calories and heart rate, plus interval counts and other readouts specific to each workout style. Some examples are Sprint, Recover, and Lateral Stride.

For extra motivation the monitor has a “Celebration” feature. It can play a celebratory tone at every 100-calorie mark, for example.

A tablet computer holder is set between the handlebars. You can add your own mobile device or buy the LX5 Performance Pack, which includes a Samsung tablet and a protective floor mat.

Bowflex Radio (Bluetooth required) syncs LateralX workouts with playlists in country, classic rock and many other genres.

A USB port on the machine can power a mobile device as you train.

Warranty & Guarantee

The LX5 residential warranty provides the following coverage:

Frame: 3 years

Parts: 3 years

Electronics: 3 years

Labor: 90 days

The manufacturer’s guarantee ensures buy-back after six weeks, though not for 100% of the sale and shipping unless the product is defective. Follow the returns procedure on the Bowflex website for the best experience. The instructions include getting an authorization number for your return and shipping the machine within two weeks of receiving the number.

Conclusion

The LX5 is an effective new alternative to ellipticals. It can blast calories, sculpt your major muscle groups, tone your heart and improve the way you move… all without irritating your joints! Backed with a three-year whole-machine warranty it can be a solid investment in home fitness for those who enjoy dynamic workout styles.

If you don’t already own a tablet computer, then choosing the LX5 Performance Pack could be the best LateralX deal. The Performance Pack adds a Samsung tablet, a protective floor mat and shipping for $400 total.