Flow Fitness Perform X5i Crosstrainer

With the Flow Fitness Perform X5i cross trainer you train at home with a movement pattern close to running, but in one fixed, flowing path. The induction brake system sets the resistance in 32 steps without anything touching the flywheel, and the 20 kg flywheel at the front keeps that movement even. This is the 2026 model.

The X5i is meant for anyone who wants serious cardio at home and does not want to be shopping for a new machine next year: a maximum user weight of 180 kg, 24 programmes, watt measurement and a Bluetooth link to Kinomap and Zwift. It is equally at home in a personal training room or a small company gym.

Flow Fitness Perform X5i at a glance

• Induction resistance across 32 levels: the resistance is generated magnetically without contact, so you fine-tune it precisely and hear only your own pace.
• 20 kg flywheel: the mass at the front keeps the movement running on, also at a low cadence or between two intervals.
• 56 cm stride length: a generous stride in which taller users can fully extend their hips.
• Smart Wheel with quick keys: you change the resistance with a turn of the central wheel or with the buttons on the moving handles, without breaking your rhythm.
• 24 programmes and watt measurement: 12 preset programmes, custom programmes, 4 HRC programmes and a watt programme for training on power output.
• Bluetooth with Kinomap and Zwift: connect a tablet or phone and ride routes or guided workouts instead of watching a bar fill up.
• Max. user weight 180 kg: a generous margin that also suits heavier users and changing use.

Induction brake system and flywheel

The brake system works by induction: a magnetic field slows the flywheel without anything dragging against it. You notice that in two ways. First, the noise stays limited to the flywheel turning, so you can train in the evening without waking the whole house. Second, you can pick the resistance in 32 steps, so the difference between a steady endurance block and a hard interval is one you actually feel, instead of having to compromise between two settings. The 20 kg flywheel sits at the front and keeps the movement going at the moment you push a little less.

Stride length and movement pattern

At 56 cm the X5i has a generous stride. Your hips and knees move through their full range and the movement feels more like running than like taking small steps. For users from around 1.80 m that is the difference between a natural stride and a cramped one. The stride length is fixed and cannot be adjusted, so if people of very different heights will use the machine, that is worth taking into account.

Display, controls and programmes

The illuminated LCD display shows time, distance, speed, calories, heart rate, RPM and wattage, so you see everything you need to steer your pace during a session. You operate it all with the central Smart Wheel: turn to change the resistance, press to confirm. The moving handles carry quick keys, so you do not have to move your hands during an interval. There are 24 programmes available, including 12 preset workouts, programmes you build yourself, four heart-rate-controlled HRC programmes and a watt programme. Four user profiles keep the settings of several people apart.

Heart rate, apps and connectivity

You measure your heart rate through the sensors in the handgrips or with a Bluetooth chest strap, available separately, which reads more accurately during hard work. The cross trainer connects over Bluetooth to iConsole+, Kinomap and Zwift, so you can ride real routes, follow guided workouts or log your sessions. A tablet holder and a USB port sit on the console, keeping your screen at eye level and charged along the way.

Space, set-up and moving it

The cross trainer measures 201 x 93 x 186 cm, so allow a fixed spot of just over two metres plus some room to step on. Adjustable levelling feet take up an uneven floor, so the machine does not rock during hard intervals. Transport wheels are fitted for moving it: tilt it and roll it aside. The cross trainer runs on mains power through the supplied adapter, so keep a socket within reach when you choose its spot. Packed, the whole thing measures 125 x 95 x 65 cm at 127 kg.

Good to know

This is a cross trainer for someone who trains regularly and has a fixed spot available; folding it away is not an option. The display is an illuminated LCD without colour and it does not tilt, so the experience comes from the app on your own tablet rather than from the screen itself. If you want more variation in the stride or an adjustable stride length, look at a different type.

Frequently asked questions about the Flow Fitness Perform X5i

How quiet is the cross trainer?

The induction brake system works without contact with the flywheel, so nothing drags. What you hear is mainly the turning flywheel and your own footfall. That usually makes training in the evening or in an apartment perfectly workable. Place it on a level floor and set the levelling feet properly, and vibration stays limited too.

How much space do I need?

The cross trainer is 201 cm long, 93 cm wide and 186 cm high. Also allow free space above your head, because you stand on the pedals and therefore reach higher than the 186 cm of the frame. Keep half a metre free behind and beside the machine to step on and off. Packed it measures 125 x 95 x 65 cm, which matters for the route inside.

Is a 56 cm stride right for me?

56 cm is a generous stride that works well for users from around 1.75 to 1.80 m, because your hips extend fully. If you are shorter the cross trainer still works fine; the stride simply feels a little longer and most people get used to that quickly. The stride length cannot be adjusted, so in a household with very different heights it is worth discussing in advance.

Can I train with Zwift or Kinomap?

Yes, the X5i connects over Bluetooth to iConsole+, Kinomap and Zwift. You put your tablet or phone in the holder on the console and ride routes or guided workouts. The USB port keeps your screen charged in the meantime. For a more accurate heart rate during those sessions you can pair a Bluetooth chest strap, available separately.

What is the maximum user weight?

The maximum user weight is 180 kg. That is a generous margin for a cross trainer in this segment and means the frame stays stable with heavier users too. Combined with the levelling feet and the steel and plastic frame, the machine stays put during intensive intervals.

Can I train on power output?

Yes, the display shows wattage and there is a separate watt programme in which you set a power target and the cross trainer adjusts the resistance. There are also four HRC programmes that steer the resistance based on your heart rate. Together with the 32 resistance levels, that lets you train fairly precisely at a target intensity rather than by feel.

Warranty

Home

• General: 3 years
• On-site service: 3 years

Semi-professional

• General: 2 years