Life Fitness Symbio Incline Elliptical

The Life Fitness Symbio Incline is a cross trainer where the incline does the work: by changing the angle of the elliptical path you shift the emphasis of your session from your quads to your glutes and calves, without moving to another machine. The patented incline ellipse follows the natural arc of a running stride, while your feet stay on the pedals so you train without the landing impact of running. A machine from the top segment for anyone who wants varied, long cardio sessions at home.

Symbio Incline at a glance

• Patented incline ellipse: the path of the pedals follows the natural running arc, which makes the movement feel less mechanical than on a flat cross trainer.
• 15 incline settings: you shift the emphasis within the same session from the front of your thighs to your glutes and calves, so a workout stays varied.
• 25 resistance levels: enough spread for easy endurance blocks through to heavy intervals.
• Interactive Muscle Map: you pick the muscle group you want to target on screen and the machine sets incline and resistance accordingly.
• Stride length of 55.9 cm: a generous stride that suits a running-like movement rather than short stepping.
• Forward and reverse pedalling: moving in reverse puts the emphasis on different muscles, which varies your training further.
• FlexForm pedals: the patented convex shape is designed to limit pressure points under the foot during longer sessions.
• Multi-grip handles with controls: you adjust incline and resistance without moving your grip, so you do not break your rhythm.

Why incline makes the difference

On an ordinary cross trainer you make the same movement in the same path minute after minute, and that is exactly why many people give up on them. The Symbio Incline changes the angle of the ellipse across 15 settings, so your muscles are loaded slightly differently each time: low sits closer to a flat running movement, high you feel clearly in your glutes and hamstrings. Combine that with the 25 resistance levels and you can move within one workout from easy striding to a heavy climbing block, with a noticeably different feel rather than just more resistance.

Muscle Map: steering by muscle group

With Interactive Muscle Map you pick on the touchscreen which muscle group you want to target, after which the machine sets the matching combination of incline and resistance. That makes the step from goal to setting far more direct: you do not have to work out yourself which setting produces which effect. For anyone looking for variety or wanting to load a specific part of the legs, that is the fastest route to a targeted session. The on-screen visualisation also shows what shifts during the workout.

Movement, feet and hands

The stride length is 55.9 cm, which gives a generous, running-like stride instead of short steps. The FlexForm pedals have a patented convex shape designed to limit pressure points under the foot, which counts especially on sessions of forty-five minutes or more. You can pedal forwards and in reverse, which shifts the emphasis to other muscles. The multi-grip handles move with you and have incline and resistance controls built into the grip; there are also stationary handles for when you want to work with your legs only.

Screen and connectivity

The 24 inch HD touchscreen gives access to the Muscle Map, on-demand coaching and entertainment during your workout. Connectivity runs through Bluetooth 5.0, wi-fi, ANT+ and NFC, and the machine pairs with wearables such as the Apple Watch and the Samsung Galaxy Watch for your heart rate. Your phone charges wirelessly on the Qi pad. Smart Lighting can be set in sixteen shades and three brightness levels, so the machine is not too bright in a living space either.

Worth knowing

This is a substantial machine: a footprint of 207 by 95 cm, 165 cm tall and 292 kg. With the step-up height of roughly 27 cm plus your own height, sufficient ceiling height is a point to check, certainly under a sloping roof. The maximum user weight is 181 kg. If you are after a cross trainer to put away or fold against a wall after use, a lighter and folding model suits better; this is a machine that stays in one place.

Frequently asked questions about the Symbio Incline

Which muscles do you train on this cross trainer?

You mainly train your legs and glutes, with your upper body and core working along through the moving handles. Thanks to the 15 incline settings that emphasis shifts: in a low setting the accent lies more on the front of your thighs, in a high setting more clearly on your glutes and hamstrings. Pedalling in reverse loads things differently again. With Interactive Muscle Map you pick the muscle group on screen and the machine sets the matching combination.

How much space do I need?

Count on 207 by 95 cm of floor space and 165 cm of height. On top of that, you stand at a step-up height of roughly 27 cm while training, so add your own height to work out whether your ceiling is high enough. Do not put the machine tight against a wall, so you can step on and off from both sides. At 292 kg this machine stays where you put it.

Is a cross trainer less demanding than running?

On a cross trainer your feet stay on the pedals throughout the movement, so the landing impact you get with every running step is absent here. The movement is continuous and guided, which makes long blocks feasible. The incline ellipse of this model also follows the natural running arc, so the movement pattern sits closer to running than on a flat cross trainer. What that means for you personally depends on your own situation.

Is the stride length adjustable?

The stride length is fixed at 55.9 cm. That is a generous stride that suits a running-like movement and works well for most adult users. What does change is the angle of the movement: through the 15 incline settings you shift the path and with it the feel and the muscle emphasis. Anyone who definitely wants an adjustable stride length should look at a different type of cross trainer.

Can I train without using the handles?

Yes, alongside the moving multi-grip handles there are stationary handles, so you can keep your upper body still and put the emphasis on your legs. The controls for incline and resistance are built into the moving grip, so you take hold of that briefly when adjusting. Switching between the two during a session is a simple way to vary the load. For a workout where your upper body does join in, you use the moving handles.

What maximum user weight does this machine take?

The maximum user weight is 181 kg. The 292 kg unit weight means the frame does not move even at a high cadence or heavy resistance. That makes the machine suitable for intensive use by several people in one household. Do take the step-up height of roughly 27 cm into account when getting on and off.

Warranty

• Frame: 7 years
• Parts (electrical and mechanical): 3 years
• Labour: 3 years
• Cosmetic parts: 6 months