Life Fitness Symbio Runner treadmill

The Life Fitness Symbio Runner is a treadmill for home use where the running surface adapts to whatever you are doing that day. The Adaptive Flex Deck lets you set the cushioning electronically from soft to firm, so an easy long run and a hard interval session both feel the way they should. This is a machine from the top segment, meant for runners who want the same running quality at home as in the gym and who put serious weekly mileage into it.

Symbio Runner at a glance

• Adaptive Flex Deck with five settings: you control the firmness of the running surface electronically, so you choose between a soft surface for long runs and a firm one for speed work.
• Running surface of 152 by 56 cm: wide and long enough to open up your stride without watching the edges, even at high speed.
• Speed from 0.8 to 25.7 km/h: from walking pace to sprint work, so intervals and tempo blocks all fit on the same belt.
• Incline up to 15 per cent: driven by a separate, fast incline motor, which makes hill intervals workable without waiting.
• Eco-Life DC motor: 22 per cent more efficient than an AC motor and with a Power Saver mode, so daily use costs less electricity.
• 24 inch touchscreen in 1080p: on-demand classes, interactive terrains and streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify on a screen you can read easily from the belt.
• Advanced running analysis: cadence, stride length, ground contact time, flight time and left/right balance, so you can follow your running technique and not only your pace.
• Rated to 181 kg: a solid 272 kg frame that does not shift about, even during sprints.

Cushioning you set yourself

Most treadmills have fixed cushioning, which means you always run a compromise between soft and fast. The Adaptive Flex Deck on the Symbio Runner works differently: you set the running surface electronically to one of five firmness levels. Soft for the long, easy kilometres where your legs need to stay fresh, firm when you want to pick up speed and need direct feedback from the surface. In automatic terrain mode the firmness changes along with the terrain on screen, so a virtual forest trail section really does feel different from tarmac.

Speed, incline and motor

The belt runs from 0.8 to 25.7 km/h, which leaves the Symbio Runner room for walking blocks, tempo runs and sprint intervals on the same machine. The incline goes up to 15 per cent and is driven by its own fast motor, so during hill intervals you are not standing there waiting for the gradient to arrive. According to Life Fitness the Eco-Life DC motor is 22 per cent more efficient than a comparable AC motor and it has a Power Saver mode, which matters when the treadmill is switched on almost every day.

Screen, workouts and connectivity

The 24 inch touchscreen runs in 1080p with AIT screen technology and is the control point for everything: Life Fitness On Demand+ with more than 500 classes, the interactive Lifescape routes and streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify. Connectivity runs through Bluetooth 5.0, wi-fi, ANT+ and NFC, and the treadmill pairs with an Apple Watch, a Samsung Galaxy Watch and Polar heart rate straps. Your phone goes on the Qi charger, so you do not have to carry a cable into the room. Smart Lighting can be set in sixteen shades and three brightness levels, handy if you train early in the morning and bright light is too much.

What the running analysis gives you

Alongside distance, pace and heart rate, the Symbio Runner uses sensors in the frame to measure your running pattern: cadence, stride length, ground contact time, flight time and left to right balance. That makes visible what you miss on an ordinary treadmill, for example that your stride shortens as soon as you tire or that your left foot stays on the belt longer than your right. For anyone building towards a race, that is concrete information to shape your technique and your training progression around.

Worth knowing

This is a heavy machine: a footprint of 216 by 93 cm, 167 cm tall and 272 kg. Count on a fixed spot where the treadmill can stay put, with enough clear space behind the belt and enough height above the 25 cm step-up. For someone who mainly wants to walk or trains a few times a month, this is more machine than needed. For someone who runs consistently and uses the treadmill as their main piece of equipment, you are paying for the part that shows up in every session.

Frequently asked questions about the Symbio Runner

How much space do I need for this treadmill?

Count on at least 216 by 93 cm of floor space, plus clear room behind the belt so you can step off safely. The height is 167 cm, on top of which come your own height and the 25 cm step-up, so measure your ceiling height as well if you train under a sloping roof or in a basement. At 272 kg this is not a machine you move between sessions. Choose a spot in advance where the treadmill can stay.

What maximum user weight does the Symbio Runner take?

The maximum user weight is 181 kg. That is well above what most home treadmills handle and it is a rating tuned to running, not only to walking. The 272 kg unit weight contributes strongly to that: the frame stays stable even during sprint work. As a result the machine also copes with intensive use by several people in one household.

Is this treadmill suitable for a flat or an upper floor?

That depends mainly on the load capacity of the floor, because the machine weighs 272 kg before anyone stands on it. On a concrete floor that is rarely an issue, on a wooden upper floor it is sensible to have the load assessed beforehand. The adjustable cushioning of the Adaptive Flex Deck does help with the vibration you feel yourself while running. A mat underneath the machine is advisable either way.

Can I train on the treadmill without a subscription?

Yes, the basic functions work on their own: speed, incline, the Adaptive Flex Deck setting and your workout data are all controlled through the screen. Life Fitness On Demand+, the interactive routes and streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify are extra layers on top and need an internet connection plus your own account with the service in question. If you mainly want to run freely and do your own intervals, you do not need those services.

Which data does the Symbio Runner measure exactly?

Besides the usual values such as speed, distance and heart rate, the treadmill records your running pattern: cadence, stride length, ground contact time, flight time and the balance between your left and right leg. That data comes from sensors in the machine, so you do not need a separate foot pod or watch for it. A heart rate monitor can be paired through Bluetooth 5.0, ANT+ or Polar if you want. Wearables such as the Apple Watch and the Samsung Galaxy Watch can be connected as well.

Who is this treadmill less logical for?

Anyone who mainly walks, trains for half an hour now and then, or wants a machine that can be put away after use will be fine with a lighter and more compact model. The Symbio Runner is built around running: the wide belt, the adjustable cushioning, the 25.7 km/h top speed and the running analysis only pay off with regular, serious training. A tight room also works against this machine, given the footprint and the weight.

Warranty

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