Livestrong equipment is endorsed by super-athlete Lance Armstrong and part of the proceeds from the sale of these ellipticals go to the Livestrong Foundation, which helps to fight cancer.
Livestrong is manufactured by Johnson - one of the largest fitness equipment companies in the world. They also own high end brands like Matrix and Vision.
What about the ellipticals themselves?
The 3 new models, starting at $799 offer some serious competition to the market. They carry several strong features that are popular with buyers - and a few completely new additions we've never seen before:
Strengths:
1) Six Star Certified - All Livestrong ellipticals are six star certified. This basically means each one is built to specific standards that make your elliptical workout more comfortable.
This certification includes
ZEROgap™ Ideal Pedal Placement
IDEALfit™ Optimal Handlebar Spacing
StraightUP™ Body Posture Design
SMOOTHPulley™ System for Efficient Motion
FLATellipse™ Natural Foot Path
SUREstep™ Easy Access Design
For example, closer foot pedals feel more natural to your body and can reduce the strain on your hips. A more upright design also feels more natural and comfortable as you're not leaning on the handrails as much as with cheaper ellipticals.
The Surestep easy access design gives you a low step-on height, which for many people feels more comfortable.
2) 20" Stride Length - While cheaper ellipticals often come with a 14 - 16" stride, Livestrong machines use a fuller 20" stride. A longer stride helps you to more fully work your leg muscles and gives you a more optimal workout.
3) Incline - Incline changes the slope of your elliptical path and helps crosstrain different groups of muscles. While incline started out on $3000+ commercial machines, it's is becoming more common in home ellipticals.
And many buyers prefer to have an incline option to get the most from their workouts. All Livestrong models have incline capability. The 8.0E model has manual incline while the 10.0 and 13.0E models have power incline (push button).
4) Online Tracking - The 10.0 and 13.0 models have Livetrack Interactive technology. You can download new Lance-Endorsed training programs and track your workouts on Livestrong.com using the included USB device. This is a great tool if you get inspired by seeing how far you've come and tracking your progress over time.
5) MaxTone ArchPedal - The 13.0 elliptical comes with something completely different. The Arch pedal uses a similar design to the popular toning shoes you've seen on the market.
The pedal is curved which keeps lower body muscles constantly activated which helps tone glutes and leg muscles. It also helps to improve posture, increase circulation and reduce stress on hip and knee joints.
Weaknesses:
These ellipticals are not as well known as several other brands on the market - which is a shame since they are some of the better values out there.
Summary: Recommended
Livestrong is Lance Armstrong's line of fitness equipment, manufactured by a heavyweight in the business, Johnson. The new models have a lot going for them and we think they're one of the best new brands to come along in a while.
You get long stride lengths, proper ergonomics for a more comfortable elliptical ride, online tracking and incline capability - all covered by an excellent warranty. While they don't have as much marketing hype behind them as other brands, overall, they're good value for your dollar.
Where To Buy At A Discount:
You can buy Livestrong ellipticals direct from the Manufacturer. They're currently offering Free Shipping and inside delivery - which you don't often get. It will save you a few hundred dollars - and the strain on your back.
