Livestrong is Lance Armstrong's new fitness brand (manufactured by Johnson - the company behind commercial brands like Matrix and Vision treadmills.)
A portion or the sale proceeds from these treadmills go to Lance Armstrong's Livestrong Foundation which is very active in the fight against cancer.
The 7.9T offers an attractive console, higher 12 MPH speed limit and strong 2.5 HP motor with lifetime warranty.
Is it a good buy for you? Here's what you need to know:
Quick Stats:
Price: $799
Motor: 2.5 HP
Speed: 0 -12 MPH
Incline: 0-12%
Treadbelt: 20 x 55"
Folding: Yes
Water Bottle Holder: Yes
Heart Rate Monitor: Hand Grip
User Weight Capacity: 325 lbs
Warranty: Lifetime on Frame, Motor and Deck, 2 Years on Parts, 1 Year on Labor
Strengths:
1) Well Designed Console
While it's fairly simple, the console on the Livestrong LS7.9T treadmill is very well designed, clean and easy to read. It's attractive without looking cheap, (as some consoles in this price range tend to look).
2) 9 User Livetrack Fitness Journal
The Livestrong 7.9T comes with a Livetrack fitness journal. With the Fitness Journal program you can compare your current workout against your personal best or your last 5 workouts.
You can use this to track your results over time and see how far you've come. It can be encouraging to see your progress.
3) iPod / Mp3 Dock
You can plug in your iPod or mp3 and listen to your favorite music or audiobook through the built in console speakers. While this is becoming fairly standard, it's still a useful feature that can make your workouts more enjoyable.
4) Up to 12 MPH Speed Limit
Since many treadmills in this price range tend to top out at speeds of 10 MPH, this higher speed limit on the 7.9T Treadmill is worth mentioning here. You also get a higher 12% incline which also goes a bit further than other similarly priced treadmills as well
5) Lifetime Motor Warranty
The motor is the heart of your treadmill. It can also be one of the most expensive parts of a treadmill to fix. So it's nice to know that you're covered by a lifetime motor warranty here.
Weaknesses:
The 7.9T comes with fewer training programs (9 vs 14) and a shorter deck (55" vs 60") than some of the higher end Livestrong units like the Livestrong LS13.0T. However, for the price, it's still quite good.
Overall Conclusion: Great Budget Buy
The Livestrong LS7.9T treadmill is a great little budget buy endorsed by super-athlete Lance Armstrong. Not surprisingly it carries several strong basic features (2.5 HP motor power, 12% incline, heart rate monitor, etc.) along with some fun stuff thrown in (iPod dock, fitness journal).
While it doesn't carry some of the extras that the higher end Livestrong models have, still for this price point it's a great little buy that's getting very positive customer reviews - including a recommended buy from a leading consumer magazine.
Where To Buy At A Discount:
You can buy the Livestrong 7.9T direct from the Manufacturer. They're also currently offering Free Shipping and you save on sales tax which will save you a few hundred dollars.
(Now called the LS8.0T model)
