Livestrong LS 13.0T vs. Yowza Smyrna

We’ve got two beauties pitted up against eachother today. The Livestrong LS 13.0T and the Yowza Smyrna.

Okay, the treadmills we’re going to compare today are two very good looking machines. Yowzas and Livestrongs are my favorite as far as aesthetics and design goes. Both companies put a lot of effort into the outer look of their machines, and so sway a lot of us who judge things by their cover. However, unlike many things in the world, these treadmills are beautiful on the inside just as much as on the outside. We just have to figure which is more beautiful. I chose these two so that I wouldn’t be partial due to a better appearance of one more than the other. As far as that aspect goes, these are on a pretty level playing ground. At least for me.

Livestrong is manufactured by Johnson Health which also manufactures other brands like Vision, Horizon, AFG, and Matrix. They wanted to put Lance Armstrong’s name and symbol on a new line of treadmills, and see how they did. They also upped the warranty to make it more competitive in the market. The livestrong line is only a couple of years old, so it’s hard to see a demonstration of their real durability other than what we’ve seen over these 2 years, as well as what we see in the treadmill. The Livestrong treadmills are high quality for their price if you compare them to others. The 13.0T is the strongest unit right now, and is selling for $1,299 which is great for what is offered on it.

Yowza is also a new company, but are getting great reviews all over the place for their high quality treadmills. They come from a company called Greenmaster, and they only sell their treadmills online. Their treadmills have strong welded frames, and good sturdy motors and decks. The Yowza Smyrna is a non-folding treadmill in the middle of the line. It’s currently selling at $1,399.

As far as the motor goes, both say they’re 3.0 CHP. Livestrong claims that despite their Horsepower, they have larger motors that run at lower RPMs than most. That is true, their motors are better in that respect than most, however, the Yowza Smyrna excels in that regard as well, even beyond the Livestrong. The Smyrna’s motor is excellent and quiet, and runs at very low RPMs. This a good sign of quality in a treadmill.

The weight capacity of both is 350 lbs, and both hold up to an average to heavy sized person without feeling rickety. They both have solid frames and solid decks. Although the cushioning systems are different, they both feel about the same. The livestrong LS 13.0T can reach up to 12MPH, while for some reason all Yowzas are only made to go to 11MPH max. Not that their motors won’t handle higher speeds, they just set them at a maximum of 11 for some reason.

Neither of the Consoles are too exciting. Neither have Ifit Live, or touchscreens or anything. The small backlit LCD screens show the basics, which is all you really need, but some people like more fancy displays and consoles. They both have functioning heart rate systems, and a variety of workouts.

If you’re looking for whichever is better for you, I would tell you to look them up, and see what you like on a treadmill. As far as specifications, quality, sturdiness, and features, the yowza looks like it barely inches past the Livestrong. The better frame and motor are Yowza’s biggest advantage in this competition, and with that i think they take the prize.

Here’s a little comparison table:
Weaker specs are shaded out.

With the same warranties and almost all the same specs and features, the Yowza Smyrna takes the win on this round due to its high quality motor and frame. It’s a very close game between these two. The Yowza will move on to the next round.

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