This is my personal favorite of the Livestrong lineup. It is a great looking machine with great features, yet it is affordably priced for a mid-range model when you compare its specs and features with other treadmills on the market.
General Information
Livestrong is a new brand but uses derivations of existing designs that Johnson has been producing on their Horizon, AFG, and Vision brands for years. We are glad that they didn't try to reinvent the wheel because they are really getting their act together quality and production-wise.
Quality / Philosophy
A new brand for Johnson. We gained a much greater understanding of Johnson's business this past spring with our visit to their headquarters and facilities in Taiwan and China. Johnson is the most integrated manufacturer of fitness equipment in the world. This can be both good and bad. The good is that you are in control of almost all aspects of production. The bad is that you are in control of almost all aspects of production. They really seem to be focused on doing things the right way so it appears that this is a case where it is good. If they do have a problem, they only have themselves to blame. Overall, we were impressed with their quality procedures and design and testing processes and this year's reviews will reflect our better understanding of their operations.
Outlook
We think that Johnson is going to make a big splash with Livestrong. The product looks very good in relation to the price that is being charged and it can't hurt having Lance Armstrong on your team. Johnson is known for product support so even if the brand doesn't catch on, the machines share so many parts with Johnson's other brands that support should not be an issue.
