Review: Livestrong® LS13.0E Elliptical
Pros
Power incline, 30 lb flywheel, 350 user capacity, MaxTone pedals, 20″ stride, warranty
Cons
Console flaws, front-drive system, could be more sturdy
Overall Rating |
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The LS13.0E is the top non-commercial elliptical sold by Livestrong Fitness. It features a 30 pound flywheel, a 20-inch stride length, and 20 levels of power incline. Included are 12 workout programs, including ones for weight loss, strength building, muscle toning, climbing, as well as custom and manual. The console consists of a backlit LCD and 2 LED windows, and displays feedback such as time, distance, heart rate, resistance, incline, and speed. The LS13.0E has a 350 pound maximum user capacity, and is backed by a 5 year warranty on parts and 2 years on labor.
The Positives
20 levels of power incline. This feature allows for a high intensity workout. By lowering or raising the incline, you can focus on certain muscle groups. Raising it places more attention on the legs, while keeping it low works the upper body more.
30-pound flywheel. The Livestrong® LS10.0E elliptical has a 23 pound elliptical, so this is one of the upgrades with the 13.0E . A 30 pound flywheel is pretty robust, and will provide a very smooth and quiet motion. I don’t know what the heaviest flywheel is for ellipticals, but this one of the heavier ones I have seen.
Reverse motion. Always a nice feature to have when you need a brief period of recovery during an extended workout.
350 lb maximum user weight. This means that it’s suitable for anyone up to 300 pounds. It also a good indicator of quality and design. The Smooth Fitness CE-3.6 is priced the same on Amazon, yet only has a 300 pound user weight.
MaxTone pedals. These pedals are designed to recreate a running or walking motion using the science of balance training. They are oversized and have gel cushioning for shock absorption and traction. It prevents users from experiencing the dreaded tingling sensation that is felt with lower level ellipticals.
Program variety. There are some programs that are unique to Livestrong, including Lance’s climb, Lance’s Descent, The Tour, and Mellow Johnny’s Trail. Also included is Livetrack Interactive Technology, which allows you to track your workouts online and download workouts designed by Peter Park, the trainer for Lance Armstrong.
20″ Stride length. This is minimum length I look for in ellipticals. The ideal feature is variable stride, but very few ellipticals have this. Nonetheless, 20″ is long enough for most people.
Warranty. 5 years on parts and 2 years on labor is outstanding. It ranks right up there with some of the best warranties I have seen for an elliptical.
The Negatives
Front-drive system. Rear-drives tend to produce more of a natural motion, and also have less moving parts. Over the long-run, they are less likely to require maintenance. Rear-drives have more intertia, which means they will operate smoothly even at the highest levels of resistance.
Complaints about console. The blue backlit screen and the LED windows provide clear visibility for users. But, it’s a bit on the small side. More than a few customers expressed some disappointment with it.
The display in my opinion is lacking. Its small, and could be more functional.
- Justin Williams
From the first click to program start takes a minute or two, but feels cumbersome. You have the ability to save workout data for two users, but it only saves the most recent 5 and requires uploading from a USB device to your computer to the LiveStrong website.
- David Gilley
Could be more sturdy. At 214 pounds this elliptical is not exactly a lightweight, but perhaps not a heavyweight either. A few customers noted as much, one in particular saying that a different design might have helped.
When you are using the unit, if you start “going at it” it feels like you are swaying side to side a little bit……I think they could have made some of the stability bars at the bottom a little wider and it may have helped.
- Justin Williams
He makes a good point. The closer you get to the maximum user weight, the less sturdy it will be. With that said, I don’t think this will be an issue for people who weigh 250 or less.
By the way, you should read Justin’s review over on Amazon. It’s very comprehensive and it will help you make a educated decision whether or not to buy this elliptical.
Summary
Simply put, the Livestrong® LS13.0E is an excellent elliptical, but it does have a few flaws. I think most would agree that the $1299 price tag on Amazon is about right. Performance wise, it measure up very well to some of the better ellipticals. It has a robust flywheel, an adjustable ramp, a 20″ stride, comfortable pedals, and a quiet, smooth motion. The console has some flaws, and it could be more sturdy. At the end of the day however, it provides a very good workout and most people will be satisfied with it.
