Yowza Treadmill Review

  Treadmill Articles

I was recently in Florida and visited the Yowza Fitness headquarters to review their line-up of treadmills. Although this is a relatively new name to the treadmill industry, the manufacturer has been in business for 24 years and ships fitness equipment to over 47 countries. 

Yowza Fitness is their factory direct outlet in the U.S. In fact, several of their treadmill models are currently selling successfully in Europe.

Note: You can buy Yowza Fitness Treadmills direct at www.YowzaTreadmills.com.  All models come with free shipping and they run regular sales.*

Yowza Fitness treadmills are manufactured in their Taiwan facility, which is an important factor. The majority of treadmills these days are built in Taiwan and China.  However, there is considerable difference in the quality control.  Taiwan is known for higher standards and is the source for many of the high-end treadmills in the U.S. While China provides the bulk of the budget models.  Building treadmills in China can save you money in comparison to Taiwan, but at the cost of durability.

In talking to Joe Alter, the head of their U.S. operation,  I asked what distinguishes Yowza Fitness.  He mentioned a couple of factors...

Factory Direct Prices — The company is selling direct and only online.  Of course, there are a number of companies that sell direct.  The problem is they also sell through retailers, and consequently they have  to inflate their prices in order not to undersell their resellers.  So they may be selling direct, but not at factory direct prices.  Yowza treadmills are priced minus the overhead costs of resellers.

Quality Components — The reliability of the components really impacts the durability of the treadmill and future servicing.  The components in the Yowza treadmills have a very good track records.  That includes the motor, computer, belt and deck.

What Joe Alter also mentioned is that the focus of the Yowza treadmills is to provide a solid machine at a value price.  You won't find any frills like built-in TVs, audio coaching by celebrity fitness trainers, access to online journals or video displays on the console.  The investment is in reliability and providing the user with the best walking, jogging or running machine for the price.

Yowza Treadmill Models

As of the writing of this review there were four treadmill models.  Two folding (Biscayne & Keewadin) and two non-folding (Smyrna & Juno).  Their all named after beaches in Florida.  I asked why they were building non-folding treadmills, since that is about all you can purchase these days under $2,000.  The reason is that you can sell a non-folding treadmill for less than a folding model.  There are fewer mechanisms and thus less expense.  And  to some degree non-folding treadmills are more stable.   

Note: The Juno will not be available until the third week of December.

Other Features

Simple Assembly — Several of the models require minimal assembly.  You lift up the console, add a couple of screws and you are done.

Speakers and iPod Input — Speaker in treadmills is becoming fairly common, but not all systems are the same.  Joe Alter mentioned he wanted speakers that weren't an embarrassment like so many other treadmill sound systems.  I would rank these as above average in quality and sound.  (Juno has MP3 input)

Shock Absorption — Three of the treadmills use a progressively softer, multi-durometer floating deck. What does that mean in layman's terms.  The deck sits on rubber grommets.  Every 5" there are rubber grommets that get progressively softer as you move up the front of the deck.  The result is you get a more shock absorption as your foot lands, but you get a firmer push-off towards the back of the deck.

The Keewadin uses a rocker arm shock absorption system that acts like hydraulics. Once again you get a soft landing and a firm push-off.  Both systems are designed to reduce impact without being too cushy.

Our Review — Yowza Treadmills

Yowza treadmills are primarily about substance. Currently these models do not have a service record. However, considering the track record for their comparable models in other countries, you are probably getting some of the most reliable machines in their category.   That is because the focus is on quality components and not a bunch of frills that most people won't use. 

The other consideration is that Yowza Fitness is a pure play factory direct seller.  They don't have to inflate their prices to match resellers.  There is some savings, however it is not the 26%-44% they suggest on the site.

I've known Joe Alter for a number of years, and I've met the manufacturers from Taiwan.  Knowing their past commitments to providing a quality machine at a value price, I would say Yowza treadmill will match or surpass the competition in their price range.

Learn more at YowzaTreadmills.com.

Also see the Yowza Juno Treadmill Review.

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