Schwinn
430 Elliptical Trainer Review
"An Excellent Budget
Elliptical"
I
checked out the new Schwinn 430 elliptical trainer at a Play it Again Sports.
The Schwinn 418 has been a hot seller, after receiving a Best Buy recommendation
from Consumer Reports. I was curious to see Schwinn's new release.
Especially since in a short period it is the #1 selling elliptical on Amazon.com.
Note: As of 10/1/08 the Schwinn 430 was selling at
Amazon.com
for $589, with shipping. The lowest price I've been able to find.
The two criticisms of the 418,
and the upgraded 438, were the weak warranty and the single wheel rail design.
These are front drive ellipticals that roll on rails. The single wheel design
makes for a less stable feel. There is often a left to right shift. The new Schwinn
430 has a concave wheel that reduces the shifting. Testing both the 418
and the 430 side by side, you could really tell the difference.
The other
feature I liked on the Schwinn 430 was the 18" stride. You won't find
a comparable elliptical at this price range with as comfortable a stride. Overall,
the elliptical motion felt very smooth and fluid.
Note:
Horizon and various Icon products, like ProForm and NordicTrack, sell cheap ellipticals.
Several of their models in the $600 price range are suppose to have 18" strides.
I've found a real contrast between the strides of various machines. For example,
many Horizon ellipticals with 18" strides feel bouncy and restricted. That
is in comparison to 18" strides on Smooth,
New Balance and the Schwinn 430,
where you get a long, smooth elliptical motion.
The
Schwinn 430 comes with 16 levels of resistance. When you shift from one
level to another there is a gradual change. That is in comparison to the 418 that
only has 8 levels. The machine weighs 152 lbs., which contributes to a sturdy
and stable feel. The comparable Proform SpaceSaver weights approximately 115 lbs.
The 430 also has articulating footpedals, pedals that angle with the elliptical
motion. This further reduces stress.
My one criticism is the warranty on
the 430. It comes with a 90-day service warranty. After three months if
you have any problems, it is going to cost you to fix it. Although you get a 2-year
parts and 1-year electronics warranty, and ellipticals are less likely to have
service problems in comparison to treadmills. Still, I recommend you consider the 2 year extended
service option. Last I checked it was $59 on Amazon.
Our Review - Schwinn 430 Elliptical
Overall the
Schwinn 430 is an excellent value. That is why it is the #1 selling elliptical
trainer on Amazon.com. There is no question it is a better buy than comparable
Icon and Horizon products. The price and the quality is making this a hot seller.
I would not recommend this elliptical if you plan to use it for strenuous
workouts, are over 6", have multiple users or weigh over 200 lbs. You need
to consider a model in the $1,000+ range.
Customer Reviews
A good indicator of customer satisfaction are the 196 customer
reviews on Amazon.com
- averaging 4.5 stars out of 5. One of the recurring
issues was the assembly. Some people found it a challenge.
Love
it!!!
Was a breeze to assemble, no problems at all. I
am so glad to have this! It is a great workout, and unbelievably quiet. Very sturdy
and well built. I love it!
Great
product for the $
The free shipping worked out great. I
had the unit assembled in about two hours. A great solid machine for the price.
Before I bought this machine I went to the sports authority and
love
this machine
I absolutely love my Schwinn elliptical
machine. It is a smooth and sturdy workout that is equal to going to the gym for
me. The instructions were easy to follow, however it was challenging to assemble.
You need two people at least and about 3 hours uninterrupted. But once it is together,
it is well worth it.
Great
Machine.,
Superb Build Quality. Very quiet. Requires
power to operate resistance. Very easy to assemble
Our
Reader's Review
You cannot even begin the excellent quality
and workmanship on this machine. It is worth way more than the 599 I gave for
it. It puts the proform to shame. The last thing with this kind of quality was
the weber grill geneses I bought. You will not be disappointed with this machine.
As far as putting it together I do mechanical stuff anyway and it was quiet easy.
Fran
*This
Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer Review is based on not only testing the equipment
at a local retailer, but also comments, testimonials, reviews and ratings of customers
and third parties. We attempt to be as accurate as possible. Warranties, features
and prices can change without notice.