"With Variable Stride"
 I've always been impressed with Schwinn Ellipticals. In fact, they are some of the best budget crosstrainers on the market. Their Schwinn 420 has been a very popular machine, and has received my "Best Buy" rating. It also has gotten very positive customer reviews on Amazon.com. The Schwinn 460 elliptical is their higher end machine that offers a different approach to elliptical training.
The elliptical industry has been evolving with a variety of new machines that do more than provide a standard elliptical motion. The problem with ellipticals with a stationary stride is that they limit your ability to tone different lower muscle. When you can change up the motion either by an incline feature or variable stride, you can target different muscle groups like calves, quads, thighs and glutes.
Note: The Schwinn 460 elliptical was recently recalled for injuries caused by the pedal breaking off. I would recommend the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 PRO as an alternative.
The Schwinn 460 elliptical does just that. In fact, it allows you to change the stride from 2"-26". This feature is called the Schwinn V-Stride Technology, and by varying the stride length you get the following affect:
- Short stride targets calves and quads.
- Medium stride works your thighs and glutes.
- Long stride engages all muscle groups.
If you are looking to maximize your workout and tone more muscles groups, this feature will help you achieve that goal. It also is ideal for accommodating users of various heights.
Note: The stride length changes with with amount of effort and resistance you apply. One reviewer mentioned that they had a difficult time getting it to the full 26" stride.
Other Features on the Schwinn 460 Elliptical Trainer.
 16 Workout Programs - You get 1 manual program, 11 profile, 2 custom for 2 users. The 11 workout profiles include instructional messages on how to maximize your workout benefits. A nice feature to help motivate you to work harder. There is also a system that tracks results and programming for up to 2 users. Keeping track of your results can further motivate you to reach new goals.
221 lbs. Unit Weight - The problem with many budget ellipticals is that they are light-weight machines that are not built for heavier users. However, the manufacturers will suggest unrealistic user weight limits. At 221 lbs. the Schwinn 460 is solid enough for overweight individuals. They set the limit at 300 lbs. I believe that is a bit high, but I might go up to 240 lbs. One further note, the heavier weight makes it less mobile than lighter weight machines. This may not be the best elliptical if you plan to move it constantly.
25 lbs. Flywheel - The heavier weight of the flywheel provides a smooth elliptical stride. It is not the smoothest or the quietest, but for the price it is not bad.
 Articulating Foot Pedals - This means the pedals angle with the motion. The advantage is your foot does not have to lift that much during the elliptical stride. You will have less problems with numbness.
Compact Design - The Schwinn 460 is about the length of the Schwinn 420, but it is slightly wider. The 54" length is less than many ellipticals, however the shorter length does not tend to compromise the stability.
Backlit LCD - This is not a big deal, but having the display backlit is preferable and more brilliant.
Wireless Heart Rate Monitor - Heart rate monitors are a standard feature, but usually only include handgrip monitors. The 460 also includes a chest strap with telemetry so you can use the moveable handlebars and still monitor your heart rate.
Warranty - This is an area where Schwinn usually falls short. The warranty is as follows:
- 10 years - Frame
- 2 years - Parts
- 1 year - Electronics
- 90 days - Wear Parts
They don't state the labor coverage, so I will assume it is also 90 days. I highly recommend you get additional coverage of at least a year or two and protect your investment. It is relatively cheap on Amazon.
Our Review - Schwinn 460 Elliptical Trainer
Initially, I had reservations recommending the Schwinn 460 because of the variable stride. It's not like your typical elliptical with a set stride. I thought some individuals may find it discomforting. However, after reading the more than 57 customer reviews on Amazon, I came to the conclusion that the majority find the variable stride a favorable feature. In fact, quite a few commented on how much they enjoy a stride length that varies based on the amount of resistance.
Regarding the overall quality, Schwinn has been building some of the best budget ellipticals for years. The high customer ratings on all their models is proof. You can read the customer reviews at www.Amazon.com .
Customer Review (Amazon)
If you are looking for a more versatile machine to have variability in the same workout, or even looking for a machine that has a wider range of strides, look no further than this machine. Out of the box, this piece of equipment can accommodate for a wider range of size of users (with regard to height, stride, leg length and fitness levels). It is comparable to machines much higher in price ($2000 and up) but with a significantly smaller footprint which does not compromise stability (or space).
I highly recommend this product.
I love my recent purchase of the Schwinn variable stride elliptical. It was fairly simple to assemble and has allowed a short legged person ease in transferring my exercise regime from a treadmill to an elliptical. I work up a great sweat and heartrate in 25 minutes without any back or knee pain. I highly recommend it. I am also a physical therapist by trade so it is nice to see what I can recommend to my clients.
Pros:
I like the variable stride. It lets you choose your own stride length as the pedals are not connected to the fly wheel. I could feel the burn in the quads when taking the longer strides. I could not do this in precor.
I weigh a on the higher side of normal, and feel that the machine is quite stable even when I take the longer strides/do a high intensity workout. If you do weigh a bit higher than normal, there are very few machines which can handle it and this is one of them
Cons:
Since the pedals are not connected to the fly wheel, they can move independently. which means that you have to put extra effort to sync up your leg motion. May be it is a good thing for you, but the motion is little jerky. It feels awkward especially when you are taking the longer strides.
Variable stride:
Now for the variable stride. Honestly its a little different. It's definitely not the same as a regular elliptical. However it is kind of neat, I like the fact that I can push a little harder and stretch my stride a little longer when I get that extra burst of energy, and I can slow down and take smaller "steps" when I get tired. You'll quickly find a "normal" range for yourself and will probably stay within that range most of the time. I dont know what it is about this machine but it does work you out pretty well. And its quite fun.
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