EmailBest Reviewed
Elliptical Trainers
- Best elliptical trainer Sole E35 *Est. $1300
- Club-quality elliptical trainer Smooth Fitness Agile DMT *Est. $3000
- Good value, but a few tradeoffs NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 *Est. $850
- Budget elliptical trainer Schwinn 430 *Est. $600
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Budget elliptical trainer
- Low price
- Articulating foot pads
- Solid feel and smooth motion
- Compact size
- Not suitable for heavy use
- Very short warranty
- Questionable reliability
As a basic elliptical trainer with a budget price, the Schwinn 430 wins accolades from some expert reviewers and many owners. It is compact, yet feels solid at 150 pounds, they say. Although the Schwinn elliptical has fewer programs and features than more expensive ellipticals, there are enough options for most users. Features include eight workout programs, 16 resistance levels and a hand-grip heart-rate monitor. Critics say quality and reliability issues make the Schwinn a questionable value, especially because the labor warranty is 90 days. Even reviewers who like the Schwinn 430 say it is best suited for light workouts. Still, more than 400 owners posting to Amazon.com are overwhelmingly positive about the Schwinn 430 elliptical trainer. Another low-priced option, the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 (*Est. $850), offers more features and a one-year parts and labor warranty, but it receives mixed reviews for reliability.
The Schwinn 430 is reviewed by several respected sources, but its strongest support comes from the more than 400 owner-written reviews at Amazon.com. TreadmillDoctor.com also offers a professional review. Though short on details, TreadmillDoctor.com has established itself as one of the most credible reviewers of elliptical trainers. Fred Waters at Fitness-Equipment-Source.com also writes a feature-based review with a little commentary.
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Our Sources
1. Amazon.com
More than 400 owner-written reviews of the Schwinn 430 elliptical trainer are posted on Amazon.com. Owners are overwhelmingly pleased with the Schwinn, calling it solid and a good value. Some owners report quality control issues and breakdowns, but these are surprisingly few for a budget-priced model.
Review: Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer, Contributors to Amazon.com
TreadmillDoctor.com has short but well-informed reviews of elliptical trainers, including the Schwinn 430. Although the authors give this elliptical machine an average score for value and ergonomics, their low opinion of Schwinn's quality and reliability drags down the overall rating.
Review: Schwinn 430, Clark and Jon Stevenson
Fitness-Equipment-Source.com's numerous reviews are written by fitness-industry professional Fred Waters. He says the Schwinn 430 is an excellent value for light-duty use. Although the Schwinn's 18-inch stride is the same length as most budget ellipticals, the motion on the Schwinn 430 feels longer and smoother, according to this review. However, Waters cautions that consumers who are more than 6 feet tall or weigh more than 200 pounds should consider a more expensive elliptical.
Review: Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer Review, Fred Waters
The Schwinn 430 Elliptical gets a lengthy review. The reviewer acknowledges that the elliptical isn't pretty and takes up a lot of floor space, but she's impressed with the quality over a year of use.
Review: Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer, "Megan", Jan. 8, 2009
The Schwinn 430 also gets high marks in 75 reviews compiled by Buzzillions.com. In fact, it's the top-rated elliptical on the site. Some users report noisy operation or a frustrating assembly, but most say the Schwinn 430 is incredibly easy to use and a good value.
Review: Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer, Contributors to Buzzillions.com
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