You may have tried out the Schwinn 431 Elliptical Trainer at your local Sears, or maybe you just heard about it online. Either way, let’s take a closer look at this model and see how it fares. I’m going to go into detail on some of the concerns I had about the overall quality of the machine, and of course, whether it is worth using.
The Problems People Face when Buying Elliptical Trainers
There are a few major concerns that people have when buying an exercise machine like this. I’m going to address these concerns in detail.
The first thing that is important to know is whether or not it will work in your home. More specifically, is the unit going to be too tall for your ceiling, and do you have enough floor space? Luckily, the unit only puts you up about 9 or so inches off the ground. So, if you are six feet tall, then you should be fine with a ceiling of at least seven feet . As far as floor space is concerned, it is fairly compact. You don’t need a ton of space, just enough for a typical exercise machine will suffice.
Now, the build quality is obviously important when dealing with an expensive exercise machine that you will be using for years to come. From what I have seen, the build quality is very good. There is definitely no reason to spend large amounts of money on something more expensive. You don’t have to spend $2,000 to get a good machine. This one should be good enough for most people. However, there is one issue that I want to address.
The unit can get squeaky at times. Luckily, there are two fixes for this. If you loosen the flywheel pivot point bolts, then spray the area including the washers and bolts, you should be able to fix the squeak. You can get some white lithium grease from Amazon or a local hardware store for this, no problem. Two, be sure not to over tighten the bolts as you put the unit together.
Other than that, you shouldn’t run into any problems, and you might not even run into any of the squeak problems at all. I simply wanted to let you know that there are ways to fix the problems should anything arise.
Okay, so there are a few other points I wanted to make before we move on. The maximum capacity is a generous 300lbs. The stride is about 18 inches, which should be fine for most people. Taller people may be less comfortable, but it is passable. Also, it has a power supply and everything else you should need included.
Let’s move and and discuss the actual usage and expectations of the machine.
What Can I Expect from the Schwinn 431 Elliptical Trainer?
When your unit arrives at your door, you can expect a pretty big package, naturally. It may be easier to take it in piece by piece as some people often do. You can expect to spend about 2 to 3 hours putting it together. Just put on a football game or something to make the time go by faster.
Once set up, you should feel right at home on your new machine. From what I’ve heard from many people, the build quality on this machine is very good, and is comparable to more expensive models. Larger and heavier models may be smoother or more stable, but then you’re looking at a big, expensive unit to deal with.
Is an elliptical trainer better than a treadmill? My answer is yes. It will be easier on your joints long term, not to mention that if you have it upstairs, it will be quieter due to less pounding.
If we take a look at what people are saying after using the Schwinn 431 Elliptical Trainer, it seems that the general consensus is that people are getting a pretty good workout. Here is what some people have to say.
We have both used the machine for two weeks now and we both really love this machine. It’s smooth, quiet, and gives a good work out. My legs were sore after my first use. The programs are fun and easy to use. It gives read outs like the gym model which I like. My husband is a big guy, weights over 200lbs and the machine is very sturdy.
Brenda L. Kupchick, Amazon.comAll in all, we have been extremely impressed with this machine in terms of assembly, price, and performance. Even the machines I’ve used in gyms weren’t as smooth and as comfortable a stride as this one, and we both consider it a very good investment.
Kiri K., Amazon.com
With over 172 reviews on Amazon, the Schwinn 431 Elliptical Trainer is definitely a big seller. Also, with it’s overall rating of 4 stars, it would seem as though the quality is good, and most people are satisfied. I always feel weary of buying anything that doesn’t have very many reviews, so the fact that there are both many reviews and many of them are positive helps put my mind at ease. Naturally, there will be some negative reviews, but then again no product I’ve seen is perfect. You can’t please everyone, but you can please “most” of the people.
We both have used it almost daily, we get a good workout and the unit seems to be good quality that will last a long time. One thing that stands out is how quiet the machine is. You can watch TV with the volume at a normal level while working out…no more TV blaring when someone is exercising!
James J. Clouston “jimc1215″, Amazon.comThis machine is giving me a great workout and it just FEELS GOOD! It is built solid, it rides smooth and I can just tell by its construction and feel that it will give me many years of great exercise. And let’s face it, in the most important aspect of any exercise we must ask ourselves the question: Is it helping my cardiovascular system? This one does the job and it does it well.
H. A. Schork, Amazon.com
I also want to give you some ideas of where you can buy it for the best deal.
Getting a Good Deal
The best thing to do with an item like this is to get it shipped. Otherwise, you may need a truck and a friend to help out. Luckily, Amazon is currently offering free shipping on this item. I don’t know if that will last forever, but it seems to be working at the moment. Amazon also seems to be pretty competitive when it comes to prices. In all honesty though, the main reason I buy from Amazon though is because of their service. At the times when I’ve needed to return an item or when something was missing or damaged, they always helped me out.
If you want to take advantage of Amazon’s current deal, then it would be a good idea to order soon.
