Schwinn 431 Elliptical Review
The Right Elliptical Trainer for You?
If you’re looking for more information on the Schwinn 431 Elliptical to decide if its the right elliptical trainer for you, you’ve come to the right place. The Schwinn 431 Elliptical has been consistently given high marks by users, making it a very popular home elliptical machine. We’re going to take a look at what makes the Schwinn 431 Elliptical a great machine for the price and the perfect addition for your own home gym for a cardio workout to tone up and burn calories.
Schwinn 431 Elliptical Features:
- Compact Design – Dimensions: 59 inches long by 26 inches wide by 68 inches tall
- Smooth Quiet Operation.
- Multiple Workout Programs
- Heart Rate Monitor
- 16 Resistance Levels
- BioFit Articulating Footplates
- Stabilizer Tubes for Rock Solid Stability
- Transport Wheels Provide Easy Movement
- Easy to Read Blue Backlit LCD Display
- Eddy Current Brake (ECB) Resistance System
- Maximum User Weight 300 lbs
Construction:
The Schwinn 431 Elliptical gets high marks for its durable construction and quiet operation. It is designed with over-sized stabilizer tubes for user steadiness. The elliptical trainer weighs 172 lbs when it is assembled and includes transport wheels for ease of movement. It comes with a warranty of 5 years on the frame, two years on the parts, one year on the electronics, and 3 months on the labor.
Many users comment on how quiet the operation of the machine is. It is easy to watch TV at a normal volume and the machine is so quiet that it doesn’t disturb other family members in the same room or apartment neighbors.
Dimensions:
59 inches long by 26 inches wide by 68 inches tall giving it one of the smaller footprints of any elliptical machine. Ceiling height is a concern for elliptical users, especially since so many people have their workout rooms in the basement which often has a lower ceiling. This elliptical has the lowest set footplates and doesn’t need as much clearance. Of course, if you’re over 6′ double check your ceiling height and your clearance on the elliptical in the highest position.
Assembly:
Unless you purchase your elliptical fully assembled from a local dealer, you’re going to have to
put it together. Some of the parts are heavy and while possible to do it alone, a helper is a good idea. Comments on the assembly time have ranged from 1/2 hour to 3 hours.
It has been noted that the hex drive included with the nuts and bolts doesn’t fit all the nuts and it will probably be easier to use your own tools. The tools you will need are an Allen wrench set and screwdrivers. If you don’t own these tools, invest the small amount and buy some. They will be useful for other projects as well as doing maintenance on your elliptical.
Take your time. Identify and lay out all your parts and be sure you have everything listed. Read the instructions. One user commented that she didn’t have that much experience in putting things together but with basic skills of using a screwdriver, following the instructions and taking her time the job went smoothly and she didn’t run into anything she couldn’t handle.
Workouts:
There are 16 levels of resistance available on the Schwinn 431. Workout programs include: Manual, Profile, Calorie Goal, Time Trial, Heart Rate Control, Fitness Test, Custom. Feedback programs are BMI (Body Mass Index), Recovery Mode and Results Mode. The Display readout shows time, interval time, RPM, watts, distance, pulse, speed, calories and resistance. There is a built-in grip heart rate monitor so you can keep track of your pulse rate.
With so many workout programs available and levels of resistance this is an elliptical trainer that can be used by all levels of fitness and not be a machine you will “grow out” of over time. The diverse workout settings give you the option of varying your workout depending on your needs or mood of the day.
Cons:
Two issues have come up repeatedly in consumer reviews. The first is a squeak that can develop in the handlebars and the other is that the fan doesn’t work very well. Another issue discussed is that the “integrated MP3/portable media compartment” is simply a small shelf to place your MP3 on.
The handlebar squeak appears to have been addressed by Schwinn with a set of washers and a special instruction sheet on their installation which seems to have solved the problem. Of course ongoing maintenance still needs to be done as with any piece of equipment.
The problem with the fan still persists. It is too high to cool a shorter person and the vent doesn’t adjust enough to redirect the airflow where its needed. The other issue is that it just doesn’t put out that much of a breeze. It could be a very nice feature if it worked well, but not a deal breaker for most people.
Conclusion:
The general conclusion is that the Schwinn 431 Elliptical has a few glitches such as the fan, some shipping problems that appear to have been corrected and the squeak in the handlebars that has been addressed by Schwinn.
On the whole though it is an excellent machine for the price. It is good value for under $700 and an excellent addition to a home gym. With its quiet, smooth action, total body workout and varied programs it is a trainer that will be used by many family members for a long time. For home use, this is a good machine at a good price. An elliptical trainer with more features would be in the $1200+ category.
Overall, the Schwinn 431 Elliptical is the best buy for the price for a home elliptical trainer.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials.”
