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The Schwinn 430 Elliptical Machine (2013 model) is a serious upgrade over the 2007 model, and a sign of Schwinn’s continued focus on developing the highest quality fitness equipment.
This review takes an in-depth look at the workout programs, fitness test, design features, and even summarises the range of customer feedback. Our aim is to provide you with all the information you need to decide if this is the best choice of elliptical for your own home gym.
Design features
With the range of features on ellipticals constantly being updated, it’s worth taking a quick look at the design of the Schwinn 430 elliptical and how it differs from the earlier 2007 model.
One of the most noticeable differences is in the design of the smaller set of handles. These have been changed from a simple straight design to the curved design that follows the flow of the larger set.
This helps to keep your hands closer to the buttons on the display console, making it quicker to adjust workout settings or change your training program.
Extra focus has also been put on improving the stability of the machine, with the addition of levellers to key support points underneath the base frame.
These can be individually rotated to counter any slightly uneven surface that the elliptical may be resting on, ensuring there is now unnecessary wobble in the machine, as well as preventing undue pressure being put on the glide rails.
Stride length and running motion
If you have looked at a few other elliptical trainers before the Schwinn 430 then it’s likely that you would have come across the term ‘stride length’.
While all ellipticals will usually state their stride length in the product description, it can be difficult to know who these different lengths are best suited to.
In general, ellipticals with a stride length of 20″ or more are ideal for people 5ft 10″ tall and over.
Lower priced designs tend to have a shorter stride length of around 16″, which is better suited to people closer to 5ft tall.
The 20″ Precision Path stride of the Schwinn 430 elliptical is also kept as smooth and quiet as possible, thanks to the high speed inertia perimeter flywheel at the front of the machine.
Although this isn’t a particularly light piece of fitness equipment, weighing in at close to 200 lb, transport wheels do make it easier to move the machine between rooms if needed.
Schwinn 430 Elliptical – Features Summary
- Dual track two LCD window system allows you to monitor up to 13 different display feedbacks
- Schwinn Connect goal tracking and data export keep you up to date on reaching your fitness goals
- 22 programs, 2 user settings and goal tracking are all there to keep you motivated and challenged
- 20 levels of resistance aligned with a high speed high inertia perimeter weighted flywheel make every workout smooth and quiet
- Charging USB port and data exchange
Workout programs and user profiles
One of the best ways to keep motivated in your home workouts is by regularly changing up your training program. While this is possible on lower priced machines by manually adjusting the resistance, having preset options to choose from allows you to relax more and focus on enjoying your workout.
Fortunately the Schwinn 430 elliptical includes a wide variety of preset training options, but also gives you the option to create your own custom workouts if you can’t find one you like.
Similar to other Schwinn fitness equipment, the preset profile programs have been organized into specific categories according to their intensity; fun rides, mountains, and challenges).
- Fun rides – With lower average resistance levels than programs in the other two categories, the fun ride workouts are ideal for low intensity cardio.
- Mountains – So called because of the way the matrix displays the variation in resistance levels, Mountain programs are higher intensity with gradual but greater variation in resistance throughout your training.
- Challenges – There are also 3 higher intensity programs to choose from in the form of Challenges. There is an ‘Uphill Finish’ program which builds the resistance up to reach its maximum at the end of the workout, as well as 2 interval style programs.These interval training options are better suited for anyone looking to improve their anaerobic fitness and lower body strength due to the sudden switching between high and low resistance levels.
Fitness test
If you are performing some form of cardio workout several times each week, it’s clear that improving your physical fitness is an important goal that you are working towards.
Whereas weights training makes it relatively easy to monitor your strength changes due to the use of weight, sets, and reps, it can be more difficult to clearly measure your aerobic fitness level.
To help make this easier, the Schwinn 430 elliptical includes a built in fitness test. This test performs a calculation based on factors such as your age and weight, as well as your heart rate and power output.
After selecting the ‘Fitness test’ option, the intensity of your workout gradually increases until you are at 75% of your maximum heart rate. This continues for 3 minutes at this level, after which your fitness score is displayed.
This provides a clear grade that you can compare with any previous fitness test grades to see how much your fitness level is improving.
Ease of assembly
Prior to the 2013 model of the Schwinn 430 Elliptical machine, there was also a 2007 model. While the improvements in functions and aesthetic appeal are clear to see, what isn’t immediately obvious is the improvement in assembly instructions.
The majority of the text used in the steps for the 2007 model has now been removed and replaced with more exploded drawings. This actually makes it much simpler to setup as you don’t need to constantly cross reference the part numbers in the instruction text with the diagrams.
Schwinn have also worked hard to make sure the 2013 design also requires less assembly in the first place. The glide rails that needed assembling in the 2007 design now arrived pre-assembled, the same as the flywheel housing.
The remaining instructions are straightforward and easy to follow, with additional diagrams where required to emphasise how the different bolts and washers need to fit together.
With less assembly required and a better quality instruction manual, the Schwinn 430 elliptical can be fully assembled and ready for use in 60 to 90 minutes.
Display console design
With such a wide range of workout programs and the ability to create the 2 user profiles, it’s important to have a display console that’s intuitive to use and preferably features a large LCD screen.
Although the display console for the Schwinn 430 may appear complicated at first glance, it has essentially been split into 3 main sections.
The top half of the display is reserved for the two display screens, providing important workout information such as speed, time, distance, resistance level, calories burned, and revolutions per minute.
The central section is used for the buttons, where the majority are used as quick select options for adjusting the resistance setting.
A final point worth mentioning about the display screen is that it isn’t backlit. If you are looking for a similar elliptical with a backlit LCD screen then it might be worth taking a look at the next model up in the range, the Schwinn 470 elliptical.
Customer reviews
Pros:
- Whisper quiet to use
- Creation of user profiles and entering personal information leads to more accurate results for the workout information displayed on the screen
- Smooth running motion reduces impact on joints
- Long stride length
- Challenging range of workout programs
- Foot plates being close together creates a more natural running motion with the front driven design
- A very sturdy machine
Cons:
- Not enough direction settings for the on-board fan
- Stride length is not adjustable
- Lack of power incline settings
Review Overview
Overall Rating
4 / 5
The new Schwinn 430 Elliptical Machine provides an excellent range of features for a machine under $1,000, with an updated Schwinn DualTrack™ LCD display and goal tracking functionality to set and track time, distance, and calories.
Tracking your workout progress is made easier with the use of the USB thumb drive, allowing you to upload workout information to the SchwinnConnect™ website, as well as being compatible with MyFitnessPal.
The ten degree, six position manual ramp combines with the 20 resistance levels to give you an ergonomic, fat-burning workout, with intuitive controls and customizable programs to work with your specific fitness goals.
An iconic American brand with a long history of innovation, Schwinn® continues to develop products for healthy, active lifestyles.
Product dimensions: 28.2" (W) x 70.1" (L) x 63.2" (H) User weight limit: 300 lbs
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