The Schwinn 420 elliptical or cross trainer is a fantastic looking machine. Everything about it shouts out excellent build quality as you would expect with Schwinn exercise equipment. It is fairly substantial in terms of size, and you get the feeling that it is built to last. Read on for our Schwinn 420 elliptical review.
Schwinn 420 Elliptical – Our Initial Thoughts
As with most exercise equipment, your first experience of your own Schwinn 420 Elliptical will be to unbox it and put it together. This can be a little fiddly and will certainly be a challenge if you attempt it on your own, so we recommend roping in someone else to lend a hand. Once assembled however, the Schwinn 420 feels like an extremely solid machine and proves to be very stable.
The sturdiness of the machine is backed up by the fact that the Schwinn 420 elliptical is rated for users of up to 300 pounds, which is fairly impressive for a piece of home exercise equipment. We talk a lot about stride length on this site, so it’s certainly worth mentioning that the stride length on the Schwinn 420 is 18 inches. This is a decent length, making it ideal for people of average height up to around 6 feet and above. If you are a lot taller than that however, then the stride distance will probably be too short. As ever, if in doubt, look into trying the machine out before you buy.
In terms of build and features the Schwinn 420 elliptical isn’t found wanting. It has dual action drive which means it can be used equally well in a forwards or reverse motion, which can help you vary your workout. It makes use of magnetic (or eddy current/ECB) resistance, which means it is quiet in operation and the motion is smooth contributing to an excellent workout experience.
The Schwinn 420 Elliptical – Can you Resist?
Talking about resistance, the Schwinn 420 elliptical offers 16 different, computer controlled, resistance levels which really helps you add variety to your workout and helps ensure that it always remains challenging. Being computer controlled, changing the resistance is as simple as pressing a button so can be done during your workout with the minimum of fuss. If changing the resistance manually isn’t your thing, then you can benefit from the 12 built in fitness programs. Just set the program and start exercising – easy!
The range of programs ensures that you can always find a challenging workout when using the Schwinn 420. In addition to the 12 built in programs, there is also a fitness test feature, which is a great way of checking out how much progress with your fitness you have made. There are also six user profile workouts which is great if more than one person regularly uses the machine. One additional program feature of note is the quick start feature which does exactly as it sounds – Get on, Set Your Resistance and Start Exercising.
The computer console boasts an LCD display which gives you all the metrics you need to be able to track your workout. Metrics such as elapsed time, resistance level, burned calories, distance travelled, speed and your heart rate are all present and correct. On the subject of the heart rate monitor, the sensors are built into the cross trainer’s handlebars. It gives a decent reading, but if you are serious about monitoring your heart rate accurately then you may want to consider purchasing an independent reader such as one from Polar.
Other features of note on the Schwinn 420 elliptical include the magazine rack, for those of you that like to read whilst working out, and the water bottle holder which is conveniently placed.
To summarise, the Schwinn 420 cross trainer is a great quality, sturdy and reliable trainer boasting excellent build quality. Given a mid-range price range the quality is such that it is a worthy competitor to many more expensive cross trainers whilst also including many of the features you would find on those more expensive models. Overall, the Schwinn 420 elliptical offers excellent value for money.