pstans's Full Review: Schwinn 438 Elliptical Trainer
This machine is rock solid. I bought it for my wife and I to use on a daily basis. This is why we did not want to go with anything that could be purchased at a local bargain store. They are just not designed for continuous use. The Schwinn 418 Elliptical Trainer won top awards by Consumer Reports, so we looked at it first, and after comparing with the 438, its bigger brother, we opted to go with the 438. It is under $1000 yet it has:
• 21 Programs
o 1 Manual
o 10 Profile: Ride in the park, rolling hills, Pikes Peak, etc.
o 1 Calorie Goal
o 1 Time Trial
o 3 HRC (heart rate control)
o 1 Fitness Test
o 4 Custom
• Telemetric & grip heart-rate monitoring (one of the programs is HRC, which stands for Heart Rate Control, so if you use the included chest strap, you do not have to use the grip heart-rate monitors, and your heart rate controls the program.
• 4 user Settings (remembers your workout)
• 16 levels of resistance
• Articulating Foot Plate with 0" - 18" Stride Length
• Cushioned foot plates
• Built in 3 speed fan
• Max user weight – 300 pounds
• Quiet ECB (Eddy Current Brake)
• Computer controlled drive system
So far it feels real solid. We have tried out about 3 or 4 different programs and I can see this will keep us from getting bored with it for sometime to come. I would not recommend this of your living room unless you have lots of space. It is large: 66" L x 25" W x 66" H. However, even though the weight of the machine is 175 pounds, the front of the machine has transport wheels (can't even tell they are wheels), and by lifting the rear of the unit, you can move it anywhere you want. We have a media room upstairs, so that is where we have it.
The glide of the unit is smooth. As long as you keep the tracks clean it should stay smooth. The resistance level change is smooth as well, as a matter of fact; I personally feel it is similar to the feel of the commercial machines at our local fitness centers. The display is really nice. This was a feature we really wanted. We have seen others that just did not give enough information or was of the older style LED's. We wanted something that was attention getting, and would keep us from getting bored. That is the problem with exercising, at least for us, and that is if it gets boring, we won't do it. So this control panel is modern, bright, and full of information. It is a backlit LCD panel.
Here are some important Tips for assembly:
1. Separate all the parts and check them off the list. If you feel something is missing, check again, and again. I did not do this, and contacted support to have another set of hardware shipped, only to find I did have the stuff, and just missed it in the count.
2. If you decide you want it up or down stairs, do not attempt to haul the entire box, just open it up and take the parts out and haul them individually. The largest and heaviest part is the body, with the flywheel. It would guess it to be about 30 pounds roughly. The weight is easy enough to lift, but it is a bit unwieldy due to its size. I would still recommend you get some help carrying it.
3. Some parts may be shipped pre-installed and the manual may not be updated to reflect this.
4. The screws to the control panel were stapled to the inside flap of the box it was packaged in. I missed that one 3 times.
5. When mounting the control panel and fan assembly, tighten the screws only a little. Once you have the unit assembled and you can power on the system. Try the fan. If the screws are too tight the fan will not run. You can back them off just a tad till it functions normally. The same holds true with the control panel. If the screws are tightened too tight, some functions will either not work, or the system will act as if a button is being kept down. Back the screws off just a tad. They do not need to be real tight anyway. Just tight enough to hold the control panel in place.
6. Most importantly, be patient. Never force anything. All the parts fit together perfectly if you just take your time and familiarize yourself with the instructions.
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