Schwinn A40 Elliptical Trainer

Schwinn A40 Elliptical Trainer

List Price:     $599.00
Price:           $345.50 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. 
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Product Features

• Get a total body workout with synchronized upper and lower body movement along with 7 Programs and 8 levels of resistance
• Oversized console features a reading rack and integrated 2 speed fan
• Contact heart rate sensors built into console
• 17-1/2" stride length and perimeter weighted, high inertia flywheel provide a smooth and natural feel
• Compact footprint will fit in any room of your house

Product Description

Enjoy a low-impact workout without leaving the home with the Schwinn A40 elliptical trainer. Boasting a perimeter-weighted, high-inertia flywheel, the A40 runs smoothly and quietly, with eight resistance levels to keep you on your toes. The battery-operated trainer also supports several different workout programs (seven in all), so you can customize your workout and keep things fresh. And thanks to the informative LCD console, you can easily monitor your workout progress, with readouts for time, rpm, distance, pulse, speed, calories, resistance level, and course profile. The oversized console also includes a reading rack, water bottle holder, and integrated two-speed fan to keep you engaged and comfortable.

Other details include contact heart rate sensors, a 17-inch stride length, leveling feet for uneven surfaces, and a compact footprint. The A40, which supports up to 275 pounds, carries a two-year warranty on the frame, a six-month warranty on electrical parts, and a 30-day warranty on wear parts.

Specifications:

•     Resistance levels: 8
•     Number of programs: 7
•     Program types: 1 quick start, 2 course, 2 circuit, 2 pursuit
•     Heart rate monitor: Yes, grip
•     Display type: LCD
•     Display readout: Speed, rpm, time, distance, calories, pulse, resistance level, and course profile
•     Reading rack: Yes
•     Water bottle holder: Yes
•     Fan: Yes
•     Power requirement: 4 D-cell batteries (not included)
•     Maximum weight capacity: 275 pounds
•     Warranty: 2 years on the frame, 6 months on mechanical and electric parts, 30 days on wear parts

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By Super Mum (California)

I love it! It's smooth, quiet, easy on the joints and simple to figure out. The machine feels completely stable, does not wobble and is quite sturdy. It gives me a ridiculous workout (I am panting right now) especially if I program it to the highest resistance, though I do give up pretty quick if I use it this way. What works best for me is the various "courses" which fluctuate the resistance so just when it gets too tough it begins stepping down and I am able to make it to my pre-programmed time.

Why is this the perfect machine for me? Well, when I used to go to the gym, this machine was my kryptonite. For some reason I was too uncoordinated to pull it off in public and always felt like once I got moving I was going to fly off due to lack of balance or ability to get all my appendages moving at the same time in the same pattern (it honestly felt like patting my head and rubbing my tummy). At home I don't care about the impending embarrassment which has allowed me to relax and really get to feeling comfortable. I no longer feel as though I am going to shoot off in some America's Funniest Home Video moment. However, it is important to note that the stride on this elliptical machine is a fixed 17 1/2" where the more expensive (and likely the ones at the gym) are 20"+. This may be a problem for some of you taller folks (I am 5'6") but it is perfect for me! I get the sense that this shorter stride length may be why I feel more comfortable on this machine.

Other things I appreciate are the water bottle holder (plastic holder expands to fit larger bottles), Kindle/iPad/eBook holder (doesn't have a lip to keep a tight book or the first few pages of a book held open so I use my Kindle here) and the front wheels so I can move the elliptical machine when vacuuming. Just a tip but if you are truly planning on using the machine on a regular basis you should keep it where you plan on exercising. If you need to move it everyday you will find that you are less likely to use it.

The downside...

First, the LCD screen is weak, lacks contrast, and is frankly the worst part of the machine. In fact, the screen is not easy to read in any light (I tried overhead lighting, no overhead lighting, etc.) Most of the display is much like those old calculators where the lines in the numbers and letters do not connect. This wouldn't be so bad if the lines were thick but they are extremely thin which makes it much more difficult to read. The labels on the LCD display, which state what each number means (e.g. RPM, Time, Calories, etc.) are thicker, which should make them easier to read except for the fact that they are so small you really can't read them while exercising. Essentially, you have a tiny label you can't read due to size while moving and a large calculator type number which is difficult to read due to the how thin it is. What the LCD screen is essentially good for is to see the resistance (indicated by huge black blocks) and to read, when you are done with your session of course, how many calories you burned.

The second downside, during assembly one part was defective (Part M would not fit on the machine no matter how many people at my house said they could fit it on) and one bolt was missing. No, I didn't lose the bolt in the carpet... I know this because each bolt and washer is vacuum-packed and there are only five indents in the plastic when there should have been six. I called Schwinn and within five business days I had a complete package including the missing and defective parts. Calling the 800 customer service number was super easy and they were a pleasure to deal with. The excellent customer service is definitely a huge reason to choose Schwinn (part of the Nautilus/Bowflex company as I discovered when I called) when purchasing a large piece of equipment that can't just "go out for repair." The customer service really moved this product review from a 3 star to a 4 star.

Finally, why you may want to invest in a higher, more expensive, model...

This entry level elliptical is fine for my needs, however, some people are trying to build a gym at home. What sets this apart from the more expensive machines is the fixed stride (some are adjustable or longer), 8 resistance levels (vs. 16+ on other Schwinn models), the weight of the machine, how much the user can weigh (for this model 275 lbs max), how man courses are programmed into the machine and other little accessory pieces like MP3 hookup, etc.