Schwinn 438 Elliptical Trainer
A vast improvement on the well liked 418 model, the Schwinn 438 Elliptical Trainer has several updates consumers will enjoy. The foot pads are larger meaning it stays stable even with the maximum weight of 300lbs. The trainer is fairly easy to move around and there is a handle at the back to give a good handhold when lifting and moving. There is a wireless heart monitor and is telemetric meaning you assign a target range you want your heart rate kept at, and the monitor will make sure the resistance is always kept to meet that.
The Schwinn 438 Elliptical Trainer is manufactured by Nautilus who have a license from Schwinn. It is Nautilus who handles customer care and some consumers have found them to be a little slow in replacing parts. However the majority of owners seem satisfied. Basic tools are needed to set it up but this is relatively simple to do. Assembly on average takes around two hours. Some people do report missing screws, poorly made parts, or missing washers. Some have had a mast that was poorly made with the welding being incomplete or broken. The console may not be very durable according to fitness repair technicians, though users have not issued any complaints in that department yet.
Users of the Schwinn 438 elliptical trainer like the articulating foot pedals though the 18″ stride was too short for taller people. The handlebars are in a position that make them uncomfortable to use, and there seems to be no reason for this decision to place them backwards. Its key stats are:
• 24 programs allowing for some variety in workout
• Monitoring progress is easier with the telemetric and grip hart rate monitor
• Eight resistance levels, computer controlled
• Magnetic Eddy Current Brake resistance making it quiet
• Articulating foot pad
• Maximum weight of users is three hundred pounds
• LCD display showing speed, time, revs per minute, distance, resistance level, load, calories, course profile, calories per hour and heart rate
• Warranty = 2 year parts, 1 year electronics, 6 months labor, 15 year frame
In general the Schwinn 438 elliptical is a good purchase for home use though it may be handy finding someone who can fix the handlebars for you. It is easy to use and durable and is in the affordable price range of a thousand dollars.
