Comparing the Schwinn 420, 430, 431 and 460 Elliptical Trainers - How do they differ?

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By Carl Citrin

The Schwinn 420, 430, 431 and 460 elliptical trainers are a great way of low-impact cardiovascular exercising in the comfort of your own home. The advantages of working out at home on elliptical trainers not only saves you money from not having to pay expensive gym fees, but also allows you to keep yourself entertained while exercising as you can choose to listen to music, watch TV, read a magazine or book.

The Schwinn 420, 430, 431 and 460 elliptical trainers simulate the natural motions of walking, stepping, cycling and skiing, and help to build strength in both the arms and legs. Because your feet remain in the foot pedals, unlike with treadmills, there is far less impact on the knees, back and hips, making elliptical trainers a much better way of exercising for people of all ages and fitness levels. The Schwinn elliptical trainers help to work-out both the upper and lower body with their dual-action motion.

The Schwinn 420, 430, 431 and 460 elliptical trainers allow you to choose the difficulty level in both incline and intensity. You can choose a variety of different workouts with the Schwinn elliptical trainers depending on your individual needs. Each Schwinn elliptical trainer has a variety of different features with a choice of easy to challenging programs. Most elliptical trainers will include a forward and reverse directional movement, EKG grip pulse handles, a display monitor showing speed, time, distance, heart-rate and calories burned. Some elliptical trainers are more lightweight than others making them more portable with a fold-up option for storing.

So let’s take a look at how the Schwinn 420, 430, 431 and 460 elliptical trainers have in common and how they differ:

What the Schwinn 420, 430, 431 and 460 elliptical trainers have in common:

  • All have a forward/reverse motion.
  • All offer a magnetic ECB resistance (eddy current brake resistance) for a quiet and smooth ride.
  • All offer 16 resistance levels.

How the Schwinn 420, 430, 431 and 460 elliptical trainers differ:

  • The Schwinn 420, 430 and 431 offer front-drive dual action, whereas the Schwinn 460 elliptical trainer offers variable-stride dual action.
  • The Schwinn 420, 430 and 431 offer 18” stride length, whereas the Schwinn 460 elliptical trainer offers between 2” to 26” stride length.
  • The Schwinn 420 and 430 offer an LCD display; the Schwinn 431 offers a backlit LCD display; and the Schwinn 460 offers a touch screen backlit LCD display.
  • The display features on the Schwinn 430 and 431 show speed, time distance, RPM, watts, pulse, calories, interval time, resistance; the display features on the Schwinn 420 and 460 elliptical trainers show speed, time distance, RPM, watts, pulse, calories, interval time, resistance, course profile.
  • The Schwinn 420, 430 and 431 elliptical trainers offer a grip heart-rate monitor whereas the 460 offers a chest strap with telemetry and grip on handlebars.
  • Programs offered with the Schwinn elliptical trainers differ for each one: the 420 offers 1 manual and 8 profile; the 430 offers 1 manual, 6 profile, 1 calorie goal, results mode and BMI test; the 431 offers 1 manual, 10 profile, 2 heart rate control, 2 custom, time trial, calorie goal, fitness test, BMI test, recovery mode, results mode; the 460 offers 1 manual, 11 profile, 2 custom for two users.
  • Additional features are varied for each Schwinn elliptical trainer: the 420 offers transport wheels, water bottle holder, magazine rack; the 430 offers transport wheels, water bottle holder; the 431 offers transport wheels, water bottle holder, 3-speed fan, MP3/iPod holder; the 460 offers transport wheels, fixed and moving handlebars, articulating foot plates, cooling fan, water bottle holder.
  • Dimensions differ for each of the Schwinn elliptical trainers: the 420 measures 62” x 26” x 71”; the 430 measures 59” x 26” x 68”; the 431 measures 59” x 26” x 68”; the 460 measures 54” x 34” x 73”.
  • The weight of the Schwinn elliptical trainers also differ: the 420 weighs 154 lbs; the 430 weighs 152 lbs; the 431 weighs 172 lbs; the 460 weighs 221 lbs.
  • The maximum user weight for the Schwinn 420, 431 and 460 is 300 lbs, whereas for the 430 elliptical trainer the maximum weight is 275 lbs.
  • The warranties offered on the Schwinn elliptical trainers differ slightly: the 420 offers 5 years on frame, 1 year on parts and electronics, 90 days on labor; the 431 and 430 offer 15 years on frame, 2 years on parts, 1 year on electronics, 90 days on labor; the 460 offers 10 years on frame, 2 years on parts, 1 year on electronics, 90 days on wear parts.

Which Schwinn elliptical trainer you choose will depend on your individual needs, but each one offers you a low-impact form of exercising that won’t strain sensitive joints. Besides taking into account the various differences highlighted above, you may also want to consider the difference in prices: at the time of writing and depending where you shop, the Schwinn 420 and 430 are offered at around the same price, while the 431 is a little more expensive at around just over $100 more, with the 460 elliptical trainer being the most expensive at around just over $300 more than the 420 and 430.

See what other customers have to say ...

CC:

I bought the Schwinn 420 elliptical trainer because of Schwinn’s good reputation and I have not been disappointed. It was easy to assemble. The programming was fairly straightforward. This elliptical trainer is well built and feels sturdy when exercising. I weigh 300 lbs and it supports me well with no wobbling or shaking. I find the 18” stride and the handles are comfortable for me. It has a fairly basic console but that’s expected for the price of this elliptical trainer. If you’re looking for a well-built elliptical trainer at a good price then the Schwinn 420 is the one for you.”

KK:

The Schwinn 430 is perfect for me and my partner. We are trying to lose weight after Xmas and as we live in a snowy area, running outside is too dangerous in the winter. We put this elliptical trainer together quite easily and it’s awesome! It offers a smooth ride and is very comfortable. Absolutely worth investing in!”

KT:

We looked at many different elliptical trainers before buying the Schwinn 431. This one is sleek compared to a lot of the other models. It is quiet and sturdy much to our pleasant surprise. It doesn’t shake at all even when exercising at a fast pace. We have been using this Schwinn 431 for 2 months now and it is perfect for us. The variety of programs with this elliptical trainer means we never get bored! Glad we chose this instead of a treadmill! Highly recommended.

JF:

I got the Schwinn 460 elliptical trainer as I wanted an exercise machine to keep in shape. I don’t like running on a treadmill and find cycling is boring and too limited. I wanted variety and that’s what I got with the elliptical trainer. I was sold on the “variable stride” feature of the Schwinn 460. It has a great variety of short and long strides and steps, and allows me to set my own training pattern. Only one problem ... the rest of the family have taken to it and now I have to share it! We’ve all been using this elliptical trainer for over a year now and it’s still going strong.”

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