Schwinn 418 Elliptical Trainer Review

The Schwinn 418 is one of the most popular elliptical trainers on the market. Much of the popularity is attributed to a "Best Buy" review from the venerable Consumer Reports. That can really impact sales.

When I tested the 418, I was impressed with the smooth and elliptical motion. That is the exception to the rule for a machine under $1,000. The stride was comfortable. Most budget ellipticals tend to have a short, bouncy stride. The Schwinn 418 has an 18" stride that can accommodate a wide range of users. If you are over 6'2" you may want to find a model with a 20" stride.

Note: As of 8/12/08 the Schwinn 418 was on sale for $599, with shipping at Amazon.com. For the same price I feel the Schwinn 430 is a better treadmill. See Schwinn 430 Review.

The Schwinn 418 elliptical comes with articulating footplates that follows the natural motion of your foot and supports your heel through the stride. The articulating footplate helps to reduce the strain on you feet and ankles.

You get a good selection of programs, including rolling, valley, fat burn, ramp, plateau, intervals, mountain, heart rate, and manual mode. The LCD console is not that impressive, but considering the price, it is adequate. It provides you with numerous readouts for monitoring your workout - includes time, speed, distance, revolutions per minute, resistance level, calories and calories per hour, load, and heart rate and course profile.

The Schwinn 428 weighs 175 lbs, and that extra weight contributes to a sturdy and solid feel. This is not a Precor elliptical, but there is a noticeable difference between the 418 and comparably priced Proform and Eclipse ellipticals.

Keeping in perspective this is a budget elliptical, I have several minor criticisms:

There are only eight resistance levels, and you may notice significant change from one level to another.
The pedals run on a single wheel along the rail - typical for ellipticals under $1,000, but not the sturdiest design. I prefer the concave design on the Schwinn 430.
The budget LCD display can be hard to see.
There is only a 6 month labor warranty. You get one year coverage with the Schwinn 438.

Consumer Reports Schwinn 418 Elliptical Trainer Review

As stated above, CR rated the Schwinn 418 a "Best Buy" in 2005. In fact, it was their only best buy rating. They rated it "Excellent" for quality, and "Good" for ease of use and ergonomics. They felt it had very good overall performance, and was better quality than other ellipticals in this price range. In general, they thought it was a good value.

Our Review

The Schwinn is a good value in the sub $1,000 price range. In comparison to other moderately priced elliptical trainers, the 418 performs like ellipticals that are more expensive. That is why it is so popular.

Any elliptical trainer for under $1,000 is going to have some limitations, but over all the Schwinn 418 is a good value in comparison to its competitors. I recommend this elliptical for moderate use, and for individuals under 220 lbs — even though the user weight limit suggests 275 lbs.

Customer Reviews on Amazon

There were over 60 customer reviews. Most were favorable (4 out of 5 stars average), although several customers complained about poor customer service. Click here for all customer reviews on the Schwinn 418.

A Good and Simple Exercise Machine

In the two weeks I have used the Schwinn 418 Elliptical Trainer I have been quite happy with its performance. Its magnetic friction keeps the machine quiet so others in the house don't complain about the noise. The motion is silk smooth and still provides a good workout.

Quality piece

I bought this model with the CR rating in mind. The box arrived early and in perfect condition. Only thing missing from the box was the water bottle. It was fairly easy to put together. I had two 23 month old assistants and had it up and running within 2 hours. The machine runs quiet and smooth. The screen is difficult to read. My husband and I both use it and is holding up wonderfully. We've had it for a little of a month now. It's great and even better for the price.

A smooth workout for a reasonable sum -

It's a great machine. Costs way less than the 3-4 thousand dollar ones at your local Bally's. Get some help with assembly. It's easy to do, but you need two sets of hands.

Also see Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer Review and the Schwinn 438 elliptical review.

*This Schwinn 418 Elliptical Trainer Review is based on not only testing the equipment, but also comments, testimonials, reviews and ratings of customers and third parties. We attempt to be as accurate as possible. Warranties, features and prices can change without notice.