Schwinn 411 Elliptical Review

Hey guys, so today we will be taking you through a review of a product we tested a while ago. It’s called the Schwinn Compact Elliptical Machine and yes it’s another one of those home based exercise thing-ama-bobs.

However, with everything that’s going on in the world with the Covid-19 pandemic and all the uncertainty surrounding the use of public facilities i.e. Gyms and Health Clubs.

We agreed that this is the perfect time to help you guys make an informed decision before jumping online and buying the first piece of cardio equipment you see advertised.

Okay so back to our product, the Schwinn Compact Elliptical Machine is a classic yet modern elliptical style cardio machine. It is designed to deliver full body workouts at various intensities with very low impact. It forms part of Schwinn’s home based training product catalogue that they advertise as the perfect range for those looking to set up a home based gym.

(Or for those of you who want an expensive coat hanger, yeah you’re not fooling anyone Susan we know you haven’t used your cross trainer since you bought it!)

Jokes aside, let’s jump straight into it shall we?

Being a seasoned athletic trainer and high performance coach, I have personally (recreationally and professionally) used gym equipment in particular cardio equipment, for the better part of 12 years now. So I’d say I know a thing or two about what works, what is value for money and what is basically just hyped up marketing of a pretty crappy product line.

So how about we kick things off with what we liked about the Schwinn Compact Elliptical Machine:

Summary

To summarize the Schwinn Compact Elliptical Machine is an entry level home based elliptical machine. It’s designed to assemble easily and fit perfectly into any home or living space. Despite forming part of Schwinn’s “budget” options, it serves as really good value for money because despite its shortcomings it more than makes up for it with its overall user experience and design.

All in all I would give the Schwinn Compact Elliptical Machine a solid and well deserving 7.5/10

Pros

Compact size and relatively lightweight. At only 120lbs with dimensions of approximately 70x28x63 it doesn’t take up too much physical space.
Design, from a distance it looks like your classic stocky cross training machine. But up close it has slique, modern design with black and charcoal colorway and red accents makes it really aesthetically pleasing. The quality in terms of materials and how it feels to touch is pretty standard plastic composite with some metal finishes.
Features, we like the fact that it has multiple features and a good level of compatibility with standard everyday technology. I am not going to list all the features here, that's what a sales page is for so feel free to check them out here.
User/exercising experience. The biggest pro here is that the Schwinn Compact Elliptical Machine is self propelled i.e. It doesn’t use electricity. This makes it a major energy saver and ultimately saves you money in the long run.
Price, market related so you aren’t going to need to break the bank for this investment, which given the current economic climate, is a massive win for the Schwinn Compact Elliptical Machine.

Cons

Stability. The reoccurring issue with “compact” cardio machines designed for home use is that they usually sacrifice some degree of sturdiness and stability during use, in exchange for being lighter in weight and smaller in dimension. This then also results in the user weight limit being lowered below 130kg.
Quality. As I mentioned in the pro’s section above, the makeup of the Schwinn Compact Elliptical Machine is pretty standard composite plastic material. I can’t help but feel that the machine might not withstand the test of time. Not ideal if you’re looking to set up a home gym for daily use.
Size. So yes, it fits great in your garage or your spare bedroom, but the Schwinn Compact Elliptical Machine is unfortunately not particularly comfortable for anyone over 1.80m tall or has a body weight of over 100kg. Again, “compactness” limits its usability for a wide range of the population.

Okay so we have the pros and the cons out of the way. I think it is my turn to weigh my two cents into the conversation.

As an individual that uses gym equipment for a living I am quite critical when it comes investing in cardio equipment. So just like I would explain it to one of my athletes I am going to break it down for you guys in a way that makes it a lot less sales driven and a bit more empathetic.

Cardio equipment is a tricky thing to navigate, simply because there is a lot of crap being sold on the market. So this is one of those things you need to lean towards spending a fair amount of money on. You would ideally want to be looking for a trusted brand with transparent terms and conditions such as warranties and return policies.

Now in terms of the Schwinn 411 Compact Elliptical Machine, they cover both my main concerns. Schwinn is a global leader and recognised brand with great customer service. Equally, their quality is top grade and ultimately very reliable.

This particular unit is perfect for the entry level home gym or just an extra option for exercise when you only have 15 minutes to spare or the weather is quite crappy.
If you are a seasoned athlete or veteran in the gym I’d lean towards one of their more advanced options. As this current version will likely frustrate you in its limited options and overall entry level standard.

So I guess it begs the question, would I buy the Schwinn Compact Elliptical Machine?

For myself, no, but for someone in need of a high quality compact piece of cardio equipment? Absolutely.