Schwinn A40 Elliptical Trainer

by Schwinn

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

Amazon.com 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.

The A40's LCD console tracks your workout progress.

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

Compare These Recumbent Exercise Bikes Schwinn A40 Schwinn 420 (2009) Schwinn 420 (2012) Schwinn 431 Schwinn 460 Nautilus E514 Number of Programs 7 10 10 19 16 16 Workout Programs 1 Manual, 6 Profile 6 Profile, 1 Custom, Quick Start, Fitness Test, Results Mode 6 Profiles, 1 Custom, Quick Start, Fitness Test, Results Mode 1 Manual, 10 Profile, Calorie Goal, Time Trial, 3 Heart Rate Control, Fitness Test, 2 Custom 1 Manual, 11 Profile, 2 Custom for 2 Users 6 Profile, Quick Start, 2 Custom, 3 Heart Rate Controlled, Fitness Test, Distance Goal, Calorie Goal, Results Mode Performance Tracking No No No No Schwinn Advantage™ No Stride Length Fixed 17 inch Fixed 18 inch Fixed 18 inch Fixed 18 inch Variable 2 to 28 inches Fixed 18 inch Polar® Heart Rate System No No No No Yes Yes Heart Rate contact contact contact contact telemetry enabled (with chest strap) & contact telemetry enabled (with chest strap) & contact Display Type LCD extra large LCD LCD blue backlit LCD backlit touchscreen LCD extra large blue backlit LCD Resistance Levels 8 16 16 16 16 16 Other Features magnetic eddy current brake, extra large console, articulating footplates, space saving front drive flywheel, fan, reading rack, water bottle holder, powered by battery or AC adaptor (sold separately), transport wheels, switchable from miles to kilometers magnetic eddy current brake, fixed & moving handlebars, articulating footplates, space saving front drive flywheel, extra large LCD window, transport wheels, switchable from miles to kilometers, AC adaptor included magnetic eddy current brake, articulating footplates, fixed & moving handlebars, space saving front drive flywheel, extra large console, speakers, fan, reading rack, water bottle holder, rear stabilizer frame levelers, transport wheels, switchable from miles to kilometers, AC adaptor included magnetic eddy current brake, articulating footplates, fixed & moving handlebars, space saving front drive flywheel, extra large console, fan, reading rack, water bottle holder, rear stabilizer frame levelers, transport wheels, ac adaptor included magnetic eddy current brake, fixed & moving handlebars, space saving front drive flywheel, articulating foot plates, fan, transport wheels, water bottle holder, reading rack magnetic eddy current brake, articulating footplates, space saving front drive flywheel, blower fan, reading rack, water bottle holder, rear stabilizer frame levelers, transport wheels, switchable from miles to kilometers Dimensions (L x W x H) 59 x 23 x 64 inches 62 x 26 x 71 inches 62 x 26 x 71 inches 59 x 26 x 68 inches 54 x 34 x 73 inches 62 x 26 x 71 inches Product Weight 93 pounds 152 pounds 152 pounds 165 pounds 205 pounds 165 pounds Warranty Frame: 2 years, Mechanical and Electric: 6 months, Wear Parts: 30 days Frame: 5 years, Parts: 1 year, Electronics: 1 year, Wear Parts: 90 Days Frame: 5 years, Parts: 1 year, Electronics: 1 year, Wear Parts: 90 Days Frame: 15 years, Parts: 2 years, Electronics: 1 year, Wear Parts: 6, months Frame: 10 years, Parts: 2 years, Electronics: 1 year, Wear Parts: 90 days Frame: 10 years, Parts: 2 years, Electronics: 1 year, Wear Parts: 6 months Max. User Weight 275 pounds 300 pounds 300 pounds 300 pounds 300 pounds 300 pounds

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 59 x 23 x 64 inches ; 145 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 106.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B003UNVU1M
• Item model number: 100195
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,352 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #9 in Sports & Outdoors > Exercise & Fitness > Cardio Training > Elliptical Trainers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

192 of 205 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Poorly Made, Worthless Warranty--A Piece of Junk, December 8, 2010

By 

Terry Sunday (El Paso, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Schwinn A40 Elliptical Trainer (Sports)

(What's this?)

NOTE: I originally reviewed this machine in December 2010. This revised review is being published in August 2011.

I am drastically revising my review of the Schwinn A40 Elliptical Trainer, which I originally rated with five stars, down to the lowest possible rating. Why, you ask? Simply because my machine suffered a major structural failure after only seven months of light usage. The shaft that attaches the right-hand pedal arm to the crank broke off where it was welded in place. I super-glued it back, but that repair lasted only about a week before it came off again. As much as I liked this machine at first (despite its initial "Pedal" error problem--see the "Comments" to this review), it is now useless to me except as a decorative fixture in my spare room until I can figure out how to dispose of it.

That this machine suffered a debilitating failure after such little use indicates to me that it is of very poor quality. I am neither a large nor heavy person (let's just say I weigh not much more than HALF of its specified weight limit of 275 pounds), and it rarely saw more than 20 minutes of use per day, six days a week. It should not have broken in such a major way. The fact that I got it free through the Vine program does not diminish my disappointment and frustration--if I had paid for it, I would be REALLY irritated.

I contacted Schwinn about this and got NO satisfaction whatsoever. Even though the Owner's Manual CLEARLY says the "frame," which is the part that broke, is warranted for two years, the Schwinn rep refused to honor the warranty and said I'd have to buy a new part. That's the worst kind of bait and switch in my book.

Although at first this A40 trainer seemed like a very good way to undertake a fitness-improving exercise program, the fact is that mine lasted for only seven months. I can't imagine how quickly it would have fallen apart under a bigger, heavier user. I advise those considering such a machine to avoid this one. If you have a morbid fascination to learn the history of my experiences with it, I include my original five-star review as a comment to this one. My bottom line--DO NOT BUY THIS MACHINE. It won't last, and when it breaks Schwinn will leave you out in the cold.

62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Elliptical Machine, November 14, 2010

By 

Blue Boy - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Schwinn A40 Elliptical Trainer (Sports)

This is one great machine. It is very smooth,very stable and extremely well built. It took me a little over two hours to assemble and the assembly directions are very clear and well labeled with one exception. In the assembly directions, it calls for six #B screws when it is obvious they meant #A screws because they were the only ones left in the assembly process. I was worried that I would not be able to assemble it without help but had no trouble assembling it myself. For the money, I don't believe you could get any better quality even in a more expensive machine. I have very bad knees but this workout actually helps them and gives me an excellent full body workout. I recommend the Schwinn A40 to anyone.

52 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars New Year's Resolution Here I Come!, December 18, 2010

By 

Super Mum (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Schwinn A40 Elliptical Trainer (Sports)

(What's this?)

First and foremost... how do I like the machine now that it is in one piece?

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.