At around $800, it's a great little budget buy and gives some strong basics that most buyers want in a treadmill.
And is it right for you? Here's a review to help you decide.
Quick Stats:
Price: $899.99
Motor: 2.5 HP Motor
Speed: 0.5 -10 MPH
Incline: 0-10%
Treadbelt: 20 x 55"
Folding: Yes
300 lb Weight Capacity Deck
Water Bottle Holder
Built-in Workouts: 16
Warranty: 10 years on the motor, 5 years on the frame, 1 year on electronics, 6 months on parts, 3 months on wear parts, 3 months on labor
Strengths:
1) Quiet Operation
One thing we really liked about the Schwinn 840 is that it runs very quiet. This is great if you have other people in the family (like younger children who take naps) or if you want to run in front of your TV. You don't have to crank up the volume just to hear it.
2) Stable Feel
The Schwinn 840 is built with solid design and construction. It's a heavy machine - which contributes to a solid feel when you're running on it. Plus it has a decent 300 lb user weight capacity which tells you it can take some beating and still keep going.
3) 16 Built In Workouts
If you like a challenge when you workout, you can choose from 16 built-in workouts including 6 course profiles, calorie goal, heart rate control, Quick Start and custom workouts There's an integrated heart rate monitor that helps to adjust treadmill based on your heart rate for the heart rate control programs.
4) Folds To Save Space
The deck on the 840 treadmill folds up to save space and make it easier for cleaning. It uses something called Softdrop which basically makes it easier to fold and unfold to save the strain on your back. While this is a fairly standard feature, it's still a very popular one with buyers.
5) Hand Grip Heart Rate Monitor
While it doesn't come with a wireless heart rate monitor, you can grip the sensors at the front bar of the treadmill and get heart rate feedback. This makes it easier to stay in your target heart rate 'fat-burning' zone.
Weaknesses:
The warranty on the Schwinn 840 treadmill is not great. You get 10 years on the motor, 5 years on the frame, 1 year on electronics, 6 months on parts, 3 months on wear parts and 3 months on labor
At this price point the warranty is below average - especially considering this is a new treadmill on the market and hasn't had time to prove itself yet. (For a better warranty alternative at a similar price point, check out the NordicTrack Treadmills brand, many of which gives you lifetime on the motor and 1 - 2 years on labor.)
Also note that the console is fairly simple and you don't get some of the luxury extras that you get with other brands (like iPod docks, personal trainer coaching etc.)
Overall Conclusion:
The Schwinn name is known for making high quality fitness equipment for affordable prices. Their new Schwinn 840 treadmill is affordable, gets great user reviews and gives you some solid basics like a strong 2.5 HP motor, 55" log deck, heart rate monitor and 10% incline.
However on the downside, the warranty is not great considering it's so new on the market. Plus the 840 does not come with the extra luxuries (iPod docks, wifi connections) that other brands have - which may or may not matter to you.
Where To Buy At A Discount:
While we found the 840 treadmill cost a bit more in stores ($1000-$1200), you can get the Schwinn 840 for about $800 direct from Amazon Fitness. They're also throwing in Free Shipping which will save you about $150 also.
