Finding a treadmill that’s both good and affordable can be a little challenging, but it’s not impossible.
The Schwinn 810 Treadmill is one that fits both of those requirements.
It’s strong, modern, and made by a reputable company.
In this article, I’ll tell you why you should consider the Schwinn 810 Treadmill for your home gym.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Treadmill
Before buying any treadmill there are some features you should be familiar with.
These features will help you make good judgement calls as you scrutinize your possible purchase.
If you’re a treadmill expert, feel free to skip to the next section. If not, you should start here.
Dimensions and Other Specifications
The size of a treadmill should be the first place you start.
You need to figure out how much space you have in the room that you plan to place the treadmill.
Make sure you factor in several feet of clearance space on all sides of the treadmill for safety reasons.
If you have a lot of space, this step won’t make much of a difference, but if you only have a small space, you must purchase a treadmill that will fit.
For small spaces, one option you have is to purchase a folding treadmill.
These are generally compact, and they fold for easy storage when you aren’t using them.
However, keep in mind that these are “light” treadmills, meaning that they won’t be as heavy-duty as others and they won’t have as many options.
You’ll also want to check the deck size.
A narrow deck means that you have more of a chance of bumping into the arm rails as you walk or run.
Short decks aren’t suitable for tall people because they won’t be able to do a full stride. The ideal deck size is 20″ x 60″. This can accommodate most people up to seven feet tall.
You also need to check the weight capacity.
The treadmill needs to be able to support the weight of the heaviest user, otherwise you’ll end up with a broken treadmill and a voided warranty.
Programs, Inclines, and Speed
Most treadmills will come with some type of preset programs and incline levels.
Some lower end treadmills may not have any, but these are meant for people who simply want to maintain their fitness level, not improve it.
For the treadmills that have them, the number of preset programs and incline levels will vary from model to model.
It has nothing to do with price – I’ve seen cheap treadmills with a plethora of programs and incline levels, and I’ve seen expensive ones with only a few.
Whichever treadmill you choose, make sure it has the number of programs and incline levels that is right for your goals.
You don’t want to get a treadmill home and find out later that it doesn’t have everything you want.
Something else to keep in mind about the incline levels – some treadmills have a manual set incline while others have an automatic set incline.
The manual set usually requires you to stop in the middle of exercising, get off the treadmill, and change it.
The automatic set can be changed without interrupting your workout. However, treadmills with automatic set inclines cost more.
Speed is straightforward. You should make sure that the treadmill can go up to the speed that you need to challenge yourself.
The Console and the Extras
The console of your treadmill is important because it’s where you’ll find all the operation buttons and information for your workout.
Treadmill consoles are extremely varied from model to model. Some are big, some are small.
Some have small, monochrome, LCD screens that only give you basic information while others have a full-color, high-definition LCD screen that does everything your television can do.
What they all do, no matter the size, is tell you information like distance traveled, calories burned, time elapsed, and more.
However, you must decide how advanced you want the console to be. Do you want to be able to use fitness apps with it?
You’ll need Bluetooth capabilities.
Would you like to watch Netflix or Disney+ on your console?
You’ll need an advanced LCD screen and Wi-Fi capabilities.
Are you okay with just listening to music from your smart device?
All you’ll need is an audio jack and a media holder.
The more “extras” the treadmill has, the higher it will be in price.
If it’s in your budget, why not go all out and choose everything?
The Schwinn 810 Treadmill
If there was ever a treadmill that is “just right” for a home gym, the Schwinn 810 Treadmill would be it.
It has all the right features that make it relevant and modern, but not so fancy that it costs you an arm and a leg.
It’s strong, quiet, and efficient.
Best of all, it’s manufactured by a reputable company.
If you’re going to make an investment into an exercise machine, it should be one you can depend on like the Schwinn 810.
Pros
- Bright, high-contrast LCD screen.
- Speakers are a good volume and produce a crisp sound.
- Quite easy to assemble.
- Ten-year warranty on the frame and motor.
Cons
- Back support legs are made of plastic.
- Bluetooth is limited and not easy to pair.
- For users 200 pounds or more, the treadmill gets a bit noisy.
Features and Benefits of the Schwinn 810 Treadmill
Quick Specs:
- Dimensions: 69.1″L x 35.6″W x 56.7″H
- Product Weight: 155 lbs.
- Deck Size: 20″ x 55″
- Weight Capacity: 275 lbs.
- Motor: 2.6 CHP
Size & Weight
I was impressed with the size of the Schwinn 810 because it’s mid-range of typical home treadmills on the market.
It measures 69.1″L x 35.6″W x 56.7″H and even folds upward (not all the way) to reduce the length when you’re not using it.
This makes it great for large or small homes, medium to large apartments, lofts, and other home types with open space.
The weight is also mid-range. At 155 pounds, it’s heavy enough to be stable and sturdy, but not so heavy that it’s impossible for you to move around.
Plus, the treadmill has transportation wheels, so this makes it even easier to place wherever you need it. It’s always nice when exercise machines can be handled by one person.
Programs, Inclines, and Speed
The Schwinn 810 has a very fair number of programs to keep your workouts challenging and interesting.
There are 16 programs.
These are broken down into one manual (automatic start) program, six goals-oriented programs, three weight loss programs, three intervals programs, one heart rate program, and two custom user programs.
You can also set up two user profiles as well to go along with those custom programs.
The machine has ten different incline levels and ten different speed levels.
It’s an automatic-set system so you can seamlessly change from one incline level to another (or speed levels) without interrupting your workout.
The treadmill has two sets of incline buttons and two sets of speed buttons to give you options on changing the settings.
Console
I have a love-hate relationship with the console on the Schwinn 810 Treadmill.
On one hand, it has a great LCD screen that is bright with high contrast.
The console is organized neatly with everything you need right in front of you. On the other hand, the console is also cluttered.
There are so many buttons and so much writing that it can be distracting.
The LCD screen is the same way.
It displays every stat at one time, leading to a cluttered screen full of numbers.
I believe the console could use some improvements, but it’s not too bad if you don’t mind how busy it is.
Hydraulic Lift
While the Schwinn 810 Treadmill isn’t extremely heavy, it can still be a safety risk lifting the deck up and down when you want to store it.
That’s where the hydraulic lift comes in.
You start the lift and the hydraulics kicks in and does the rest of the work. It also works in reverse when you let the deck back down.
Extras
The extras on the Schwinn 810 Treadmill aren’t fancy, but they’re practical.
It has two water bottle holders, speakers with a good volume level, and heart rate grip monitors.
The emergency stop button is easily accessible.
I like the placement of the media holder because it doesn’t cover the LCD screen like a lot of other treadmills.
It’s big enough for a phone, tablet, or small book.
The Bluetooth connectivity is something else I have a love-hate relationship with.
It’s great because you can connect to select fitness apps.
However, it won’t pair with your devices to play music. You can only play music by using the 3.5mm audio jack on the console.
Overall, the Schwinn is a great treadmill for almost any home gym. It has ample features and it’s long-lasting.
Plus, it’s offered at a fair price.
What Others are Saying About the Schwinn 810 Treadmill
Review #1
Great Product
Good quality without things I didn’t want. Easy to assemble. App is not part of treadmill, it’s something you can download to iPad. Wasn’t something we wanted anyway. Speakers are much better than we thought would be on treadmill. I recommend this treadmill.
Review #2
Great Treadmill!
This treadmill has been perfect for ME, but I weigh under 120 pounds and mainly use it for fast walking/light jogging. I can’t really speak to other uses. I’ve found it to be sturdy and easy to use. A great product especially for the price!
Review #3
Awesome Treadmill
This is a gym quality treadmill, very happy with it!
Alternative Choices to the Schwinn 810 Treadmill
Goplus Folding Treadmill
If you’re looking for something a little more compact than the Schwinn 810, the the Goplus Folding Treadmill is a great choice.
It’s perfect for studio apartments and other small spaces because it’s small and it folds almost flat.
Keep in mind that it’s not a heavy-duty treadmill, so it’s not suited for heavier people and it doesn’t go faster than 6 mph. It measures 56″L x 24″W x 45.5″H and weighs 59 pounds.
The deck size is 38.2″L x 14″W and it supports up to 220 pounds.
| Goplus Folding Treadmill | Schwinn 810 |
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SereneLife Smart Digital Folding Treadmill
The SereneLife Folding Treadmill is great for people who want a budget choice but don’t want to completely give up all the perks that come with the treadmill.
It has plenty of programs, manual incline settings, Bluetooth capabilities (only connects to fitness apps), USB and SD card ports for playing music, and more.
This is another compact treadmill so it won’t be as heavy-duty as the Schwinn 810, but it will save you money and provide an excellent workout.
| SereneLife Folding Treadmill | Schwinn 810 |
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Exerpeutic TF1000 Ultra High Capacity Treadmill
The Exerpeutic TF1000 Ultra High Capacity Treadmill is a high capacity treadmill for people whose weight is quite a bit above average.
It can easily support up to 400 pounds!
It’s not often that you find a treadmill that can support that much weight. It does sacrifice a few features for this high weight capacity, but it’s worth it if you’re a heavier person.
| Exerpeutic TF1000 | Schwinn 810 Treadmill |
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Final Thoughts on the Schwinn 810 Treadmill
There is no denying that the Schwinn 810 Treadmill is an excellent addition to any home gym. It’s high-quality, modern, easy to use, and looks great.
It has all the features and extras you’d want in a treadmill.
Plus, it’s affordable for most people.
The Schwinn 810 may not be for everyone, which is why I provided alternate choices.
However, there aren’t very many reasons not to choose the Schwinn 810.
