Right away we can tell you that the Schwinn MY16 830 Treadmill totally blew us away. We based our review on the design, the features, the price, as well as the overall usability of the treadmill, and we have to say we were extremely pleased with what we found. Finding a treadmill that is not only versatile but safe to use is no easy task. But we’re pretty confident that the MY16 can satisfy both needs.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill, basic cardio machine that you’d find at any old health club. It’s designed with both the hardcore runner in mind. It’s also suitable for the average exercise enthusiast who might want another option for working out in the home. The console features, the built-in running surface as well as the specifications made the Schwinn MY16 Treadmill a really incredible machine. We were confident that it could have a place in just about anybody’s living space or personal gym.
It has an incredibly easy-to-use interface, tons of settings that make customizing workouts a snap, presets, and a convenient, manageable design. There are also a number of built-in components that let you stay connected to your favorite media during your workout. After all, who doesn’t like to listen to music during a long run? It comes at a price that’s a little bit on the higher end but one that still won’t break the bank, making it an even more attractive piece of in-home exercise equipment.
Overview
Layout and Design
While the Schwinn MY16 830 is a heavy-duty treadmill that performs extremely well, it’s also small enough that you could set it up in a variety of locations. It has the kind of dimensions that make it incredibly convenient to move around a room or a house if need be. The treadmill measures in at 78 x 30 x 13 inches, and weighs just 200 pounds.
Before we even turned it on, we found its light weight and reasonable dimensions to be a huge plus, especially since we figured most people would be using it in places like the bedroom or basement. The entire treadmill is also foldable, so when you aren’t using it, it’ll take up even less space. Due to something called the SoftDrop deck folding system, you’ll be able to reduce the treadmill’s horizontal dimensions significantly without the risk of dropping or damaging the track portion.
The console is also extremely well-equipped. You’ll find a 3 x 5 high-resolution blue back-lit LCD monitor, a USB charging port as well as easy access to all of the treadmill’s buttons and settings. Specifically, you’ll find controls for the incline, the speed, a goal tracker, as well as start and stop buttons. There are also speakers built right into the console, a spot for a water-bottle and a fan to keep you cool. The best part about the console was that it didn’t feel overloaded or confusing to get accustomed to despite having so many buttons and features. Everything was clearly labeled and had us thinking that getting started with the MY16 would be a simple, stress-free process.
The running surface measured 20 x 55 inches so there was plenty of room to move during a workout. However, it wasn’t so large that it took a lot of horizontal space, adding to its overall convenience. The running surface was also fitted with a 4 cell Soft Track deck to reduce impact. Under the running surface you’ll also find a series of 2.5” rollers to further help with shock absorption. Overall, the design of the Schwinn MY16 was really amazing, and had us very excited to see what the treadmill had in store when it came to features.
Features
The thing we loved most about the Schwinn MY16 830 was the huge amount of built-in settings and workout options. The treadmill is so versatile in the types of workouts it can provide that it is sure to satisfy just about anyone looking to sweat or just get their heart rate up. You’ll find 20 levels of automated resistance so you can vary the intensity to your liking. There are also 22 preset exercise programs that each focus on a different goal. For example, you’ll find 1 manual program, 3 quick goals, 5 training options, 5 heart health workouts as well as 2 options to customize your own workout. From the hardcore athlete looking to increase V02 max, to the elderly person looking for a way to exercise year round, the MY16 has the bases covered.
If that isn’t enough, you’ll also be able to adjust your speed from 0-12 miles per hour as you please and also adjust the incline from 0 to 12 degrees. We found these options to be extremely useful for things like hitting different muscles groups in the leg and finding the appropriate intensity level for each different user. You also won’t have to worry about the treadmill stalling out during your workout either. There is a built-in 2.75 continuous horsepower motor that is guaranteed to sustain even the longest workout sessions.
Lastly, you’ll be able to measure your heart rate in two different ways. You can either grip the built-in handles, or you can use a telemetry band that wirelessly connects to the treadmill to monitor your heart. We were especially interested in the telemetry band feature, mainly because gripping the treadmill for an accurate heart rate measure was, at times, a little annoying and took away from the overall experience of using the treadmill. By monitoring the heart wirelessly, you’ll be able to free up your arms to move while you run, making the experience of using the MY16 all the more immersive.
The Good And The Bad: Our Full Review
The Price
The Schwinn MY16 830 is a little on the pricy side, but this is totally justified by its durability and long list of features. At 649.99, you’ll get a treadmill that does just about everything and is by no means cheap or poorly made. Not only does it have a lot of impressive internal components, but it gave us the impression that it wouldn’t hurt a user’s joints over time due to the impact-resistant running surface. It was little extras like these that make this treadmill well worth the slightly higher price than some others on the market.
The Good Stuff
Overall, this treadmill gave us the feeling that it was designed to not only provide the user with killer workouts that never get boring, but to also preserve the integrity of the user’s knees, joints and hips. Running for long periods of time can cause things like knee issues, anterior pelvic tilts as well as hip joint stiffness. Much of this has to do with the repeated impact associated with running on hard surfaces like roads or sidewalks. However, the Schwinn MY16 has a soft running surface as well as a cushioned track to prevent or at least reduce such problems, which added something really special to the treadmill as a whole. We also found the running surface to still be large enough to allow for a lot of movement. Many treadmills can feel cramped or claustrophobic, interfering with balance, but the MY16 offered enough space that it almost felt like we were outside. Combined with the wide array of pre-programmed workouts, custom settings and media connection options, this treadmill is sure to provide you with endless quality workouts.
The Bad Stuff
There were a few minor issues we found with the Schwinn MY16 830, but nothing that severely impacted its overall quality. First of all, it will take quite some time to assemble, about four hours to be exact. Granted, it does do a lot; it just would have been nice for it to be a little bit simpler to put together. For someone who’s looking for something nearly ready to go right out of the box, this could be a pretty big downside. We also found that adjusting the speed and incline took a little bit of time. When we pressed the buttons to adjust either parameter, we found the response time to be a little slow. Another severe issue we found with this treadmill is that it stops abruptly at the end of any pre-programmed workout. The second the workout ends the treadmill simply halts its track. It felt a little bit dangerous and we would have preferred for there to be some kind of built-in 1 or 2 minute cool down to prevent possible injury. In addition to stopping abruptly, it sometimes appeared that the console was completely frozen following a workout. None of the buttons worked when the workout was over, and we had to wait a few minutes for the system to reboot. It was a little inconvenient, especially for someone that may want to engage in two back-to-back workouts with very little rest.
Final Thoughts
After rigorously examining the Schwinn MY16 830, we found that it was at the cutting edge when it came to treadmills in this price range. We would highly recommend it to just about anyone looking for a better way to exercise in the home. It wasn’t just well-made, but was obviously built with the health of the user in mind. That applied to both to heart and cardiovascular health, but also to joint and bone longevity. Running is a healthy activity—no question there—but prolonged impact can damage the involved joints. The MY16 effectively addressed this problem through its user-friendly design, while also offering enough preset workout options to keep even well-conditioned exercisers challenged. If you’re looking for a treadmill that does it all, the Schwinn MY16 830 is definitely one that should be on the top of your list.