The Schwinn 860 Treadmill – Rated Avoid

The Schwinn 860 treadmill is an average machine that lags behind the pack in terms of quality, warranty, value, and features.

The Machine

The Schwinn 860 treadmill has a multi-color backlit LCD dual window display that shows readouts for speed, distance, time, incline, and calories. The distance readout can switch between miles and kilometers. The programs include 9 course profiles, 4 heart rate programs, 5k and 10k courses, and 2 custom workouts.

The specs on the Schwinn 860 include:

• 3.0 HP Motor
• 0-12 mph Speed
• 0 – 12% Incline
• 20" x 58" walking area
• 16 Workout Programs
• Grip heart rate sensor; chest strap
• Softrak™ suspension deck
• Folding SoftDrop™ System
• Transport Wheels
• Reading rack and water bottle holder
• 300-lb. User Capacity
• Warranty: 10 yrs frame & motor, 2 yrs parts, 90 days on wear parts & labor

The Buzz

UPDATE:  The Schwinn 860 is no longer available. You can check out the most popular current models on sale here.

The heavy treadmill is rock solid with a good sized 20" x 58" walking belt of 1.4 mm thickness, a 3.0 hp motor, SoftTrak™ deck suspension system, chest strap (included), 12% incline, water bottle holders, a blower fan, magazine rack, transport wheels, and folding system.

Apart from the Schwinn 860’s ugly console display, the problem with Schwinn treadmills is that they are actually Nautilus treadmills. That’s right, Schwinn even states on its website that the company “does not manufacture, distribute, or service the Schwinn fitness and exercise equipment. Schwinn Fitness is owned by Nautilus Fitness.”

So there. Don’t call Schwinn when you need a part or service. (And FYI: Nautilus is losing money hand over fist. Will they survive?)

Despite some praise from new owners of the Schwinn 860 treadmill, reviews by treadmill experts, who are more judicious, are less impressed with it, especially with the fine print: not too many companies dare to offer a short three-month labor and wear parts warranty on a treadmill with a list price of $2,199. Even sale priced at $1,399, such a short warranty serves as a red flag for potential buyers.

What We Say About the 860

What insanity made Schwinn, a leader in cycling equipment, want to start manufacturing second-rate treadmills, back them with a feeble 90-day parts & labor warranty, then ask $1,400 for it?

The Nautilus Schwinn 860 treadmill is outclassed by a competitive market of quality, proven models from LifeSpan, NordicTrack, Smooth, Sole, Spirit, Yowza and, well, almost everybody else. Unless you have some sort of weird empathy for this Charlie Brown of treadmills, it rates an Avoid.

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