Top positive review
23 people found this helpful
For best results, read directions. Super Quiet!
By JL on Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2022
I love this rowing machine! I searched long and hard, review after review, and I'm so glad this is the one I picked.I'll start off by saying that I have Not tried the app, so I have no report on that. If I do try it, I'll try to post an update here. But the app was not among my needs for purchase.Read the assembly directions. When attaching the seat, it's Very important that you get the seat And the stem facing correctingly in order for the sensor to work. The directions tell you how, so Read Them. I'm a DIY person so directions are not my thing, but you've got to swallow that pride in order to get accurate experience of a quality product. It's easy enough to assemble, you just need to know about things like the sensor and which parts go where.Tools and parts was SO easy, I wish Every manufacturer did this. They're all nicely labeled and separated in wrapping (pictured), so there's no reasonable way you can accidentally throw them away with the box. Pedals are in the one smaller box inside product packaging. Only downside to packaging is that there are no spare parts. But it's organized so well, you shouldn't need extras.About the only thing the instruction booklet doesn't tell you, is how to increase tension. Fortunately the little knob is pretty self explanatory, and the booklet covers just about everything else. The machine is so super easy to use, my 12 yr old can come in and use it with no problem. Just look up videos for proper posture.I can't say enough how remarkably quiet this machine is! There's sound, sure. But I can workout on this machine while watching a movie and the sound does Not interrupt the movie at all. So even a lazy day binge watching shows still gets a workout. I also have super sensitive hearing, and remarkably this machine doesn't aggravate that.Biggest con, it's a heavy machine and despite being manufactured to be moveable, it's not without some effort. I have a tiny space, but usually it's just easier to leave it out than try to maneuver it. Especially since I use it daily. The directions tell you how to make it more portable, but don't be surprised when you have to use a little muscle both ways - mostly when lining up the holes just right to insert the stabilizing pin. Keep this in mind during original assembly too. It's not a feather. Also, the velcro on the footstraps don't go far enough to tighten around bare feet very well. So unfortunately you'd have to wear shoes to get the most out of those. But it's probably only an issue when you're going full speed and need your feet secure. If you're a beginner starting out slow, it's probably not as crucial. But do what's safest for you and your comfort and expertise level.Overall I couldn't be more happy with this machine. My friends and family can't shut me up about it. It's a great full body workout that doesn't interrupt the rest of your day. I have a tiny budget so this was a bit if a splurge. But it was still affordable and I'm so happy with my choice.
Top critical review
17 people found this helpful
Provides only a marginal workout
By jcratz49 on Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2020
I have revised this review based on additional experience and insight. I downgraded it from 3 stars to 2 stars.I recognize that this is a budget rower and a purchaser should not expect all the bells and whistles that come with a higher end product. Nonetheless, it should fulfill its primary purpose: providing a robust workout. In my opinion, it does not: it provides only a marginal workout as discussed below.By way of reference, I am a 72-year old man in good shape: I lift weights twice a week and, until about 3 months ago, ran 25 miles a week, with distances between 5 and 10 miles. I am 6 foot 3 inches tall and weigh 170 pounds, so I might charitably be described as "trimly muscled." I use this rower 3-4 times a week.PROS1. Easy to assemble. The instructions are very clear. It took about 15 minutes to remove from the box and unpack (it is really well packed) and about 45 minutes to assemble using the supplied tools. No glitches.2. The machine is virtually silent in operation with a smooth pull. The seat did develop a squeak but I was able to adjust it easily enough following the instruction in the owner's manual.3. The machine is very stable and sturdy. It also has levelers if it is on an uneven surface.4. The machine is easy to fold up and move to get it out of the way.CONS1. The machine will not give you much of a workout. With the resistance at the highest level (14) and rowing for 40 minutes at 28 strokes per minute at a ratio of 3:1 (3 beats recovery and 1 beat power per stroke) as measured by a rowing metronome on my phone, my finishing heart rate was 78, just barely above the floor of a 72-126 target heart rate for a person my age. I didn't feel challenged or invigorated.2. The seat is pretty firm and I start getting pretty uncomfortable after about 10 minutes. But then, being 6'3" and 170 pounds, I don't have much padding on my bum. I bought a gel pad and that helped immensely.3. The console is very minimally useful and inaccurate. The console shows total time, total strokes, generic calories burned (but there is no info on how this is calculated, so it's accuracy for an individual is unknown), and average strokes per minute. It does not possess a rowing metronome so you can't set your stroke pattern and use it to keep a steady stroke. It also doesn't allow you to set ratio. Luckily, I found a free rowing metronome on Apple's App Store. On a recent workout, I rowed for 40 minutes at 28 strokes per minute (1,120 strokes overall). The console said that my elapsed time was 39:43 (not too far off). However, the stroke count was 886 instead of 1,120 (a 20% difference). Moreover, it said that I rowed 8,885 meters (5.5 miles) and expended 126 calories. I have no way of knowing how "far" I rowed, but I seriously doubt one could row 5.5 miles and expend only 126 calories. Finally the average strokes per minute was zero, which speaks for itself. (It should be noted that the console's statistics vary with the length of the stroke: the longer the stroke, the more likely a stroke is to be counted. For the workout above, I started/finished each stroke at or about 1 inch from the handle rest for (maximum stroke length.)4. The console has a ledge to rest your phone or table on. This is a sturdy perch. However, it is located at groin level and to view it you have to look down, way down. As a result your back gets hunched, not kept straight, and results in terrible form. The ledge should be at eye level. In my opinion, trying to watch a rowing workout video or entertainment would be disastrous.5. The seat is 9-1/2 inches off the ground and does not have a snubber so it freely slides back and forth when you are trying to get off. Getting off the machine is difficult/awkward unless you have something to grab onto or just fall forward off the machine. More so for me, as I am tall.Final note: The ability to do strength exercises (e.g., curls, shoulder presses) is a nice touch but not very useful. First, there is some resistance at the maximum setting but it doesn't come near lifting with free weights or a weight machine (again, I am old and "trimly muscled"). However, if you have minimal upper body strength, you may get some use out of it. Second, because the pulley is in a fixed position in front of where the user stands, it is difficult to maintain balance, especially at higher resistance setting, for a couple of the exercises.
Sort by:
Filter by:
By -
Verified Amazon Purchase
Vine Customer Review of Free Product
Sorry, no reviews match your current selections.
Try clearing or changing some filters.Show all reviews
Show more reviews