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Stamina
Stamina 1215 Orbital Rowing Machine with Free Motion Arms - Stamina
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Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower - Velocity Exercise

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Stamina http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41wo6C7LFbL._SL160_.jpg
Stamina 1215 Orbital Rowing Machine with Free Motion Arms - Stamina
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Velocity Exercise http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31tN5ZVD1%2BL._SL160_.jpg
Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower - Velocity Exercise
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eComparisons Score
eComparisons ScoreThe "Comparison Score" Is calculated based on the average number of times this item was compared with other items in this category by our users
8.2
7.6
User Rating (Amazon)
User Rating (Amazon)

Five Star Reviews:

52%
OVERALL very good low impact exercise machine for total body workout
March 10, 2017
This product is exactly as represented . If i were producing this product i would install a four inch adjustment adhesive tape measure on each resistance knob adjustment for quick accurate matching resistance without having to eyeball guess the matching adjustment. Would probably add $ 5.00 cost material and labor . Also i would add a lock pin hole and pin to retain the seat in the start position so as to retain the seat out of ones feet clearance when mounting the machine in the inclined position. I have added this lock pin and drilled hole to mine because i am over 65 and find it awkward to hold the seat with one hand while balancing my 6' foot 2" body to sit down . I have also installed steel roll pin in the rowing handles to hold the handle bars in a 30 degree angle when not in use and for ease of entering and exiting the machine. OVERALL very good low impact exercise machine for total body workout . Very good product.
Excellent and intense full-body workout
December 28, 2016
Excellent and intense full-body workout.I especially like the levels of resistance, the comfortable seat, and the comfort/ease/good position of the rowing arms. All these are better than the Concept2 that I tried at a gym.Arrived on time. Quality and great design. Very good price (I got it on sale for around $200). THANK YOU!P.S. Maybe this isn't the most popular type of workout, but its one of the best! Maybe its unpopular because its hard work. We shouldn't expect good results unless we are willing to work hard for them.P.S.S. Be sure to focus on good posture and correct technique.
High Hopes for Restoring Fitness with this Awesome Machine.
September 11, 2016
This is an early review of my Stamina 1215 Orbital Rower which arrived on Thursday. I assembled it in about 2hrs. the next day. When I first looked at all the parts, I was a bit daunted, but I took charge by putting the straps in the plastic foot pedals; no courage required there, and it got me started. I laid out, counted and compared all the bits to the parts list - still with the trepidation r/t complaints I'd read - and proceeded to assemble it. It went much better than I anticipated, surprising me as to how quickly and easily all those parts joined one increasingly awesome whole. 2 hours, even with frequent breaks to stand up straight and stretch because I'm 73 yo woman and have pretty severe degenerative disc stuff in my back.I've been wanting this thing for years and finally sprang for it. I am so excited about having it to help restore my full-body strength and coordination. I used to own a Curves - an all-hydraulic workout circuit. I went through their training, am an RN/BSN, and have had pretty severe disability (really couldn't work gainfully for years) with Fibromyalgia and degenerative disc. The beauty of hydraulics in workout equipment is that you can push/pull as hard or as lightly as you want. The harder/faster you push or pull, the more resistance you generate from the hydraulic shocks, giving you a workout you can do at just about any level. If you're elderly, have physical issues, or are just not in very good shape, you adjust the shock position down at the lowest level on the rowing arms, and take it in long, slow, easy pulls - as if paddling around in the shallows of some beautiful pond enjoying the water skitters, darning needle bugs and pond lilies at a meditative pace. As you un-knot your muscles and get blood flowing through them again, and gently, slowly work through the discomforts of feeling and healing all that, you restore their function and can begin strengthening and slowly increase the intensity of your workout by increasing the amount of pull and the pace as you are able. Hydraulics (once recommended to me by my Primary Care Physician) are just perfect for that. Just go at it with great awareness of how you're using your body. Focus on using the muscles of your whole body to do the pulling; not over-relying on your arms and shoulders and don't strain until you're sure it won't cause injury. I did it once with my Curves - lost 24# and was in quite good shape. I'm looking forward to doing that again. My age, be d_ _ _ ned! This rower gives every appearance of giving the best full-body hydraulic workout of any single machine I've seen. I'll let you know how it goes. So far, I'm loving it!
Love this machine
December 2, 2015
I've had this for a year now so it's safe to write a review and not regret it. I researched a lot and bought it with some trepidation -- I have not been disappointed. It's really well made - a great bang for your buck. The drawbacks for me are:1.) manually adjusting the resistance. It's a little hard to get the two sides balanced - I wish the mechanism was a little more user friendly in that respect.2.) the fixed bar position makes it difficult if you have shoulder problems when raising your arms. Proper rowing technique keeps your shoulder position fairly low -- with this fixed bar I find my arms rise higher than I'd like, lifting my elbow/shoulders to maybe a 90 degree angle or so. I've had to make some adjustments by using an underhand motion and/or angling the bars in so my shoulders remain low. (If the manufacturers could consider adding an adjustable-height hand grip that would be awesome!!).Despite the drawbacks I love the machine. I've gotten pretty creative (sit backwards and use as a pushup-type device, sit sideways and use as an ab-cruncher). I did have one of the hydraulic arms fail and the company was GREAT about replacing it. It was on backorder and they repeatedly contacted me (unsolicited) to let me know of the delays and assure me the part would be replaced. Outstanding customer service.
Better than I expected..
June 18, 2014
Quality and sturdiness is great. Really good work out. Would definitely reccomend. Because I am mechanically challenged - it took me a few hours to put together and i tried to do it by myself. But once i got some help, basically just an extra pair of hands to hold things in place while i screwed things in- it was much easier. Greay Buy! really happy i picked this one.
Started Good, Now Disappointing, Maybe Dangerous
September 5, 2009
We just assembled our new Stamina 1215 Orbital Rower. It took about an hour and a half. The machine feels pretty sturdy to me. Is it worth $279? Hard to say, but with everything so overpriced these days, who knows? The acid test is usually how long something lasts, so it will be worth the money if it gives several years of good service. I've done my first half hour of rowing and it's a fairly smooth action and relatively quiet. On some sites, a few people complained that the lowest setting is too tough for beginners, and I agree. But you can set the arms even a little lower than the bottom number, and this helps. I've had two rowing machines in the past and this one is as good or better than they were. I like the ability to set the back of the bar up higher which aids in getting off and on the rower. I was concerned about the 'orbital' action of the arms, but find it's easy to adjust to, and in effect, you can just row as normal and not use the orbital ability at all. I'm giving the unit a 5 for now since it seems to meet my expectations. I'll update later on, whether good or bad, once I've had the chance to use it several weeks.******Update after 2 weeks of use ****This is the update I promised after using the rower for a couple of weeks. In my first review I asked myself the question, is the rower worth the money. I answered that by saying it depended how it held up over time. Well. The answer to that question is a resounding NO !!! If I could, I'd rate the unit one star for poor quality control, but Amazon's rating system won't let me go back and change it from the original 5 stars. I read the couple of reviews saying the shocks had broken down after a couple of weeks, and the one that slammed the unit for using plastic parts instead of metal, especially at this price. I chose to ignore those concerns in the face of the other positive reviews. It turns out that was a big mistake. After 2 weeks of use, the plastic rod that's used to attach the circular connecting loop on the end of the shock to the frame, snapped off. This piece is extremely important because it has to take the force of pulling back on the shock every time you row. And Stamina chose to make this piece out of cheap plastic instead of metal and it broke after using the rower a total of seven 30 minute sessions. This is totally unacceptable, not just for the inconvenience of having the rower disabled, but also the injuries it could cause if it breaks while you're intensely rowing. Since other people have shocks that broke after only 2 weeks, it's an obvious design flaw based on trying to save a few pennies using plastic instead of metal in a critical area. I also blame myself for not checking on the warranty. It's only 90 days for parts and labor. As you can imagine, because of this design flaw, I fully expect the other shock, or even the new one, to break after enough stress, and if I'm beyond the 90 days, I will have to pay for shocks for this unit. The shock broke on Thursday the 24th. I called Customer Service at 3:30 Central Time (they're supposed to be open until 5 CST). Nobody answered and nobody returned the call that day. The next day they called and took the info and said I would get a replacement shock in 5 to 7 days. So I'll lose a minimum of a week on my exercise program. Today is Sept. 30th, and I don't have the shock yet, so we'll see how long it takes. It's not very comforting to feel these shocks could let go any time during the heat of an intense rowing session causing injury or damage. I've had two other rowing machines over the years, both of which were used for extended periods of time, and the shocks were never an issue. Stamina has to be aware of the problems with these shocks because of the increasing complaints, and should issue a recall on them, and supply all users with new ones that support the connector with metal and not plastic. Until then I would recommend you avoid this rower completely.****Another Update****I've just become aware from the Epinions site that another person has had problems with the shocks on the Stamina stepper also, and is frustrated in having to buy replacement shocks after the warranty runs out. In my opinion, this means there is absolutely no question Stamina is aware their shocks don't last. And of course, it's the customer that has to pay additional money, above the purchase price, to keep the unit going. I can honestly say I will never consider buying a Stamina Products piece of equipment again.****One Last Update****I got the replacement shock and have had a few rowing sessions since then. But I began noticing the same problem another reviewer had with the rollers. The seat actually started to rumble, and it was because the plastic rollers were breaking down and getting grooved unevenly. The last two sessions were really annoying to say the least. Today the seat jammed up in mid-row and I couldn't continue. One of the back rollers has a deep, uneven groove in it, and won't stay in place. The other back roller is also getting grooved. I called to get replacement rollers, but now I'll lose another week of rowing while I wait. By the time I get the rollers, I will have had the rower 6 weeks, and will have lost two weeks to breakdowns. So if you're thinking of getting this rower (I hope not), you may have to plan on only using it 2/3 of the time, unless you build an inventory of spare parts. This has not proven to be a well made machine, as this is the second plastic part to break down in just a few weeks. I won't update my review any more. I think you can tell how I feel about this machine.
55%
Very good rowing machine, looks durable enough, convenient to use, quite and relatively inexpensive.
October 30, 2016
Despite the damaged package and detached electronic PCB off the frame, I still would rate this item with 5 stars. It works fine, the manufacturer fixed (bonded) parts on PCB so they don't disconnect during transportation. The item is exactly what I need and included the heart rate sensor - which is optional. I would love to see an ability to mount a video display or flat TV on the frame, but it is probably too much to ask. Overall, pretty positive experience, thanks.
Great budget rower.
March 4, 2016
It's awesome. It's everything I need from a budget rower. The chair slides smoothly, the programming settings are more than adequate, and there's good resistance. The only complaint is that the shoe straps are pretty pathetic and one bent open on the first use. However, I just closed it back up and doubled the strap over it when I put it back in. Did the same for the other side and haven't had an issue since.
Love it
September 8, 2015
I have had the machine for about 6 months and have had no problems with it. I was concerned reading reviews that others received broken machines. All I can surmise is that factories aren't perfect sometimes things are broken. The machine has numerous settings which is nice to vary my workout. I am shorter in stature and have no problems use the machine. One of the reasons I chose this machine was the length of it, I don't have the room for a machine that is 10+ feet long. The only thing that is so so is the seat. My rear gets sore after about 20 minutes. I would definitely recommend this rower.
best one for quality with price consideration.
June 15, 2015
This thing is awesome. I really do love it. I keep in my living room, tucked against the wall, and whenever I watch tv, I just pull it down and get some exercise in. It works great, and I did a lot of research, and I think this is the one to get, unless you're going pro or something. The best deal for quality with price consideration. I posted it on Craigslist a couple times when I thought I was moving somewhere that I couldn't take it, and I had people knocking down my door to buy it, so the resale on it is going to be excellent.
Awesome Rower! Definitely recommend...
May 10, 2015
Wow... so happy with this rower. Was planning on spending so much more on a different rower but decided it cost too much for what i needed it for. I'm glad I made the decision to spend less. Love the heart rate monitor this rower comes with... You can set your target heart rate before you start the heart rate program and the machine will change the tension while rowing to help you stay on target. The monitor is very easy to read while rowing. I only wish it had a racing program then that would make this the perfect rower. I'm a first time rower and it will only be to stay in shape...I feel it's perfect for that. If your a overly serious rower I'd recommend to upgarde to a commercial grade product.It would be awesome if the velocity company would create a free app to use with the rower to track your workouts. Currently haven't found a good app for that.Amazon shipped it fast and good packaging. I was able to put it together pretty quick, less than 30 mins. Directions aren't great but if you can follow the pictures it's no problem at all. It's really just using common sense to put it together.
G R E A T Rower!
March 8, 2015
The Rower came on time in few days in a Large Box. Everything was packed nicely. I was worried at first how I am going to put it together, as I am petite, but I did it by myself and if I can anyone can too. It was a bit Heavy for my body frame, but I put a small carpet under the box and I pulled the box into the living room so I do not scratch the floor. I read the instruction Manual and figured it out...Yeah! I love it because it is beautiful in my living room and it is foldable... I keep it tucked in the corner, out of the way. I watch my favorite shows on TV while Rowing...L O V E IT !!! Highly recommended...

Four Star Reviews:

27%
Love my new Stamina Rowing Machine
April 21, 2017
Love my new Stamina Rowing Machine. I am 80 year old female and by myself I had it unpacked and assembled in 3 hours...but it is awfully heavy to put in standing storage position-but heavy is okay because it is so sturdy built. Good work out for upper body and arms...
Good workout for the upper body but next to nothing ...
September 14, 2015
Good workout for the upper body but next to nothing for the legs. The rower was easy to assemble. The rower arms are fairly easy to adjust but make sure that the adjustments are the same left and right. The only complaint I have is the seat. The seat is not very comfortable and, during my workout, I find that I move towards the backend of the seat. I resolved this issue by adjusting my position on the seat when I stop for a few seconds to catch my breath. Overall the rower was a good buy for the money and gives me a good workout.
I am one of those rare people that actually continue to exercise at home versus an actual gym ( I was a gym rat for 12 solid yea
July 10, 2015
I have spent many of hours researching home exercise equipment. I am one of those rare people that actually continue to exercise at home versus an actual gym ( I was a gym rat for 12 solid years ) but like the ability to do things at home. I was skeptical on this machine because of the cost. I have previously purchased a fake version of the Total Gym and regret that decision. However, so far, I really like this machine. I really felt it in the right areas but then had to stop due to an unexpected illness but plan to get back to it as soon as possible. It's a good bang for the buck. The only thing I don't like is the horrible assembly directions. I happen to be fairly good at putting things together and I did this by myself (with no help from my not so handy but adorable husband). It took me a few hours over the course of two nights before I figured it all out. Other than that, worth the money so far.
So far so good
May 21, 2014
I have had this for a few weeks now. I always like to wait a few weeks before writing a review just to test out the product first. I have used it multiple times now and I have had no issues, except the counter. The counter makes no sense to me and I am not sure it is working properly, but I just pay it no mind and use a timer on my phone and do it for as much time as I want to do for time, of course I can not see how far I went, but I know I am getting a workout because my body is telling me I am. I own other work out equipment so I know distances on those and know how much I am putting in. For people who do not, the counter might be irritating, but I suggest just using a stop watch to get the amount of time you want.Assembly was pretty simple as well.
Row row row your boat
May 14, 2014
I have previously owned larger more expensive rowing machines and the Stamina compared favorably to most of them. I moved into an apartment and didn't have room for a large rowing machine, the Stamina is compact in size without giving up much in performance. One of the most surprising features is one you never hear, its very quiet. A nice feature if you like to workout early in the morning or late at night. If I was designing it I would probably have done a couple things different. I would have put soft rubber on the hard plastic foot pads. You need to use the foot straps, it isn't a good thing to have your feet pop out when your sitting on wheels on an inclined slope. The slope adjustment has only two positions up and down. One is too easy and the other is a little tough if your just starting out. It would also have been nice if they had included a kick stand of some type to hold it upright and out of the way. Overall, I'm very satisfied with the product and would recommend it. I've been rowing for exercise for some years and find it to be a very effective low impact exercise that works many areas of your body.
Sturdy, compact workout. Too high resistance.
February 28, 2014
My first few times using the rower, I was getting frustrated, but have learned how it is to be used and have been happy with it since.Straightforward to assemble. Its a little heavy, but still no problem to pick up and put in a closet. Its very quiet and perfect for watching a show without bothering anyone.I had an issue where the piece that is tightened at your desired resistance level would slide down as I rowed, such that after 5 minutes I had no resistance whatsoever. After some trial and error I found I was pulling back too far. It might be because Im 6 1", but if I pulled back further than 100 degrees, just past vertical, the sliding would occur. When my wife used it, 5 4", it did not slide at all. So I have adjusted to it and am getting some nice workouts in.My only problem is that the resistance is very high. Im admittedly not very strong but it takes a lot of effort to pull back on the lowest setting (5). When my wife uses it, I lower it under the lowest setting so she can at least work it. So just a warning that it might have too high resistance for you. It does heat up after a few minutes, but that really doesn't make it much easier to row, like other reviews stated.Still, I am happy with the purchase. It gives us a good, quiet workout for the too many snowed in days this past winter.
24%
It is pretty good. It is quiet
December 19, 2016
It is pretty good. It is quiet, easily stored, has a great pulse monitor, and is very easy to put together.My only complaint is that there is not much control with the monitor. It only tracks distance rowed in miles, and I don't think that it is properly keeping track of this distance.If you can't afford a concept 2 and/or you are looking for something that makes a minimal amount of noise, I recommend this machine
Silent and smooth
July 17, 2016
Very smooth glide and well built. Love the fact that it is so quiet which means can watch tv.....so important to stem the boredom of rowing long distances
Silent rower
January 2, 2016
Absolutely quiet! Love that.However, I wish that it could adjust to be a bit more difficult for when I want more of a muscle workout than an aerobic one.The program screen is very basic.
Good rower
July 14, 2015
This machine has been a great purchase. It took about 20-25 minutes to assemble. I'm 6'3" and the leg length is fine. There are no instructions on how to use the monitor so you do have to learn as you go. It is very quiet when in use. I was originally trying to decide between the Concept 2 and the Stamina Air rowers. This rower has been a good compromise. The exercise variations are good and helpful if you are a novice rower like myself. I've been using this rower for over a month and am seeing good results. I hope this machine lasts for a while.
Very good quality. Assembly and user instructions poor.
February 2, 2014
The rower itself is quite nice. Good quality and ultra quiet so one can use it any time of the day or night without disturbing anyone else in the house. The assembly instructions were poor in my opinion. They were probably translated into English by someone who spoke Chinese as his/her first language. The user instructions are equally inadequate. I figured out how to use the rower by trial and error. The programs are all good and give one a nice workout. I'm still trying to figure out how to increase the tension because I prefer more resistance then what I am getting when I row. I've tried the obvious knob but it really doesn't seem to do much. I'm sure there is a way to do it but once again the user instructions are lacking. Despite the few negatives this is still the best rower I've ever owned. It's also the most expensive so I guess it's true you get what you pay for.
Awesome workout machine
January 13, 2014
I read the reviews on many types of rowing machines before making my decision. I chose this one because many people seemed to recommend a magnetic resistance machine, and this one had a lot of positive reviews. It's not too cheap nor too expensive. I've been using my Velocity rowing machine for a few weeks now, and I absolutely love it. The only reason I bought one was because cold weather was here and I couldn't go walking at the park with weights anymore. It was always raining or too cold. Now whenever I get a chance, I do 20 mins in the a.m. and 20 mins in the p.m. on the rower. I don't know how suitable it is for experienced rowers, but for a regular person like me, it works out my legs, abs, buttocks, and arms real well. If you're looking for a different exercise machine other than a boring old treadmill, then I recommend something like this. It is true that it is a very quiet machine and glides smoothly. My 11 year old loves to use it too. I give it 4 stars because it's perfect for me, but may not be for others who are pickier, and also because my husband put it together for me. The manual does not go into detail about the different workout programs, so I just play around with the levels and choose the one that suits me best for that day. I am a 32 year old woman,5 ft, and weigh 163 lbs. I have lost almost 20 lbs. from just walking with weights at the park, and so far I have lost 6 lbs since I started using this rower around the 18th of December. I would have lost more, but the holidays held me back some. Now that the holidays are over, I'm back on track. Sorry about the wordy review, hope it helps others.

Three Star Reviews:

9%
Three Stars
August 23, 2017
The tension slides too easily and has to be readjusted every 5 rows.
I like it but...
June 6, 2016
I bought the Stamina 1215 because replacement parts for my ancient Tunturi R201 rower are no longer available. In searching for a new machine, I figured I would upgrade to a model with free motion arms. I’ve had this machine for 30 days and have used it 25 times. My workout is 45 minutes long at level 3. The number of strokes per minute varies over the session depending on my heart rate targets.A NOTE ABOUT PROPER FORM: I noticed that some people were complaining that this machine doesn’t give you a good workout or that it only works your arms. With the proper form, you will get an amazing workout on a rower. If you don’t get the form right, you will not get a good workout and you may even hurt yourself. If you don’t know what you’re doing, I recommend you look at some videos online or, better yet, get yourself a copy of the following book which will explain everything about rowing to you with plenty of pictures. Once you get the proper form down, you will have an amazing experience because your whole body will be moving like a machine and you will enter a zen state.http://www.amazon.com/Row-Your-Life-Complete-Strength/dp/0671554476/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464561869&sr=1-3&keywords=rowing+for+your+lifeASSEMBLY: The packaging is what you would expect: brown throw-away cardboard with lots of nylon straps. It took me an hour to unbox the parts, spread them out, and assemble the machine. I have plenty of tools, a workbench, and good mechanical skills. I took my time and snapped a few photos in the process. The instructions tell you to put the footpads on very early in the assembly but you could actually put them on last as they only get in the way. I did not assemble the little electronic meter because I don’t think it’s very useful. A good quality heart-rate monitor with a timer is much more useful.DESIGN: There are a few issues with this product’s design.1) Too heavy. It’s made up of 2” tubular steel which makes it pretty heavy for some folks to haul around. The manufacturer’s specs say it weighs 52 lbs. I think the 2” steel is overkill. My Tunturi has 1.5” tubular steel, weighs in at 34 lbs., and has held up w/o any problems for many years. Stamina could have used 1.5” steel.2) Does not stand properly. Some people will store this machine flat and others will stand it up. Since the frame is oval-shaped and not square, the rubber feet on the front end do not make good contact with the ground when you try to stand it up. You can stand it up if you use the footpads like a kickstand on a bike but the machine will lean slightly to one side. This should have been obvious in the design phase.3) No locking mechanism for the seat. This makes it impossible to use this machine for other exercises besides rowing.4) The roller wheels under the seat are made of plastic. I can tell you from experience that they will wear down and will need to be replaced. You may want to buy a replacement set early on if you decide to keep your machine.5) The seat is minimally padded. While this is not unusual, you will feel the pain if you do long workouts or have a skinny butt. You may be able to swap the stock seat for a different model (see my note below re customer service) or just add some additional padding during your workout.6) Tension setting #1 is actually the HIGHEST setting. I noticed that some people complained that it was too hard to pull the handlebars back with the tension adjuster set at the lowest setting. When the instruction manual tells you “The lowest position will provide the lowest resistance…” it refers to the lowest physical position of the tension bar NOT the lowest number. This is counter-intuitive as we are all likely to interpret 5 as higher than 1. They just need to reverse the order of the numbers on the handlebars. My old Tunturi had it the right way.BUILD: Some of the welds on this machine were pretty sloppy and the paint job made it necessary to run a reamer thru some of the bolt holes so I could push the bolts thru (see pix). Otherwise, it is solidly built and all the parts fit together properly.FUNCTION: This product performs as advertised. The movement is very smooth and quiet. The free motion arms are a great feature as they allow you to vary your arm position during the stroke. Here again, you must be careful about your form as you could hurt yourself. If you have a belly, you will really appreciate the free motion arms. When you pull yourself forward, your belly will want to push your legs apart. Fixed arms would impede this action and prevent you from getting a full stroke. The free motion arms solve that problem. Also, I read where some people complained that this machine is too low to the ground and they had a hard time getting up. Almost all these machines are designed this way and so you may have a problem getting off the machine if you’re really heavy; however, you can raise the back end of the Stamina 1215 rower by utilizing the support bar. This might make it easier to get off the machine but it will also make it harder for you to row because you will be pushing your weight up an incline.CUSTOMER SERVICE: I called to find out whether I could swap out the stock seat with the seat from the model 1333. A very nice lady told me that the seat would cost $28 plus shipping. That seems very reasonable; however, the carriage for the 1333 is different than the one on the 1215 so I asked her whether I could get a confirmation that the 1333 carriage would fit the 1215 rail. She said she would pass along my contact info to someone in the service department and I would get a call or an email. That was over a month ago and I’m still waiting.PRICE: I think this product is overpriced for an item made in China. I paid $250 on Amazon. The list price is $400 so it probably costs around $100 to manufacture. I think the cost in a store should be ~$200. Cost online: ~$170-180.
I had an old inexpensive one that I liked much better
November 26, 2015
I had an old inexpensive one that I liked much better. This one is bulky and has been mentioned really hard to row on the lowest setting out of the box.Moving the handle lock to increase or decrease the tension is a really poor design. It's keeps slipping all the time moving down to the lowest setting. Not sure why the arms need to rotate around, never had a problem with the straight back and forth but I guess some people like it to make it feel more realistic. The monitor is a bit cheesey.The good thing is it's really quite, the bad thing is it's really quite (Makes you feel like you are doing anything, kind of like running a vacuum without any sound.)
Everything's great, except the monitor
March 1, 2014
I received this machine and have used it about 4-5 times now. Overall, really impressed with the durability of the machinery. However, the tracking monitor is terrible. First of all, each time I've tried to use the counter it will turn off on me during my workout. I will hit the only button there is to turn it back on, and sometimes it will have saved my progress, sometimes not. It also has a mind of its own as to when I start my workout, how many rows I've completed and all the other data that it's supposedly calculating. I have to use a different timer to make sure I'm getting a good workout, and have no idea at how I've progressed since I've started using this machine. Hindsight being 20/20, I would probably purchase a different machine that has a more reliable tracker.
Not the quality I would have expected
February 2, 2014
Unit has a nice appearance, and worked very well for better part of a year or so, but is beginning to breakdown. Piston tension of left side rowing handle is now intermittent, and accurate adjustment of tension is impossible. Does not provide for balanced exercise for both sides. Unit has never had very hard usage, but machine is beginning to breakdown, and chrome rowing handles are rusting. Would not recommend this exercise equipment to a friend.
Not for short people
June 21, 2013
This rower does not provide a leg workout for people 5'4" and under in my opinion. I just got it today and do not feel any resistance when rowing until my legs are already fully extended. I am a 5'4" female.
6%
Resistance is too low.
October 15, 2016
The rower is of decent quality and works well. I will not repeat what most other reviewers have already indicated but will emphasize the biggest deficiency I see.If you are at least moderately fit, this is not for you. I have never done any rowing and I can't get my heart rate above 130 for the life of me. My 10 year-old son has no trouble using it on the highest setting, admittedly for a short while. This rower is good for low level cardio but don't expect real muscle work if that's what you are after.
the Velocity was the best bang for the buck
February 9, 2016
Could have been a FIVE STAR! With some concerns, I finally purchased the Velocity Magnetic Resistance rower after reading many articles on rowers and a number of reviews on this model as well as on the Stamina Avari and the Asuna 4500. The reviews were quite similar. After close examination of the various picture of these machines on Amazon, I've concluded that these three models are the same machine with different shrouds with different names and three different prices. . These three models also show the same programmable exercise display. I felt that, all things being equal except for the shroud and name, the Velocity was the best bang for the buck. Upon its arrival I closely examine the unit as I had some concerns after reading various reviews. The units housing/shroud was misaligned & the exercise monitor was hanging from its intended housing. I decided to correct these issues myself. It was relatively easy to separate the two halves of the shroud. As it was open, I inspected the inner workings. The flywheel, its bungee cord return and the pull belt all looked fine and all the electrical seemed intact. I reassembled the shroud with minimal difficulty. Another set of hands would have been helpful. Once reassembled, the exercise monitor easily snapped into its proper place. Since the fix, this unit has been working flawlessly. My only issue now is that the instructions for using and/or programing the exercise monitor, are less than adequate thus making it a process of trial and error. If the monitor was easier to figure out, I would rate this unit four stars and If I didn't have to make assembly repairs, I would've rated it five stars.
Three Stars
October 21, 2015
a bit on the short side for the stroke length
Three Stars
October 7, 2014
The rower works well and has good mechanics. The heart-rate monitor was worthless and never worked correctly.
Great while it lasted
March 25, 2014
I really enjoyed this rower, unfortunately I had company who tried to use it and the tension broke so there was no resistance. Free shipping to return it but was charged a restocking fee so all in all I lost 150.00 on this deal! Will have to look a little closer at the return policy next time. Would have just liked to get it fixed instead.
Disappointing Quality
June 17, 2013
I was expecting more based on all of the positive reviews. We just got the rower a week ago. The rower was not very well packaged and there were three noticeable issues, 1) there was a sticky-backed rubber insert stuck to the plastic wrap which I do not know where it goes and 2) the bracket to mount to the rear leg was bent so that the leg could not be attached and 3) the instruction manual, if you can call it that, is unacceptable. There are no assembly instructions. You have to look at a schematic picture and map the numbers in the drawing to the the number in the parts list. Unless my manual was missing, I do not know most people were able to assemble this. Clearly there was no QA effort as the bent bracket came this way based on how it is packaged. I used a hammer and a pry bar to bend it back in to place.When I called the manufacturer, after I got someone I could understand on the phone, they said I needed to deal with Amazon. I probably should have just returned it at that point, but I decided to keep it. At 90 pounds, getting it back to Amazon was going to be difficult.So far, though, it does appear to work well, it is very quiet, which was important for us. The electronics could use more options though, like the ability to change resistance without having to run a fitness program and it should report your effort and time also without having to be in a fitness program. Being half the cost of the Concept 2 and with its silent operation, it is an acceptable choice.They just need better instructions, quality checking and customer service.

Two Star Reviews:

5%
Adjustment is very difficult; far too small for the average male adult
January 10, 2017
I would not buy one of these again.Adjusting the resistance is very difficult. There are no detents to ensure that both sides are adjusted to the same resistance. As the pistons heat up, there is a risk of burning.Getting into the seat is also difficult because there is no latch to keep the seat in place at the top of the glide ramp while sitting down.The design is very small, more appropriate for children and short adults less than 5'6".
Not quite what we were looking for. The motion ...
January 19, 2016
Not quite what we were looking for. The motion of the arms isn't smooth at all, resulting in a very jerky flow of motion. Almost all of the exertion comes from the arms, not from the legs, back, or abdominal muscles. I would definitely not buy this again.
Two Stars
December 20, 2015
Display failed quickly, rubber end caps keep slipping off
Plastic Rollers Break
August 6, 2015
After one month of daily use, one of the PLASTIC seat rollers splintered and developed a bumpy ride. The foot rests hit against the square cross bar and place your feet at an angle that tends to make your feet slip as you press on them during a power stroke. The unit does not stand up for storage. The shocks become weaker as they warm up during a session of 100 or so cycles. The unit came missing a seat stop rubber piece and nut. They had changed the size of this part and sent me the wrong part and without a nut, and on the second try sent the wrong nut with the correct rubber stop replacement part. I got a nut from Lowes. True enough, the frame seems sturdy enough and I like the orbital motion and the incline.
not built right...
April 23, 2014
This rowing machine must have been made for short people. After getting it I just could not get it to function properly and get a full pull on the rowing arms... So, after some thought I took it apart and made it longer using a 2x6. I guess you get what you pay for... I would stay away from this one...
Limited range of motion
October 21, 2013
I did not fit this machine, I am 5'10 inches and could either work my legs, or my arms, but not both at the same time.The problem is full range of motion going from a cannon ball position with arms pushed all the way forward past the knees, to fully streched out and arms pulled in to chest or preferably to the waist. This is the only way to get upper and lower body workout at the same time. With this machine your arms are not even past your feet and you have to move back a bit before resistance kicks in as well. Quality was fine and reistance was as mentioned in other posts.
5%
Two Stars
October 18, 2016
The rower is a nice Rower, However, the display doesn't work properly. Sent it back.
Poorly built
January 20, 2016
Poorly built, hard to transport, minimal resistance, and I am not an experienced rower. Do not buy. Save your money and buy a concept2 or something better.
Dead out of the box... Very short warranty
November 5, 2015
The instructions specifically say to not plug in the rower until fully assembled. So... I didn't find out that the computer was defective (E2 error) right out of the box until I fully assembled the rower. I will say however that it was not difficult at all to put together.The build quality is just ok lots of plastic on non load bearing/moving parts but the rail, seat and mechanism seemed strong. After a few rows I performed with a dead computer, I will confirm that this machine is likely the quietest row machine you could ever own. Ultimately, the fact that the computer was dead on arrival and that there is only a 90 day warranty (significantly less than all other competitors) on the computer made me reconsider owning this model long term. I ended up biting the bullet and buying a Concept 2 Model D, which seems to be considered the best machine you can buy. I'll judge that for myself when it arrives.It may work well if it works but due to the plastic and the very short warranty on a part that was dead out of the box I'm going to take it as a sign and steer clear of this one.At the end of the day, the best workout I got from this rower was trying to repackage it into the original box to return to Amazon (they were awesome as always).
If you are a serious rower of any type then ...
January 30, 2015
If you are a serious rower of any type then this is not the rower for you. Splurge a little more and buy a Concept2. This rower does not have enough resistance for a sprint workout and does not allow you full range of motion on your reach. The resistance also does not start until 1/3 of the way through your stroke, so you lose most of you leg work..
It's been a great addition to my exercise bike
January 4, 2015
Update Aug 2016: My Velocity rower has gone into error mode. It now goes into an E1 (loose connection) mode and isn't usable. I'm dropping my rating and will update depending on if this is something I can fix when I take the drive unit apart. I'm not able to fix it by taking out the display unit / circuit board.I've had my Velocity rower for a year and have put over 40 hours, 120 miles, on it. It's been a great addition to my exercise bike. It's solid and the programs/levels are more than enough. Compared to units I've used at the gym it seems to under estimate distance and calories burned but it performs as well as the much more expensive gym units, at least for home use. A great purchase.
No customer support from manufacturer
November 27, 2013
I am a lifelong athlete with a fully equipped gym in my basement, elliptical, weights, treadmill and rower, so I am well-versed in equipment. I was generally pleased with the rower, however, the control module seemed to be a little sketchy "cheaply built" from the beginning. It did not always work and the operating instructions were not easy to follow. The rower is definitely quiet, sturdy and attractive. However, the module quit working altogether after a few months, which means that you basically cannot use the rower. The frustrating thing is that I called, or have attempted to call and email, the manufacturer to buy a replacement module WITH ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE FROM THEM. VERY BAD BUSINESS GIVEN THE PRICE OF THE ROWER. If they do not contact me back, I will, of course be forced to by another one from a different company. Not a good experience.

One Star Reviews:

7%
Horrible.
March 7, 2016
Sturdy product, comfortable seat. Horrible shocks, hard to pull up arm rowers even on lowest resistance, will strain and pull muscles causing issues. No leg workout. Been on gym rowers and this is not as good at all.
I am not an engineer but these are the worst installation instructions I have ever read
February 7, 2016
I am not an engineer but these are the worst installation instructions I have ever read. I will attempt to cram everything back in the box to ship it back to the sender and get a refund.
Very poor quality, I guess thats why it is so ...
January 6, 2016
After putting it together which took 2 hours, the hydraulic bars wouldn't hold any tension. Very poor quality, I guess thats why it is so cheap. Too low to the ground as well
Worst purchase ever
October 17, 2015
Worst purchase ever. You cannot adjust the resistance and the default setting is so strong that you can do it at all.
This is a bad machine, the resistance is not natural and way ...
July 25, 2015
This is a bad machine, the resistance is not natural and way to strong. I blew my elbow out using it. It is not a smooth movement, it jumps in the begining.
Junk.
April 27, 2014
The one shock blew out after the 6th use. I only used it that many times over a 3 month period and now it's too late. Save your money.
10%
Great till it broke
May 3, 2017
Controls broke in under 6 months. Doesn't work without them. I debate finding a non electric workout.
Disposable rower
March 17, 2017
Machine lost resistance after light use of a year. Manufacturer does not respond to persistent emails or phone calls. I would not buy this knowing that. Move on to another product as this is too much for a "disposable " rower.
Works great until it breaks - Customer Service Does not exist - Forget this product
June 26, 2014
I used this rower for a little under three months. It's solid and runs smooth. I think, "GREAT! I LOVE IT!"Then the control panel shorted out. Ok, no biggie, I will jsut get another one, right? WRONG!I have been trying to contact the company for over a month and not one word from them. The phone number is often busy and the email is never answered. Typical company from China. Same thing happened to a person above, too.I am not a wealthy person but am trying to lose weight and am a busy mother so often the gym is not an option. I wanted to spend a little more on a quality machine, so forked over $700 for this machine. Now it looks like I will be having to buy another one someday when I can afford it because this machine will not work at all without the control panel. I feel like this company came to my house and stole $700 from me. It's violating.I would not buy this machine if you are on a budget. But if you have an unlimited amount of money and have no problem replacing it every time something breaks, go for it pal! You are better off than me!
Broken so soon?
April 7, 2014
My relatively new rower broke. The cable no long retracts, and it happened with no warning, no previous sign of imminent failure. It just happened.I was so hesitant on purchasing a rower online, knowing that any decent exercise machine less than $1,000 is generally not going to last or work well. It was also the first time I've ben lured by Amazon's Today's Deals.This one lasted a couple months, with only a couple dozen uses at 20-30 minute intervals. Disappointed.
Had to send it back
February 12, 2014
The first one came damaged because of how it was shipped. The second was defective-the nylon rope was already frayed and tearing. This was my first experience buying a rower. I will not be buying this brand.
Received TWO defective units. Manufacturer can't write comprehensible English
July 19, 2011
After reading reviews of this rowing machine, I was thrilled to order one as my birthday present to myself. In college, I learned what great exercise rowing is; it exercises most muscle groups without pounding your knees or exposing you to traumatic injuries. I loved that this machine is so quiet I could watch TV while rowing. And I knew my wife would love that it folds up when not in use.Having now received TWO defective units -- the first with the pull cord on the side, not the middle, so it was being ripped to shreds with every pull, and the second with a monitor that gave me an "E1" error message the first time I turned it on and then refused to ever power on again -- I could not be more bitterly disappointed in this product that seemed so promising. I must have gotten unlucky that both units were defective. But any product with so high a defect rate that any customer could receive two defective units is unlikely to last long. The build quality is obvious just from the metal "Made in Taiwan" plate glued onto the machine at a 15-degree angle.Even worse, though my attempts to address these problems were responded to, the responses proved completely unhelpful.Carolina Fuentes at Cap Barbell -- Velocity Fitness is their sub-brand -- replied to my emails but wasn't able to fix either problem. For the first problem, she emailed: "attached is a pic of what the cord is supposed to be placed. that is not correct behavior and its better to exchage the unit instead of tryin to fix it."After several back-and-forths on the second problem, she put me in touch with the manufacturer (proteus.fitness@gmail.com) who emailed this:"First, please allow us to grant our appreicate to your support our production. Regarding of this situation, our QC made a few studying for the possible reason.From your description, machine dysfuntuion could be as following issue1. Monitor drawback: the whole machine is control by monitor system. change a new monitor could be a result.2. Motor is jammed or build-in electric circuit burned by rapidly frequently power reboot. Change a new motor could be a result.3. The connect cable is broke or connect pin damaged. Change connect cable could be a result.For the above situation could be the possiblity, also, the plug power source must be check, there is a adaptor with the machine, if not use the same one or not using the adaptor will damage the build in spare part.To exam the all above situation, please contact with the retailer or Amazon E-shop which can send the technician to exam every step. The technician should be bring the following parts to check your machine. A. a new monitor B. a full set of connect cable(include monitor connect cable) ; C. a new motor , D. a new adaptor.We are pay the great care to this case, please keep contact with us the related situation if you may. You also can connect with terry_chen@proteus.com.twThanks again for bought our CHR-2001"The manufacturer sold two defective products, expects Amazon to send a technician to fix their defective machines, and can't find even one person to write comprehensible English! I'm depressed I wasted many, many hours unboxing, assembling, disassembling, and re-boxing their unreliable, unsupported machines. The only exercise I got was lugging the heavy machines up and down stairs. It's a promising concept and a promising design. But quality control and customer service are completely non-existent.
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Pricing info
Old Price
Old Price
Price
Price
$230.99updated: Mar 19, 2020
$518.33updated: Mar 19, 2020
Features
Answered Questions
Answered Questions
Article Number
Article Number
0022643312159
0702556087015
Binding
Binding
Sports
Sports
Brand
Brand
Stamina
Velocity Exercise
Color
Color
Multi
White
Currency
Currency
USD
USD
Department
Department
unisex-adult
Sports and Fitness
Formatted Price
Formatted Price
$400.00
$799.99
Height
Height
275.6 in
433.1 in
Length
Length
1929.1 in
1771.6 in
Manufacturer
Manufacturer
Stamina
Velocity Exercise
Model
Model
35-1215
CHR-2001
MPN
MPN
35-1215
CHR-2001
Number of Items
Number of Items
1
1
Number of Parts
Number of Parts
35-1215
CHR-2001
Product Group
Product Group
Sports
Sports
Product Type
Product Type
SPORTING_GOODS
SPORTING_GOODS
Publisher
Publisher
Stamina
Velocity Exercise
Quantity
Quantity
1
1
Reviews
Reviews
Score
Score
8.2
8.4
Studio
Studio
Stamina
Velocity Exercise
Weight
Weight
183.4 oz
321.0 oz
Width
Width
551.2 in
1181.1 in
Feature
Feature

Compact rowing machine with full range-of-motion rowing that mimics rowing on the water

Smooth hydraulic cylinder resistance; adjustable tension controls

Single button monitor shows speed, distance, time, row count, calories burned, and miles rowed

Thick, padded seat; pivoting foot plates

Some assembly required; 5-year warranty on frame, 90 days on parts

Resistance: DMC System (Drum Magnetic Control)

Electronic tension control

Large PU molded saddle & Foldable and space saving

The machine comes equipped with a heart rate monitor chest strap to monitor your heart rate for intense cardio training

Beam: Anodized Aluminum Profile + rectangular tubing support.The maximum weight capacity for the Rower is 275lbs.

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