Side by Side Comparison of: Stamina vs Sunny Health & Fitness

First, the good; It a arrived on time in a package with slight damage by the shipper. Despite the slight shipper damage, the product inside was in perfect condition. a tribute to the packaging. Assembly was easy, it took me about 30 relaxed minutes. Kudos to the manufacturer for including tools that would be perfectly adequate to assemble the rower. Now throw these away and grab some decent 13mm and 15mm sockets, a metric allen wrench set, and a phillips screwdriver. The flimsy wrench they include will get your rower together, but they might not tighten the nuts tight enough without rounding the corners. Once it is together properly, it is by far the best rower you can buy for $323.19. I've tried lots and this is the one. It's stable, the action is predictable, its durable, it has a chain instead of a flimsy strap. In short, it's almost a Concept 2 for 1/3 the price. Having said that, if you want a Concept 2, spend $1000+ and buy one. Now to address some criticism I've seen; If it squeaks or rattles, see the paragraph above about using decent tools to assemble it. The display on the computer has decent sized numbers. It shows 3 lines at once which display 1. strokes per minute 2. distance 3. total time of each workout. Then 2 seconds later it switches to 1. stroke count 2. speed 3.kCal burned. The little icons to the left of the numbers and the words to the right are too small for me to see while I'm rowing. You just have to remember what the numbers are for when you're looking at the numbers, and it should be pretty easy to figure out. The displays for speed, distance, and kCal can't possibly be right. Don't panic. They're not perfect on ANY rower! Think about speed (and distance travelled in a given time) of a scull in the water. It's not just about how hard and fast you pull the oars. It's your entire technique including, the weather, water temperature, wind, the way you hold your blades in the water, your recovery, the way you move your weight in the boat, and a thousand other variables. The only displays you really need are strokes per minute and time of workout. The distance travelled (and kCal) are nice to look at after your workout is done to compare it against previous workouts, but you shouldn't be paying them any attention during the workout. And at the end it doesn't matter if they're "right", it just matters that it measures consistently each time. Just like it doesn't matter if your measuring tape is inches or centimeters, it just matters that you use the same units each time. The speed does vary widely while you're rowing which makes it fairly useless. Again, don't panic, it doesn't matter. Just look at the distance travelled at the end of your workout and compare that to previous workouts. Some people have criticised this ergometer for not having variable resistance. It doesn't matter, the resistance is about the same as the medium setting on a Concept 2. Any variability you need in resistance is increased by your increasing effort. Before I bought it, I wished the description would have listed the length of the machine in the folded position. It's 58 inches (about 147.3 cm), in case you're wondering. It takes about a minute to fold it up. In the video it looks like it just takes seconds, thats not true. You have to unscrew a long bolt by hand, fold the machine head, put a pin in place to hold it, then screw the long bolt in again. I have a small room and it fit's fine in the place where I used to keep a bicycle on a trainer. The 5 star rating is for a $323 ergometer. Don't think that makes it the equal of a $1000+ Concept 2 ergometer. IT IS NOT. If you want the best, or if you're using it for a commercial purpose, spend the $1000+ and buy the Concept 2. This is a 5 star HOME ergometer. I bought it because I built a sliding seat rowboat (see clcboats.com and build your own) and I wanted to keep in shape at home in the off season. I'm 6'3", 215 lbs, 52 years old and fairly fit, with a resting heart rate about 60. I've done some sort of workout almost daily for over 30 years but haven't been nuts about it (i.e. competitive) since I was in my 30's. It's an excellent piece of equipment for me, I've taken my bicycle off it's trainer and am using the floor space in the spare room for this. I use it for 30-60 minute workouts keeping my heart rate in the 130-140 range. If that sounds anything like you, and the workout you're looking for, then I highly recommend this rowing machine (aka ergometer).

Great Air Rower. Does the job well, quality parts and infinite resistance depending on your speed of rowing. Just make sure you tighten all screws before using. Seat came apart due to lose screws after 3 days of use, I fell down and got hurt.

This unit is very well built... so far is holding up excellent..... The best part is it works... Try 20 minutes you get a good workout.. the resistance thing on other machines is not needed... see if you can row 25 rows a minute for 20 minutes.. Your heart will be beating.Great machine. Dave

My wife and I just love this rowing machine. Not only does it give you a great overall exercise, it also cools you off as you do the exercise. It is well built and engineered to withstand many hours of rowing. It is for the most part fairly quiet. However, the breezes through your hair is such a wonderful experience. We just love this machine and recommend it to everyone. We plan to use this machine for years. It is one the most enjoyable exercise machines ever. Great job Stamina for making such an outstanding product.

I did a LOT of research before I bought this rower. So many reviews, to paraphrase, said 'this is no Concept D for sure'. Well, of course it isn't. It's a third the price and not gym quality. However, if you're looking for a rower for personal home use, you cannot go wrong with this model. I've had it for several months now and I love it. The resistance is very responsive - no lag. The whooshing breeze of air that conveniently blows on you is the loudest noise. My machine has seen heavy use with no squeaks or squeals. This includes my tween son who "beasts out" on it rowing as hard and fast as possible for 20 minutes a day. I'm more of a strong and steady wins the race person. I park in it front of Netflix, turn on the captions, and row for an entire 50 minute episode.I almost dropped 1k on a Concept because of all the negative reviews I read about almost every home use rower. I think the Crossfit community might have something to do with it. Crossfit gyms mostly use Concept and I think people wanting to build out their garage gyms are expecting that quality across the board. Don't get discouraged by those reviews. The reviews are accurate - this is no Concept - but the reviews don't paint the entire picture.

I took delivery of this almost two weeks ago and wanted to delay writing a review until I had time to use it for a bit. This is very much like a Concept II Model A rowing machine, which is a good thing.When I took delivery I put it together myself. Due to the weight of the parts I would recommend two people. It only took about an hour to put it together nonetheless.I used to work in aerospace manufacturing so went over it thoroughly to check the manufacturing and quality of parts and am pretty impressed. It's a very sturdy piece of kit! The seat rollers are adjustable as are the footrests and the electronics show stroke rate, calories burned, time rowing, etc. I also purchased a heart rate monitor to check my time in zone. The seat is also well made; when I read that the seat was padded I expected something shoddy for the price but it's a soft plastic/hard rubber material that's just the right stiffness for long rowing workouts. I can unlock the fan to fold it over and it fits nicely in a long closet for storage. It's only rated for 250 lbs but I think they are being conservative, much sturdier than what one might think. I intend to update the review going forward but so far is deserving of five stars. Perhaps the previous negative reviews were for an outdated model.I'm updating the review as I said I would. It's now April 3rd and it's still going strong, definitely a good investment if you can't afford a Concept II which is of course the gold standard for rowing machines.Updated review Jan 1 2015 and it's still going strong, no problems. For the price I would buy again.

So far perfect. I had read other reviews that spoke on some flaws - such as overheating cylinder and poor construction - and I will update as needed.

The assembly wasn't hard at all for my friend as you only have to attach a few pieces to the mostly put-together frame. I have some cognitive issues and today was a bad day for my brain. Watching my friend put this together and asking questions, I have some tips to share:
1. When you get to the part of attaching the cylinder and instructions mentions Screw #6 and Nut #7, those pieces are are not separate & you need to look for the one screw with a nut attached to the end. My friend caught this quickly, but it made no sense to me. I was looking for 2 parts, not one. You will end up taking the nut off the screw to attach the cylinder to the body of the machine.
2. The foot straps in my box were stuck together and I spent a few minutes wondering why we only had one to work with.
3. Thankfully, the display comes with batteries. My friend laughed and said it was the easiest part of the assembly.

Of course, I couldn't wait to try this and I decided to test it while I had somewhere there to spot me if needed... No worries. It was almost a fun few minutes of a workout. The resistance adjuster is part of the cylinder. That kind of threw me; I spent a couple minutes looking for it.

My friend left before I realized I don't know how to set Modes on the display. For now, it showed the count of pulls I did and the minutes. I'll worry about the rest when my brain is behaving better.

I bought this with gift money from my best friend who was concerned about my getting some needed exercise this winter. When I saw the price here, I was worried about ordering it. Now I think I got a great deal. It's cheaper than a 4 month Planet Fitness black card membership so, even if I only get a year's use, I'm ahead of the game.

Most important is that this is really, really quiet. I live in an apartment that is big on rules about cleanliness and noise courtesy. I will be able to use this machine no matter what time of day I need to. I probably won't be putting this away in between workouts. It doesn't take up much space in my bedroom. It's light enough for me to move if I just scoot or pull it on a good day. My friend is past middle age and is not a big, strong person and he was able to move the unopened box easily. He made sure that I would be able to move it if needed and I see that I will have no trouble as long as I'm not ill.

For now, I have nothing but praise for this machine. If someone is limited from getting exercise outside or with some other devices because of physical ailments, I suggest they read the reviews and look this one over as a possible solution. I have problems with my legs, feet, and ankles, as well as some serious brain fog problems. Getting outside is not always an option because of weather, transportation, and expense. Bottom Line: This is something I can do despite my physical issues. I can watch TV or listen to a book or the radio while getting some VERY low impact exercise. It was easy to do but about 20 minutes after doing 5 minutes on low-then-medium resistance, I could feel that my abs got a workout. I love that.

So very glad that I have this. Makes me excited to know that I can get exercise that works my abs, legs, and arms. I hope that getting more exercise will help alleviate my fatigue and depression.

Pros -

Exercises multiple body areas at one time, very good abdominals workout with the rowing stroke, very good glute workout, fair workout for arms and top of thigh (rectus femoris), fair workout for the upper back

It's cheap

You can do it indoors away from heat and mosquitos

There is a choice of doing resistance/muscle building or aerobic (for resistance dial up the hydraulic and go slow, for aerobic use low resistance and increase your stroke speed)

Low impact - I have had no issues with hips, knees or feet

This cheap/lower level machine I bought is light weight and I can easily lift and move it from room to room

I can watch TV while I exercise

Convenience - I don't have to go anywhere to exercise

There are 12 levels of hydraulic resistance on the machine I bought - I'm only up to level 4

Assembly was easy with good instructions and doing it alone took about 20 minutes

Cons -

There is a learning curve to master and get benefit from the machine. The directions that came with the machine were too vague, YouTube had good tutorials - I watched multiple

You don't get outside in the fresh air and sunshine - if you strictly exercise indoors vit D deficiency can be a factor

There may be an issue with you getting down on the floor or almost floor level to get in and out of the machine (there are more expensive machines that sit chair height but I did not need this - I don't know if you would or not)

Other thoughts on the rowing machine -

Helpful tips - one of the best YouTube videos I watched said start slow with 3-4 minutes once or twice a day to see how your muscles will respond to rowing. I slowly built up my time and now do 30 minutes straight.

I did some research on low impact/high benefit exercises and it came down to either rowing or swimming. I like to swim but compliance to go to the pool and the time factor of exercising away from home made me decide against it.

I'm happy with this machine it has a comfortable wide seat, very good/thick cushion on the rowing bar, it has straps for the feet and at first I used them but soon discovered I didn't need them.

I rate this machine an extremely good value for the money.

'very happy with this so far.
To begin with, it got here really fast.
Assembly was minimal: unpack, I think three bolts, batteries in, connect mini-console, and feed the foot straps in. All tools supplied except for cutting shipping box and tie wraps.
I'm 6'2" 210 pounds weight lifter. At setting 5 of 12, it resists about like a row boat. I did 50 reps at setting 8 to get a feel for it. Then set it at 12 where I could only do it quite slowly. If you are concerned that it will not have enough resistence, don't be.
You could use this in the same room with someone sleeping and not wake them up.

At 12 setting the resistence at 100 reps is about half what it is at the beginning. The resestence cylinder heats up to the point that you cannot leave your hand on it. Still, the harder you pull, the more the resistence.

Pros:

Cheap

Light weight (20ish lbs and can be comfortably carried in one hand when grasped in the middle.)

Simple sturdy construction (i cannot foresee anything braking without excessive misuse i.e. using it as a weapon)

Stupidly simple assembly: (connected the resistance cylinder to the handle bars with the quick release pin; 2 bolts to attach the handle grips (tool included); plugged in the computer and slide it on to the handle bars; and extend and lock the back feet with the over-sized hand screw. DONE! takes maybe 5 to 10 minutes.

Folds flat for easy storage under a bed or leaning in the corner of a closet

Cons:

Limited range of motion:
If you are looking for a machine with full range of motion then this is probably not for you. Fully extended the handle bars come to about my belly button level. It gets the job done but it doesn't necessarily work my arms much. Also I'm 5'11" and while i do not max out how far back the seat can go, i can't really recommend it for anyone much past 6 feet tall

Resistance cylinder GETS HOT:
The heat its self isn't a problem but as it heats up it losses its resistance. my solution was to simply start at a lower resistance and once it warmed up increase the resistance to the desired level. Also this seems to be a common problem as i found similar comments on reviews of other produces with the same resistance method.

Not the best computer:
it tracks calories burned, number of rows, and time spent actually rowing (if you stop the timer stops too)... the only problem is that it often counts one row as two. Personally I'm only interested in the time spent rowing, but if this is a deal breaker for you, then look elsewhere.

Other Thoughts:

I'm a collage student and i purchased this item because i was looking for a small, cheap, durable, light weight machine, so I could exercise indoors when the weather is nasty, and hide it away when i do not need it. This product meets those needs perfectly.

FedEx just delivered my Sunny Health and Fitness Rowing Machine which was shipped in an excellent outer box with absolutely no holes or rips in it! The rower is completely assembled except for the handle bars which bolted on quickly with the enclosed wrench and 2 big bolts. I installed the console which was a simple slide on affair with a simple wire plug in. I never use consoles but I installed it anyway....it came with batteries included! There were no straps to hold the feet on an NONE ARE NEEDED!

The seat isn't the best in the world but solid and glides easily and smoothly. I might add a small cushion for longer sessions. The hydraulic piston adjusts easily and goes from real easy to real difficult. So far I am estatic about my rower, but time will tell if I remain so. Am 86 years old and after a few minutes on the 2nd setting, I can feel the muscles in my thighs complaining, which is proof positive that the rower is doing the job it is intended for.

NOTE: for those that like to put most of the emphasis on the upper body, just set the piston higher and work the handles without gliding.....great for the arms. Do it underhanded and work the biceps. It is a low priced unit but built like a Sherman tank. BUY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT! Often the simpler things in life are the best!

So it's loud, and it doesn't feel solid. And for over $300 you'd expect better but I suppose chinesium steel is so common one shouldn't expect better.That said, it's pretty durable. I have this strapped down to the front of my enclosed flatbed trailer (I'm a trucker) and it gets a lot of abuse. But it works every time I need it to.Make sure you oil the chain, I use 3:1 oil to lube it, works well.My biggest complaints would be the foot secure to systems. Incredibly flimsy and feel like they would break under great strain, but my main complaint is the display. It's beyond useless.

I'll give it 4 stars because it's not a Concept2, but damn, for 1/3 of the price it is well worth the money! It's sturdy, setup was simple and it gives a good workout. Recommended.

Easy to put together but the chain came off and I had to figure out how to get at it to put it back! Once the chain as put back on, it workd=ks great and my wife loves it!

Having used the nice rowers at Orange Theory and deciding that I love rowing for all its benefits. I researched thoroughly and decided to by this machine. I think if you are more of a hardcore serious workout buff then this isn't the machine for you. But if you are looking for a way to exercise to keep fit and get the heart rate up a bit then this is a great machine. Assembly took about an hour and was easy. The one thing I don't like about it is that its quite noisy from the fan blade and the seat is a little hard, but otherwise for the money its great. If you want more from a rower you have to pay for it.

I give this rower 4-stars. It's really the little things that keep it from a 5-star rower. I am an avid home crossfitter, so i got this because the Concept 2 is $900! This is an attractively priced rower and the quality is pretty good.I docked it one star for these minor but noticeable issues:1) the digital readout is hard to read and is always flashing between display options. It's a nuisance.2) the digital readout only displays miles, meters should be an option or the only option.3) the feet pedals slide off their holders when you're rowing.Again, those are all minor details. I am not sure it's worth an extra $600 to upgrade to the C2 just for those features.Also there's no damper like the C2, but I knew that when I purchased it. Not a deal breaker for me.Overall, I am enjoying it thoroughly. But maybe stamina has a fix for the foot holders, that's super annoying.

I did A LOT of research on home-use rowers prior to "settling" on the Stamina. I really wanted a Concept 2 (C2) (Gold Standard in my opinion), but not in my budget! If you can’t afford a C2, definitely buy this one-don’t go any cheaper! I read all the reviews about this rower on Amazon. My husband rowed in college and children now in competitive varsity rowing everyday. Husband purchased this rower (This model is actually the 35-1405 ATS) as a 50th birthday gift, to get in me in shape(I‘ve been begging for a rowing machine since I'm overweight and have knee and back problems). Purchasing and receiving, we had no issues. Assembly okay, (recommend two people and using your own tools to save your hands if they lack strength). I did need husband's help, tightening it properly is VERY important, based on some issues in others buyers' reviews! Reading the instructions step by step very important-there are some “through-bolts” that need to be moved around during assembly process, and if not done, it could cause trouble with rower functioning properly. Stamina never claims to be a Concept 2! This is a beginners' rower, not for professional rowing. Flywheel hits you with a blast of cool air with each row-you may or may not like this. PROS: Affordable. Slightly more compact than a C2. Can shrink overall length about 1 1/2 feet less when folded, but it does not stand vertical for a closet storage, only horizontal. Adequately sturdy, mostly metal, it is a solid machine. The flywheel is made out of sturdy plastic and is enveloped by a metal cage. Max weight of person using is up to about 250 lbs. Machine lightweight enough to roll around (has front rollers) for storage. It has good leg and arm resistance during a smooth seat glide back and forth. The pulley is made from a bicycle chain, sturdy. Although the display is NOT the one pictured, it is actually BETTER-you can actually see the correct one in the video. CONS: No variable resistance adjustment. No heart monitor. The following 2 cons I believe are because machine is foldable; Display is positioned too low, very hard to read during exercise. I have to stop rowing to read. Pull bar retracts to a low position too, making your extended arms having to go down on the draw, just above display. Recommend watching YouTube video, for proper form. In summary; overall 4.5 out of 5 stars, not for pro athletes-not a Concept 2, but great for home exercise equipment and great for getting in shape! Easy on the wallet, buys you time to save up and get in shape for the gold standard!

Light weight and easy to store or move. Assembly is simple, anyone could do it. Only a couple steps taking 5-10 minutes. Even comes with the necessary tools to put it together. Used on carpet or a rug it does not wobble or move while in use. The computer works, but would be nice if you could get more info at once on the screen or somehow scroll through it easier. The cylinder does get hot as others have mentioned but this is really not a problem, no reason to touch it while in use. After about 5 minutes or 130ish reps you experience a noticeable loss in resistance. After it cools down again it’s good to go. Otherwise it would be 5 stars.

Product is what you'd expect from a bargain machine. Reasonably quiet, good resistance level for me. The seat is perhaps slightly too small and not as well contoured as it might be; I occasionally feel like I'm going to shove myself right off of it. I have to dismount the cylinder from the handles to slide it under the bed, but it's easy to do, and once done the machine is only 12" high. Less if you also fold down the back leg. It's pretty easy to order replacement parts, and not expensive (I had an open box unit that was missing some pieces). I am 5'8" and 190 lbs, and I find the range, size, and sturdiness of the machine to be adequate. The seat's connection to the frame is slightly wobbly, but it remains to be seen if that's going to be an issue.

It works well and feels that the measurements displayed are accurate. I also like the different notches for resistance. I am a daily C2 rower but this is a good alternative for when I'm traveling. The only thing that I dislike about it is how the whole equipment moves when I row intensively during timed workout. I find myself inching forward on every stroke, which can be awkward and annoying; but for the price, it's very well worth it!

I really like this machine. It is a great size. I can put it away easily or leave it out. You can leave it flat or tilt it up on its side. I bought this row machine to replace a different one. I live in a small apartment and this has been a great space saver. The other row machine I had to get rid of was just to big. This is so narrow that I don't have to completely rearrange the furniture to use this. This machine feels like its made of sturdy material. I'm kind of a exercise equipment hoarder. Over the years I have bought A LOT of different products from exercise bikes, small trampolines, elliptical, and much much more. Over the years it has been really disappointing because the equipment brakes down so fast. I haven't had any of those kinds of issues with this item. So far nothing has broken on it. I will say that from what I can tell I was shipped one someone must have returned because the manual and the pin that holds it all together were missing. I wasn't to concerned about the missing pin because this was an easy fix. The missing parts weren't amazon's fault but rude customers who returned the item without checking to make sure that everything was sent back. This product was a direct sale by amazon and when I contacted them about the issues they made the mistake right without any issues. I like this rower a lot and have been using it for around 6 months without any issues.

I ordered this rower to get back in shape and rowers are one of the best cardio machines out there. It also works out your entire body including arms, back, legs, and core. This machine really works as advertised. The tracker is fairly accurate (what do you expect from a $70 machine). The pump did have one negative too it. When it got too hot it would squeak slightly. There is a weight limit for the machine, but I weigh 270 and it still works for me. It isn't massive and is very minimalistic so it can fit virtually anywhere, on the side of a bed, next to a couch so you can watch TV, or in the corner of an office if you wanted to burn extra calories on your lunch break. This is a very good price for this machine and I recommend it for anyone who would like to get into rowing for fitness reasons. Not top of line, but still great quality.

Loved the rower when I first got it but now I'm having a few issues. The display won't count distance and speed anymore and one of the rollers on the seat has a hole in it - making rowing a little bit uncomfortable. Anyone else have these issues.

Fair price for a rower and easy to assemble

I just rowed my first workout on this rower earlier today. After around three years of using a C2 at my gym, I kind of went out on a limb on this machine. I was hesitant because there are so many reviews on either side, but I hope this will give some people a little clarity on this rower. I'm here to say: it's ok.• The handle is a little narrow but didn't really cause me discomfort.• The seat is made of a molded rubber that is very firm. I was concerned when I first pulled it out of the box, but after rowing on it for a half hour, it caused me no discomfort.• Even at a full sprint, the chain remained firmly on the flywheel, with the chain guides doing their job nicely. I think I actually noticed the chain slapping less on the recovery than I have experienced on some C2 machines.• The flywheel does make noise, which is to be expected of an air rower. This machine is louder than a C2, but not so loud I'd call it excessive.• The seat does shake back and forth on its bearings a little, even after some adjustment, but I didn't notice the rocking during my workout.• Foot straps held my feet in place very well (I've had the straps on C2's come loose after prolonged rowing).• The flywheel resistance cannot be changed with a damper, but it hardly matters. The point of the air rower is that it is infinitely variable. The harder you row, the more resistance it provides. As I said above, I have a fair amount of experience rowing on a C2, and I was able to work myself up to a full sprint on this machine while still feeling that the flywheel was offering good resistance.• All said, this machine is definitely not as well made as a C2. It feels sturdy, but there is a noticeable vibration from the flywheel as you get it up to speed.I would recommend this rower, but only to someone who had experience on a higher quality rower and understood how their stroke should feel after viewing a force curve, as well as the intensity necessary to row specific 500 split times because -- and this is the big thing -- the monitor is absolute. garbage.It reads out in imperial, not metric (which makes no sense to rowers), the speed is in miles per hour (again, nonsense) and the speed updates instantaneously, so fast the screen can barely keep up. It will go from 23 mph in the middle of your drive back down to 8 mph instantaneously as you finish and recover, and as a result you never know how fast you are really going. And the monitor scans back and forth so frequently that you can barely even use the thing as a timer (I haven't yet figured out how to turn the scan off). So I would really only recommend rowers who are familiar enough with what they are doing that they don't really need a monitor anyways.TL;DR - It's a serviceable air rower and it costs $600 less than a C2. It provides all the resistance you could ever need, but the monitor is totally useless.

The tower is sturdy and functions well but is VERY LOUD. My nephew was using it and he had his music at max volume.

I knew I wasn't getting a top of the line rower, but it's an overall good rower for the price. You can't change the resistance but it gets the job done. The one thing that was annoying was the bolts they gave you to secure the pedals would not screw in all the way because of some cardboard lining in it. Ended having to use my own bolts so the pedals weren't so loose. Also, it's in miles and I also feel as if the miles it's telling you your doing isn't true. But it's whatever, decent for the price.

Not the greatest rower but ok for the price

I have been using the rowing machine at the gym for over a year now. It was my favorite piece of equipment. I recently got my home gym together & wanted a rowing machine for it. I read the reviews & for the price, thought it would be worth a shot. I'm very disappointed. I can't even get a full range of motion w/ this. I'm 5ft & unless I'm doing something wrong, I cannot extend my legs fully before it hits the end of the row. You get what you pay for & if you can afford more, definitey get a little pricier one.

Received machine and put it together. I went together easy. Issue was that where the stop watch connected was broke. Returning item but having no issues with return.

We bought it for the size, economy and heard it was quiet. The plan was to use it while watching television. It was louder than expected and just isn't exciting for my wife and myself. It doesn't get much use. We bought it because it was cheap, and if we didn't use it, it wouldn't be too big of a deal. We got what we paid for. It does fold up and story nicely. Great for apartments, etc. It is lightweight. The seat, even though it wasn't used frequently, wore through quickly and became uncomfortable. I can't say it's a poor machine, but nothing spectacular. Average, thus 3 stars

Be Aware! The manual that comes with this machine specifically states that it is only to be used for for sessions of 15 minutes or less. This is obviously because of the heat generated in the resistance cylinder during use. Other reviews have observed that the resistance fails after extended use...apparently they didn't heed the manufacturer's15-minute limit!

It took less than 30 minutes to assemble the machine with the tools provided. A moderate fifteen minute session on this machine will burn less than 100 calories but it is useful for low-impact warm-up and stretching.

I was pleasantly surprised and excited when this rowing machine first arrived. It was well packed and the frame, supports and track were of reasonable gauge steel. I tried it out and after 5 minutes of use I was hearing a click and feeling a notch each time I took a stroke. The click was coming from the area of the piston where a metal pin secures the piston to the handle. I removed the pin and saw that it was damaged. I did not see any damage when I first installed it. There were two grooves and some marks on the pin from where it was rubbing on the frame (metal on metal). The pin is made from soft metal and if it can be grooved after 5 minutes of use I can't imagine that it's going to last very long. Also, the Amazon product description includes "Adjustable foot straps." I did not receive any foot straps. It's possible that Amazon made a mistake and the machine does not come with foot straps because I don't see any in the product picture.

It is disappointing to get a new machine like this only to find that it has a flaw already. A hardened piece of steel or perhaps a sleeve for the pin to sit in might improve this. I like the simple design, it's effective and amazing value for the money if everything works as it should. I will add a picture of the pin and the grooving and where it is located on the machine.

If possible I will add some additional information after I have used it for a longer period of time.

I wrote to Sunny, the manufacturer and they did respond after a few days (they apologized). They were kind enough to offer me a replacement pin however I had contacted Amazon by that time and I don't think a new pin would solve the problem unless it was case hardened steel. I actually gave this a second thought until after I used the machine for 30 minutes and the hydraulic piston started leaking hydraulic oil on our carpet. As you work out on the machine the piston gets hot and starts to leak oil. That was enough for me to pack it in the box and I will take it into shipping tomorrow. I need to spend more money and get something that is of higher quality. No more pistons for me!

Too bad, my wife and I really liked the simplicity, weight and action of the machine. It is easily carried around the house and stored in a closet. Foot straps are not necessary by the way. I don't think the amazon product description is accurate in that regard.

This is very loud (you can not hear a TV while using it unless you wear headphones), it does not have adjustable tension, does not fold up, and the display isn't very good. I bought a SF-RW5515 by Sunny for $140 less and it solved all of those problems. It may not be perfect, but it sure is better than this one!

Sorry Stamina!Let me start with the Pro'ssteel construction16.5 to 19 inches from floor to top of seatmore than enough resistance, air resistancerubber floor protectors so there is no movement on smooth surfacechain driveangled chrome seat railsturdy foot platesNow the Con'sPoor construction: the support frame needs to be maneuvered in order that the locking knob fit into tube welded to rail and then forced thru meaning the holes are not aligned or the metal tubing is offChipped or peeling chrome platingNoisy, very noisy chain & fan Wire cage damage or defectiveClips & screws loose or strippedPull pin (which keeps the device from flopping outward when moving is loose & could cause potential problemsMeter is very basicMeter is difficult to readI cannot accept poor workmanship in anything I buy. If the quality is inferior and does not perform as expected it is sub par.I must say, however, that Customer service is quick to respond. Kudos thereI would not recommend this rower. I really couldn't tell if the resistance was air or just a tight fan wheel because it seemed to slow quickly. The meter is imperial, that's no big thing but it keeps scanning every 4 seconds & there was no way to keep it reading time. The meter position isn't adequate for viewing. While rowing it's below the chain and handlebar making it harder to read. The black numbers on a grey screen doesn't help either.From my personal experience I cannot recommend this rower.

Not what you would expect from a $350 product ($323 at the time plus shipping). I knew going in that the Stamina Air Rower wasn't going to be comparable to something like the Concept2, but this is just embarrassing even compared to the 80's pneumatic rower it replaced.Arrived looking used, build quality is awful, critical stress points are secured by 2cm screws, chain action is extremely loud, there's barely any resistance (it's non adjustable), and the entire thing rattles like a demon when used. To hammer the point home, Stamina trusts their own product so little that there is only a 90 day warranty on parts other than the support beam.Would highly suggest that those of you considering a rower either downgrade to a pneumatic / hydraulic until you can afford something better, or consider a different mode of exercise entirely. This rower is not worth your time, your money, or your health.I have to wonder at the legitimacy of these 4 and 5 star reviews, this product can only accurately be described as a ripoff.

This rower is fine for someone looking to casually row. However, it feels much cheaper than other rowers I've used at gyms. It hadn't occurred to me how much cheaper this rower would feel compared to a quality one. If you are tall and pull hard, the chain feels like it might break. This rower is also VERY loud compared to other, higher quality rowers. I'd recommend this rower to anyone new to rowing, but recommend a higher quality one to anyone taller than 5'4 who is looking for a major workout, ready to pull hard!

I'm dissappointed in this rower. The pedals are cheap plastic that don't stay in place. I'm using duct tape to hold them. The chain rollers are plastic and don't line up which means they will have to be replaced. When you row and fan unit flexes; the whole front fan assembly with the metal cage flexes. The position of the seat to the rower is not level, you have to pull towards your chin. There are no adjustments to change the angle of the position of the angles. I've used a rower at our gym for years and this doesn't quite measure up.. I guess you get what you pay for.

Received it with a missing part that I had to call and get replaced, and it has almost no resistance compared to other rowing machines I have used. Not worth the money.

Too low to the ground, hard to get up off it without assistance, The read out won't stay on because when I push back, the read out hits my stomach. It's not very steady. The seat is not well made.

I got this as a gift for my sister. We have both tried it out and had the same issue, which is that after about 15 minutes, the hydraulic cylinder has gotten very hot and (the real problem) has basically lost all its resistance. I bought it for its price and easy storing ability, but it's really not a great machine for any sort of extended work out.

Great rower, but they should raise the price and include a mat with it. No mat equals destroyed flooring underneath the rower - as a first time rower I didn't know it would do that, so buy a mat.

Update: Rower died 2/23/16 - I purchased it on 7/22/15 - I rowed over 200,000 rows during that time (four thousand rows during the week and 8,000 on weekends), so I would say I got my $$ out of it. The tubing is hollow and the little metal thing that the knob at the back of the rower screws into broke - I bought screws to fix it, but the tubing being hollow caused the screws to bend it. :-(

My new one is on the way.

The new one lasted less then a week before the back fell apart...Looking at other rowers. :-(

I used this item for a couple of weeks. The quality was not a surprise given the price. I thought I could have a least a 30 minute session, but the reviews were right! It gets sssooo hot after 10 that the next 5-10 max should be done with caution. I also found the seat very uncomfortable. It's fine for someone beginning exercise for the first time, or for someone learning to row maybe, but 15-20 minute maximum on any equipment leave little room for improving endurance.

If you are just looking for something to mess with while you watch tv this will work. Although I have some thoughts to share. 1st, the wire to the monitor was stripped when I received it. Luckily I was able to strip back the jacket and pigtail them back together. Next is, this isnt for men. It just isnt big enough. It doesnt go back far enough to be all that useful. Also the hydraulic in it gets hot, like 10 min max and you cant even touch it, since it will burn you. Which means if you want to jump on for more than 10 min.... well not gonna happen. For a massively budget rower it work ok. I wouldnt buy it again.

Had to replace the first one ordered due to damage, the second also would not work properly.

This was a big disappointment.The cage the fan is housed in was bent. The fan itself inside the cage was also out of alignment and banged on the cage. The chain did not behave at all smoothly.Very noisy and clunky.I probably got a lemon. But enough to never purchase anything from stamina again.

It is a good looking rower but that's it. There is no resistance, I feel like I am not getting a workout. I have tried to give it a chance 4x a week for 30 min for tbe past 2 months but I do not feel anything. No cardio whatsoever. Ive been on rowers before and had a better workout. My not so fit partner tried and operated it with a breeze. One advice for people looking to buy this product is don't waste your time. I would give it no stars but I have to give it a 1

Feels cheap

One thing you should keep in mind....this unit is not for commercial use. There were two scary warning postcards in the box-> WARNING THIS EQUIPMENT IS FOR HOME USE ONLY. DO NOT USE FOR COMMERCIAL OR INSTITUTIONAL USE. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS WARNING COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. Does this mean using this thing aggressively, i.e., several times a day by multiple family members is going to be dangerous? Maybe wearing a helmet is in order. Time will tell. It takes about an hour to assemble. You should also make sure you have some Loctite thread locker. If you don't use thread locker on the bolts and screws, they will quickly work loose. Also, make sure you have a metric socket wrench set. Trying to use the included tools will not allow you to get things tight enough and will take much longer. My unit had several loose fasteners. Check the adjustment bolts/nuts on the seat for tightness. Also, check the seat stops on either end to make sure they are tight after final assembly.Update: My wife has been giving this machine usage of about 20 minutes a day for a month now. This machine seems to be holding up to her usage, but many of the factory installed screws have started falling out. If this manufacturer simply used some thread locker like LOCTITE Blue, I wouldn't be having this problem. All of the seat screws are coming loose. One fell out. I am glad one actually fell out because it served as an alert that the seat was going to eventually come off. Looks like I am going to have to remove the seat sled from the machine to fix this....and also looks like I will need to disassemble the roller assembly on the seat to get to these screws. I am also going to check all of the other factory installed screws, nuts, and bolts thread locking all of them. I am downgrading this to one star due to poor assembly at the factory, the danger of the seat coming loose, and failure to use fasteners that stay fastened. For a few cents worth of Loctite thread locker they could have saved me the misery of having to basically reassemble it twice. If you buy one of these rowers, order some LocTite Blue thread locker from Amazon and apply it to every fastener that does not have a nylon locking insert (locknut).

If I could, I would give it 0 Stars. I took the time to put it all together. The first time I pull the it, the chain falls off of the gears. I took time to put it back on and the chain returns so slow. It took at least 5 second for the chain to get pulled back in. Do not buy this. I looked at the good reviews and thought it would be ok. I am packing it up and returning it.

I was so excited to get this rower. Unfortunately I am too short for it. I'm 4 ft 9. When I push off with my legs the seat barely moves back....that's with my legs being completely stretched . I read multiple reviews and came to the conclusion that you either by a really good one ...which run in the thousands and if not then this one is the best for price . I read several reviews of shorter people using them ..I wish the foot rest were placed in front of the pull bar or right at it then I could use it. My intention was to see if I enjoyed rowing before buying a more expensive machine.

Not a great workout. Would rather have one with a pull straight across instead this one goes in a downward motion and not alot of leg stretch. I gave it to Goodwill.

Can't use it. The screws that attach the handle are to small for the holes. Maybe I can get replacements locally, but I shouldn't have to.

Missing the bolt that connnects the piston. It was also missing instructions, though I didn't need them. Bolts also keep loosening. I barely break a sweat after 30 minutes starting on 9 tension and working up to 12. Very disappointed because other reviews rated it highly which now makes me suspicious....

Handle bar pulled screws out on second use. Currently awaiting the replacement item.