Rowing machines - http://www.rowingmachinez.com

Editor's picks

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  Stamina 1205 Precision Rower

  Sports (Stamina Products, Inc)
  

  Rating (126 reviews):

  (3.8/5)

  

  Great rower

  I bought a used rower years ago and came to work it several times a week. I'm a busy person, so I don't have time for a sophisticated work out routine. I just want to work one machine for both strength and aerobic training. Rowing is great for this purpose. When I broke my rower, I started shopping. Unfortunately, even used rowers are over $100. I struggled with this model versus the smaller ones that stand up vertically for easy storage. I couldn't find any reviews on this that addressed the storage question. Finally, I chose it because it didn't look like I could break it from normal usage, whereas the kind that fold nicely seem flimsy.Pros:- This machine is very sturdy. It's solid, stable, and does not rock at all when in use.- It is amazingly quiet. The only sound is the whisper of the pistons. I can use it with the TV on normal volume.- The seat is very comfortable. I sat on it for 30 minutes the first time with no... 4/5 David Applegate (Ohio) - See all my reviews, February 18, 2006

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  Compact, Solid, Easy to Assemble

  Probably one of the best rowers I've ever used.It was easy to assembly, and looks and feels really solid.Lots of adjustment in the "power level" - from really easy to really hard.I'm 6' and it is definitely large enough (will easily work for taller people as well). My wife is 5'3", and she finds it easy to use too.Highly recommended. 5/5 Bruce Warne - See all my reviews This review is from: Stamina 1205 Precision Rower (Sports) Probably one of the best rowers I've ever used.It was easy to assembly, and looks and feels really solid.Lots of adjustment in the "power level" - from really easy to really hard.I'm 6' and it is definitely large enough (will easily work for taller people as well). My wife is 5'3", and she finds it easy to use too.Highly recommended. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 10, 2007

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  Stamina Rowing Machine

  I had one of these similar many years ago and let it go at a garage sale. Dumb idea! As I get older, this Stamina machine has replaced it and is giving me all the exercise I need. Good to set in front of the tv and row for 30 minutes, I've gone from a size 40 to a size 36 waist. I like the hydraulic part of it and the adjustability. 4/5 Ronald E. Cole (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews, January 14, 2007

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  List Price: $350.00
  Price: $150.00
  You Save: $200.00 (57%)

  Precision rowing machine with deluxe ball-bearing rolling system

  Thick padded seat and pivoting footplates for maximum comfort

  Multifunction fitness monitor tracks speed, distance, strokes, and more

  Smooth hydraulic cylinder action with adjustable tension controls

  Measures 32.5 x 27.75 x 48 inches (W x H x D); weighs 47 pounds

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  Stamina 1215 Orbital Rowing Machine with Free Motion Arms

  Sports (Stamina)
  

  Rating (15 reviews):

  (4.1/5)

  

  Started Good, Now Disappointing, Maybe Dangerous

  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... 5/5 marquis (New England) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Stamina 1215 Orbital Rowing Machine with Free Motion Arms (Sports) 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... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , September 5, 2009

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  Don't waste your money

  I bought this Stamina 1215 rower two weeks ago. After 10 days of use, the rollers that allow the seat to move up and down the frame as one rows collapsed. Naturally I'd already tossed out all the packing materials and the box. Oh, well. What I did was, I transplanted the arms, and the hydraulic resistance units (think cheap shock absorbers) onto a 20-year old Altero rower - the resistance units for that gave up some time ago, and that company is out of business, but now it's back on the road, using the Stamina's resistance units. Compared to this one, that old Altero is built like a tank. This one is, in my estimation, worth maybe $15. Yes, it's less expensive than the similar Kettler, and which now wish I'd sprung for; but it's also not worth the $279 currently being charged for it, in my estimation. All the parts are cheap and designed to be sold, as opposed to having been designed to be used. The "computer" is a cheapie and its little screen is tough to see. Do yourself a favor:... 1/5 J. F. Thompson "JT" (Glendale, CA USA) - See all my reviews, June 21, 2009

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  Stamina 1215 Orbital Rowing Machine

  After using this exercise machine for about a month (9 total exercise hours), I have found it is basically a good machine for the price. After 4 hours of use, one of the hydraulic shocks developed a "dead spot" at the start of the stroke. I called the Stamina toll free number for customer support. They sent out a replacement shock which seems to be working OK.The 4 roller wheels on the seat slide are molded plastic. They aren't exactly round so they "rumble" a little bit. It would be nice if they were smooth without mold marks on the running surfaces. 4/5 Sailor Don "Rower man" - See all my reviews This review is from: Stamina 1215 Orbital Rowing Machine with Free Motion Arms (Sports) After using this exercise machine for about a month (9 total exercise hours), I have found it is basically a good machine for the price. After 4 hours of use, one of the hydraulic shocks developed a "dead spot" at the start of the stroke. I called the Stamina toll free number for customer support. They sent out a replacement shock which seems to be working OK.The 4 roller wheels on the seat slide are molded plastic. They aren't exactly round so they "rumble" a little bit. It would be nice if they were smooth without mold marks on the running surfaces. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 30, 2008

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  List Price: $400.00
  Price: $243.00
  You Save: $157.00 (39%)

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

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

  Smooth hydraulic cylinder resistance; adjustable tension controls

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

  Thick, padded seat; pivoting foot plates

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• 

  Kettler Favorit Rowing Machine

  Sports (KETTLER)
  

  Rating (29 reviews):

  (4.3/5)

  

  Good machine, but I got a dud.

  I got my Favorit about 5 days after I ordered it and when I went to put it together I realized that a piece was missing (the bar to hold the foot pedals on). So I called customer service and they sent me one free of charge the next day. I was a little disappointed because I was excited to use it but couldn't without something to put my feet on. So I waited another 5 or so days and I got that part.After using it I realized the right shock absorber wasn't working correctly, and it started losing more pressure within a few day to where it was unusable. I emailed customer service this time and they sent me a new shock right away.Since then I haven't had any problems, the machine works great and I've been using it about 3 weeks daily with the new shock. The customer service was really great, which is why I decided not to take off a star. I think I might have gotten a returned machine. It was obviously a dud either way, everything else about the experience was... 5/5 L P - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Kettler Favorit Rowing Machine (Sports) I got my Favorit about 5 days after I ordered it and when I went to put it together I realized that a piece was missing (the bar to hold the foot pedals on). So I called customer service and they sent me one free of charge the next day. I was a little disappointed because I was excited to use it but couldn't without something to put my feet on. So I waited another 5 or so days and I got that part.After using it I realized the right shock absorber wasn't working correctly, and it started losing more pressure within a few day to where it was unusable. I emailed customer service this time and they sent me a new shock right away.Since then I haven't had any problems, the machine works great and I've been using it about 3 weeks daily with the new shock. The customer service was really great, which is why I decided not to take off a star. I think I might have gotten a returned machine. It was obviously a dud either way, everything else about the experience was... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , August 28, 2009

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  Well built with one major flaw...

  This rower seems to be well built and very sturdy. However, buyer beware, the design of this machine contains one major, VERY IMPORTANT flaw having to do with the resistance adjustment. The resistance is controlled by tightening knobs on the side of the machine at the bottom of each individual piston. Loosen the knob and you are able to move the bottom of the piston up (to increase the resistance) or down (to decrease the resistance). Regardless of how much I tighten each knob the resistance always loosens up during my workout. Sometimes one side will come loose before the other, producing an uneven workout. Eventually both sides loosen and the workout is much too easy.Which begs the question... Why didn't Kettler catch this problem during the testing phase of this product? I am extremely disappointed and would not recommend this product until Kettler comes out with a fix or different design with respect to the resistance adjustment. 2/5 Mike S. (Fredericksburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Kettler Favorit Rowing Machine (Sports) This rower seems to be well built and very sturdy. However, buyer beware, the design of this machine contains one major, VERY IMPORTANT flaw having to do with the resistance adjustment. The resistance is controlled by tightening knobs on the side of the machine at the bottom of each individual piston. Loosen the knob and you are able to move the bottom of the piston up (to increase the resistance) or down (to decrease the resistance). Regardless of how much I tighten each knob the resistance always loosens up during my workout. Sometimes one side will come loose before the other, producing an uneven workout. Eventually both sides loosen and the workout is much too easy.Which begs the question... Why didn't Kettler catch this problem during the testing phase of this product? I am extremely disappointed and would not recommend this product until Kettler comes out with a fix or different design with respect to the resistance adjustment. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 26, 2007

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  Best in its class

  Had no problem putting it together and have found no problem with the tightness of tension adjusting on the "oars" mentioned by previous reviewer - if anything they are very hard to release to slide up or down. So if sharing this machine with a different build quick adjustment day-to-day would be hard as you have to pry the plastic apart with a screwdriver.However still a vast improvement on my previous machine of 20 years.Shipping was a problem as the cardboard box and packing not heavy enough for the usual drop off but it survived even that! 5/5 Steven Medway (USA) - See all my reviews, February 28, 2008

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  List Price: $399.00
  Price: $398.99
  You Save: $0.01 (%)

  250-Pound weight capacity; measures 49 x 31 x 10-Inch

  Program for desired distance covered and stroke speed; visual and audio signals

  Rowing machine to help you stay in shape and train in your own home

  Two hydraulic cylinders with continuous resistance and a comfortably ergonomic seat

  Training computer provides info on time measurement, number of oar strokes, speed of strokes, distance covered, and more

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