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

Editor's picks

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  First Degree Fitness Pacific Challenge Adjustable Resistance Fluid Rower

  Sports (First Degree Fitness)
  

  Rating (3 reviews):

  (4.3/5)

  

  Intervals? Yes.

  First, a little background. I'm going on 67 and I've been interested in sports and fitness since high school. More or less continuously since after pilot training in 1969 starting with the original Aerobics book by Kenneth Cooper. I stopped running to preserve the joints and switched to biking about twenty-five years ago. Also, a bike on a stationary trainer, a ski machine, weight training, etc. I wore out a rowing machine once, the kind with hydrolic pistons. About three years ago I integrated the Tabata Protocol into my workouts. That's a kind of interval training. You can look it up. Really works better than aerobics and takes much less time. The down side: it is anaerobic, in the red zone, pure agony if done right. My hope was this rower would work for TP. It does. I was surprised to see a review here that said it didn't work for intervals. My guess is it was a technique problem since he mentioned arm fatigue. It takes a while to learn the correct rowing motion so that you can... 5/5 Robert Bissett (Naples, ID USA) - See all my reviews, May 20, 2012

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  Not what I expected

  I bought this to get a more "whole body" workout while doing interval training than I got on a stationary bike and with less impact than a treadmill. It was well built and operated very smoothly. There seemed to be very little difference in resistance between max and min, and I could never get my heart rate where I wanted while trying to do interval training. My legs never felt like enough resistance and my arms and shoulders tired too quickly. It wouold probably be a good choice for steady state aerobics but it did not work for me for interval training. I returned it and bought an elliptical exerciser. For what it's worth, I'm mid 60's. 3/5 J. Romain "retiree wannabe" (California) - See all my reviews, February 7, 2012

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  Great Diversion

  Almost like being on the water, without the smell, bugs, and drunken boaters. All in all a pleasant way to get your exercise in. Makes a great footstool as well. Looks good in the house. Now if they would just fix it so you could put fish in the tank............. 5/5 blueotter14 - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: First Degree Fitness Pacific Challenge Adjustable Resistance Fluid Rower (Sports) Almost like being on the water, without the smell, bugs, and drunken boaters. All in all a pleasant way to get your exercise in. Makes a great footstool as well. Looks good in the house. Now if they would just fix it so you could put fish in the tank............. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 16, 2011

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  List Price: $1,199.00
  Price: $699.99
  You Save: $499.01 (42%)

  Water resistance

  Ergonomic handle

  Variable water volume

  New! Adjustable Resistance

  Heel support system

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  First Degree Fitness Viking Fluid Rower

  Sports (First Degree Fitness)
  List Price: $1,398.00
  Price: $849.99
  You Save: $548.01 (39%)

  Computer display

  Durable belt drive

  Ergonomic handle

  Water resistance

  No dead spots

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  First Degree Fitness E-316 Fluid Rower

  Sports (First Degree Fitness)
  List Price: $2,399.00
  Price: $1,998.00
  You Save: $401.00 (17%)

  Air-glide seat rollers

  Rigid frame construction

  16 levels of resistance

  Direct drive transmission

  Office chair seat height

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  First Degree Fitness Atlantic Fluid Rower

  Sports (First Degree Fitness)
  List Price: $2,039.00
  Price: $1,428.88
  You Save: $610.12 (30%)

  Office chair seat height

  Ergonomic angled handle

  Footboard with heel cradles

  Stands vertical for storage

  16 levels of resistance

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  First Degree Fitness E-520 Fluid Rower

  Sports (First Degree Fitness)
  List Price: $2,759.00
  Price: $1,984.99
  You Save: $774.01 (28%)

  Rigid frame construction

  20 levels of resistance

  Comfortable seat

  Unmatched durability

  Stands for storage

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  First Degree Fitness Viking Adjustable Resistance Fluid Rower

  Sports (First Degree Fitness)
  List Price: $1,729.00
  Price: Too low to display
  

  Water resistance

  Durable belt drive

  No dead spots

  New! Adjustable Resistance

  Ergonomic handle

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  First Degree Fitness Evolution Series E-520 Fluid Professional Rower

  Sports (First Degree Fitness)
  

  Rating (3 reviews):

  (4.0/5)

  

  Best rowing machine on the market

  The E-520 is the best rowing machine on the market. I have recently purchased this machine. It was quite heavy and two of us were needed to carry this machine into the apartment. Setup for the machine was very easy, taking less than one hour to complete. All setup instructions in the manual were provided and the machine comes with all necessary tools for installation. The resistance is easily adjustable on the fly, and the Interactive Performance Monitor (the rowing computer) allows for pacing programs as well as interval training. The resistance is immediate throughout the entire rowing stroke and there are no dead spots, which can be found on air rowing machines. It is very quiet and the rowing belt is very sturdy and made of nylon (seatbelt material). The foot straps were very thick and firm and were easily adjustable. The machine needs very little maintenance except for putting chlorine tablets and blue dye into the water tank (both included with the rower). The rowing... 5/5 Mark (Wyncote, PA United States) - See all my reviews This review is from: First Degree Fitness Evolution Series E-520 Fluid Professional Rower (Sports) The E-520 is the best rowing machine on the market. I have recently purchased this machine. It was quite heavy and two of us were needed to carry this machine into the apartment. Setup for the machine was very easy, taking less than one hour to complete. All setup instructions in the manual were provided and the machine comes with all necessary tools for installation. The resistance is easily adjustable on the fly, and the Interactive Performance Monitor (the rowing computer) allows for pacing programs as well as interval training. The resistance is immediate throughout the entire rowing stroke and there are no dead spots, which can be found on air rowing machines. It is very quiet and the rowing belt is very sturdy and made of nylon (seatbelt material). The foot straps were very thick and firm and were easily adjustable. The machine needs very little maintenance except for putting chlorine tablets and blue dye into the water tank (both included with the rower). The rowing... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , May 17, 2010

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  Smooth and quiet

  Usually when I travel I dread the types of "rowing machines" that are in hotels and clubs. My gold standard for ergs has been the Concept II. I was recently away for a week and worked out on the Fluid E-520. What a pleasant surprise! The Fluid is heavy (meaning sturdy) and very quiet. It's like rowing next to a washing machine, in a nice way. You can listen to music and TV at normal volume. No way with a C-II.The action is very much like being on the water. There is no slip at the catch, and more of a feel of momentum at the finish. It was easy to do long pieces. A wide range of adjustable resistance. Good meter with comparable splits to the C-II.This will be my next erg purchase. 5/5 R. Wright (Deep South, USA) - See all my reviews, September 29, 2011

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  Ok Rower Very Poor Customer Service

  The First Degree Fitness E-520 rower is ok if you want a soothing row with more pull than push. I just don't feel much difference in the setting. This is not a rower to do speed on but you can go for a long ride. It just cannot get my heart rate as high as it would on the Concept 2 rower. I have both machines and of course I can never get my husband to use the E-520 because he needs a challenge and not just a smoothe ride. Whereas I enjoy using the E-520 when I want to go for a relaxing ride, the Concept 2 rower keeps me more focused and motivated.I honestly think they feel different and my husband feels the same. The one good thing is that you can use the E-520 rower every day for an hour or more without feeling beet. With the C2, an hour's rowing every day will exhaust me. I use it every other week with my indoor rowing software.Another thing is that whatever little service you get from the the customer support for the E-520 is very poor, while the C2 support stands high... 2/5 TeeTee - See all my reviews This review is from: First Degree Fitness Evolution Series E-520 Fluid Professional Rower (Sports) The First Degree Fitness E-520 rower is ok if you want a soothing row with more pull than push. I just don't feel much difference in the setting. This is not a rower to do speed on but you can go for a long ride. It just cannot get my heart rate as high as it would on the Concept 2 rower. I have both machines and of course I can never get my husband to use the E-520 because he needs a challenge and not just a smoothe ride. Whereas I enjoy using the E-520 when I want to go for a relaxing ride, the Concept 2 rower keeps me more focused and motivated.I honestly think they feel different and my husband feels the same. The one good thing is that you can use the E-520 rower every day for an hour or more without feeling beet. With the C2, an hour's rowing every day will exhaust me. I use it every other week with my indoor rowing software.Another thing is that whatever little service you get from the the customer support for the E-520 is very poor, while the C2 support stands high... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , April 27, 2012

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  List Price: $2,299.00
  Price: $2,189.00
  You Save: $110.00 (5%)

  Manufacturer Warranty: 10 Years Frame, 3 Years Polycarbonate Tank & Seals, 2 Years Mechanical & All Other Components

  World's Most Comfortable Seat at "Office Chair" Height

  20 Level Patented Variable Fluid Resistance

  Unmatched Durability - Virtually Maintenance Free

  Footprint: 75" x 28"

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  First Degree Fitness Pacific Challenge AR Fluid Rower - First Degree Fitness Fluid Rower - Wave Rower - WAVE

  Health and Beauty (First Degree Fitness)
  

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  First Degree Fitness Evolution Series E-216 Fluid Compact Light Commercial Rower

  Sports (First Degree Fitness)
  List Price: $1,599.00
  

  Authentic Water Rowing Motion!

  16 levels of resistance

  Footboard with heel cradles

  Commercial Quality Feel & Built!

  Ergo Correct Seat/Smooth Glide!

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  First Degree Fitness Evolution Series E-316 Fluid Compact Professional Rower

  Sports (First Degree Fitness)
  List Price: $1,899.00
  Price: $1,889.00
  You Save: $10.00 (1%)

  Direct Drive System (Patent Applied)

  Extended Transport Wheels For Ease of Movement

  Manufacturer Warranty: 10 Years Frame, 3 Years Tank & Seals, 2 Years Wear Items & 1 Year All Other

  16 Levels of Patented Variable Fluid Resistance

  Dyneema® Cable - No Chains, No Lubrication

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