I had one of these. When the piston gets hot (about 15min in), the resistance goes away. After about 3 months of daily use, the resistance disappeared entirely, so I got a "proper" machine. But it gave me the habit of getting up and working out every day, 15 lbs of weight loss, and the cardio health to keep going. For that reason, I will always love it.
Same. I actually still have this machine and I use it regularly. I also have an older two hand pistol rower i picked up at a fleamarket. I havent been able to get a concept 2 cuz they overprice. For the price of 1 of those i can get 5 of these amazon ones. But i have gone to the gym n try the concept 2 n have done pretty good on there. This cheap machine helped me get back into fitness slowly n helping me recover from injury for me it fits its purposes. Also i notice that abt the resistance i no longer have a 12 level of resistances. I go with u gotta do what i can into u can do better then u do better!!! 💪
Same. I’ve had it for 2 weeks, and I like the workout it gives me. I “row” 4 days a week for 30 minutes, and you’re right, the piston gets super hot! I have to keep cranking the resistance up throughout the workout because if that. The best thing about this machine is that it’s made me fall in love with the act of rowing, which led me here as I research new rowers. 🚣♀️🚣♀️🚣♀️
You’d be right there. I have this machine, and at 5’ 4” with no aspirations to become an olympian rower, it suits my purposes to a T. It’s a light workout with muscle toning in mind.
I have had this machine for about 3 months and bought it for CAD 140. Unless you are 6'8'', you should be good. I am 6 feet tall and this is perfect for me. The built quality so far is good, for the price I paid, I won't be whiney as long as it does its job. I live in an apartment and I do not have enough space for anything larger than this. This sits perfectly in my living area and can be folded and put aside if I have any guests visiting. I think the gentleman should have titled it "This is the CHEAPEST Rower - Worth it if you are taller than 6'1''?" This machine has helped me get an exercise routine as I work from home all week and having this is very convenient. For the people who are looking for a very cheap rowing machine that works, go for it.
Can you get your heart rate above 150 pretty easily with this rower? How high can you get your heart rate? Does it get you really out of breath on max resistance?
@@bmp713 @Brandon it has 1-12 resistance settings. If I do this for 30 minutes on max, I am out of breath and sweat easily. I have never checked my heartrate after or during the rowing so I don't know. For already fit people, 30 minutes on max setting may not be enough, I think that this machine is for beginners who just want a cheap way to workout at home and don't have lot of room to keep a bigger machine. I live in an apartment so this is the perfect size to keep and move when I have any guests. If space is not a problem and you are not a beginner, go for the bigger model from same company. The OP of this video has a review for that on his channel.
If you still have this machine, i'd be interesting if you could try to remove the rubber stop on the seat's back/rear position. Should allow you to stretch your legs fully. And in you know someone with a welder, have the arm extended by 4-6 in, so you can do a full stroke. Just to know how you'd like it, if it fits you. I know it's still kinda crap, but it's compact and silent. 2 big factors when you live in a small apartment..... It would still be a lot better that having zero concept2 rowers, right...??? Like the used to say about cameras: The best camera, is the one you have with you.... Likewise, I'd argue that the best rower is the one you can afford and have room for. Not the fancy one still sitting in Amazons warehouse...
Just to put this review in perspective,,, I'm a 5' 6" woman (with 'normal' size 8 foot lol) and I'm loving this machine and I use it more like a weight training machine (using slower motion at higher tension setting) than for cardio (faster motion at lower tension). Besides being super quiet, I found I got an incredible workout (my leg and butt muscles were sore after the first short tryout),,, especially if engaging my core muscles. The tension adjuster is also easy to reach from a sitting position so no need to get up to change it. While it may not be a 'pro' machine with a digital meter which calculates your full range of motion, most of us don't need or use that, as it's clear without it if we're getting that. Oh,, and to RESET the digital meter, just hold down that big red button for a couple of seconds. Easy, peasy :)
Thank u for this review lady. I was thrown off a bit about his review but one thing I noticed is he is rather tall. Which does matter. My machine is supposed to be here Tuesday so ...im hoping for ur success.
I am 68 and quite out of shape from years of letting a bad back heal. I just want to GET ME MOVING, engage as many muscles as possible in ONE exercise, not take up a lot of space and something that someone on social security can afford. I USED to be 5'6" so this is VERY HELPFUL to let me know that it is probably the EXACT MACHINE that someone like ME needs ;-D
Can you get your heart rate above 150 pretty easily with this rower? How high can you get your heart rate? Does it get you really out of breath on max resistance?
So this is pretty much a BS video since he's too big for the machine. What he should've done was gotten a smaller assistant To truly demonstrate the machine
Not all of us are top form athletes. I am a 60 year old female, I use this machine in 30 minute clips at a high resistance. (no piston problems) It gets my heart ticking (cardio) and compliments my vertical leg press and olympic bar. This is an essential part of my home gym even though I don't get a "full stroke", I feel great afterwards! I love this cheapo!
I love this cheapo too. 😅 This will just be an experiment for me so I definitely don't want a big expensive one. & if I like it & keep liking it, I'll slowly get fancier & fancier one's but for now I just need this cute little thing. ☺️
A person your size would not normally use this machine. Show the steps with a woman about 5’ 5” weighing about 130 lb. I bought one of these and so far I’m loving it. With your size, you just make it look ridiculous.
Agreed! I'm 5' 1" 175 and I think this would work just fine for me (just finished setting it up and got it for a steal @ $26). I read plenty of reviews on Amazon before getting it and I think for the price I paid it'll work just fine for getting some sort of workout in once a day
@@melanifaith I am 5’5” & love it. I have been using it for about five months. It actually provides a decent workout & has assisted with me losing weight.
I love this cheapo. It does the job and doesn't cost the earth. I'm 6ft and find it ok. The resistance does go a bit but it's hydraulic and hydraulic things need attention from time to time and re-oiling is one of those jobs you keep on top of.
@@bmp713 Yes I could straighten my legs all the way. The resistance wasn't very good on mine but I think i was just unlucky and got a dodgy machine. Evenso saying that, If I go on it for 30 mins then yes I'm out of breath and sweating. Using this machine and cutting out certain foods and eating bananas instead of having crsips etc I managed to lose 3 stone in 3 months.
@@bmp713 I kept some foam from packaging and put that under the back and front stands. It was really quiet and didn't disturb anyone in our house. If you can't get foam I suggest you try cardboard.
Can you get your heart rate above 150 pretty easily with this rower? How high can you get your heart rate? Does it get you really out of breath on max resistance?
...i'm 5-10 and this has been a great find ...only around $85 and works great ...sure spend more if you can but for this price it is very solid and a good workout...plus good size for my condo
Can you get your heart rate above 150 pretty easily with this rower? How high can you get your heart rate? Does it get you really out of breath on max resistance?
I would love to see a video done on this machine with a person who is shorter and a better fit for this rower...Its very obvious its not going to work for someone tall like you are...Its a cheap rower but might work for a senior or shorter person whose not into fitness like you are... I realize it doesnt have the bells and whistle like the more expensive but would it work for someone who is not into fitness but just want some movement for senoirs whose not active..
Im 1,90m and my girlfriend bought it. I love this little thing for short sessions and warmup. If you don't have space, its great to do something in a short time, maybe while watching news on TV. For me it is worth the money. Better than doing nothing.👍
I think this is a great starter rower for normal sized noobs. I am a normal sized noob. I paid $50 for it I have always wanted a rowing machine, but can't afford a nice one. I would recommend it for beginners of normal size. 😁
@bmp713 my partner is 6 ft and they are pretty cramped on it. If you can afford a better machine I'd do that. Unless you can get it cheap like I did. Hope that helps you 😊
@BynieBani Sunny is one of the top brands in rowing machines. If you go on their website, you'll see they have several rowers that have the same quality and features of the Concept 2, depending on your budget.
pelleper “Same quality” might be an overstatement. I’ll tell you the model I have has a very basic display monitor. I have seen others with details similar to a concept 2 on the Sunny website
@@420Bassist The pm5 isn't a technical wonder but it works. It's the overall quality that is hard to beat. It's the most popular rower in competition, that says a lot.
Separating out the specific parts and tools for each of the seven step assembly process steps was brilliant on the part of the manufacturer. For the price, I am impressed at how sturdy this ru-vid.comUgkxvObaTzoHoHQLL4lHbJQmExHqsrZQm-f7 unit is and it does go together easily. Well, I was puzzled at first at Step 5 and maybe the instructions should mention that rail #62 needs to be tilted upwards a little to get the rail to fit into the main part #44. I like it that the rower can be stored vertically in a really small amount of space, but be forewarned that this rower is top heavy and for safety you'll need at least two bungee cords to keep the unit upright, attaching them to something; in my case to a third garage door. I have had this unit only a short time, and I will post an update once I've had it for a year. As for working your legs, I have to admit that I'm mainly rowing for upper body strength and I use other forms of exercise for leg strength (like walking fast, biking, or using a trampoline. But if you pull as far forward as possible, then you can give preference to your legs for the first 4 feet or so of travel. I also admit to not taking the two electronic connectors apart at Step 7. I simply inserted the two batteries while the other parts remained connected. By the way, there is plenty of resistance here, even in the lowest resistance settings. Kudos to Sunny Health & Fitness !
Well, I’m 5’7” I guess it could work for me. I want to get a Concept but let be honest, I’ve never worked out on my life, owned treadmills, bikes, etc and ended giving all of them away 🙄 so I prefer to spend $100 on this and see if it works for me. Then I’ll upgrade. 😹🤞🏻
I think you have the right idea! This machine is goodnuff’ for people like us and if we surprise ourselves and really become fitness buffs, then we can upgrade.
I considered lower end rowers before I decided to go for the concept 2, but all over the internet id encounter reviews for the cheaper rowers saying they were poorly made or that they broke quickly, and just get the concept 2 instead. Its a lot of money, but the concept 2 is the whole package, great build quality, excellent monitor with loads of useful metrics. There is a reason professional athletes use it, its the best.
What about for a 40 year old 5’4” 180 lb non athletic woman who just needs to move and knees can’t handle a treadmill too much but also needs resistance training at home?
This is a fine machine for the price,its about managing expectations.What do you expect for 80 bucks ? Most of the complaints here are due to this guys height. I'm 6'1" and it fits me pretty well. and the thing i like most is that unlike any other rower i can stand it up and stick it in a corner. am i going to replace it eventually with something "nicer"? yes. but for the time being and for the price, it gets the job done.
I think it's good for maintenance fitness for shorter people. I also believe it's for 20min max sessions as the hydraulic gets hot. I would recommend this for people who just want to do a little cardio and low impact fitness. It's not for athletes. Just the average Jo on a budget.
Can you get your heart rate above 150 pretty easily with this rower? How high can you get your heart rate? Does it get you really out of breath on max resistance?
Ok so some of you may laugh at me and what not. I bought that same machine few years back and i still use it. That machine was made for a beginner and for most 5'5 of height. They have another one that the back piece extends out for people slightly taller. For a beginner it does help at least to build up go a routine or get basically ideas for it. The thing abt the seat 100% truth the fabric did rip and teared up at the bottom after 2months of using it. I still have it and i still use it on n off. The concept 2 is a very wonderful machine n yes top of the line but it's also hell of expensive it's only minor flaw is the amount of $.
Thanks, Vanessa! Again, your info gives me courage that this machine would be fine for a beginner and someone who may never get beyond that beginner point, considering my age and health limitations. ;-D
@@vanessa8282vr I got one at about 50% more in cost but still affordable. It is PERFECT for those of us who just need to MOVE a little more than what we have been doing! And the one we got is long enough that my 6'3" tall son can use it, also. ;-D
You too big for the machine. The rower is for normal sizes people. It is not meant to compete with the Concept 2 but if you need to get a good 15 to 20 min workout in your daily routine, this inexpensive rower can work. If your into high end rowing the $1400 concept 2 if not. $ 79 may be a good deal
Can you get your heart rate above 150 pretty easily with this rower? How high can you get your heart rate? Does it get you really out of breath on max resistance?
I recently trash picked this machine BY (not IN) a dumpster. I believe this is a beginner machine which suits me fine, especially since I’m a foot shorter than this guy(5 foot eight). My machine appears to have been little used and it works fine. What I like about it is that it keeps track of the “total count” of repetitions since the machine was new. That’s like a car odometer keeping track of every single mile since the car was new. I like that! To reset, hold the red button until you see all zeros. But does anybody know what the “scan” function is about?
Can you get your heart rate above 150 pretty easily with this rower? How high can you get your heart rate? Does it get you really out of breath on max resistance?
I think you should review something for someone 6'8" and nothing something for average height people. "Normal" size people will find this machine perfect.
Dear Austin, thanks for this review. It confirms my conclusion that the Concept 2 is the most elegant piece of training equipment available -- and pound-for-pound, one of the least expensive.
What did you do with it after the video? Did you throw it in the dumpster, sell it, or just keep it? Lol. I did think about getting one of those, but it seems like even if you're the right size you wouldn't be able to do the proper row technique due to the way the handle bar moves. So I've just now ended up buying an Opti Magnetic Rowing Machine for £230. It'll arrive tomorrow so I'm pretty excited about it. While still not the best rowing machine you can buy, hopefully it should be good enough for me as I just want to start doing cardio, I'll probably get a cross trainer as well for the variation. Already got some free weights and a bench for building strength and muscle, so it looks like I'll end up with a mini gym once I've got a rowing machine and a cross trainer too. :)
Austin - the most entertaining yet honest informative video on RU-vid! The best advice though is you don’t have to sell a kidney to buy a brand new rower - I kept scanning eBay and after a few months got a brilliant Concept2 E at a very low price. In 2.5 years I’ve done 1300KM without it missing a beat (just give it some tlc maintenance) 😎
I'm 6' and I agree most exercise machines and life in general I.e. motorcycles,cars,beds are made for people 5'8. I even have to modify everything to fit me. Let alone 6'8! I stand up all day at work so sitting and rowing sounds fun! I bet if you cut this and lengthen it with square tubing it would be a cool machine!
Thanks for this review. I had a hard time finding a rowing machine that would fit my apartment and weight. I had a budget for the Concept2 but literally not enough space in my apartment. Being a single Mom of a 18 month old and working full time does not allow for gym time so I needed something I could do at home. I had about 5 feet available (I'm only 5'9" so the length works for me) and weigh over 250 lbs. I settled on the Sunny Health RW5639 full motion rowing machine. I know it's not the best (I still have my eye on the Concept2) but it is the best fit for my life right now and I will upgrade when I'm able. Any chance you could review the full motion? Thanks again for your content, you were a big part of my starting rowing in the first place! 🙂
@@Breadbored. Yes, it works pretty well for me. You're right, it's better than no machine and I needed to do something. I'm not a professional rower or fitness buff, just an overweight Mom who needed to start moving her ass. It gives me a better work out than making excuses about why I wasn't exercising. 😉 I still plan on upgrading to the Concept2 at some point. I know it's the best. 🙂
J H, Glad you are able to get some use out of this machine, but any rower that does not have a mechanism for storing momentum (such as the flywheel of the Concept II or the water in a WaterRower) is going to be torturous to use on a consistent long term basis. The difference between this and a real rowing machine is like night and day. Also, note, the Concept II will stand up on its end, so only requires about 3'x2' of floor space for storage (to be fair, you will need about 2'x8' when in use).
@@rowhsv Hi there and thanks. I don't have this machine. I have a RW5639 full motion (see original comment). I researched all row machines and wanted to get the Concept2 but I took a tape measure to my tiny apartment and there is not a room where I can use it. Use, not store. I am not trying to be a rower, I am just trying to move in a way that does not cause stress and pain to my joints so that I can stick with moving. As I said, I agree that the Concept2 is the best and will eventually get one when I have a larger living space. Thanks again, the passion that Concept2 owners have for their machine just confirms my plan to move in that direction. 🙂
Hi, thanks for all the nice informal videos. Have you made any tests of "low priced" machines that actually are worth their money? Wish I could afford a Concept, but even used they're too pricey for me. I've been scanning the internet, but it's a jungle out there - and finding a place to try just some out is impossible.
I thought real hard about this back when I was picking out my first rowing machine... I'm glad I went with the concept2, even though it's 15x the price.
Being 5'8 and 175 pounds, and I no longer enjoy gyms, I use this as part of my home gym circuit workout for 10 minutes along with my weight bench and elliptical. For my height and weight it fits my home needs after a long work day of sitting at a desk.
Can you get your heart rate above 150 pretty easily with this rower? How high can you get your heart rate? Does it get you really out of breath on max resistance?
I often disagree with people when they say " it's better than nothing," and I think this is an example where that is true. I'd rather wait and save, or buy a used Concept 2; quality usually ends up being cheaper in the long run as well. Since I've owned one for several trouble free years, that's not a concern though.
@@christopherjackson3455 Yes, you're right, it has to allow you to use proper technique at least. The only other thing though is, if it's like bicycles, there is a certain minimum price point where it goes from a piece of crap that is difficult to work on, to something that not only is more fun to ride, but will last a lifetime. Of course the difference between a $250 bike to a $1500 bike is greater than the difference between a $4,000 bike and a $10,000 bike.
I guess, from my personal point of view/experience, that two of the most valuable and affordable "at home" rowing machines are the V-Fit Tornado and its previous version, Artemis. At least here in Europe, they've bene Amazon's choice for quite sometime and a sure hit on the UK market.. give It a try! I got myself a "Tornado" and it's overall pretty good, although a guy as tall as you, would still have some "issue" on it. Cheers 👍
Can you get your heart rate above 150 pretty easily with this rower? How high can you get your heart rate? Does it get you really out of breath on max resistance?
I'm using the bodymax r70i rowing machine, I find it fantastic and people have reviewed commenting that the level 1 resistance is equal to a level 4-5 on concept, it has 16 levels of magnetic and air resistance and a price of 429-500£, I would love an honest opinion though as I'm fairly new to rowing and can have the resistance on a 7 fairly comfortably however my resting heart as always been good in the 40s bpm so I'd say I'm fairly fit would just like the comparison to the concept :)
This looks really stiff und kinda uncomfortable. Even the "rowing" is ... whatever it is ^^. I use the Concept 2 and it is just perfect. It is waaay more expensive, but it is totally worth it.
Hey Austin, that was a pretty diplomatic review, all things considered. I would like to see you review the Hydrow. From what I can tell it's more of a subscription deal, but I wonder how the machine feels.
I’m interested in the Schwinn for my other space. Can’t tell if the forward position is made for short arms like Water Rower. Nothing beats my Concept2.
No, sorry. I’m sure this rower is not for you...dude, you’re 6 foot 8 inches. Just as I wouldn’t consider your review of a Toyota Corolla, I can’t use this review.
That video is amazing, man, thanks. I'd like to see more of this until we find the best price/performance machine on Amazon. As a person who is intended to buy his own machine, but can't really spend four-digits, this will be amazingly helpful.
Hello, you have really got me interested in rowing and I have decided to get one for home. I have you & many folks saying get the Concept2, but do you have any experience with the Pro-Form 750R? They offer a great program of $39 a month membership to their fitness program and after 3 years ($1404) you own the rower. I like the idea of the interactive videos Pro-Form offers. Any comments would be grateful.
What do you think about the cheap water rowers on alibaba? They sell for $200-$300. They look like they're quality, but I also don't have much experience rowing.
Hey Austin! Short & amateur here! Your videos have come very handy =] I'd like to know your opinion on the SF-RW5622 Magnetic Rowing Machine by Sunny Health & Fitness Have a good one! ;)
OK I'll bite .... but l wont chew. Hard to swallow seeing you on this rower .... A honest review indeed. Glad there are other options. Long Live the Concept. Still enjoy learning from your other training videos , well done Training Tall.
I'm curious what you think of the Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050. It's also a "bargain" buy at $120. I assume it would be similar to this one. Curious what you think of the independent row arms on a machine in general. Thanks.