BodyCraft VR100 Rowing Machine

by Bodycraft

• Sturdy rowing machine with 6 resistance levels (1 air resistance and 5 air and magnetic resistance)
• Contoured ergonomic seat glides along precision-bearing rollers to ensure smooth performance
• Aircraft-grade aluminum and steel frame; 44 inches of travel from pedals to accommodate different heights
• Adjustable (height and angle) console tracks your time, distance, strokes, calories burned, and heart rate
• Folds up for easy storage; measures 17 x 22 x 68 inches (W x H x D); lifetime frame warranty

Product Description

Amazon.com

Enjoy a serious upper body, core, and cardio workout in the comfort of your own home with the BodyCraft VR100 rowing machine. The VR100 is outfitted with a contoured ergonomic seat that glides along precision-bearing rollers to ensure a smooth rowing performance, along with an adjustable console (height and angle) that tracks your time, distance, strokes, calories burned, and heart rate. More importantly, the VR100 offers one level of air resistance and five levels of air and magnetic resistance, letting you vary your workout intensity depending on your goals. And when you're done with your workout, the VR100 folds up for easy storage in a 24-by-16-inch space.

Other details include a sturdy frame made of aircraft-grade aluminum and steel; a sealed urethane seat for durability; 44 inches of travel from the pedals to accommodate almost any user; a lightweight, rubber-coated aluminum handle; a heart-rate monitor receiver that works with an optional chest strap; and a weight capacity of 250 pounds. The VR100 measures 17 by 22 by 68 inches (W x H x D) and carries the following warranties: lifetime on the frame, one year on all other parts, and 90 days on the labor.

Product Description

The Bodycraft Fitness VR100 Rower Exercise Machine gives you all of the well-known cardiovascular benefits of a rowing workout and features a realistic rowing motion. The multifunctional fitness monitor keeps you motivated and on track to reach your fitness goals showing speed, distance, time, stroke count, and calories burned during your workout. The Bodycraft Fitness VR100 Rower Exercise Machine mimics the smooth motion of rowing on the water. The padded seat glides on a ball bearing roller system, and the rowing arms and grips keep hands stable and comfortable.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 68 x 17 x 22 inches ; 70 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 70 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00118B2AM
• Item model number: VR100
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #186,925 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #37 in Sports & Outdoors > Exercise & Fitness > Cardio Training > Rowers

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 61 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It works and looks like a much more expensive rower. January 23, 2007

By Gerardo Piero Pavone

After having purchased an inexpensive piston rower (which was not so bad,

by the way) I tried in a fitness shop some magnetic rowers and I found them much better. So I shopped around and I tried the Tunturi R30, The Kettler Coach, the Fitness Quest Integrity 3000, the Water Rower,the Lifecore R900, the Life Span and the Body Craft VR 100. I found that the Body Craft has the best value for money ratio. It is built very well, its ergonomics are handsome, the workout is fantastic, and the price is very acceptable.

I particularly like the position of the footpedals and of the handle-bar,

which I think is perfect.

It also looks like it is very durable and it will last forever. I am very much satisfied, and would recommend it to everyone looking for a classy rower at a very honest price.

76 of 86 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars I know I'm going against the grain, but it's really worthless August 14, 2009

By Rowist

Don't be fooled by its slick appearance: Whoever designed this machine has no clue about rowing.

To row the standard 2000m distance on the BodyCraft VR100 takes EXACTLY two hundred and twenty strokes. It does not matter if you take 220 long, powerful strokes or 220 stunted, one-foot strokes; the computer always displays 2 km. Nor is it responsive to resistance. 220 strokes at the highest resistance level gives you 2 km, as it does at the very lowest resistance level. Also, according to the computer, you burn .6 calories for every stroke; it does not matter if they are long and laborious or short and effortless. Clearly, the manufacturers installed a dummy computer to fool unwitting buyers - in no way does it measure power, like a real ergometer.

Thus, the exerciser has ALMOST NO CLUE about his performance and fitness. The computer is nothing more than a stroke counter and a clock. (The "stroke rate" indicator is fickle and nearly useless, and the "speed" is also made up. How can you measure speed without measuring power?)

What's left? A rolling seat with a handle. Perhaps this part of the unit could be worth, say, $300 - the construction looks solid. Some people can live without a computer, and just need something for a proper workout. But maddening quirks ensure the unit gives you nothing resembling an actual rowing experience. (Good indoor machines already have enough trouble in this regard.)

The foot braces: They swivel about and envelop the whole foot. On real boats and proper rowing machines, the feet are strapped onto a fixed plate. The strap holds down only the ball of the foot, allowing the heel to come up at the catch (when the rower is stretching forward, about to pull). Since the ball of the foot is fixed firmly to the boat, all the rower's energy flows into the boat when he begins the leg drive. On the BodyCraft, the entire foot pivots. How can you row with no fixed surface to push against?

The flywheel: It is mounted very close to the track, making it very easy to bump into at the catch. This is infuriating.

Resistance: The oars of a rowing shell at speed provide surprisingly little resistance - a high cadence is the key to going fast and getting a good cardio workout. Resistance on the BodyCraft is huge - only the bottom two resistance levels resemble anything like an actual boat, and poorly at that. Plus, a nearby electric fan was all it took to permanently increase the magnetic resistance on my VR100, making it even more useless.

Why waste $700 for this piece of junk? Buy a new or used Concept2.

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This rowing machine ROCKS! March 8, 2007

By T. Popper

Amazon Verified Purchase

I was/am a runner who constantly was sustaining leg injuries of one type or another. I finally yielded to the fact that I needed to seriously cross train and reduce my running. I decided to row, however I abhore having to spend tons of cash on exercise equipment to work out indoors when running is virtually free outside. I originally wanted to spend only a few hundred dollar so at least I could get my work outs in and see if I really liked rowing. After reading every review I could find, I decided that it may be in my best interest to spend more than a few hundred dollars. When I chose the Body Craft VR100 rower I figured that I would still be compromising quality since it was a mid-priced unit. I didn't want to listen to things click and clack, and have to tighten things that would loosen over time. Much to my amazement, this rower Rocks! It was really easy to put together, the parts are high quality, and the important thing is when you row you don't even think about the fact that you are on a machine. It's solid, steady, smooth, and a great workout. I use it 4-5 days a week for 45 mintues each time and have had it for about 1 month. It feels just as good as the day I bought it. If you are thinking about purchasing a rower, I highly recommend this one.