Customer Reviews

Fitness Quest Integrity 3000 Air Rower

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Hi! I'll try to make this short, sweet, and to the point.

Why I Bought it
I like to workout about 4-5 days a week, but I live in LA and it's sometimes hard to get to the gym if I work late or if there's traffic. Also, my neighborhood is not so nice, so I prefer to avoid jogging at night. Enter the Fitness Quest Integrity 3000 Air Rower.

Assembly
If you can assemble Ikea furniture or a coffee table from Walmart, then you can assemble the rower. You put in about 4 pins, and then hook a strap from the rower to a bungie cord under the seat. Finito. As far as tools go (despite what the instructions say) all you need is two wrenches. Use a socket wrench (about $10 at Target or Walmart) and you'll be done even faster.

Quality
The rower is of surprisingly good quality for the price. It's made of a two piece aluminum frame and feels sturdy. At first, I was a little skeptical about the chain connecting the rower handle, because it looks really small and cheap-o. But, after a 30 minutes of hard rowing, I could tell that the chain was more than adequate. One reviewer on the Target website said that the chain exploded into a million pieces while she was rowing. Maybe she had a faulty chain; who knows. All I know is that I can row 150 pounds on the weight stack at the gym, but there's no way I could shatter that chain simply by rowing. As a stress test, I even rowed as hard as I possibly could, and the rower was fine.

Performance
The performance of this thing is really great. The resistance level and smoothness is as good as the cardio rower I use at the gym. This is an air rower, so the resistance increases the harder you pull. Additionally, you can increase the resistance by wrapping the tension strap around its base one time before connecting it to the cord under the seat. The seat slides very easily, and the foot pads swivel to allow your ankles a little more freedom to move. Also, the rower folds vertically for easy storage. When it's folded, the rower is about 4 feet tall and takes up about 2 square feet of floor space. It easily fits in a closet or in the corner. Although, it's too wide to fit under a bed.

Value
Great value. My buddy has a rower that costs twice as much, and the difference is hardly noticeable. The performance is great, and if you buy the Amazon item you get it tax-free and with free super saver shipping. I looked at a couple of other rowers (mainly piston rowers) and nothing even came close to this level of quality and performance for the price.

Issues
The only negative thing I can say is that it is a little noisy; even for an air rower. (For those of you who have never used an air rower, the resistance is created by a big fan which makes a "whoosh, whoosh" sound when you row.) The noise isn't terrible, but it prevents you from hearing the TV or radio clearly... even with ear phones.

Summary
So all in all, I think that this is a fantastic value. The quality is great, and the performance is fantastic. I highly recommend this product.

Let me start out by saying that this rower is not perfect. It is, in fact, flawed. As you may have noticed, I still gave it a five star rating and I will try to explain the reasons for doing so.

Reading the reviews here, I noticed two complaints: One pointing out that this machine doesn't perform to the same standards that professional gym rowers do and the other regarding assembly of this machine.

I researched the various rowers available in the market for quite a while. I spent a lot of time and effort driving around and trying various models before purchasing this one simply because I tend to be an informed shopper who wants to get value for his money. During my research, it became very evident that my favorite rower is a Water Rower followed by Schwinn's WindRigger - both were extremely smooth in their operation. Both were also about $1000! At any rate, these sophisticated rowers gave me a benchmark against which to compare the Integrity and it should surprise nobody that the Integrity doesn't really come close to the performance of either of the other two rowers. And it shouldn't, given it substantially lower price.

And this is exactly what it important in considering this rower: You cannot expect to get a professional-grade rower for such a low price just like you cannot expect to get the comfort and performance of a Rolls Royce if you are buying a Honda. Nonetheless, what you DO get from Integrity is well within the parameters of what I would expect for about $200.

The machine is reasonably stable, it is reasonably smooth, and it does provide a great workout. The noise level is also not too bad and actually seems less than that of the WindRigger. The electric monitor is basic and provides speed, time, calories burned, and distance. It also provides an option that continuously cycles through all these functions so you cant track all of them during your workout. The seat is comfortable and slides smoothly along the track and the whole thing actually has a pretty professional look to it and doesn't appear flimsy. I was also quite surprised by the level of resistance this rower provides - it is much more than that of the Schwinn WindRigger. In addition, resistance can be adjusted pretty easily.

I think my only disappointment is that the air-flow created during operation is not channeled toward the person using the machine to aid in cooling him/her down - but this is certainly a flaw I can live with. As a potential buyer you should also be aware that the rower tends to slide across smooth surfaces such as tile - which means you need to have a non-slip mat under it if you intend to use it on such a surface.

As I said before, I also read that at least one person had a problem assembling this rower. I cannot confirm this problem. Assembly was extremely easy and quick - even though the instructions are not the greatest. However, it should be quite clear to most people where parts go and what needs to be hooked up where. Winding up the chain onto the gear wheel is a breeze, too. All you need to do is unhook it from the retracting cord that you hooked it up to one or two steps before. I suppose the person who wrote the instructions could have switched these steps to make it more logical - but as I said, the instructions are not great.

Taking all these factors into account, I think Integrity provides a fantastic product for a very low price. It does exactly what it is supposed to do and it does so in a surprisingly good manner. However, as with any product, your expectations should be realistic and if they are, you will not be disappointed. If you expect a gym-quality machine - you will not get what you are looking for. If, however, you are looking for a basic functional rower without all the bells and whistles of high-end products, then this is probably the best deal you can get.

Just got this in Dec. assembly wasn't difficult although instructions were less than clear. Very light weight (slides all over a hardwood floor without tethering or non-slip pad). Works good with a nice smooth motion. There is no tension adjustment, just the fan resistance and the digital readout is rudimentary at best. With rowing machines you really do get what you pay for and this machine is the best one I have run across under $300. Folds up (which is a bit more complicated than it could be) for storage. It is a bit louder than some others but not really loud, just the fan noise with each pull. Great exercise, despite slightly light resistance for me I can get a decent cardio workout in less than an hour with the machine.

...but a part broke and I went to order a replacement part <which you can only get from the company directly> and it has been over three months. All they say is "sorry, it will ship some day". That is a big help. Worst customer service for a company I have ever dealt with. Great machine unless you need to deal with the company.

Hope this helps.

This review ended up being reeeeally long, but I hope it helps you with your decision!

I purchased the Integrity 3000 Air Rower about a week ago. I wanted a low-impact machine that would be forgiving to my knees, but without spending a bunch of money on an elliptical machine. I chose the Integrity 3000 over the identically priced Stamina 1205 Precision Rower based on reviews stating the pistons on the Stamina model started leaking. I figure the fewer working parts that could break (chain + fan versus oil-filled pistons), the better. I also like the fact that the Integrity allows for more range of arm motion with the horizontal bar, rather than two separate "oars" on the Stamina, but that's a personal choice. I'm very satisfied with my purchase so far. I consider it $200 well spent!

Assembly
The rowing machine arrived in fine condition and I was able to assemble it within about 45 minutes. As other reviewers have noted, the directions are not very clear. In a few places the diagrams don't exactly match the parts, but when I got stuck I was able to figure it out by looking at a real picture of the assembled machine on Amazon. I also kept thinking I was missing bolts/screws since there were only three in the packaging, but all the pieces of hardware mentioned in the directions were included---they were just already on the machine. Several steps included taking the bolts/screws off an already assembled part of the machine and reattaching them in order to complete an assembly step, and this was not explained at all in the directions. So if you think you're missing hardware, check again before you call customer service! I had no problem attaching the chain to the bungee cord, though it did require flipping the machine onto its side so I could see what I was doing.

Noise Level
This rowing machine is moderately noisy. The sound of the fan isn't bad at all; it's the chain that makes the most noise. When the chain comes into contact with the gear in the front (which turns the fan), it makes a slight grinding sound. I do have to turn my TV up when I'm on the rower, so this might not be so great for apartment dwellers if you like to watch something while you're working out. The noise from the machine itself wouldn't be enough to bother anyone, though.

Comfort
The seat and foot pedals are comfortable and the seat glides very smoothly. I had no problem with slippage when wearing sneakers. The only uncomfortable part of the workout is my hands! After a while, my hands really start hurting due to the pressure from the pull bar. It isn't padded much--there's just a thin strip of foam over the metal bar. I'm going to invest in some weight-lifting gloves and may try wrapping the bar with something (bike handlebar tape maybe?) to provide additional padding. Other than that, the working is quite comfortable. I am 5'3", so I'm not sure how the machine would be for a taller person. My floor is carpeted so the machine doesn't slide at all when in use. On a hardwood floor you'd need a rubber mat.

Storage/Portability
Storage is easy enough, as long as you're not trying to fit the rower under a bed or squeeze it into a closet. I guess you could fold down some of the parts, but I wouldn't want to try it for fear of messing up the chain. That said, the rower is light enough to be pulled across the room from the place I store it to the open spot on the floor where I use it. I think you could also lean it up against a wall with some finagling. There are wheels on the front stabilizer, and you can kind of tilt it forward to wheel it away. Two people could easily lift the whole thing and move it if you're worried about scratching your floor.

On Board Computer
The little computer is bare bones, which is fine with me. It came with batteries. The timer function works well and actually pauses when you do--very nice when you need to take a sip of water or change the channel on the TV. I haven't really paid attention to the other functions (distance, speed, and calories burned). The calorie monitor is unbelievably inaccurate. Don't bother relying on it, unless you want to believe you burned 500 calories in 20 minutes! Get a heart rate monitor with a calorie counter that considers your gender, height, and weight.

The Workout
Working out on this rower is a nice mix of cardio and strength training. I try to vary my workouts (jogging, circuit training, step aerobics, etc.) so this is another great way to keep cardio exercise interesting. However, the workout itself is not very aerobically challenging. I wore my heart rate monitor and had to REALLY concentrate to keep my heart rate above 125, which is the very bottom of my range. A 20 minute workout burned about 135 calories, whereas the same 20 minutes spend on the treadmill would burn 200+. It does work a wide range of muscle groups though, and that's a big plus. My arms and back were tired after the first time I used the rower! If you're not familiar with using a rowing machine, there are some helpful videos showing proper form on YouTube.

Rowing Machine versus Other Cardio Equipment
If this is going to be your only piece of cardio equipment, and your goal is to burn calories and keep your heart rate elevated, I would look into a treadmill or stationary bicycle before buying a rowing machine. Likewise if you're looking to duplicate the actual experience of rowing outside, look elsewhere--this is not a fancy machine. But if you're looking for an affordable way to diversify your exercise routine and get a full-body workout, this is a great piece of equipment.

Durability
I don't know about durability since I've only had it a week. But it does seem to be a very sturdy machine, especially considering how light it is. I'll try to remember to come back and update this review after a few months of use.

So, to sum up:

Pros:
-reasonable price
-sturdy construction
-quick assembly
-comfortable
-lightweight for easy storage
-good mixture of cardio/strength workout

Cons:
-assembly directions aren't very clear
-moderately noisy
-pull bar may irritate your hands
-calorie monitor is useless
-not as aerobically challenging as other types of cardio equipment

This is not the fault of Amazon or even the product. I wasused to a gym quality rower (conceptII) which allows a lot of resistance. The Integrity 3000 allows for hardly any resistance. I am in the process of sending it back. The machine itself was good but did not offer enough of a challenge. An expensive lesson.

It's relatively easy to assemble, although I did smash my finger pretty good while attaching the elastic cord. The resistance is not great, even if you pull really hard, so it does take longer to "feel the burn" with this rower compared to others. BUT, it is only $200, and you CAN get a good workout if you put a little extra time in.

As someone who was recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, fitness has become a big issue for me. This machine has come to my rescue. Aside from being difficult to assemble and having a 250 lbs weight limit, it's great. Great to do in front of the television, rowing combines both aerobic and anaerobic excercise-aerobic to lose weight and anaerobic to build muscle. While at first glance, it may seem to be more upper body than lower, 80% of the work in rowing is the legs.

So, if you're looking for solid low impact excerise you can do in front of the TV and you weigh less than 250 lbs, then this is the machine for you.

The rower is great for fitness, but unfortunately I was looking for a rower that would also serve as an off-season rowing trainer. When you come up the slide on this machine and are in full reach, my hands actually can reach beyond the wheel. I can't be sure, but I suspect most adults would exceed the wheel when completely up the slide. To be on the safe side, I'm 5 foot 11 inches. In any case, if I can't extend my reach to the maximum length, it doesn't serve the purpose of a real trainer (or erg). In fairness to the machine, I knew going in that high quality erg would cost way more, but I took a shot. If you are not a rower and just want a fitness machine, this is a nice unit. The slide is smooth and the resistance is consistent. I would disagree with an earlier posting in that it is a quiet machine, but my assessment is based on comparison with bigger ergs that you might find at a gym.

I used a rower at the gym at my college and always wanted one, but was never willing to spend the money for one of the expensive ones. I am not that much of an exerciser! I was also nervous about purchasing one online that I could not physically see and test out. Unfortunately, there are no stores that carry rowers actually in the store. I saw this one and decided the price was awesome, it was free shipping through amazon, and I was going to take the chance.

The rower arrived well before the scheduled arrival time to my surprise and delight. And I was pleased that it required very little assembly. The only challenge we faced in assembling it was the chain. It took myself and my husband about 5-10 minutes to assemble the rower, and another 20-25 to get the chain on. It also came with this handy little do it all tool to help assemble it.

I have used this rower for about 6-7 weeks, 20 minutes a day, 3-4 days a week, and have noticed my arms and legs becoming more toned. The rower is easy to use, the seat glides smoothly, the pivoting footrests are great, and the monitor provides as much info as I would need. (It would be nice to have the number of strokes tallied, but it's not a big deal!) I have a hard time agreeing that it is noisy. It is like white noise, that you barely hear and if anything could be soothing. Put a radio on a normal volume and you wouldn't even notcie th noise from the fan. The fan creates a little bit of a breeze which is nice, and becuase I use this in my basement, on a cement floor, I have not needed mats of any kind to keep the rower from slipping. It has not moved once.

I have never had a problem while using the rower. The only problem I have found with it is the difficulty of getting the chain on. It was not on when it arrived, and I recently knocked it off the track while moving the rower. (I let the handlebar slip off the resting place and the chain dislodged.)

I think this rower is well worth the money for anyone looking for a different type of exercise. I have rated this rower with 4 stars instead of 5 only because I really have no idea if it is the "Best". I think it is for the price and for my needs. I would recommend it to anyone I know interested in a rowing machine.