I received the package today at 2:09 pm. I ripped it out of the box and was momentarily confused. On first glance it looked almost entirely assembled. After ripping open the plastic, I noticed it needed 3 things- handle bar, connecting the arm to the hydraulic and releasing the back bar. It was such a simple operation. There was no crazy fluff with the packaging so clean up was a breeze. I immediately hopped on and was impressed. I went slowly and did 5 minutes in my living room. I then moved it outside, it is SO light. I can carry one handed if I wanted to. It fits nicely in the space I set aside. The monitor is incredibly easy to use and to watch while working out. I noticed some other reviews that said it was complicated. I'm not sure why someone would feel that way, maybe they have updated it since previous reviews? Either way, I was pleasantly surprised and had no issues. Now, onto the machine's resistance which seems to be a great debate among other reviewers... Once I moved it outside I adjusted the resistance level from 1 to 3 and did a full 15 minutes. I did experience some change in the resistance towards the end but I realized that I had shortened my strokes as I got faster. Once I corrected my form, the resistance was consistent. So to clarify, I did not experience a loss of resistance. However, how it stands up over time is still a debate. I did not go particularly fast but maintained a steady pace from beginning to end. Another point some reviewers brought up was size, I am 5'4 and 220 lbs. Yes, I'm fluffy lol I had no problems. The seat could use a bit more padding but once I moved forward a little I found the sweet spot. The one *potential* problem I've noticed is that the foot rests don't seem to be very sturdy. At one point I had to adjust my feet because I noticed the fronts were slightly bending the plastic back. Maybe they are meant to have some give? I'm not sure. They felt as if they will be the first thing that needs to be replaced down the road.
Highlights:
Value- 5
Size- 5
Weight- 5
Packaging- 5
Assembly- 5
Stability- 4.5
Resistance- 5
Performance- 5
Conclusion: Is this a gym quality machine? Nope. Is it functional, practical and worth buying? Yes. This is not something I would recommend to an Olympian but for the average person looking to burn a few calories while watching TV, this is the way to go.
Update as of 3/22/2020, When I wrote the first review, I weighed 220 lbs. I now weigh 154. I'm 14 lbs from my goal weight. The rower still works like a breeze. I use my treadmill and bike for heavy cardio but the rower is still a staple. It is amazing for cross training. The foot rests still haven't broken, so that is a plus 😂 Still no loss in resistance. Now that I am in better shape, I notice that if I go fast, I can actually slide it across my floor with the momentum. I put it on .5 inch gym flooring and have had no issue since.
My boyfriend who is 5'10, 180 lbs and a hardcore volleyball player is in love with this thing. According to him, it isn't a true rower but works on his muscular imbalances caused by playing one sport.
I've though about upgrading to a more advanced rower but who am I kidding? I'm not a professional and it still does what I purchased it for. No complaints.
On a side note, I made significant lifestyle changes to accomplish my weight loss. When I first started and couldn't walk more than 5 minutes at a time, this rower was a true challenge but I outgrew it about a month in and started regularly walking. I no longer use it every day, maybe 3-5 times a month for about 25-30 minutes.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 55.12 x 14.17 x 7.87 inches |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 11.7 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 54 x 20 x 23 inches |
| Item Weight | 20.9 Pounds |
| Brand Name | Sunny Health & Fitness |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Warranty Description | 1- Year Manufacturer Warranty |
| Model Name | SF-RW1205 |
| Color | Grey/black |
| Material | Alloy Steel |
| Suggested Users | Unisex-adult |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer | Sunny Health & Fitness |
| Part Number | SF-RW1205 |
| Model Year | 2019 |
| Style | SF-RW1205 |
| Included Components | Rower, User Manual, Tool, Hardware |
| Size | Standard |
