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WaterRower Natural Rowing Machine in Ash Wood with S4 Monitor

The WaterRower Natural is handcrafted from solid Ash wood, finished with a honey oak stain and danish oil. The WaterRower’s patented WaterFlywheel has been specifically designed to emulate the dynamics of a boat moving though water and is unsurpassed in its simulation of the physical and physiological benefits of rowing.

* Handcrafted rowing machine with “water flywheel” that replicates actual rowing feel
* Flywheel sits in enclosed water tank to provide smooth, quiet, self-regulated resistance
* Series 4 performance monitor tracks workout intensity, stroke rate, heart rate, and more
* Solid ash and stained honey oak construction absorbs sound and vibration
* Stores upright; measures 84 x 21 x 22 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 117 pounds

Reviews.

Wonderful piece of equipment,

I cannot believe no one else has reviewed this yet! I got mine more a year ago. I use it at least once a week (usually 2-3 times). Read online about the benefits of rowing—you get the cardio/aerobic plus the muscle toning, with no joint impact. A very, very nice combination. Despite some folks expressed concerns (at least folks tell me they worry), there are no back issues. This rower looks nice, feels great (love the water resistance!), and gets results. It is elegant and functional. Yes, it is a tad pricey. But hey, if you actually use it, you will get results, it is more than worth it. I live in a traffic congested area (Washington DC) and have no desire to fight traffic to get to the gym. For me, this is a perfect solution. Given the quality of this piece of equipment, I expect to be using it for years!

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an exceptional machine,

The waterrower is an excellent machine that is exceptionally designed and provides an outstanding workout. I have owned one for about 10 years, and my wife and I both use it regularly. In the entire time I’ve owned it, the only parts I’ve had to replace have been the monitor batteries and the double-sided tape that fastens the monitor wire brackets to the frame. I found the workout it provides to be deceptive at first–until I stood up after using it the first several times, I didn’t realize just how intense the workout had been! If you’ve used other rowing machines, you’re in for a treat when you try this one–there is absolutely no shock to the shoulders or arms at the beginning of a stroke (even from rest). The footrest is rock solid and easily adjustable for foot size; the frame is long enough to accommodate very tall rowers (I’ve had friends up to 6′ 4″ use it without banging into the stops); the components are rugged and last a long time (at least 10 years so far); and the seat is about the most comfortable I’ve found on any rowing machine. It’s also quiet–the only sound from the machine is the sound of rushing water (rather appropriate). And when you’re done with your workout, it easily tips upright for rolling into a convenient corner until the next time you’re ready to use it. This machine definitely deserves five stars. I’ve also used a `Concept2′ fan-resistance rower at a local gym that I’d rate at a 4, and a Brookstone folding rowing machine that I rated a 2 at best–but only because I was feeling generous at the time I entered that review on Amazon.com. Although this machine is expensive, if you’re serious about working out on a rowing machine, this is definitely the one to get.

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First Degree Fitness WR-N Neptune Rower

Developed by professional rowers to deliver the feeling, sound and sight of real on-water rowing in your own home. Designed and engineered by craftsmen using only the highest quality components to ensure complete satisfaction of function, performance and reliability. Maximum user weight: 300 lb. Warranty: Frame: 5 years Tank and seals: 2 years Mechanical components: 2 years All wearing parts: 1 year

Reviews.

Great rower for the price,

Had the rower for about a month now and it performs without flaw. One can see the design evolution from both the First Degree and Water Rower lines converging with the Neptune and Water Rower A1 Home models having almost identical basic schematics except the Neptune water tank supported by a metallic frame vs Water Rowers traditional wood frame.

At the time I write this, the Neptune is the lowest cost of the decent water-based rowers by a few hundred dollars. That translates primarily into a more limited computer function and force controlled by the water level rather than a knob adjust…neither of which is worth hundreds of dollars for me. FYI, those I know who are competitive rowers generally purchase the Concept2 which is an advanced flywheel design with (most importantly to them) an advanced computer monitor and online community. Given that the Neptune is a 2009 release, I expect some of the other companies will be working to meet the price point in the next year or two.

Regarding construction, I found it useful to have a rubber mallet as the piece connecting the foot pedals through the center beam is by design a tight fit. The first few days I used the rower, there was also a faint rubber-on-rubber squeak from the tank but that disappeared completely and now one only hears the gentle water swirl characteristic of the good fluid machines.

I’ve used the rower every day for a month now and am really enjoying it.

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I bought this one over the other water rower because of the adjustable resistance. Note that you adjust the resistance by adding more/less water to the tank – not using a knob or similar mechanical mechanism. This is easy to do using the hand-pump that comes with the rower.

The rower is of extremely high quality, and I’m not disappointed. It gives a great workout. This is my second rower – I previously had one of the cheaper piston ones, which I’ve outgrown.

This water rower is in a different league. Real smooth operation, with natural feeling resistance.

It’s been manufactured to pretty tight tolerances – so it the frame feels solid and sturdy. The flipside of this is that some pieces are a bit difficult to fit together – just use a bit of patience, and maybe a tap or two with a rubber mallet. Other than that the assembly is straight forward.

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BodyCraft VR100 Rowing Machine

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.

Reviews

It works and looks like a much more expensive rower.,

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.

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This rowing machine ROCKS!,

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.

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Lifecore R100 Commercial Rowing Machine

The Lifecore R100 Rower is the best rower on the market today. It’s the only commercial-grade rower utilizing both air and Electronic Brake System technology. This unique design makes the R100 perfect for the novice exerciser or the competitive athlete wanting to take their training to the next level. All this combined with the best warranty in the industry makes the R100 the only choice in rowing machines. R100 features include: 15 challenging programs; Heart rate control; 16 levels of resistance; Stores data for up to 4 users; Air and Magnetic Resistance with Electronic Brake System Technology; Ergonomically designed seat; Angled foot rests with pivoting heel supports; Ergonomically designed handle; Adjustable cooling fan vent; Silent drive system; folds for Storage; solid steel fan/fly wheel; User weight: 600 lbs.

Reviews.

Solid unit, great workout,

Overall an excellent unit that I feel is worth its steep price. I’ve owned a couple rowers and a skier for years and after 3 weeks this is now my cardio workout device of choice. It’s quiet, comfortable and the computer controlled workout options are nice. At first I thought things like “whitewater” rowing were a bit goofy but the variable resistance programs make a real difference. The fan does make a bit of noise but far less than my skier and I can easily watch TV over the top of the resistance unit.
The stats and options in the computer unit are top notch. The only gripe I have here is at full extension it sometimes loses the signal of my heart monitor (new Polar unit) – I’m 6′ 3″ – I tested the Polar watch and it, too, tends to lose the signal at that range so I suppose it’s to be expected. I just wear the watch on my wrist to keep track of my actual heart rate (which is normally pretty close on the rower computer anyway) and use the computer stats for tracking distance, speed etc…
The Unit is very solid and sturdy and can give anyone a good workout. Yes, it’s a tad on the expensive side but in my opinion it’s worth it if you’re going to use it often as I do.

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After looking at several manufacturers and models I settled on the R100 because it has magnetic as well as air resistance. I’ll admit I was a bit reluctant because of the price but after using it for three weeks now I’m extremely satisfied with the R100. It works like a dream. The flywheel isn’t too loud and the seat glides very smoothly. It takes a bit of assembly but the allen wrench that comes with the R100 works just fine. When I placed my order I received notice that it would be delivered in 3-4 weeks but I had it in my house in one week! I’ve read some negative comments about Mercantila but I had no problems. If you’re considering a rowing machine I highly recommend the R100. But if you’ve never used one before, see if you can test a few different types to experience air vs magnetic resistance. Possibly at a gym or spa if they allow single day or guest memberships for a day.

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Stamina 15-9003 Deluxe Conversion II Recumbent / Rower

Rowing is widely recognized with trainers and fitness experts as one of the best all around activities for cardiovascular fitness and strength. Rowing is an efficient, effective total body workout that utilizes all major muscle groups including the back, legs, arms, abdominals and buttocks. It is one of the best exercises for building a strong back, as well as one of the most effective low-impact aerobic exercises for increasing your metabolism for more efficient calorie and fat burning without the impact on your joints. The super quiet recumbent bike is designed to put you in a semi-reclined position so your workout focuses on all the major muscles in your hips, thighs, and buttocks. Stationary cycling is also among the most effective low-impact aerobic exercises because it increases your metabolism for more efficient calorie and fat burning without impact on your joints. Warranty: 90 days parts and 3 years frame

Reviews.

Fantastic Piece of Equipment,

This is a great piece of equipment. If you are wondering if quality is compromised as a result of the 2-for-1 deal, you’ll be very happy to know that it isn’t. This is a smooth and quiet piece of equipment. I am very impressed with it. It is of very nice quality.

It took me about an hour to put together because I was being very attentive to the directions and taking my time. At first sight, the instructions are slightly confusing but it only takes a few minutes of looking over everything to understand them.

The monitor is of nice quality and has several different modes: time, speed, calorie, pulse, RPM and distance. It’s actually built into the bike/rower with this model as opposed to being on top like a very similar model that currently goes for $100 less. To me, it looks better built in as it is with this model.

Now that I’ve said that, what I specifically like about this bike/rower is that is really more like a 3-in-1 machine. You not only get the bike/rower combination but they built it for strength training as well.

I was pleasantly surprised by this as I didn’t know that was included. (I had searched through countless exercise bikes and forgot the exact details of this one except for the essentials.) But when you receive it, the manual includes diagrams of strength training exercises you can do with the machine and how you can do them using it.

You can do the following strength training exercises with the machine: back and abdominal, bicep curls (works the arms), upright row (works the arms), buttocks, leg stretch, and leg extension.

And as I said, they include diagrams/pictures of these in the instruction manual.

This extra bonus, for someone like me goes a long way, seeing as I was trying to find some easy/clutter free ways to strength train besides using resistance bands.

So now I can use it for building muscle/strength to increase my metabolism as well. In the end, I’m very glad I parted with the cash in order to get it.

This bike/rower/strength trainer is everything I need. I’m a mildly lazy exerciser. I currently have Xavix and like using it with the JMat as well as the boxing and tennis games to walk/run indoors (in place) among other exercises, but sometimes I want to sit down and work out.

Doing that everyday just got boring. I wanted to mix it up a bit so I figured a bike/rower would help a lot. Especially since I could even alternate between biking and rowing to keep those two interesting (5 min. biking, 5 min. rowing and so on). And adding my walking/running, boxing and tennis to it gives me a lot more to do and have fun in the process again.

I used to hate getting up in the morning to exercise but this bike/rower/strength trainer made it exciting again. Now I look forward to biking, rowing and strength training and more. I got a mini home gym going.

I highly recommend this product for anyone who’s lazy like me and wants something easy/fun to do to keep in shape.

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I bought this because it was both a recumbent bike and a rower. I am very happy with this product because the quality is the best I have had with any fitness equipment I own. It is so quiet and sturdy and easy to use. I can go from bike to rower in seconds, making it easy to rotate every couple of miles if desired.
The extra bonus is that you can use it for strength training by just pulling the resistant bar while standing. And a few other options are shown in the book that comes with it.
I would recommend this product for the quality and ease of use. Easy to fold up if needed.

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Kettler Favorit Rowing Machine

Rowing is a particularly balanced form of training which exercises all the main muscle groups and increases personal stamina and endurance. In addition, rowing stimulates the matabolism and raises the oxygen content of the body. The many benefits for both strength and general fitness combined with the natural sequence of movements make rowing one of the most effective types of exercise. The KETTLER Favorit are fitted with rowing arms and hydraulic resistance systems. Fitted with easily understandable display electronics which give the user information on important data such as number and speed of strokes and the pulse rate during exercise.

Reviews.

Best in its class,

Had no problem putting it together and have found no problem with the tightness of tension adjusting on the “oars” mentioned by previous reviewer – if anything they are very hard to release to slide up or down. So if sharing this machine with a different build quick adjustment day-to-day would be hard as you have to pry the plastic apart with a screwdriver.
However still a vast improvement on my previous machine of 20 years.
Shipping was a problem as the cardboard box and packing not heavy enough for the usual drop off but it survived even that!

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I got my Favorit about 5 days after I ordered it and when I went to put it together I realized that a piece was missing (the bar to hold the foot pedals on). So I called customer service and they sent me one free of charge the next day. I was a little disappointed because I was excited to use it but couldn’t without something to put my feet on. So I waited another 5 or so days and I got that part.

After using it I realized the right shock absorber wasn’t working correctly, and it started losing more pressure within a few day to where it was unusable. I emailed customer service this time and they sent me a new shock right away.

Since then I haven’t had any problems, the machine works great and I’ve been using it about 3 weeks daily with the new shock. The customer service was really great, which is why I decided not to take off a star. I think I might have gotten a returned machine. It was obviously a dud either way, everything else about the experience was so high quality it’s hard to believe this sort of thing would happen regularly.

I wanted to respond to the other review about the resistance adjustment too (because I was worried about this when I was reading them). When I was talking to the customer service lady on the phone the first time, I told her that I had gotten two of the wrong bolts. There are a set of bolts for putting the arms on with tooth that goes all the way up the bolt (this is also used for the resistance knobs), and another set for the arms that only has tooth about a third of the way up. I hadn’t gotten any of the second type, but I had two extra of the first type. She said that they replaced those because people were accidentally using the the bolts without the full tooth on the resistance adjustment, which wouldn’t work because you can’t screw it down all the way. So the people who were complaining about the resistance just didn’t follow the instructions.

Also, people seemed to make a big deal out of the instructions but they’re very clear with good pictures, diagrams of the bolts you need to use, etc. Seems to me they must never have had to partially assemble anything. All you have to do was bolt the arms, legs, and foot pedals on. It’s mostly assembled when you get it. Be careful to put the arms on the correct way, though, the bend should face forward like in the picture.

Overall I’m very glad I bought this machine. I read a lot of reviews on a lot of the cheaper ($100 – $200) piston rowing machines and they were all complaining about their machines degrading within a week of two of getting it, like broken wheels on the seats and shocks leaking oil and loud squeaks and that’s why I decided to pay a bit more. The Favorit is really quiet, and obviously build to last. The resistance is good too, at its lowest setting it’s pretty easy, so you can do an aerobic workout, and on it’s highest setting I can hardly pull it back. I have it set around the middle right now so it’s like a weight machine. You can even sit on it backwards and do a bench press. And if you have problems with it, you’ll have a really great support center to work with.

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LifeSpan Fitness RW1000 Rowing Machine

The LifeSpan RW1000 rowing machine is very smooth and quiet. Its sturdy, durable construction supports users up to 300 pounds. The LifeSpan rowing machine includes simple to use features and a variety of intuitive readouts, and folds up for quick and easy storage.

Reviews.

Great Product; be careful with shipping!,

We ordered this product to help in a revamping of our exercise program, and it is absolutely great in that mission. The device assembles very easily and quickly; 15 minutes or less if you lay the parts out. There are two major assemblies, and you just attach the seat and put the two pieces together. In action, the device is smooth and quiet, and it can give you a very good workout in a relatively short period of time. The electronics package is good; the only issue some may have is that changing rowing resistance doesn’t appear to change the calorie count.

The only problem we had was with Amazon in shipping. This is shipped in two boxes but for some reason Amazon seems to lose sight of that fact on its own tracking. If the two boxes become separated (which ours did) and only one is delivered, they show status as “delivered”. I called customer service to try to get them to help with the other box and they continually insisted that the order was one box and was complete. Finally they gave me the UPS premier shipping contact but didn’t tell me I would need their shipper number to use it! The other box finally arrived after about five emails to them, two calls to UPS and one call to Amazon. It’s worth the wait, though. This is a really great rowing machine!

UPDATE:

We’ve used the rower for over a month now and so I have some notions of how it works. First, it’s deceptive when you start rowing for the first time because the effort level seems light so you tend to crank it up to 4 or 5 (the top). Don’t do that unless you’re in decent shape or you’ll bonk pretty quickly. What seems to work best is to start off rowing for about 10 minutes at about 25 or so strokes per minute according to the timer, at a 1 or 2 level. When you see how you’ll do, you can then increase time, stroke count, and effort level. In terms of subjective effort, every jump of one in effort level seems to give you the equivalent of about a 10% increase in stroke count. When I go up in effort level, I’ll drop my stroke count 10% until I’m used to the new one. If you’re not a young athlete (which I’m surely not) then you will probably find 15-25 minutes of rowing at a pace of about 27 strokes per minute a good workout at level 2 or 3.

This machine undoubtedly gives the most concentrated workout of anything I’ve used. In 20 minutes I’m sweating big time!

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sturdy, good price, could use a little more tension but good enough for the casual user – 40-60 min. a week. time will tell how long the rollers last but you still have to keep the track clean with wd40.

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ProRower H2O RX-750 Home Series Rowing Machine

RX- 750 Home Series: Bringing Commercial Grade Quality to Your Home at an Affordable Price. Using the same dynamics as actual rowing, the user adjusts the intensity of their workout with natural adaptive resistance by either rowing faster or slower, no need for any disruptive mechanical adjustments.

Reviews.

Impressive rower,

I had two concerns about buying a rowing machine: first that I weigh over the 250 pound limit of most rowers out there, and second that I live in a second story apartment so noise is definitely a factor. I was pleased to find this machine on a good sale, and when it arrived I was able to put it together without much trouble (the instructions weren’t the clearest, but it was pretty common sense). After having used it several times now, I can safely say that this rower put all my worries to rest! It is a very sturdy machine, comfortable and easy to use. And the only noise comes from the blades pushing the water, so it is very relaxing and no complaints from the downstairs neighbors. The monitor is easy to read, and as an added perk, it comes with a heart rate chest strap. I used to enjoy rowing at the gym, and now I am excited to have a quality machine in my own home.

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I had wanted a rower for a long time having heard alot about its benefits but the original water rower was way too costly for my tight budget. I know that many people would reccomend paying a higher price and getting the original water rower, which is great I agree but there is no way I could ever afford the cost. This for me was a lower priced more affordable option to be able to have the water resistance rower in my home.

From my first go I had no trouble getting correct form and rythm. I loved it. Quiet, smooth, fluid. You need to make sure you keep you keep your back straight and keep it a fluid motion. There are quite a few excellent video’s that can show you proper form.

I found this to be the best choice for at home fitness. I have tried them all. Treadmill, tread climber, elliptical, recumbent bike … none of them were good for me. I am physically disabled, limited stamina, Bad back, bad knees, painful joints and muscles. But I find I am able to use the rower fairly well since it has low impact on my joints. And I know that even though I can only use it for short periods that it is working more muscles in my body than any other machine. (even the recumbent bike impacted my knee joints) The resistence is based upon your own body and how hard you row, which is exactly what I needed … that the rowing could reflect the capability of my body from moment to moment rather than pushing my body to do something it cant do or shouldnt do.

As far as I can tell the display is fairly good I cant tell how well it tracks distance (I dont know what measurement is for rowing) but was surprised to find it came with a wireless heart rate transmitter. Which, so long as you wet the sensors before putting it on works very well. I had to test this out by checking my heart rate with a blood pressure cuff and it matched.

The seating is comfortable, and it seems to be good quality for the price. It was still quite a big investment for me but well worth every penny (I was able to get it when Amazon had an extra $200 off the price so that helped) But for the average home user this is a great machine.

Only some small issues, a couple times when I accidentally moved the monitor all the settings went back to Zero. and sometimes the internal resistance system sqeaks when I first start. otherwised I am pleased with it.

And did I say yet … its ultra quiet and the whoosh of water is very soothing. The reviews here almost led me to NOT buy it but I went along with my gut instinct on it for a chance and am happy that I did.

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Kettler Kadett Outrigger Style Rower Rowing Machine

Rowing is a particularly balanced form of training which exercises all the main muscle groups and increases personal stamina and endurance. In addition, rowing stimulates the matabolism and raises the oxygen content of the body. The many benefits for both strength and general fitness combined with the natural sequence of movements make rowing one of the most effective types of exercise. The KETTLER® KADETT is fitted with rowing arms, hydraulic resitance system, and a special outrigger design which is now featured on many boats. Fitted with easily understandable display electronics which give the user information on important data such as number and speed of strokes and the pulse rate during exercise.

Reviews.

Best thing I’ve done for myself in a long time!,

The Kettler Kedett rowing machine is an amazing piece of equipment. I unpacked mine last night and despite missing a washer and having to wade through 90 minutes of assembly instructions, I was impressed from the very start.

From the solidity and the perfect fit of the parts, it is clear that this machine is the product of German engineering. I haven’t seen anything so well designed in years. Each part fits well, tightens nicely and still rotates or slides with ease. The machine is sturdy, sits well on carpet or hard flooring and easily folds into a compact shape when not in use.

A workout on the Kadett is better than any workout I’ve ever experienced, aside from rowing or kayaking. The motion is very realistic, with nothing to distract one beyond the small chirping of the pistons and the occasional knock of the seat against the front of the rail. It is easy to close my eyes and imagine myself rowing down a quiet river. The entire experience is more like meditation than exercise — the perfect way to start, or end, a busy day.

After a 45 minute workout, I wasn’t sure that I had really gotten a particularly strenuous workout. Then I stepped off the machine and realized that my legs were like rubber. It was that subtle.

I highly recommend this machine to anyone looking for an alternative to the ordinary. The full-body workout provided by rowing is a beautiful thing. The price is less than most elliptical trainers, the unit weighs only 66lbs, and it gives your arms a workout too! I can’t say enough good things about this machine.

Happy rowing!

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First, this is a beautifully designed and built machine. The rowing action is smooth and closely resembles the feel of rowing a shell. It is quiet and can easily adjust to people of differing heights. While the machine does have a large foot print when in use, it does easily fold into a compact size for storage or to simply clear floor space. Due to the quietness of this device, it is a joy to listen to music or watch a movie while working out. Other exercise equipment I have is too noisy for this. As others have stated, it is easy to under estimate the amount of exercise you’re getting. Even though I often end an hour of rowing feeling like I really haven’t done much, the feeling in my legs when standing up afterwards lets me know that I’ve had a good workout.

Assembly was time consuming, but not really difficult. As other reviewers have stated, the parts are of high quality, finish and the fit is excellent.

The three minor problems I’ve encountered were easily fixed:
1) on a smooth cement floor, the machine tended to drift during a long work out. Carpeting or a rubber pad under the machine fixed this.

2) The hard plastic handles become slippery when wet with sweat. Wearing a pair of cotton work gloves resolves this problem and has the extra benefit of protecting your hands from friction with the handles.

3) As shipped, the foot straps tend to work loose during exercise. This is due to an assembly problem at the factory. When the straps are properly positioned, they don’t slip. To fix this problem, remove the two screws (one in each foot plate) that hold the straps in position. While you’re at it, you might want to reverse one of the straps so both buckle to the outside of your feet. When you tighten the straps, position them so the back of the buckle touches the foot plate. This leaves the end of the strap going through the buckle pulling along the same plane as the buckle. To loosen the strap, pull the end of the buckle away from your foot, increasing the angle at which the strap enters the buckle. The straps loosen during exercise because the factory setting leaves the end of the strap pulling at an angle to the buckle. A very slight change in this angle is sufficient to loosen the strap. Note that I didn’t try to replace the two screws. Replacing the screws with the buckle properly positioned may make it easier to tighten the straps.

Despite the minor problems mentioned above, this is an excellent machine and well worth the expense. It clearly deserves a rating of five.

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Concept2 Model E Indoor Rowing Machine

Rowing provides superb total-body cardiovascular conditioning in a smooth impact-free exercise. A great investment, the commercial-grade Concept2 Model E Indoor Rower is supported with free online motivational tools such as the Concept2 online logbook, rowing challenges and training forum. Manufactured by the company that set the standard in rowing, the Model E is Concept2’s latest and most advanced indoor rower. With rugged features such as a one-piece leg design, glossy finish top coat, nickel-plated chain and fully-enclosed chain housing, the Model E is recommended for high-use facilities, individuals looking for the latest and greatest, and those who prefer a higher seated position. With a 20” seat height, the Model E sits 6” higher than the Concept2 Model D Indoor Rower, making it easier to get on and off. The self-calibrating Performance Monitor (PM4) displays workout data in five display options, a LogCard to record results, games and more! The PM4 (included) also features built-in wireless heart rate monitoring (chest belt provided), machine-to-machine wireless racing, a rechargeable battery pack, and increased memory capacity. Every Concept2 Indoor Rower comes with a 30-day money back guarantee and limited 2-year 5-year warranty.

Reviews.

Best Investment in Aerobic fitness,

I have had the Concept2 model C for over 6 years and still use it 3 to 4 times a week. My company recently got the model D in the office gym and it does have some improvements. Most noticeably the machine is a bit quieter and the electronics are more advanced (although, as has always been the case with concept2 rowers, the electronics can be upgraded to the latest for a reasonable fee).

While I don’t see a need to run out and upgrade my home machine I do think the new model is an improvement.

In addition to being a great product, it is backed by a great company. They go out of their way to make rowing safe, and fun, with informative newsletters, regular chalenges and competitions, excellent support, online rowing logs, rankings, and races.

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I have owned two Concept 2 rowers, the Model C and now the Model E. I donated the Model C to my parents when I “ascended” up to the Model E. Without doubt, Concept 2 has produced the world’s best rower. It’s built to last a lifetime of private use. And if parts are ever an issue, Concept 2 still has parts (quite cheap) for all their rowers, even the Model A! If you seriously plan to row for exercise or sport, the Model E (or any model, for that matter) will be your best investment.

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