BodyCraft VR100 Rowing Machine Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)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 Spanand 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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Product Description:
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.

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Stamina 35-1400 ATS Air Rower Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased my Stamina ATS Air Rowing Machine from Mercantila. When my stamina arrived, it was quite a workout just putting it together. I was rather disappointed, as I thought I'd be receiving better quality for 300.00. The components were obviously very cheap. Nonetheless, I was optimistically hoping to get a great workout on the machine.

I did get a great workout on the machine...for 3 weeks. Then one day I was using it, and the chain just exploded. The handle flew up in the air, and there were little pieces of metal all over the floor. Now, I'm not some Hercules or amazon. This was certainly not due to excessive force exerted on the machine. I'm just an out of shape 5' 5" woman. Mercantila was fabulous about it though. They paid to have it returned, and quickly refunded my money.

Supposing the "explosion" of my machine was a fluke, I still wouldn't recommend the Stamina ATS Air Rowing Machine. It was not very sturdy. After I'd been using it about 1.5 weeks, one of the bolts came off and hit the floor in the middle of a workout. When I tightened the bolt back on, it bent the metal. The machine has a pronounced "check" which bothered my shoulders (ironic, since I chose as air rower because it's supposed to be easier on a woman's shoulders than a piston rower) The seat was wobbly. The foot straps had to be tightened repeatedly throughout a workout. Oh, and the most ANNOYING part: every workout, within 5 minutes, one of the grips had slipped off the handle!!! And of course it would take 2-3 minutes to get it back on.

Bottom line: It's not a comfortable machine, and I think it could be downright dangerous for any kind of athlete. I'm a 5 foot 5 inch woman who's out of shape -- I can't imagine a muscular athlete using this thing without extreme irritation in the least, and possibly injury (due to the lack of sturdiness) at the most.

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Product Description:
Rowing is widely acknowledged as one of the best all-around fitnessactivities, and this super-sturdy air rowing machine from Stamina makes it morecomfortable and enjoyable than ever. The Stamina ATS is equipped with an oversizedchrome seat rail and metal pull-chain for extra strength and durability, along with amolded seat that's especially comfortable during long workouts. The rower is also easyto store, with a foldable steel frame and built-in casters that let you wheel it effortlesslyinto a closet or corner of the room. The rest of the time, the rower provides an efficientand effective low-impact workout that improves cardiovascular fitness while working allthe major muscle groups, including the back, legs, arms, abdominals, and buttocks.Rowing is particularly renowned for building a strong back, and is considered one of themost effective low-impact aerobic exercises for increasing your metabolism.
Other details include a multifunction monitor that keeps you motivated and informedduring the workout, with such display features as distance, calories burned, speed, time,number of strokes, and strokes per minute; an efficient, smooth wind-fan resistancesystem; and an attractive chrome finish. The ATS rower measures 78 by 31.5 by 19.75inches (W x H x D) when fully assembled and 57.5 by 33.5 by 19.75 inches whenfolded. Weighing in at 80 pounds, the rower is also backed by a three-year warranty onthe frame and a 90-day warranty on all other parts.

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Phoenix 98900 Power Rower Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We were looking for a reasonably priced rowing machine and the MR 900 was one of the few reviewed.It has a tension adjustment knob at the base, so that you can increase your workout.The seat slides easily and the handlebar pulls back fine.As a smaller woman, I find the footpedal position a bit awkward and despite the velcro strip, I can't quite get the right fit.The other review that I saw for this machine also mentioned that the footpads were not as well placed as they might be.Phoenix could really improve their machine by allowing some adjustment in height and better width grip on this feature.The display is fine, but the calorie count seems off--either that or I'm just not working as hard as I think I am.I don't think it accounts for the quickness with which you pull or your body weight and might just be taking into account the tension, time, and number of pulls.Overall, I'm really pleased.My stomach, legs, and arms get a nice workout.I guess the trick is to emphasize using your back with your stomach and legs vs. forearms, which I am still trying to get used to.If you are concerned with noise, the seat motion causes no noise, but the air on the pull definitely does.If you've got an iPod or mp3 player it won't matter, though.

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Product Description:
Whip yourself into shape in the comfort of your own home with the Power Rower from Phoenix Health & Fitness. The Power Rower utilizes a patented, belt-driven magnetic resistance system that's smooth and quiet, with several resistance levels depending on your needs. As a result, you can enjoy both a fast-paced workout with low resistance that gets your heart pumping or a high-resistance workout that focuses on strengthening your back muscles. Rowers will also dig the four-window LCD display, which lets you monitor your workout progress. Among the available metrics are time (up to 99:59), distance (up to 99.99 km or miles), calories (up to 999), and speed (up to 999.99 km or miles). And thanks to the molded polyurethane seat, the Power Rower is comfortable over the long haul. Other details include an easy-to-use resistance dial, a 46-inch slide length, and a foldable frame with casters for easy storage. The Power Rower measures 81.5 by 26.4 by 24 inches (W x H x D) and carries a 90-day warranty on parts and a one-year warranty on the frame.
Specifications:

Smooth, quiet magnetic resistance for outstanding multiple intensity level workout
Four-window LCD to track speed, distance, time, and estimated calories burned
PU molded seat for comfort
Easy-to-use dial adjustment for resistance
Slide Length: 46"
Folds for storage
Rolls away to easily move or store
Dimensions: 81.5" L x 24" W x 26.4" H (open); 26" L x 24.4" W x 62.2" H (folded)

About Phoenix Health & Fitness
Established in 1998 as a wholesale distributor of fitness equipment, Phoenix Health & Fitness offers a complete line of high-quality exercise equipment to the in-home and light commercial markets. Working with a state-of-the-art computer system, the company can offer "just in time" delivery and other critical services while living up to its standards of reliability, consistency, honesty, and urgency. Phoenix Health & Fitness develops many of its new concepts and products in conjunction with its sister company, Reflex Design, and enjoys a reputation for delivering quality products in a timely manner.

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Verso by Kettler TX3 Folding Treadmill Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My husband and I are members of an expensive New York gym and we love to run a few times a week.On the weekends, we love the flexibility to run at home or not run outside in the cold.We own this treadmill for over a month now and chose this model because of the low deck height (5.75") and it's perfect for our basement with low ceiling.The no-shipping-cost from Amazon was great and it was delivered in less than 2 weeks.

At least three people were needed to move and lift the deck off the box.The incline automatically popped open when we lifted it and we couldn't figure out how to lower it.The motor cover also cracked during lifting and ripped from the screw hole.We laid the treadmill sideway in the middle of the living room until we could figure out what to do with it. The instruction manual is poor and without a number to call customer service.Amazon CS was great and gave us a Kettler's phone number.

Kettler customer service then told me that it would cost $69 to replace the motor cover and laying the treadmill sideway could damage the motor or the unit.Well, why didn't they say so in the instruction?There should be a big bold print of UNIT MUST BE UPRIGHT. Kettler CS was very professional and helpful.Did I mention that the instruction manual is poor?The text is barely readable and the drawings of the parts are smaller than a dime size.Some parts are also labeled incorrectly on the manual. I had to guess which wire to connect together and since I am used to assembling IKEA furnitures, I was able to figure out this assembly in an hour.
When the treadmill is fully assembled and running, it was making a squeaking sound.The right end cap was too close to the belt and it was literally scraping against the belt.This is clearly a design flaw but customer service said I must have damaged it by laying it sideways and offer to send me a free replacement.Upon looking at it closely, it is a design flaw and not from our mishandling. This treadmill is more headache than fun and I was tempted to just return it.I was able to fix the broken motor cover with crazy glue and some washers for the screws.I "fixed" the end cap by putting more washers under the screws to lift the plastic from touching the belt.

The problem is not entire resolved yet.The treadmill now squeaks elsewhere. It turns out that our floor is not perfectly level. One corner is 1/8" higher.The squeak was so annoying that we had to put some lubricant to deck wheels.It still squeaks quietly when running on flat surface.When on an incline, there are no squeaks.

All in all, given the price of this treadmill I will probably buy a different model next time around.I really want to like this treadmill and did not want to go through the hassle of returning and possibly getting another one with the same problem. What we like about this unit is that it does run very smoothly.It is comparable or better than the treadmills at our gym.

Pro:
Low deck height
Smooth running belt
Excellent customer service

Cons:
Poor instruction manual
Must be placed on very level surface
Heartrate monitor is 50% accurate

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Product Description:
The NEW VERSO by Kettler TX3 Treadmill offers only the best features anyone could want in a treadmill. With state of the art features such as Heart Rate Control, you will find that the TX3 offers sophisticated electronic programming, while at the same time, keeping operation as simple as a touch of a single button. With the TX3, you can rest assured that you will be getting a truly beneficial workout without wasting time or effort.

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LifeSpan Fitness RW1000 Rowing Machine Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I loved this rower at first, although if you have small feet, it's difficult to keep them from pulling out of the pedals while rowing. 6 broken straps, several emails to Lifespan (they did replace them for me), a change to a different type of shoe, and that problem was finally fixed. Then the pulleys started to break. Ordered a new set and replaced those (those I had to buy). Now the flywheel will not recoil. Took it apart...I would have to replace the magnetic wheel assembly. It's time to give up, it just wasn't made to be used. I used this rower for 2 1/2 years. My last rower was a cheap old piston type, it lasted 12 years. I finally broke the frame. I used the rower 4 times a week, this one just couldn't hold up. And, no, I'm not some 350 pound body builder...I barely make it over 5 feet and am under 135 pounds. I don't think I should be killing rowing machines.

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Product Description:
Get a complete non-impact, full-body workout with the LifeSpan Fitness RW1000 rowing machine, featuring an eddy current smooth and quiet drive system and a 16.5-pound flywheel with magnetic brake resistance. It also offers manual adjustment with five levels of resistance for a varied workout and a no-slack retrieval system that ensures the rowing strap is never loose.
The rower's exercise computer displays distance, time, stroke count, strokes per minute, and calories burned read-outs. Other features include a comfortable padded seat, swivel foot rests with straps, and padded hand grips. Supporting up to 300 pounds, the RW1000 offers a 87- by 19- by 23-inch footprint while its folded dimensions measure 34 by 19 by 64 inches (L x W x H).
Specifications:

Eddy current smooth and quiet drive system
Magnetic brake resistance
16.5-pound flywheel
Fold for easy storage
No-slack retrieval system
Five levels of resistance
Maximum user weight: 300 pounds
Folded dimensions: 34 by 19 by 64 inches (L x W x H)
Unfolded dimensions: 87 by 19 by 23 inches (L x W x H)

The RW1000 measures 34 by 19 by 64 inches (L x W x H) when folded.

Readouts include distance, time, calories, stroke count, and strokes per minute. About LifeSpan Fitness
Since it was founded in 1994 in Park City, Utah, PCE Health and Fitness (PCE) has established a reputation of innovation, quality products, and community responsibility. In 2001, the company introduced the LifeSpan line of fitness equipment targeting the value-conscious consumer. This award-winning line of exercise equipment is now sold by fitness retailers across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Since its introduction, the line has grown to include both a high value Home series line and a Pro series line targeting the high-end home user and institutional customer.
Awards and recognition include a Gold Medal Excellence Award by the Industrial Design Society of America, Treadmill Doctor's "Best New Treadmill of the Year", and multiple Best Buy awards, "Recommended Buys" from Consumer Guide, and many others.
Community responsibility and the promotion of active living and exercise are core to LifeSpan's company beliefs and culture. They are proud sponsors of the International Council on Active Aging and members of the Medical Fitness Association. The company also donates equipment to local high schools and provides funding to the American Diabetes Association and various non-profit organizations.

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First Degree Fitness WR-N Neptune Rower Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Although I previously wrote a very critical review of this product, my subsequent experience with the Neptune Rower requires me to offer a more positive take.I use it every weekday in my pied a terre apartment and have found it reliable and enjoyable.One big advantage of the Neptune is that it's the only water rower I know that can be storedupright in a small amount of floorspace.Wheels make it easy to position.
As noted in the earlier review, it was difficult to assemble due to an opening not large enough to accommodate a bolt and the little monitor's annoying beep (which sounds with every stroke) can't be turned off, so you simply have to pull the batteries.But the machine does offer me a good aerobic workout and is very convenient.

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Product Description:
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 yearsTank and seals: 2 yearsMechanical components: 2 yearsAll wearing parts: 1 year

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Stamina 1205 Precision Rower Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought a used rower years ago and came to work it several times a week.I'm a busy person, so I don't have time for a sophisticated work out routine.I just want to work one machine for both strength and aerobic training.Rowing is great for this purpose.When I broke my rower, I started shopping.Unfortunately, even used rowers are over $100.I struggled with this model versus the smaller ones that stand up vertically for easy storage.I couldn't find any reviews on this that addressed the storage question.Finally, I chose it because it didn't look like I could break it from normal usage, whereas the kind that fold nicely seem flimsy.

Pros:
- This machine is very sturdy.It's solid, stable, and does not rock at all when in use.
- It is amazingly quiet.The only sound is the whisper of the pistons.I can use it with the TV on normal volume.
- The seat is very comfortable.I sat on it for 30 minutes the first time with no discomfort.

Cons:
- It does not fold, collapse, or stand up vertically. It just sits on the floor.It would be very awkward to try to store it under a bed.Don't lift the back end too far or the plug for the timer will bend.This is why it only has 4 stars.
- The front bumper pads are just stuck on.You can't drag it backwards without them popping off.The back ones also just sit on there, but they face sideways, so they won't come off.
- The instructions were difficult.My wife and I kept flipping back and forth in the manual to figure out to which bolt each step of the direction referred.

The work out was great.I really like using this machine.I only wish I had a better place to put it when I'm not using it.

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Product Description:
Do you have limited workout space but plenty of motivation? Turn to the Stamina 1205 precision rowing machine, which offers a compact footprint of only 32.5 inches wide by 48 inches long, but offers the same terrific workout as machines twice its size. The Stamina 1205 mimics the smooth motion of rowing on the water, with a padded seat that glides on a ball-bearing roller system, rowing arms whose resistance is adjusted by hydraulic cylinders, and foam grips that keep your hands stable and comfortable. The multifunction fitness monitor, meanwhile, keeps you motivated and on track to reach your fitness goals, showing your speed, distance, time, stroke count, and calories burned. And users will love the thick padded seat and pivoting footplates, which combine to provide comfort and support during your workout. Other features include a precision extruded aluminum beam, a silver steel frame, a five-year warranty on the frame, and a 90-day warranty on parts.
About Rowing
Rowing provides an efficient, effective, low-impact workout that utilizes all the major muscle groups, including the back, legs, arms, abdominals and buttocks. It is also 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. As a result, you can efficiently burn calories and fat without impacting your joints.
The continuous, non-impact movement of rowing can be broken down into three phases: the starting point is called the catch phase, followed by the drive phase, the finish, and the recovery. In the catch phase, knees are bent with shins vertical and shoulders and arms reaching forward. This phase mimics the point where the oars are being placed in the water. The drive phase is initiated by the legs. As the legs extend, your arms remain straight until the knees are mostly extended. Then the elbows flex bringing the oar handles into the upper stomach. In the finish, the legs are fully extended, your shoulders are back, your elbows are flexed, and the oar handle is against the upper stomach. For the recovery, your knees don't flex until after your hands pass over your knees and your arms and shoulders reach forward to begin the catch phase again.
Because rowing is an impact-free activity, it can be a lifelong form of exercise. It is always best to exercise in your target heart rate zone (70 to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate).

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