Sunny Health & Fitness Compact Hydraulic Rower with 12-Level Resistance

I am so pleased with this purchase. I bought a while back but today I finally put it together. I chose this product because I want to see how much I like rowing (learned I loathe stationary bikes). It is a good machine! Very well built and easy to put together. It has a mini-computer on it so you can track your time, your calories expended, and the number of strokes. In addition, the resistance is adjustable. Very quiet, very stable. A particularly nice addition is the pole in the front where you can put your cell phone and listen to rowing music! My personal faves are the Vikings! Thanks Erling and Norway! If you are interested in rowing as an exercise, I highly recommend this product. Lightweight so I can move it around and it gets the job done! All I need now is the Viking helment.

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.

My rating is based on 1. Cost. Not expensive in this case does not mean cheaply built. It's lightweight but solid, and withstands my 240 pounds easily. 2. Ease of assembly. Honestly, it all came very well wrapped and protected inside the box, requiring only to unscrew a few Allen bolts to attach the handle. It was folded under itself, and strapped together to prevent damage from movement. 3. "Ease" of use. The pneumatic arm moves well with the rowing motion, and it is an intuitive increase from 1 (like pulling a happy dog on its leash for a walk) to 10 (pulling a Smart car out of a snowy parking space with a big rope). I am short-limbed, long torso, so my comfort and ease of use will probably not be an experience shared by long-limbed folks as the seat and arms will not allow someone with an inseam over 35" to have full extension. Decide accordingly. 4. Portability. Ok, if you need to slide it under a bed it is lightweight, and requires taking out two bolts to fold it. One is designed to be easy to remove, the other will use the included wrenches. So, I leave it out in my living room which is more a workout room than social area. There is still plenty of room in my apartment that it isn't in the way. Summary: I love it, and enjoy the variation from biking, but it may prove less useful for the long-limbed or tiny home dwellers. **The Powerade bottle gives you a reference point for scale, it is a quart.

This is not the first piece of exercise equipment I've purchased from this company. I also have their mini step machine. I was hesitant to purchase the step machine — we're all used to seeing fancy, high-end exercise equipment at the gym, so the idea that I could get a step machine for $40 made me understandably skeptical. But I gave it a shot, and it blew me away. I can safely say that if it wasn't for that experience, I doubt I'd ever have even *considered* buying a rowing machine for as little as $80. It's my favorite machine at the gym, and I had a really hard time believing that there could possibly be a rowing machine that could satisfy me for such a low price. But I had the proof of Sunny's quality products right there in my living room in the form of my step machine, so I decided to give their rowing machine a try. I am so, SO glad I did. Yes, of course this machine doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the one at my gym. There is no big impressive flywheel, no water sloshing pleasantly while I row to put me in the right mindset. And yes, of course it would be amazing to have those things. But this rowing machine has everything that's important. It's insanely easy to put together (I had the whole thing working in less than 5 minutes), extremely user-friendly (just turn the dial to a higher number to get a higher resistance), almost silent (which helps me watch TV or listen to music during my workout without having to get tangled with my headphones), unexpectedly comfortable to use (the seat and handlebars have nice padding, the foot straps are comfortable as long as you've got shoes on, and the mechanism slides impressively smoothly), and — most impressive of all to me — it weighs NOTHING. I can pick the whole machine up with one hand with no effort, and that's coming from someone who wanted this machine because I have next to no arm strength. This makes it incredibly easy to store, too; I can toss it into a hall closet so it doesn't clutter up my living room when I'm not using it. I was nervous about the order, even knowing that I liked this company. I'm glad to be able to tell you that you don't have to be. If you can afford the best of the best, then sure — buy the kind with all the bells and whistles. But if you're exercising on a budget, like me, then this machine is PERFECT. I paid $80 for this machine that I use almost every day, and was able to cancel a gym membership that was costing me $35 per month. Within two months this machine will have almost entirely paid for itself! The ONLY negative thing I can say about this machine is related to the resistance mechanism, and it's similar to their other products: the metal gets really, really hot due to the friction during use. It's not a part of the machine that you're in contact with while using it, so it's not like you're going to burn yourself accidentally or anything, but it limits how long you should use it without stopping. I try to limit myself to 20-25 minutes on the machine before stopping to let it cool off for a while. But in the scheme of things, and for the price, that's a small sacrifice that I'm more than willing to make. I hope this helps you make your decision! And if you want to flesh out your home gym on a low budget like me, check out their step machine too — that way you can give your rowing machine a break without having to quit your workout, and come back to it once it's cooled off. Just a thought!

Pros - Exercises multiple body areas at one time, very good abdominals workout with the rowing stroke, very good glute workout, fair workout for arms and top of thigh (rectus femoris), fair workout for the upper back It's cheap You can do it indoors away from heat and mosquitos There is a choice of doing resistance/muscle building or aerobic (for resistance dial up the hydraulic and go slow, for aerobic use low resistance and increase your stroke speed) Low impact - I have had no issues with hips, knees or feet This cheap/lower level machine I bought is light weight and I can easily lift and move it from room to room I can watch TV while I exercise Convenience - I don't have to go anywhere to exercise There are 12 levels of hydraulic resistance on the machine I bought - I'm only up to level 4 Assembly was easy with good instructions and doing it alone took about 20 minutes Cons - There is a learning curve to master and get benefit from the machine. The directions that came with the machine were too vague, YouTube had good tutorials - I watched multiple You don't get outside in the fresh air and sunshine - if you strictly exercise indoors vit D deficiency can be a factor There may be an issue with you getting down on the floor or almost floor level to get in and out of the machine (there are more expensive machines that sit chair height but I did not need this - I don't know if you would or not) Other thoughts on the rowing machine - Helpful tips - one of the best YouTube videos I watched said start slow with 3-4 minutes once or twice a day to see how your muscles will respond to rowing. I slowly built up my time and now do 30 minutes straight. I did some research on low impact/high benefit exercises and it came down to either rowing or swimming. I like to swim but compliance to go to the pool and the time factor of exercising away from home made me decide against it. I'm happy with this machine it has a comfortable wide seat, very good/thick cushion on the rowing bar, it has straps for the feet and at first I used them but soon discovered I didn't need them. I rate this machine an extremely good value for the money.

I’ve been using this rower every day since it arrived, and overall I’m really impressed. It’s gentle on the body while still giving a solid workout, and the machine functions smoothly. The noise level is low, it was easy to set up, and the build quality is great for the price—it doesn’t feel or look cheap. I also appreciate that it doesn’t take up much space and can fold up to slide under the bed. I’ve also been enjoying the Sunny Fitness app—it’s fun to use and adds good variety to my workouts. However, there are a couple of disappointments. The description and the instructions both say the rower is Bluetooth capable, but it isn’t, which was frustrating to discover. And this morning, the Velcro foot strap tore after only four days of use. I’m not sure if replacement straps are available, but it was definitely discouraging. Overall, it’s a solid machine for the price, but these issues are worth noting for potential buyers.

The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 Rowing Machine is a nice, affordable, little exercise product. It's very easy to assemble and use. I was concerned that with my shorter inseam of about 27' would interfere with the electronic counter being able to count my rowing strokes properly. So I make sure that when I pull the handle back it comes back all the way into my lap. That way my entire stroke will be counted. The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 Rowing Machine is affordable, compared those very expensive other rowing machines on the market. It's the reason I bought this rowing machine. The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 Rowing Machine is a nice little row machine. It doesn't weigh much and is pretty easy to pick up and move where it can be stored away until you want to use it. This rowing machine is very easy to use, even for someone who has never used a rowing machine before. The moving handle and seat help make the rowing action happen along with the use of your legs. My only concern is when I get to the point where my resistance level reaches 12, does the hydraulic piston need to be replaced? Where do you go from there? If Sunny Health & Fitness reads this review, I hope they let me know. If you (reading this and other reviews) of this Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 Rowing Machine, compare this rowing machine to others. Others are larger, longer, heavier, MUCH more expensive, harder to assemble, cannot be stored away, and often more complicated to set up and use. Just keep all those factors in mind when making your decision. In short, after using this Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 Rowing Machine for a bit, I'm quite pleased with its ease of use, easy and fast assembly, easy pick up and storage, and it was quite "easy" on my pocketbook, to boot!

This is a very effective little machine that is priced right. It has one flaw which brings it down one star, however; I will elaborate this defect at the end. And it's not the fact that the hydraulic piston heats up while you exercise, as so many others have already noted. My laser thermometer tells me the temperature goes up to about 200 degrees F after a 30 minute workout. Because the hydraulic fluid heats up as you use it, I have to turn up the "tension" one notch or so about every five to seven minutes to keep a consistent work effort. I start off with an initial setting of 4 and then end up at around 10 or 11 after 30 minutes of work. After a few months of use I ended up having to set the back end on the first step of my stairs in order to get a challenging enough workout. Otherwise, even at its highest setting I wouldn't get a challenging enough workout to build up a good sweat. Now I use six one inch hardwood boards to prop up the back end (I also have them stacked against the front of a sofa so they don't move around) so that I don't have to set up the machine at the foot of my stairs every time I want to use it. Using the boards like I do you can adjust the height up and down for varying degrees of increased effort. This is really a lightweight machine, so I have to modify the environment to make it work. I imagine that a much heavier individual (I weigh 144 lbs) might tear it apart after no more than a year. But for the money it's still a good buy even if you had to replace it after a year's heavy use. You get what you pay for, as the saying goes. The bad part: the cable that connects the simple little computer via an EXTREMELY thin/flimsy wire to the sensor hidden in the rail under the seat broke after only 10 months of use and approximately 62,000 reps. (I keep track of the reps by placing a small mark on the machine every time it turns over at 10,000 reps...if I hit a million reps, maybe I'll buy myself a nice gaming laptop one day...I'm up to 112,000 reps after 14 months...so maybe a few more years...haha). Said wire is about the thinnest gauge possible, and on top of that the plastic sheathing for the copper wires is very stiff, cheap, plastic. I wrote the company complaining about it and they sent me a new one but not until I paid $7. I suppose it's not much, but the point is that it didn't last a year, and on top of that the wire is very clearly cheaply made. They could have spent another 2 cents per unit to put in a thicker-gauged, more flexible, wire. after I replaced the wire I covered the portion that rubs against the frame with about 6 inches of 1/4 inch drip hose to protect it. I have attached two photos. One showing my setup with the one inch boards, and the other one showing where the cheap/stiff wire can break with use, and how I protected it with 1/4 inch hose.

Il prodotto è arrivato ben imballato e la sua messa in funzione è stat facile. Ottimo attrezzo, ben funzionante e solido. Dotato di tutte le predisposizioni come da descrizione e pratico per gli spostamenti (casa-giardino). Sono molto contenta per questo acquisto.

This thing is ridiculously easy to assemble, it really doesn't need an instruction manual. As of first use it is perfect 👌

Super schnelle Lieferung, man musste zwar zu Hause sein, aber es wurde vorher angerufen. Das Gerät selber konnte schnell montiert werden und ist super in der Handhabung. Für nicht Profis optimal, unschlagbarer Preis.

Enkel att använda. Lagom jobbig för daglig användning. Tar liten plats i rummet.

This rowing machine has been an excellent addition for home workouts. It effectively gets the job done, is compact enough to fit in any space, and offers the convenience of not needing to go to the gym to enjoy a great workout.