1. Home rowing machine with compact footprint--23.5 x 46 inches
2. Adjustable gas-shock resistance
3. Monitor shows time, stroke count, and calories burned
4. Sturdy, steel frame construction
5. Folds for easy storage

Customer Review :

Great Product, Even If You're Short

This product is wonderful. I've had it for just a while now, and I feel great. Even the way it was shipped was wonderful. It was very easy to put together; and it takes up very little space. I LOVE that you can stand it up on it's back. I live in an apartment, and it fits nicely against a small wall.

It's quiet, and very easy to use. I read in other reviews that shorter people have had difficulty using this, but I can't imagine why. I'm 5'4, and have no problems with it. It's comfortable, and the seat slides smoothly.

I was shocked at how great a workout you get for such a low price (compared to most useful workout equipment). I have already recommended this to others. I am very happy with my purchase.

Rating :

1050 Rowing Machine

So far I like this rowing machine, It works well, and seems to be well built.

Rating :

Easy assembly; great work-out

I have owned this for a month now. It is a very good exercise machine - simple and effective. I haven't observed the noise that some other reviewers have complained about. I don't really look at the displays, but they seem to be good.

The machine works great for my height (5' 8"), but I can see that it can accommodate someone much taller than me. Only minor annoyance is the foot rest (or foot hold, or whatever you call it). It doesn't hold your feet that well, but once you get the flow of rowing, it is not a big deal. I read a review by someone who added a clamp at the bottom to keep the feet in place. Mine came with a half-inch projection at the bottom. It helps a bit.

Rating :

stealth weapon

this amazing machine came via fed ex yesterday. my 10 year old daughter and i were able to assemble it quickly without any drama! the construction is good and the monitor is easy to read while using the machine. it is really a great value for the price. my only concern is how the plastic pedals are going to hold up and if the velcro will last. time will tell.

Rating :

Cheap pedals

I've only owned this two weeks (got it second hand from a friend who'd never used it) and the pedals are already on the verge of breaking. Unbelieveably cheap. Glad I got it for free because I wouldn't pay for this product.

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More reviews...

1. Indoor rowing machine with sliding seat for complete total body workouts
2. Quiet flywheel minimizes noise while providing smooth feel of water rowing
3. Lets rowers choose between sleek, fast boat and slow, heavy boat
4. PM3 performance monitor tracks your distance, speed, pace, and calories
5. Requires footprint of 9 x 4 feet; 500-pound capacity; 5-year frame warranty

Customer Review :

3,780,000+ meters for me

I started rowing at my gym, where they used the concept2 model D. After awhile, I found that mostly what I was doing at the gym was using the rower, so I decided to buy my own. Maybe expensive, but not really when I know that I'll probably be using this rower for the rest of my life (I'm 40 now). It holds up really well. The concept2s at the gym are used heavily and show no signs of wear other than that the instructional stickers on the frame have been worn off.

I have put over 3,780,000 meters on mine with 488 workouts with an average time per workout of 45 minutes. It has held up beautifully with very little maintenance other than occasionally lubing the chain (which is very easy to do; I prefer to use my bike lube).

I really like that they send you the concept2 newsletter as well and it has been useful and motivating. You also become a member of this concept2 user community that is out there and you can post your stats on the web site and compete in events and stuff, though I haven't done these things yet. It is nice to be part of the community even if you don't really participate in it.

I like to watch tv as I row. I do have to turn up the volume fairly loud (the rower is not noisy exactly, but it can be hard to hear dialog sometimes; dvds with no english subtitles piss me off). The sound of the rower itself is actually kind of relaxing and sounds similar to a fan being turned off and on).

This and my powerblock weight set are investments I'm really happy with and I'll be using for the rest of my life.

Rating :

Simply the Best

I have had a Concept 2 model D for about 7 years now and it works just as good today as it did when I bought it. I have a PM3 monitor and a wireless heart rate monitor that I use with it. If you are serious about working out at home a Concept 2 rowing machine is what you want. Here is what I love about it:

1) Very well built, you will be hard pressed to find something in a comercial gym that is built better! I have used this machine hard for 7 years and have never had an issue. Furthermore, if you were to have an issue replacement parts can be purchased relatively cheaply. Also, because the machine is relatively simple, most could replace parts easily. Also, keep in mind that a Concept 2 machine is the standard for professional rowers and rowing clubs around the world.

2) Low maintenance, I clean my machine about twice a year and occasionally add some oil to the chain.

3) Tracking your Health! I have a card reader that I use to plug the card from the PM3 monitor into the computer. With concepts's free software it is easy to upload your workouts into an online database. I can track all of my workouts over the past 7 years! The duration, distance, strokes per minute, split times, heart rate, etc of all your workouts are recorded on the logcard. Therefore, it is simple to track your progress day by day, month by month, year by year! I also have a elliptical machine I paid twice as much for, but it tracks no personal data over time and therefore is a huge disappointment compared to my rower.

4) The online Concept 2 community rocks! There are many thousands of people from all over the world that regularly log their Concept 2 workouts online. As well concept 2 hosts regular challenges and regularly gives out prices. You can compete against others in these challenges or simply compete against yourself. You can also join a virtual rowing team (of which there are hundreds) and compete against other rowing teams. Again, nothing fancy here just a wonderful tool to keep one motivated which is what it is all about.

4) It is simple! Nothing fancy about a Concept 2 if you wan't bells and whistles that keep you excited for the first few days you use a piece of equipment, look elsewhere. If you wan't a great workout get a Concept 2.

5) The machine itself is relatively light and low key. It is no problem to unhook the machine and move it around if you want to. Some even travel with their machines to rowing events. However, if you just want to leave the machine in one place fine. It is long, about 7 feet, but certainly does not overtake a room.

I do not write many reviews, I save them only for the best and the worst. This machine is the best! One usually has to pay about 10 times this much to get such a well built and reliable piece of exercise equipment.


Rating :

Awesome Machine

This machine is great!!

It only took a few minutes to put together. The pictures are a little difficult to understand at first, but once you look at the parts and then the pictures it's totally obvious how to put it together, and there's only like 8 screws. The box it came in is much smaller than I thought it would be, and light enough for one person to lift and move.

If you go to the Concept 2 website and read through the beginning exercises they recommend not getting on and just rowing for 30 minutes your first session, but rather row for a couple of minutes, get up and walk around, then row a couple more minutes, get up and walk around, and repeat for about 20-30 total minutes. After a few sessions on it I'm still only rowing for about 20 total minutes but easily hitting 28-32 strokes per minute so it doesn't take long to get into a good rhythm. If you push hard with your legs and follow through with strong upper body strokes this machine can be used for a great whole body cardio and strength workout. It is really a great machine for those who don't have lots of time to work out, but still want to be in good shape.

Rating :

Concept 2 Rower

Looking for a low impact exercise machine to complement free weights, so we researched rowers. The nice thing about a rower is that you make your workout what you need; long and steady strokes or intense quick strokes. It doesn't cause excessive wear and tear on my joints, especially in the knees, which is important to me.

We looked at several types of rowers, read the pro's and con's about each, and Concept 2 was always mentioned as top of the line. An added advantage was they have two of these machines in the gym I used to go to, so was familiar with their use. Ordered the rower from Amazon, painless like everything else I've bought from them. Had it up and running in 30 minutes from the time I started opening the box, so it was really quite simple.

My personal pro's and con's...

Pro's- easy to set up, very easy to manipulate the workout monitor (we purchased the D version which doesn't have the heart rate function), solidly built, quiet enough to watch TV while using, provides an excellent workout for whatever you're game for.

Con's- really nothing. You get what you pay for, so although it was an initial chunk of change to plunk down, it should last a long time!

My girl and I would have to give this baby two thumbs up, and we'd like to consider ourselves discriminating shoppers.

Rating :

Simply the best equipment going

I own a C model and use the D at the club. In more than 30 years of different exercise and sports this is hands down the best piece of indoor training equipment I have found. Durable, simple and most importantly it works. This is the only piece of indoor equipment that I have used that I really feel like carries over well into actual outdoor activities. (and not just the obvious rowing) If you ever notice, these are almost impossible to find used because people never sell them. There is a reason.

If you are new to rowing(erging) then please do yourself a favor and go to the concept 2 site. Great support and help from the c2 community and the company. I really like the variety of competitive ranges 500 meters and up which inspire you to work a range from anaerobic and power to longer aerobic rows. Whatever your fitness level the Concept 2 can help you move up. Large people actually benefit from the mass so don't be afraid of rowing. Would suggest these to anyone serious about health or fitness.

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More reviews...

1. Precision rowing machine with deluxe ball-bearing rolling system
2. Smooth hydraulic cylinder action with adjustable tension controls
3. Multifunction fitness monitor tracks speed, distance, strokes, and more
4. Thick padded seat and pivoting footplates for maximum comfort
5. Measures 32.5 x 27.75 x 48 inches (W x H x D); weighs 47 pounds

Customer Review :

Row Row Row Your Bxtt!

Great exercise unit. Easy to assemble, easy to use and provides a great workout! Can feel the effects within days. Good value and workout for the money.

Rating :

pretty descent w/o bells and whistles

The product is descent. It is a strenuous exercise machine which is the reason we bought it. I am sure that some will not like it because it will not make a descent clothes rack which is definietly not its intended purpose. It is a workout machine and serves its purpose well. Price was good, shipping was fast. Only buy if you intend to use it for the intended purpose. I don't know of any other household way this thing could be used except to gather dust, chock the wheels on your car or boat in the driveway, maybe, but if you plan to work out with it, it surely gets the heart pumping.

Rating :

Great product

I ordered this product about 2 days ago. It came fast, and was very easy and quick to put together. I used it for an hour yesterday and it is one of the best rowers I have ever used. Great resistance, very smooth, and quiet. I highly recommend this rowing machine to anyone.... Even if you have never rowed before you will get the hang of it rather quickly.

Rating :

Horrible

Someone gave me a Stamina rower as a gift. I used it twice and the wheel broke. Fairly simple to fix right? I called the company and they were extremely hard to get through to and they constantly transferred me to the department that was supposedly going to help me get a replacement wheel. Then, EVERY TIME they transferred me I never got through to this department that supposedly existed to replace the wheel- the line always hung up. I've never received a replacement and called for weeks. I thought I might try to balance on the one wheel but the squeaks were too much. Oiling is necessary and I only used it a few times. The upkeep on the machine and the horrible service from the company were ridiculous. I am not sure if the rower I got was the same as this one but it looks the same and it doesn't matter- the company is not worth your time.

Rating :

A lot of rower for the money

I've had my Stamina Precision Rower for a year now. I love it! Unlike the treadmill, which requires regular maintenance (lubricate the belt, etc.), the rower requires no maintenance. No parts will ever wear out that will need to be replaced. The seat is very comfortable, the glide of the seat is extremely smooth. The arms row great. The total construction is excellent. Now, there's just one thing that's incredibly stupid about this rower, and it's not that difficult to fix. When not using it, of course you will want to stand it up and lean it against the wall. Well, unbelievably, the wire to the computer goes in dead center right in the bottom where you would stand it up. So, you want to make a small modification to the unit. You want to take off the cover of the computer (just as if you were changing the battery) and drill maybe a 1/4" hole straight into the aluminum body of the rower. Then, you want to run the computer wire down into that hole. Then, find the other end of the wire coming from the internal magnetic switch and solder the wires together. (You can then throw away the metal connector which previously joined the two.) When you're done, the computer/magnet sensor wire is completely INSIDE the rower. Then, you can stand the rower up on it's pedal-end with the seat-end up in the air, and lean it against the wall. But, for burning calories at home this thing is great. One thing I love about it is that the computer STOPS when you stop. Meaning, if you stop rowing, THE CLOCK STOPS. The clock doesn't resume again until YOU RESUME ROWING. So, it shows you the number of actual minutes you were rowing, not the number of minutes you were just sitting in the seat! With a very reasonable/low price, all in all (since nothing is perfect) I would recommend this rower pretty highly to anyone.

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1. Features a smooth and quiet eddy current drive system with a 16.5-pound flywheel
2. Solid steel frame; assembled dimensions measure 87 by 19 by 23 inches (L x W x H)
3. Folds to 34 by 19 by 64 inches (L x W x H) for easy storage
4. Three-LCD console provides distance, calories, time, strokes, and strokes per minute workout feedback
5. 300-pound maximum user weight; five-year frame warranty, two-year parts warranty, and one-year labor warranty

Customer Review :

Good Quality Rower

I'm a runner but needed a quieter workout (my treadmill can't really be used in my new condo). Stupid neighbors.

I'm glad I chose this model instead of going for the one that is just a little over $100. The assembly instructions were cryptic (there is a blown-up bill of materials that inaccurately showed over 100 parts). I found it too daunting (due to cognitive deficits, maybe) and asked my brother-in-law for help. It took him only 15 minutes; homie even said it was EASY.

I watched a few how-to-row-properly videos online and that made a difference. The machine folds up nicely and I can easily wheel it to the corner of the room. It makes little contact with the floor so I don't feel that a mat is necessary. This is my first rower and it's amazing how much I sweat during a 30-minute workout (about 600 strokes). I'm losing weight like a bastard.

I highly recommend the LifeSpan Fitness RW1000.

Rating :

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!

Rating :

LifeSpan Fitness RW1000 Rowing Machine

Did our homework on this one. And it paid off! This is a great no frills machine. Provides good workout at a reasonable price. Hope to enjoy it for years to come.

Rating :

Great machine

Bought it in a store (2nd Wind Fitness) for $450 if memory serves, 3mo's ago. Great workout, folds up easily, stows away in a corner, sturdy. Couldn't ask for more for the price. Very, very pleased!

Rating :

Not meant to actually be used

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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More reviews...

1. Indoor rowing machine with sliding seat for complete total body workouts
2. Flywheel is designed to minimize noise while providing the smooth feel of rowing on the water
3. Separates easily into two parts for transport and storage. Caster wheels make it mobile
4. PM4 Performance Monitor accurately measures performance and heart rate, includes chest belt HR transmitter
5. Requires footprint of 9 x 4 feet; 500-pound capacity; 5-year frame warranty

Customer Review :

5 out of 5!!!

Very good product I use it everyday! I love it and would recommend it to my friends!!!

Rating :

Amazingly Easy to Set up and Use

This is a great product. It is sturdy, gym quality, and easy to set up and use right away. Everything you could ask for in a rowing machine is included here, except the paddles. :-)

Rating :

I love it

My order was lost, then I received only one box, with less than half of the components of the rower. As instructed by Amazon, I now am returning the partial order and I should receive a new order. Why is Amazon using such terrible shipping practices?

It's a week later and I finally have the item. Setting it up was not too difficult, but because of the odd shapes, you really need another person. The exercise machine itself is very sturdy, made to take a lot of beating. Other people complained that there is too much plastic: yes, there are some plastic components, but the things that matter are all solid metal. It's no-impact and I get a good workout with only 30 mins/day.

Rating :

Best rower in the world

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.

Rating :

A Great Rower

I ride dirt bikes, and this machine offers the perfect workout for the areas I need help with most. Shoulders, Back and Arms. Some people say the legs get a good workout as well, but I would say that is not the case. Very little benefit to the legs, but it is easy on the knees.

Overall the Concept2 Model E is a great machine. I am glad I chose this over the Model D just for the higher stance, PM4 and maintenace free (except for oil) chain. The machine came delivered in two boxes, both of which were pretty beat up when they arrived, but nothing was damaged.

Putting the machine together took me about 30 minutes, and the instructions were OK. For the money I paid for this machine, I was hoping for a little bit better overall quality. Some of the screws did not line up really well with some of the holes for assembly. I may have even stripped one trying to get it in there, but it seems to be holding on ok. Also there is more plastic than I thought there would have been. The two main parts of the rower join together with a plastic fitting, which did not really snap together as I thought it should. This fitting I think should be metal for a more solid, secure and lasting fit. So far no problem with the plastic fitting though, but I never take it apart and stand it up either.

The action of the rower is excellent. I would like to see a bit more adjustability, as I feel like I want a bit more resistance, but can't get it. As you row harder the resistance does increase, although not as much as I would like, but still a great workout, and I am happy overall. I have the wind resistance set as restrictive as it will go, and that helps somewhat.

Overall these are the pros and cons as I see them, keeping in mind that I have owned the machine for about 3 months now, and use it very frequently:

Pros:
*Overall great quality machine.
*Rowing action is excellent.
*PM4 rechargable battery is self charging from the rower action, so no need to worry about batteries.
*PM4 games are actually very good, and can motivate a workout!
*Seat height is perfect, and I think an advantage over the Model D.
*Seat movement is super smooth and secure
*Love the nickle plated chain. Should last a long time
*The upper body workout can't be beat!

Cons:
*A bit too much plastic: Cheap plastic wheels, plastic handlebar mounts, plastic extension arm for the PM4, plastic fitting where two parts of the rower hook together.
*Screws don't line up perfectly when assembling, although I only really had trouble with one, there was another that was close. The rest where ok.
*Assembly instructions were a little vague.
*I would like to see handlebar options. I would have liked a little wider bar with smaller grips, but I can live with the standard bars ok.

If you are trying to decide between the Model D and Model E, I would highly recommend you spend the extra money on the Model E. It is an excellent rowing machine that should last longer than you.

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