- Resistance Levels: 8
- Space Saver Design–
- Calorie Readout–
- Strokes Per Minute Readout–
- Total # of Strokes Readout–
Product Description
The Spartan Magnetic Rower provides a challenging workout with 8 levels of resistance and folds away for convenience. The digital console tracks time, calories burned, RPM, and total strokes and includes a pulse/heart rate monitor. It has a 220-lb weight capacity…. More >>
I’ve tried both the Stamina Bodytrac and 1250 Rowers. The former had a leaking piston that made it inoperable within three months. The later made too much noise and was just awkward to use. This magnetic rower is a different thing altogether. For a comparable price, it’s a lot quieter and seems to be better made. Plus, everything came preassembled so it took me 10 minutes to get the machine going. It actually does fold (there’s a pivot point just behind the little handle bar on the bottom), but the footprint is still a little big. Also, there’s two footpads in the front that you use for strength training with the rower- something I didn’t expect.
However, the manual can be best described as barebones since there’s really no instructions concerning use or more details on all the features included. Plus, while there is a pulse display on the computer. a monitor doesn’t seem to be included (or maybe I haven’t found it due to the sparse manual). All in all, these things are minor inconveniences compare to the good deal.
Rating: 5 / 5
I like this rower, it is quiet and has a smooth ride. It doesn’t slide around when I am rowing and seems durable. It does say in the included manual that the maximum weight capacity is 220 lbs. I think that is a drawback, since my husband would have loved to use this, but exceeds the weight limit. It also is not a rower that you can fold up and roll away for easy storage.(I noticed on the product description above, it states it does, so I thought I clarify that!) You will have to pick a spot and leave it there. I have an exercise room, so this is not an issue for me. It is certainly a great rower for anyone just buying one for the first time and not wanting to spend a lot of money on it. If you’re an advanced rower, then you might be looking for something with more bells and whistles. Rowing is such a great all over exercise and you will definitely burn more calories in less time than some other machines.
Rating: 4 / 5
The Spartan Magnetic Rower rocks. Easy assembly, smooth operation, lots of bang for the buck, fairly quiet and very well made. I gave it 4 out of 5 for only 2 minor drawbacks: (1) I wish the resistance setting was a little bit stiffer on max, for a shorter muscle-crunching workout, and (2) the LCD could have been a LED, or backlit – it is difficult to read unless you tilt your head just the right angle.
But overall, I’d recommend this machine highly to anyone.
Rating: 4 / 5
This is a nice home rowing machine. It’s solid, rolls smoothly on the rail, and seems well-designed. The display is plenty large enough for me, but you have to tip your head over slightly to read it, since the rowing tape (it doesn’t use a cable) comes out above it, partially obscuring it. Really, not a big deal to look at it. It is supposed to be able to pick up the signal from a heart rate monitor (the strap around the chest deal) if you should own one. They can be had for less than $40, including a wrist watch readout, and Ekho makes one that’s supposed to work with excercize equipment capable of reading the signal. I’ve got one coming, so we’ll see if it works with this rower.
The paperwork says it comes with a one-year warranty, something I couldn’t find information on anywhere that sold this rower, so a decent warranty. Their customer service number is (866) 274-9034, and http://www.spartansports.net, BTW, in case you have other questions.
Most sites that sell it, advertise it with free shipping, until you get it into your cart and go through check-out, where you do get charged for shipping, so beware. I got mine at Sports Authority, and their cart automatically deducted the shipping cost, just as advertised, and I used a coupon code that shaved a bit more off the price. It arrived quickly and in perfect condition.
As mentioned in the other reviews, there are no user instructions for the rower itself–just assembly and warranty info, but there is an insert detailing the use of the display. I’m only 5’1″, and wish the seat could roll forward another couple of inches, but I can still get a decent range of motion with my legs. I like that you can rig the foot strap to anchor even a very small foot!! My 6′ husband can also use it comfortably without hitting the rear stops. It would have been nice to have more information about other uses, but anyone with any excercize experience at all can figure out how to use the rower to do curls, shoulder lifts, etc. The foot pads, that you stand on to keep from lifting the whole rower, are a nice idea.
Assembly was an easy 20-minute job for this stay-at-home mom, and did not require two people, even though the instructions suggest this.
The seat rail does fold up, but you have to completely unscrew one knob, and remove a thick pin, and even then, it does not fold flat. Folded, it takes about 2′ x 2-1/2′ of floor space, and about 2′ x 6′ feet extended, so pretty compact. It has small rollers under the resistance unit, intended to make it easy to push around, but this is a heavy machine and it doesn’t move easily on carpet. Best if you can leave it where you use it.
Overall, I’m very satisfied with my purchase and think I’ll get lots of use out of it. I would definately recommend to other people looking for a home workout machine.
Rating: 5 / 5
I can not understand the complaints of the 1 star reviewer. First, the item is worth what it is worth. At less than $150 (with Xmas discount), I got a 2 year “replacement” warranty and it is still cheaper than $170. I am sure I will break it before the warranty is up. But I am not ready to sink $900 into a Concept2.
The frame is durable. And as the company warned, should easily handle folks under 220 lbs. It is a little too large for short people, but you can accomodate by changing your stroke and knee flexion. But I would say, 5 ft or taller is best. One can screw wood spacer on the foot rest to accomodate shorter people, and I imagine this is the same problem short people will have in any gym equipment. Most are made for folks 5’6 and taller.
Tips: If you keep on hitting the front bumper, you’ll need to change your strokes. Try to hyperflex your abdomen like doing a situp on the retraction stroke, so that way you are exercising your back more. This will minimize the hip and knee flexion, thus preventing the seat from hitting the bumper. Rowing really involve little knee or hip flexion, but more back extension and abdomen flexion. If your foot keep on coming out of the foot rest, you are using your legs too much. You really do not need to strap it tight, nor to move your foot very much to get a good workout. Too tight on the tension knob (4 or more) might actually be counterproductive for a good work out. This is really is an aerobic exercise, and not a static weight lifting device.
Resistance is more than adequate for an aerobic workout. I believe setting the machine on a lower setting will allow for greater range of movement, and thus more rapid strokes and aerobic conditioning. At higher resistance, one is limitted by speed, and thus aerobic speed is not achieved. Compared to the Concept2, I think it is not as smooth, but acceptable.
There is a center hinger, which require the removal of 1 pin and unscrewing of a large knob to fold it up. It would likely take about 4 minutes to do, to save space.
Like what another user said, raising the back of the unit a few inches can improve the work out. I’ve not tried it, but gravity would make sense. The seat is comfortable, but my butt is a little sore after 30 minutes on the machine. I realize that by varying the position of the bar, you can get a variety of workout, aside from the usual rowing motion. We live on a lake, and I do row in the summer. You can get a better workout on this machine than a row boat. I think it will be great for my back, and will be a good alternate day workout from running on the treadmill. It works my back, and arms well. And not as tough on my knees and back.
My guess is, this machine will please 90% of the folks. Like any other inexpensive rower, I doubt that it will last more than 1 or 2 years of heavy use. Since it has magnetic resistance, it should not be leaking oil like the comparable hydraulic rowers of equal or higher prices. But it is light enough and easy enough to assemble, that buying one every one or two year is not a bad investment. I’ll give more feedback with time.
Oh, the digital display is easy to read. The letters are at least 1 inch in height. It is hard to understand the options. The heart rate monitor is not available (duh, there is no sensor!!!), but has a notch for it. Basically, you just set it on stroke or time. And calorie count. I left it on stroke and calorie (joule), and it works fine for me with my poor vision. The monitor is securely snapped in, and uses 2 AAA batteries. It is not “glued” on as the other rater noted.
As far as I am concerned, it is a well built piece of equipment. The weak point is the rewind mechanism on the rowing bar. My guess is, it will give out after about 300,000 strokes. I am sure it is engineered to quit before I hit one year. Hey, that’s what extended “replacement warranties” are for. Most folks will use it for about 3000 strokes, and never touch it again….
10000 stroke report: The “computer” does not accurately register calorie count. You can do little “baby” 1/2 inch strokes burning near zero calorie, and it will give you the same calorie count as a full stroke. I believe that the resistance knob might change your calorie count, but I would not doubt if it doesn’t. So, if you are a small person with small troke, you will be over credited for your work out, and if you a large person using full strokes, you will likely be undercredited for your work out. The machine has a “sweet spot” where there is minimal noise. However, this all depends on your stroke, and body size. It likely will last longer if your stroke or body matches this sweet spot. This is not a problem with the chain driven Concept2. As for the rater who said this machine is for the weak and feeble, try setting your machine on 4 or 5 and doing full strokes at a rate of 1000 strokes per 15 minutes. I think you will soon realize that this machine can push the limit on upperbody endurance (I swim regularly 1 hour at a time). It is simply not as smooth and well laid out as the more expensive Concept2 ($900).
20000 stroke report: I am noting a little fray and wavy edge on the left side of the ribbon. It is what happen when your body lean to either the left or the right when pulling on the “oars”. I have been trying to keep my stroke straight to minimize this, as it would destroy the ribbon in a hurry. The rower is still relatively quiet, so I can use it early in the morning without waking up my wife. I can not use the treadmill in the morning for the noise reason. The machine quit registering stroke count after only 2 weeks of use. We changed the factory provided batteries, and it is working fine now. My wife is very short, and she has problem doing comfortable strokes with this machine. It is not like other rowing machine, in that the seat is stopped about 12 inches before the recoil mechanism. Unless you have long arms and good flexibility, it can be difficult to have full strokes with this machine if you are short.
30000 stroke report: After 3 weeks of use, it is still functioning fine. The tape is more frayed on the edges. If I were to reengineer this product, I would make it possible to move the foot pedals forward to the hinge of the frame so you don’t have to be tall to use the product. I would elevate the point of exit of the tape higher so the rowing handle can clear your knees better. This machine works better when you don’t use the foot straps. To prevent wrist and forearm fatigue, I switch the position of my hands every 50 strokes (fingers up for one set, and fingers down for the other set). The alternation between pronation of the hand and supination of the hand minimize the fatigue in the forearm and wrist muscles.
40000 stroke completed…. No problems.
60000 plus strokes and 5 months later – No problems. I might be wrong, it might last longer than 100000 strokes.
Rating: 5 / 5