STAMINA Precision Hydraulic Rower 1205 - Smart Workout App, No Subscription Required - Compact Full Motion Rowing Machine for Home

This is a simple rowing machine and does what I wanted. Aspects I wanted were 1) small footprint when folded. When folded the machine sticks out from the wall about 10" and is around 30" long, so easily leans against my wall in a crowded room 2) blocks of various heights can be placed under the rear of the seat rail and that allows me to vary the amount of leg work by increased gravity while keeping the arm work the same 3) independent oars for the coordination of pulling symetrically (which doesn't happen with a single cable/handle machine. 4) The machine is mechanically simple, so it will be easy to repair if a part breaks. The most specialized part are the two shock absorbers.Aspects that are a chore: 1) the machine is heavy. The spec is that the machine is around 47 pounds, and it is, and with my bad back deploying it and putting it away is a bit of a risk. 2) it took around 1.5 h to assemble. The instructions were clear enough: in the manual there are a sequence of images and appropriate fasteners: first put this together, then add these, then add these etc. However, there a lot of parts. My progress was continuous: look at the diagram, find the parts, fit them together, put in the fastners, and it still took me around 1.5 hours before I first tried the machine. 3) I wish the manual had included some tightening torques for the fasteners that hold the bushings. Nyloc nuts are supplied so there is no need to strongly torque the brackets into which the bushings fit, but it is easy to torque the brackets until the bracket sides pinch the bushing, and some sort of instruction such as "only tighten nuts until they touch the bracket", or "tighten nuts until the bracket almost touches the bushing" would have been nice.

There are lots of different styles and brands of rowing machines out there. Because I was seeking a rower for under two hundred dollars, I did a lot of shopping around before settling on the Stamina 1205. I read a lot about different types of rowers, and decided that I would prefer something that was silent and that would not lose tension after a few minutes of rowing. While some of the reviews for the Stamina 1205 I read were less than stellar, there were several that were quite positive.It took me about two hours to assemble the rower; although the enclosed instructions suggested that two people be present during assembly, I had no trouble on my own. NOTE: you will need TWO adjustable wrenches to assemble this rower, especially if you are doing it by yourself. A Philips head screwdriver is needed to assemble the monitor console, but this piece is not essential to operating the rower.The Stamina 1205 is whisper-quiet, has adjustable tension, and a comfortable seat. The only thing that irritated me was that I found the foot pedals to be rough on my heels; when wearing shoes, however, this problem disappears. I couldn't be happier with my choice: the price was right, assembly easy (if a bit time-consuming), and the workout is fantastic. Because Amazon offers free shipping on many items, this was the absolute best choice for the price. The Stamina 1205 is sturdy, yet not too heavy for me to move by myself. It does not collapse, but if space isn't an issue for you, I say go for it. Highly recommended for anyone who, like me, is seeking a full-body workout that allows one to escape putting pressure on the ankles or knees. Glad I chose the Stamina 1205!!P.S. I find the seat and range of motion very comfortable; I am 5'8''. I would imagine that most people between 5'-6' in height would find it comfortable as well.

I got this a couple of years ago, and I'll admit I've been very erratic in my use. That being said, I've finally gotten into a solid rhythm with using this and want to add my thoughts to using it over time.First, it's built pretty solid. No problem there. The overall construction at least. The hand grips are a little less solid, with the left one now half off. I suspect it might be the heat from the cylinders, which get very warm after a 30+ minute workout. Then the hand rest go back down, rest on them, and that's not good. So, I've learned to keep them raised a bit.The seat slides well, and the tension is easy to adjust. I've not had great consistency with the display. It seems to be a bit finicky. More so since I accidentally rested this vertically, and forgot to unplug the monitor, which put all the weight on the plug. Even still, before this, it was more of a relative guide than an absolute help. But, this isn't a high quality model. Really, it's a solid quality version of the low end rowing machines. The pistons are what puts it in this category. Higher quality rowers use magnetic (for instance the Stamina Avari Programmable Magnetic Exercise Rower ) or a flywheel (for instance the Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine ). But those are quite a bit more expensive.This one provides a solid workout, with less frills or "on the water" feel to be sure, but it gets your body moving and does so in a way that makes a real difference in strength and overall fitness. Tension is adjusted with knobs on each of the pistons, a very mechanical and easily done approach. Again, no frills, just the basics. But it does the basics well.I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a first rowing machine or if your budget doesn't quite allow for a nicer one. It works and it has worked well as long as I've had it, though like with any exercise machine it works best for fitness if you're actually using it.