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Stamina 1205 Precision Rower

List price: $350.00
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Product Details

Binding: Sports
Brand: Stamina
EAN: 0022643312050
Label: Stamina Products, Inc
Dimension: 0.3 x 42 x 0.29 inches
Manufacturer: Stamina Products, Inc
Model: 35-1205
Publisher: Stamina Products, Inc
Number of items: 1
Studio: Stamina Products, Inc

Features and Descriptions

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

Ratings & Comments(Average: 4.0

)

- Worth the money.
This rower seems very well worth the money. It's built well, is easy to store and move around because of it's light weight. It fits right in to an average closet, unlike a lot of other excersize equipment that I've owned. The seat is ample in size and comfortable. The seat moves effortlessly and it did take a little time to get used to getting seated in position. The kids have no trouble getting seated at all. It's also quite noiseless so you can hear the TV or stereo. Only the woosh of the cycilinders when you row and it doesn't take up much floor space either so it would be good for apartments. It fits tall or short. I'm six foot and have no problems nor do the grand kids. The tension is easy to adjust and only takes a moment. I'd highly recommend this for the average family. The only negative is the small probe for the battery operated counter/timer on the front. When you stand the rower on end the probe is easily broken off, which happened to us the first time one of the kids carried it in to another room. You don't need the counter at all to get the excersize, the rower works just fine without it, but it was a nice little added feature.

- Disappointing
One of the shocks broke on this machine after very little use. Metal just snapped apart. Replacement piece is $24.99. Debating whether it is worth it . . .

- Good money's worth
I purchased this rower because my knees won't allow me to run anymore.....I'm pushing sixty......the stamina 1205 is just what I needed. I have had several rowers in the last thirty years, and this one is, by far, the best. Putting it together was fairly straight forward, and took less than an hour. You might as well be lifting weights if you set this thing on a difficult setting.....I put it at about 25 percent difficulty and use it for cardio. I am up to 800 rows, and this takes about twenty minutes. My goal is 1000/day, five times weekly...then maybe.....maybe.....I will increase the difficulty levels. I feel I get an excellent workout, I am losing weight and gaining tone, and I feel better than I did before I started. I think the construction of the stamina 1205 is excellent, and I would have given the unit five stars, except I feel like I am going to wear the wheels out on the seat........but it hasn't happened yet. If is does, I will just replace them...this is a great buy.

- Warning don't buy!!! Hydraulics shot after 2 weeks use
Don't waste your time or money on this piece of junk. Most of the positive reviews must be from people who posted their review just after trying this product. If you use it more than once or twice for 30 minutes at a time you are going to notice some serious problems. For one the bolts come loose as you are using it which requires you to stop your workout to re-tighten them. There are issues with the resistance knobs not staying put so that your resistance slowly loosens as you use it. Worst of all though is the crappy hydraulics. So far I have had bad luck with any exercise machine that uses hydraulics because the hydraulics pistons give out after so many uses. I was hesitant about buying this rowing machine for the same reason but decided to go for it because of all the positive reviews. We after using it for two weeks, three times a week at 30 minutes a time the hydraulics are completely shot on my machine and I have no tension. So if you actually want to exercise and get in shape do not buy this cheaply made piece of junk. If all you want to do is use it once or twice then leave it in the closet and forget about it like many people do then go ahead and trust the positive reviews because I'm sure that's where their rowing machines ended up. Most people don't use the exercise equipment they buy which is why companies like Stamina get away with making shoddy products.

I cannot emphasize this enough. Do Not Buy This Crap!

- good for what it is, but there are serious limitations
I bought this rower because our basement ceiling is too low for an elliptical trainer. Turns out, I really enjoy rowing and as I get more experienced I have learned the limitations of this one.

Pros: solid for the price, comfortable seat, a good muscle workout.

Cons:
I am 5'4" and the unadjustable handles are too high for me. They seemed fine at first, but then I used the Concept 2 at the gym and realized that I naturally hold the handle lower down (as opposed to up near my shoulders) when I have the option. As I researched proper rowing form, it turns out my instinct was correct. When I do a longer row on the Stamina, my wrist bother me.

Also, the Stamina is hard to pull, even at the easiest level. It will loosen up and you will get stronger, but I was unable to get a good aerobic workout at first because I couldn't row quickly enough. Again, not a problem on the Concept 2.

Finally, the monitor is in miles, not meters, but all rowing training and race literature is in meters. And the monitor does not show strokes per minute, a figure that is also standard in the training literature.

Conclusion: This will give you a decent workout, but may cause arm or wrist discomfort if you aren't just the right height for the machine. And, if you becoming serious about training, you may be frustrated by the inadequate monitor. I'm glad I bought this because it taught me how much I enjoy rowing, but it is no comparison to the Concept 2 and I plan to upgrade.

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