Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

WHY I CHOSE IT: I'm a 54 yo 5'6" woman with a BMI of 27.4: I'm fairly muscular but need to lose a minimum of 16 pounds to reach a healthy BMI of 24.9..Ideally, I'd like to lose 30+ pounds. I am an RN and am on my feet most of the day. I chose the rowing machine because: (1) rowing is said to use a greater number of muscle groups and burn more calories than ellipticals or treadmills, (2) rowing is very low impact, (3) this machine has a pretty small foot print and stores relatively easily, (4) the price was right. WHAT TO EXPECT ON DELIVERY: ARRIVAL was 2 days after ordering. The total weight in the box is 67.2 pounds: Out of the box, 57.3 pounds. It arrived without any damage to the packaging or the unit. The packing was excellent. There are 7 parts: (1) The main front mechanical drum(main frame) is all in one with the pullbar/strap and timer/counter already in place, (2) slide rail, (3) seat, (4&5) front and back stablizers, (6&7) right and left foot rests....AND 2 packages of bolts/washers/knobs/and tools with an instruction booklet. ASSEMBLY was pretty straight forward. The connectors and tools were all present and all fit in their assigned holes. The instruction manual is step by step and easy to understand. The unit is a bit bulky and my 14 y/o daughter's assistance was a blessing. It took about an hour to unpackage, read, and assemble, but a second one would take about 20 minutes door to completion. There are wheels on the front end so it can be tipped up and moved from room to room; however we assembled the slide rail to the main frame where it was to be used. I didn't want to scratch my floors. I'm using a rug underneath but plan to get the recommended mat to keep it from scooting (slightly) during use. MAIDEN VOYAGE: I watched a YouTube video to learn how to position myself during use. (BTW: There are actually workout videos for rowing on YouTube) I like the seat of this unit. It is textured and has an angled back edge. I think without the two I might slide off the back. Wear shoes or you will get blisters on your heels, and you will have more stability with them on. Any other clothing is up to you; just be comfortable. The timer includes time, strokes, and calories burned. I'm not sure about the accuracy of the calorie counter. Everything I've seen online is about double what this unit indicates but my goal is heart rate and a balanced muscle involvement. So that doesn't matter to me. COMFORT and EASE of USE: The machine is very comfortable. I have to adjust my stance at times to avoid knee discomfort but overall I am satisfied with ease of use and comfort. LEVEL of WORKOUT: I have used this machine twice for 35 minutes each time using the level 3 out of 8 intensity setting, I have been able to achieve a moderate to vigorous cardiovascular target heart rate. I can feel very mild stiffness the majority of my major muscle groups (legs, glutes, abs, lats and back, deltoids, biceps, and triceps). I'm not sore by any means but it is nice to feel something. I imagine that in time my coordination will improve, I will need to increase the intensity and speed of motion very soon, and I will get a better and more intense CV and muscular workout. RECOMMENDATION: I think this is a safe and simple and inexpensive way to get a decent CV workout and to improve overall strength and flexibility. Stretching before and after is recommended. It isn't going to get me ready for competition but in just a couple of days I feel more balanced, coordinated, and energized. I recommend this unit for beginners and anyone who wants to keep moving, burn calories, and stay flexible. I'll let you know how it works out over time. RATING: I gave a 4 star rating. Minus one star because avid crew team members could not maintain competition performance on this machine. However, for the rest of the world, it is easy to order, easy to pay for, easy to assemble and store, easy to use, and provides decent CV workout for the average person.