Sunny Phantom Hydro Rowing Machine Review
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The Sunny Phantom Hydro Water rowing machine (model name SF-RW5910) is up against some stiff competition in the mid-price budget range. So what has it got that could make it stand out from the others? And when it sounds like it's named after a villain in a super-hero movie, it kind of sets high expectations - and it pretty much meets them all!
As with all our reviews, we'll start with getting it out of the box and putting it together. This is a pretty easy assembly with most of the major components coming pre-assembled. You then just fill the tank with water, guided by the resistance level markers - see more below. The seat is reasonably comfortable and not too low for those with dodgy knees! The beam is long making it suitable for taller rowers - up to around 6' 4" we reckon. The handle has a good diameter, is well-cushioned, and sits nicely in the palm of your hand - unless you have hands like shovels :0) The footrests are wide and well-designed with wide straps to hold them securely in place so they don't slip while rowing. Once you start rowing, you'll find it's quiet with just the water sloshing in the tank. The seat rollers provide a smooth ride up and down the beam. The steel frame has a sturdy feel and the 88 lb machine sits nicely on its supports and won't budge when you're hammering up and down the beam. This is a water-resistant rowing machine. The tank at the front holds water that provides the resistance for the 'hydro blades' that spin in the water as you pull on the handle.
It has 7 levels of resistance with a pretty good range from 1 to 7 to give you a good workout. You change the resistance level by adding or removing water, which is easy enough, but obviously you have to decide which level suits you for a whole workout. If you're prepared to pay a few hundred dollars more you can get a First Degree Neptune that has a lever to adjust the resistance level. But otherwise, all rowers in this price range use the same mechanism as the Sunny Phantom. However, resistance does increase slightly, the harder you pull on the handle. The water tank requires minimal maintenance - all you have to do is pop a water-purification tablet (1 packet included) every 6 months or so - easy or what, eh :0) And when you're done working out, you can fold the beam up and roll it away on the built-in wheels out of the way. However, due to the size of the water tank it still requires quite a large footprint when folded - see picture below.
When you reach these targets, the monitor will beep. One program we particular like it the race program. You set a target time for a distance you want to row, and 'race' the monitor to beat that time - great for motivating you if you're the competitive type :0) It also comes with a recovery program. When you finish your workout, you press the 'Recovery' button, the clock counts down from 60 seconds and displays your heart rate before and after the period. You can then rate your fitness based on the rate your heart rate recovers over this period.
Note, the monitor is not PC-compatible, and doesn't have real-time, online workouts, but Sunny do have a wide range of workout videos you can watch or download from their website here. The monitor has a tablet holder, so you can either follow one of Sunny's workout, or your favorite movie. Monitor require 2 x AA Batteries. Summary:
The Sunny Phantom Hydro is a great rowing machine for the price. You get some good features that should help to motive your training, it's study, well-made and should last years.
Sunny Phantom Hydro SF-RW5910:
Best Price:
* Note these prices may differ - please check retailer website for latest.
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QUICK REFERENCE
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Sunny Phantom Hydro Water Rower
Comfortable seat
LCD Display with tablet holder
Well-designed footrests
Water tank with 7 resistance levels
Folds, but still requires space
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Also worth a look:
We're really spoiled for choice in this particular section of the home equipment market. In our view, the best of the rest are the popular MaxKare Water rower, the Merax Water, or the Sunny Obsidian. Or for a few hundred dollars more, the XTERRA ERG650W offers more features such as pre-set programs.
We're really spoiled for choice in this particular section of the home equipment market. In our view, the best of the rest are the popular MaxKare Water rower, the Merax Water, or the Sunny Obsidian. Or for a few hundred dollars more, the XTERRA ERG650W offers more features such as pre-set programs.
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