Sunny Rowing Machine Review
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Okay, we'll own up here and admit we really didn't want to go to the trouble to review the Sunny Rowing Machine, but we get a stack of emails asking for our view so we put out the feelers and here we go.
We were careful not to have any pre-conceived ideas about a model costing around $100 - but we have to say we weren't surprised by what we saw. Let's start with the first thing that hits you when you sit on it - the uncomfortable seat. It could really do with another inch of padding and at least some shape. Many budget rowers come with a molded seat for added comfort, but when something like this sells for just a hundred dollars, corners have to be cut. In common with most budget rowers, this is a hydraulic resistance machine. And in common with most hydraulic machines this doesn't make for an easy row. The long pistons on the Sunny and the housing mechanism mean the resistance is virtually non-existent on the first part of the stroke, and then it kicks in around half way, This makes it difficult to row at a high stroke rate and many will find this frustrating. Pistons are unreliable when it comes to providing a smooth and consistent resistance. As the temperature of the fluid changes so does its viscosity. The other resistance methods all offer a better way to resist your muscles - but they usually come at a price. When you do start rowing and overcome the erratic resistance this machine squeaks and creaks which can become annoying - even if you're listening to music. Unusually for a low-priced model, the Sunny is better if you're taller than 5' 7". If you're shorter than this you'll find it difficult to reach and operate the display unit. The other unique feature of this model is that it's under 8 inches high. But this isn't really a positive. We had a number of reviewers state it was a struggle to get up from such a low seat after rowing - one joked he got more of a workout from getting off it than rowing on it! Now onto the build quality. Again, we have to remember it's only $100 (which means it's probably manufactured for less than $50) but even so, there's no excuse for poorly fitting parts and bits that come loose or fall off.
Summary:
Hats off to Sunny Health and Fitness for trying to bring home fitness equipment into the reach of more people with this model. But in our view it's still a waste of your money. Maybe, just maybe if you're very unfit (and under 220lbs) and only have a few bucks to spare, this might be okay, but we really can't think of any other reason to recommend this machine.
* Note these prices may differ - please check retailer website for latest.
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The cheap but not so cheerful Sunny rower
The uncomfortable seat
Piston resistance mechanism
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Also worth a look:
Without sounding too cruel - anything but this is worth a look. But seriously if you're on a budget the Trac Glider is a much better machine for around $50 more. If you can stretch a little more.the Avari Easy Glide is another one to check out. But if you're thinking about training for long periods, you need to spend a few hundred dollars more.
Without sounding too cruel - anything but this is worth a look. But seriously if you're on a budget the Trac Glider is a much better machine for around $50 more. If you can stretch a little more.the Avari Easy Glide is another one to check out. But if you're thinking about training for long periods, you need to spend a few hundred dollars more.
Easy Glide user comments
"OMG! What a nightmare. As soon as I got it out of the box I just knew this was a mistake. It took way too long to assemble because some of the parts didn't fit until I filed them down. And once I started using it... to cut a long story short, it's noisy, doesn't row well, the seat needs more padding and the pistons are a joke. Okay it was only around $100 but I still expected to be able to use it!" Len T. (user for 2 months before replacing model)
"It's a $100 so it ain't going to be a gym quality machine. It's okay I suppose but if you're serious about getting fit then you should expect to pay more for a better machine." Eddie P. (3 months)
"I'm so frustrated with the Sunny rower. It was a real pain to put together and then the nuts and bolts are coming loose after only a few days! I estimate I burn more calories tightening the nuts than I do working out on the thing! Do yourself a favor and don't bother, buy something else -anything!" Diego L. (3 months)
Do you have a Sunny? Anything to say in its defense?
"It's a $100 so it ain't going to be a gym quality machine. It's okay I suppose but if you're serious about getting fit then you should expect to pay more for a better machine." Eddie P. (3 months)
"I'm so frustrated with the Sunny rower. It was a real pain to put together and then the nuts and bolts are coming loose after only a few days! I estimate I burn more calories tightening the nuts than I do working out on the thing! Do yourself a favor and don't bother, buy something else -anything!" Diego L. (3 months)
Do you have a Sunny? Anything to say in its defense?
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