Sunny SF-RW5713 Obsidian Surge 500 Review
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The Sunny SF-RW5713 Obsidian Surge 500 has one of the longest names for a rowing machine I've come across. And for reference, 'Obsidian' is a dark, glass-like volcanic rock formed by the rapid solidification of lava without crystallization (yes, I had to Google that!). I guess the name comes from the black, shiny finish on this water resistance rower.
Enough of the science lesson, what about the machine? I hear you say. So here goes. It looks good and has a few impressive features but be warned - it's not the easiest rowing machine to assemble. If you're not a DIYer you'll probably need to get someone in who is to give you a hand. In fact, it's a lot quicker if two put the thing together. Once you passed the test of getting the Obsidian assembled the first thing you'll need to do is fill the water tank before you can use it. The tank holds a maximum of 3 gallons and is easier enough to fill. There are quite a few myths regarding the amount of maintenance a water-resistant machine requires. In reality, it's very little. Just add the tablet provided, and it will keep the water algae-free (that is, it won't go green and smelly) for six months. Sunny recommend you change the water at the same time and add a new tablet. This takes a few minutes so really isn't any hassle at all. Sunny provides both tables and funnel to do this. You can change the resistance level by adding or removing water to the tank. On more expensive water-resistant machines you can do this much easier by moving a lever during your workout. But bare in mind, this costs less than half those models so you can expect the same features. The seat is comfortable and supportive and can easily give your butt a smooth ride for 30 minutes or more without experiencing discomfort. The height of the seat is great - the higher the better generally, especially if you suffer from back pain or stiff joints. The steel frame offers a solid feel when rowing - even at high stroke rates and can support a user up to 250 lbs. Now onto what could be a deal breaker for some - the footrests, swiveling footrests to be precise. Other models use the swivel action so your flex your ankles as you go up and down the beam, but they do it much better. There seems to be a design or build-quality issue here as we've had several reports of either the housing breaking, or screws shearing off. This is a huge inconvenience because you can't use the machine if you can't secure your feet. Replacement parts are available but it would be best if it didn't happen in the first place. Note, the model we tried did not suffer from this problem.
This is shame because apart from the footrests, it's a pretty good machine.
Summary:
For the price, the Obsidian has some great features offering good value for money in our view. Yes it does have a few faults mainly due to build quality, but we've had many good reports from users of this model who love it. Water machines aren't for everyone - see types of rowers for more info - but for the price the Obsidian offers a low cost entry-level model into water rowing with some good features. Note to Sunny - fix the footrests issues and you'll have a sure-fire winner. Note: This website is an associate of Amazon and a number of other retailers. We earn a commission from sales generated via these links, but this does not influence how we rate the rowing machines we review.
Sunny Obsidian Surge:
7.5/
10
Reviewer: R. Palmer
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CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE
Sunny SF-RW5713 Obsidian Surge
A good supportive seat
Pretty good display for a budget rower
Stores vertically when not in use
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Also worth a look:
There's quite a choice now in water machines in this price range. Others include the Xterra 600W and the MaxKare Water. But perhaps the two new contenders standing out from the crowd are the Fitness Reality 5000X or the Fitness Reality 3000WR.
There's quite a choice now in water machines in this price range. Others include the Xterra 600W and the MaxKare Water. But perhaps the two new contenders standing out from the crowd are the Fitness Reality 5000X or the Fitness Reality 3000WR.
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