Xebex Air Rowing Machine Review
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The Xebex AR-1 Air Rower came as a pleasant surprise for the price they ask. BTW, we've heard it pronounced 'zeebex' and 'zebex' so take your pick which on you prefer :0)
So why have you not heard of this rower before? Well maybe you have, but while Xebex have been on the scene for some twenty years now, they are better known for their air bikes. But note. Xebex are not one of those brands that buy off-the-shelf and stick their badge on - they do the research and development, and also make their machines. That's a big, big plus in our view. So enough of the history, what about the rowing machine? If you're short on time we'll tell you now - it's very good! Now for the nuts and bolts. First the rowing position. The first thing you'll notice is the height of the seat. At around 22" off the floor it has the feel of a commercial rower and definitely an bonus for you knees and back when getting off after a tough workout. The contoured, padded seat is very comfortable and should suit most but the largest butts even when rowing for long periods. The seat runs smoothly and quietly, up and down the stainless steel beam and has a quality, sturdy feel. In fact, even when the biggest guy on our team (6' 2") is going at it hammer and tongs, the machine stays rock solid. The handle is satisfyingly thick and well-padded meaning you shouldn't have to worry about using gloves to avoid hand blisters.
And last but not least in the all-important rowing position and comfort stakes, the Xebex scores highly with the footrests. They're very easy to adjust with a one-touch button (see orange tabs on the photo lower right) With good width and length, even those with very big feet will find them held securely in place. And if you're intending to share your machine, the one-touch adjustment is a useful feature. Not surprisingly, the AR-1 use air to provide the resistance. As with all air rowers it can get a little noisy, so if noise is an issue where you'll be using your rowing machine, you may want to consider a magnetic model. With some air machines it can take a few pulls to find the resistance, but with the first pull on the Xebex you can feel the resistance immediately. The damper has 10 settings and the difference between the lowest and highest is wide enough to give you the variation for different types of workout - but note, setting the damper at 10 isn't always going to give you the best workout (see how to use the damper). The AR-1 is a folding rower and, depending on how and where you use your machine, may be a positive or negative. First, it's very easy to fold - just pull the pin behind the hinge and it will fold with a nudge at the middle. The machine weighs in at 95 lbs, but the transport wheels make it easy to push or pull to where you want to store it. But here's the point to consider, when folded it has a relatively larger footprint, but on the plus side, it doesn't require much height so could be stored under a shelf in your garage or home gym. Display/ Console
So on to the monitor. For some, this may determine whether you buy this one, or go for the ever-dominant Concept2. The display consists of a large LCD screen that is very easy to read, use and understand. It uses batteries but does seem to be quite power-hungry and you may find you get through them quickly - although it does have an auto-timed power down. The screen tilts to suit the tall and the short. But while it does have a good selection of workouts, including pre-set targets for distance or calories, or intervals, and is compatible with a chest-strap to display your heart rate, the monitor has no PC-compatible or online features. For most this won't be an issue, but if you consider yourself a pro or have other gym equipment where you have PC features, you may consider the functions limited.
Summary:
This is a great rower that will take all the punishment you can throw at it. It has a quality feel, it's sturdy, very comfortable to use, and easily portable. It's also very good value for the money you'll pay.
Xebex AR-1:
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QUICK REFERENCE
Click image to enlarge
Xebex AR-1 Air Rower
Wide seat and adjustable footrests
Large easy-to-use display
Air resistance with 10 damper settings
Xebex is a folding rower
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Also worth a look:
As with all rowing machines in this price range we have to recommend you check out the Concept2 - it's not the top-selling rower for nothing! Or there's the commendable LifeSpan RW7000 Commercial.
As with all rowing machines in this price range we have to recommend you check out the Concept2 - it's not the top-selling rower for nothing! Or there's the commendable LifeSpan RW7000 Commercial.
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