The Sunny Health and Fitness Rowing Machine SF-RW1205 is ideal for new to intermediate level exercisers with a small workout space and a very tight budget.
My cousin recently bought one, and she’s been raving about it. I gave it a test run last weekend, and I was blown away at what you get for the money. It doesn’t have the bells and whistles of high-end models, but IMO it would still be a bargain at twice the price!
Along with being extremely compact and excellent value for money, the rower has some useful features that will help to make your workouts more productive and enjoyable. These include adjustable resistance, a monitor which shows your workout stats and a comfortable seat. The machine is light enough to move if required, and, with minimal disassembly, it folds to store.
In this Sunny Rowing Machine review, we will look at its specs, key features, pros, and cons as well as what purchasers are saying about it.
Sunny Health and Fitness Rowing Machine Specs
Dimensions – The Sunny Health and Fitness Rower measures 21 1/2″ (H) x 20″ (W) x 22″ (L).
Seat dimensions – The seat measures 9″ (L) x 12″ (W).
Seat height – The distance from the floor to the seat is 13″.
Weight – It weighs 20lbs.
User weight – The user weight limit for this model is 220 pounds. Purchasers weighing up to 250 pounds have left positive feedback, but it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Batteries – The console requires 2 x AA batteries.
Sunny Health and Fitness Rowing Machine Key Features
- Robust construction
The Sunny Health Rower has a solid steel frame with a silver colored, anti-corrosive finish.
- Monitor
An easy-to-read electronic monitor displays workout stats, including Time, Calories Burned, Rows and Total Rows. Your stats will be visible on the screen, as soon as you begin exercising. When you finish your workout, the monitor will shut itself off after four minutes of inactivity. These features can also be selected manually, by pressing a button.
For a comprehensive overview engage Scan Mode, which will cycle through all of the stats, displaying each in turn for a few seconds.
You can reset your metrics to zero by pressing the monitor’s red button for four seconds.
- Variable resistance
The Sunny Health and Fitness Rowing Machine has 12 levels of hydraulic resistance. These are accessible at the turn of a knob, without you having to pause your workout.
- Ergonomic seat
The seat has been designed to provide comfort and support. Thickly padded, it has a durable artificial leather seat cover.
- Ergonomic handles
The rower’s well-padded ergonomic handles have a soft-touch textured finish to enhance grip and make your sessions more comfortable.
- Footplates
Textured pivoting footplates improve grip and enable natural movement. Fully adjustable foot straps fit feet of any size.
In the next part of this Sunny Health Rowing machine review we will look at its pros, then its cons.
Sunny Health and Fitness Rowing Machine Pros
- Excellent value
You’d have to look long and hard to find a rower of this caliber that costs less.
- Suitable for users of most heights
The Sunny Health and Fitness Rower caters to users up to 6’4″ tall with an inseam of no more than 36″.
- Robust & Stable
Though light, the Sunny Health and Fitness Rowing Machine feels solid and stable, no matter how hard you row.
- Comfortable seat
The rower’s cushioned seat glides smoothly, and it feels comfortable, even during long workouts.
- Smooth & Quiet
The seat’s gliding mechanism incorporates quality rollers that should withstand regular, long term use.
Quiet to operate, you will be able to watch the television as you work out and you won’t have to worry about disturbing anyone in your vicinity.
- Folds
While not a folding rower as such, the rear base can be unscrewed and lifted upwards. It will then fit into a closet to store.
- Easy assembly
The machine comes with most of the parts pre-assembled. Completing the job will take around 15 minutes. The instructions in the user manual are very easy-to-follow and photos are included. The tools you will need are supplied.
- Warranty
This model comes with a 1-year warranty on its frame and 90 days on parts.
Sunny Health and Fitness Rowing Machine Cons
- Seat isn’t adjustable
The seat cannot be lifted or lowered, nor can it be moved further forward or backward.
- Limited range of motion
The length of the pulling bar is not adjustable. While still fully-functional, very tall users will not find it long enough to be able to pull the bar up to their chest.
- Loss of resistance
A couple of minutes into working out, the rower’s cylinder heats up, resulting in a slight loss of power. As soon as you notice this, increase the resistance a notch or two to keep your workout consistent.
- Console location
The console is attached to the main rowing arm. This can make it a bit difficult to view during workouts.
- Calories burned accuracy
A common issue with fitness equipment, including this piece, is that there is no facility to enter the user’s weight, height, and other relevant details. As a result, your calorie readout will be based on an average. While not entirely accurate, it will still be a useful guideline.
Sunny Health and Fitness Rowing Machine SF-RW1205 Summary
This simple rower from Sunny Health and Fitness has a lot in its favor. Effective, quiet and comfortable to use, it is worthy of a place on your shortlist if you’re looking for an inexpensive machine that provides an efficient low-impact cardio and total body toning workout.
With feedback published from several hundred Amazon customers alone, reviews for the Sunny Health and Fitness Rowing Machine are overwhelmingly positive.
To read reviews of other popular rowing machines, click this link
