Made by one of the most respected brands in the fitness industry, this model offers air resistance, an ergonomic design and a durable construction. While not perfect, the R600 is a budget-friendly machine that delivers a great workout and features in our rowing machine reviews & buyer’s guide.
Features
- 10 Air resistance levels; inertia-enhanced flywheel
- 24 built-in workout programs
- Large LCD displays distance, speed, time, RPM, strokes, watts and calories
- Adjustable footplates with straps
- Ergonomic handles
- Folds up for storage
It may be simple in design, but it comes with the features that matter most and a relatively compact design that makes it a good fit for smaller homes.
Air Resistance
Using the power of air to create resistance, it has a flywheel that spins as you row, creating natural resistance that makes your workouts more challenging.
The faster you row, the more difficult your workout will be. On top of the natural resistance that air offers, this machine also has ten manual levels of resistance.
Most people will find that this machine delivers a difficult workout that builds stamina and muscle.
Built-in Workout Programs
If you’re looking to vary your workouts, this machine has 24 built-in workout programs to make your workouts more difficult and interesting.
Whether you’re just getting started in your fitness journey or you’ve been exercising for years, you’ll appreciate the versatility that this model offers.
Easy-to-Read LCD Display
It comes with an easy-to-read LCD that displays your workout stats, including:
- Time
- Speed
- Strokes
- Watts
- Calories burned
- RPM
- Distance
While very simple in design, the LCD allows you to track your progress so that you reach your goals faster.
Adjustable Parts
Both the seat and the foot pedals are adjustable, so you can find a position that’s just right for you. The seat is cushioned and contoured for a more comfortable workout.
The handles also have an ergonomic design, so you don’t have to worry about hand fatigue or pain during your workouts.
Folding Design
If you live in a smaller home or apartment, you may not have the space for a large piece of fitness equipment. To make matters worse, most air resistance models have big and bulky flywheels that make them difficult to store.
This model has a folding design that makes it easy to store in between uses. Place in a corner or closet, or store in another room to save on space. The front of the machine also has wheels, which makes it easy to roll it from room to room.
What Makes This Model Stand Out from the Competition?
This is just one of hundreds of machines on the market. What sets this model apart from the competition?
Variable Resistance
One thing that sets this machine apart from others is that it also offers manual resistance. The extra resistance helps make workouts more difficult, so you lose weight while gaining strength and stamina.
Ergonomic, Comfortable Design
This machine features an ergonomic, comfortable design that makes it easy to stay focused on your workout instead of discomfort for pain that some machines cause.
It also has a thick cushioned seat that is contoured to keep your backside from hurting mid-workout.
Built-In Workout Programs
It also comes with built-in programs that vary your workouts to make them more interesting and fun.
The body eventually gets accustomed to doing the same workout routine, so they become less effective over time. With workout programs, the resistance changes at random times throughout the workout, so your body is constantly challenged.
Workout programs help you reach your goals faster by helping you avoid plateaus and make your workout routines more interesting. If you start getting bored with your workouts, you’ll lose motivation to keep going.
Easy to Track Your Progress
The built-in computer monitor helps you keep track of your progress. The LCD displays important information, like calories burned, distance and the number of strokes you performed.
Writing down your results from each workout will help you really see whether or not you’re gaining stamina and strength. If not, you can tweak the resistance level and time to make your workouts more difficult.
Space-Saving Design
Let’s face it – fitness equipment take up a lot of space. If you live in a small home or apartment, you may not want a machine that takes up half of your living room.
The folding design of the R600 makes this a great option for smaller living spaces. It folds vertically, so you can push it into a closet or the corner of a room in between uses.
The wheels on the front make it easy to move, and the machine itself is relatively lightweight.
One more note: You may want to have someone help you bring this machine inside of your home, especially if you have to climb a flight of stairs. It’s best to assemble the unit in the room you want to use it in, so you may need an extra pair of hands to get the box to the right location.
What We Like
- Variable resistance to make workouts difficult
- Workout programs to challenge and excite you
- Folds up for storage in between uses
- Quiet design won’t wake the neighbors – or other household members
- Ergonomic design allows you to exercise without feeling pain or discomfort
- Adjustable straps, footplates and seat to find a position that fits you best
- Available at a budget-friendly price
What We Don’t Like
- No heart rate monitoring
The main drawback with this machine is that there’s no way to monitor your heart rate – either wirelessly or through hand grips. Being able to track your heart rate will help you determine whether your workouts are challenging enough to produce results.
The good news? There’s a workaround. You can purchase an independent heart rate monitor to keep an eye on your pulse while you row. The monitor may come at an added expense, but is worth the cost if you want to truly track your progress and make sure you’re burning enough calories.
If you would like to have a closer look at the user manual you can view it here.
Is This the Right Choice for You?
Choosing fitness equipment is a personal decision. Whether this model is the right choice for you will depend on your personal workout style and your goals. But this machine will likely be a good fit if you want:
- easy to use
- air resistance
- don’t mind not being able to track your heart rate
- built-in workout programs
- quiet
- space-saving design
This may not be a perfect machine, but it offers all of the features that will help you reach your fitness goals. From tracking workout stats to varying your workouts and achieving full range of motion, this machine certainly offers all of the most basic features you could want for home use.
That being said, this is not a high-end model. It doesn’t have built-on pulse grips or compatibility with a wireless heart rate monitor. What you see is what you get. For most people, the design of this machine will more than suffice, and the resistance levels will help you enjoy a more challenging workout that actually delivers results.
