[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I spent a solid researching rowers (from online reviews to customer opinions to pros/cons of water vs chain vs magnetic resistance). While a Concept 2 was desirable, the price was not! Finally, it was a informational video on Instagram by "trainingtall" that convinced me to go with chain/fan resistance rower. Sure, water rowers are quieter and have that soothing sound of rushing water, but you have to worry about (a) adding/removing water to change resistance, (b) make sure you use water conditioner to prevent mold and (c) the risk of eventual leaks. With a fan-based chain rower (as opposed to magnetic), there's no need for a variable settings because the level resistance is determined by how hard you pull. Sure, it's definitely louder but the wind generated by the fan is a welcome benefit for someone like me who tends to sweat more than most during exercise. The unit was very easy to assemble by myself and came with all of the parts and tools I needed. After a few minor seat adjustments to eliminate a slight wobble, I was ready to go in under 45 minutes. I like that the moveable, flexing foot rests have nylon pull straps rather than Velcro (which tends to wear out after extended use). The seat is comfortable and glides smoothly (back-and-forth) along the rail. I purchased an 8' exercise mat to go underneath after watching a YouTube workout video of the Stamina X on a bare floor and seeing how much it moved. With the mat, the rower stays put! I will agree with most of the reviews I've read - the LCD monitor is pretty basic and rudimentary. It's also at an angle that makes the screen very hard to read (even in bright light). I use it strictly for watching my stroke count and strokes per minute - which it does well. To monitor my heart rate and to get a more accurate assessment of calories burned, I wear a Polar H10 strap connected to an old phone (Velcro'd to the front of the rail (just below the LCD display). I've been using the rower for 3 weeks now and I've been very pleased. It's feels very solid and stable with no wobble whatsoever. I kind of wish the pull bar was a bit wider, but that's just me nitpicking!
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