Is A Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5606 Rowing Machine Best For The Inexperienced?
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5606 Rowing Machine doesn’t look like a high-end rower compared to other adjustable magnetic resistance models in the range.
That isn’t necessarily a bad thing as everyone has to start somewhere and this could be a more basic design for those with no previous experience. Is that the case?
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The Pros and Cons of this Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5606 Rowing Machine.
Pros:
- A smooth motion on the steel rail and padded seat
- Secure to use with the straps on the footplates and stabilisers
- A good weight capacity on the padded seat
- A basic console for information on the workout
- Folds up for storage after use
Cons:
- The resistance system is weak and awkward to use
- There is no room for beginners to improve
- The rail isn’t adjustable
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5606 Rowing Machine does a good job of providing most of what novice users need.
This is an indoor rower built for those with no previous experience of rowing machines. There is a simple design with the drive system and pulley at the front, a smooth rail, and a basic console with information on the session.
That battery-powered console tells you about the time elapsed, your stroke count, and the calories burnt. The calorie counter may not be as accurate as a fitness watch, but it is a fair indication that your session has been worthwhile.
A selling point of the Sunny Health & Fitness rowing machine is the security and comfort offered. There is a wide padded seat with a 15 stone weight capacity. This slides pretty well over the steel rail. There are also large non-slip footplates with straps over the top and a non-slip surface.
Overall, it seems to be pretty smooth and quiet in operation and easy to use regularly. Some users can make this an important part of their fitness plan.
Last up for the benefits, there is the fact that this model is also foldable for storage. It is a pretty simple system with a hinge at the top of the rail.
You can raise the rail vertically so that it takes up far less floor space and then drop it back down the next time you work out. Just be aware that the foot for the other end of the rails sticks out a bit.
There are limitations in the resistance system of the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5606 Indoor Rower.
The biggest issue here is the weakness of the resistance system. The design is unusual for a start. There is a gear shifter-style mechanism on the side for a rubber band resistance system.
This isn’t as effective or user-friendly as a high-end magnetic resistance with a more convenient knob on the front. From there, you only get 4 settings. Some beginners report that they started on level 3, so there is not much room to improve.
Another potential downside to keeping in mind here is that the incline on the rail isn’t adjustable. The rail sits at an angle on a stabilizing foot so that you push uphill with each stroke.
This could potentially affect the intensity. But, it would have been more interesting if the machine was adjustable – such as starting flat and using a hinge on the foot to raise and lower the height.
Is this Sunny Health Elastic Resistance Rowing Machine still a good choice for first-timers with all this in mind?
A recommendation for this machine takes us back to the idea of this being perfect for those with no experience. If you have never used a rowing machine and have no point of reference, this will have everything you need to get started.
You can alter the resistance and get the right motion on the rail. You can also check on your progress via the console. From there it is a case of coming back the next day and doing it all again.
The problem is that this lack of progression in the resistance, the odd system, and other limitations, make this look weak compared to other machines.
There is nothing wrong with starting out on this beginner-friendly Sunny Health rowing machine, but don’t expect to stick with it for more than a year.
Find more reviews about the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5606 Rowing Machine on Amazon here.
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