When I was 15 I got my first rower and it just so happened to be one of the very first models of the Stamina ATS. I was glad to see they have made a few changes from the early model. I have had many good workouts from the original model I bought and it definitely survived a lot of abuse and it is still working back at my parents’ house.
The Stamina 35-1405 is an air rower that is in the mid-price range and highly recommended. This model represents great value for money especially if lasts as long as mine has which is over 10 years now.
Stamina 35-1405 ATS Features
- Electronic performance monitor
- Foam padded, molded seat
- Foldable for easy storage
- Smooth sliding seat
- Wind resistance
- Adjustable foot straps and wide footplate
- 3-year frame warranty
Assembly
Weighing 73 pounds, you’ll want to have some help transporting the box to your setup area. Assembly is a breeze and within 20 minutes, you’ll be ready to start rowing.
Included with the rower are all the tools that you will need to complete the assembly.
The Instructions are easy to follow providing detailed images along with a description of exactly what to do. Don’t make the mistake of ignoring the instructions as I did when I was 15 and try to throw it together as you may find yourself with a handful of parts leftover and unsure where they are meant to go.
ATS Design
Steel construction allows the ATS to hold users up to 250 pounds, but I have seen it take more with ease.
Rail
The chrome seat rail is over-sized to allow users of all heights to row in comfort. My best friend that always came over to my house to train is 6’5” and he fit on there just fine.
Seat
Sitting on the seat, you will notice that it is contoured to fit your bottom perfectly. The foam is quite firm but even after a good 30-minute workout my behind hadn’t gone numb like sometimes it does on other models. The ball bearing rollers allow for a smooth rowing session with no friction along the way.
Footplates
On one of the original models of the ATS they used to have wooden footplates that pivoted and they were uncomfortable and you couldn’t adjust them to fit different sized feet. So, I am pleased that Stamina have changed them to an adjustable footplate with thinner nylon straps. They fit well and flex to move with your foot as you row. Larger feet fit perfectly into the large foot plates, and the nylon foot straps didn’t loosen at all while I was rowing.
Handle
The handle is padded and comfortable – so you’ll avoid blistering when rowing. Once you begin rowing, you will notice that the flywheel does produce some noise. However, it is not excessive and is to be expected from an air rower. If you are concerned about noise then you may want to look at a magentic rower such as the Marcy NS-40503RW.
Resistance
You cannot change the resistance of the rower but the faster you row the more resistance you will experience – so you never have to turn a dial mid-row again. I mainly used this model for HIIT training so I would go hard for between 15 – 20 seconds then rest for about 30 seconds then go hard again. I found there was plenty of resistance to get me dripping with sweat.
Performance Monitor
Right in the center of the machine is the on-board monitor that provided multi-function capabilities, including:
- Speed monitoring
- Total distance
- Time rowed
- Calories burned
- Stroke Per Minute
- Row Count
The monitor is quite basic and it seems to update very quickly as you are rowing and can be a little frustrating as your speed changes almost instantly. Nonetheless if you are just looking for a rower you can jump on a row for a certain amount of time and don’t want all the fancy jazz that you get with the high-end models then it isn’t a problem.
Storage
Once you have finished your workout all you have to do is remove the pull pin and the locking knob then fold the flywheel and monitor back onto the rail and fix it in position.
There are wheels mounted on the front of the machine making it easy to move to wherever you are hoping to store it.
Despite folding it is still quite large as it doesn’t go into an upright position like some models do.
Maintenance
To be honest I never once did any maintenance on the original model I had when I was still a teenager and it is still working today… it has started to get a little bit of rust on the seat rail and could do with a clean as some of the rubber from the rollers has now rubbed off onto the rail.
It is recommended that you wipe off the rail after you use it with a nonabrasive cloth and it is worth doing to make sure that the seat can roll smoothly.
The chain will need a bit of oil every 50 hours or so, to keep everything working well.
If you plan on having a few days off from rowing I do recommend that you remove the batteries from the monitor unit to prevent it from getting damaged.
This model is pretty robust and it can withstand some serious punishment.
If you’ve ever rowed in the past, you’ll know that the Concept II is the industry’s best rowing machine – or one of the top rowers. While the ATS isn’t quite on par with the Concept II, it definitely comes close in terms of durability and solid construction. For a price that is less than half of the Concept II, the ATS is a steal in terms of quality and performance.
Pros
- Quiet design with comfortable seat
- Easy to assemble and folds away
- In-depth monitoring system
- Perfect for taller users
Cons
- Older models were defective
Stamina was plagued with defective reports over the chain getting stuck in the rower. This caused many people to leave negative reviews and voice their justified complaints online. While I can’t verify the defect, it has since been repaired according to new users and the company.
The company also worked with any customers that had a defective product – which a lot of companies ignore.
The problems that previous users had with the Stamina 35-1405 ATS have been corrected, leaving one of the best affordable rower on the market. The fluid motion allows you to get an immense workout with the ATS, while the built-in monitor provides you with the information that you need to ensure a steady and consistent workout.
Out of all the rowers I have tried, this one is arguably the best value for money as it is about $600 dollars cheaper than the popular Concept2 models. I have one of the original models that is still going after over 10 years with almost no maintenance. If you are looking to get in shape and want a simple rower that will last then you can’t go wrong with this fantastic little rower.
