The Stamina Avari Programmable Magnetic Exercise Rower is one of the most dependable rowers you can buy. Designed to help boost your fitness level, there are 12 workout programs available, and 6 profiles are cardio-based. There is a manual option as well as 4 customizable user programs and a special heart-rate program that’s meant to help you boost your stamina.
Review Content:
Features & Specs
What People Thought of it
Our Verdict
User Manual
Videos
Stamina Avari Features and Specs
- Magnetic rowing machine
- 12 built-in workout programs
- Fitness monitor
- Black steel frame
- Foam-padded handles
- Maximum user weight of 275-lb
- Magnetic resistance offered
- Space saving design
Easy to transport, the Avari folds up and can be moved to your desired location. Light yet durable, you won’t need help moving this rower from one room of the house to the other. Sitting down for the first time, you’ll notice that the ergonomic seat is comfortable and that the handlebar is padded in foam for added comfort.
The footrests have a comfortable strapping mechanism and are wide enough to fit most user’s feet. One of the best features of this rower that many other models don’t offer is the pivoting footrests. This slight pivot allows you to row in a natural form and provides more power when rowing.
As you perform your catch and release, the aluminum extended rowing beam keeps friction to a minimum and allows for smooth rowing.
The monitor is easy to use and displays all of your vital statistics, including:
- Time
- Calories burned
- Resistance level
- Strokes per minute
- Distance
A single tap up or down will rise or lower the magnetic resistance. If you want to change between the 12 programs, you’ll do so right on the LCD monitor without having to get off of the rower. The following program options are available:
- 6 cardio profiles
- 4 programmable profiles
- 1 manual profile
- 1 heart rate profile
Included is a heart rate monitor that goes around your chest to monitor your heart rate. This is far more accurate than hand sensors seen on many models, and provides an accurate assessment of your current heart rate at all times.
You’ll be able to lose weight, build stamina and gain lean muscle mass all on one rower.
What People Had to say About it
We have gathered as much feedback as we could on this rower and most users were happy with their purchase, which is good considering that this machine is not cheap with most stores selling it for around $700.
A lot of people generally underestimate how much commercial gym rowers cost so for most people to be happy with this rower (which is cheap in comparison) is a good sign of a quality home rowing machine.
Some of features that users liked were:
Noise
Overall, users were impressed by how quiet this machine is, even when being used at a high intensity, so people who live in apartments should have no complaints from neighbors. This is one of the main strengths of magnetic rowers in general, but the Stamina Avari seems to be one of the quietest rowers we have reviewed.
Another benefit to having a quiet rowing machine is that you can use it whilst still being able to hear the t.v. or the phone/doorbell ringing which is useful compared to other louder machines when exercising at home.
Rowing Belt
The belt for this machine is made of nylon, around 1 inch wide and flat. Some users had issues with the belt fraying after just a few workouts, but the vast majority had no issues.
This could be due to either a misalignment of the belt somewhere in the rower or users not using proper rowing technique e.g. by pulling the belt out at an angle so that it is making contact with the sides.
Either way, new buyers should be aware of this issue so they can rectify it before it ruins the belt.
User Height
A common issue for taller users is whether they can get a full range of motion from a rower, however from the feedback left by users who were up to 6’4″ they were able to use this machine without any issues.
Assembly Time/Difficulty
We have reviewed some machines that can be a nightmare to assemble but the Avari seems to one of the easier machines to put together, with most people taking around 30-40 minutes to assemble it.
The tools needed are also included with the machine so there shouldn’t be any need for a trip to the hardware store, however if you prefer to use your own tools then the following types and sizes are needed:
- Allen Wrench (6mm)
- Wrench (14mm)
- Open-End Wrench (14mm)
- Open-End Wrench (21mm)
Resistance Levels
Many users were pleased with the range of resistance levels available. This is a common complaint for cheaper rowers that don’t provide enough resistance at the highest setting, so anyone worried about this issue should not have any problems with this rower.
If you are an advanced user who is looking to really push their limits then it might be worth considering an air rower like the Concept 2 Model D, or the Lifecore R100.
Heart Rate Monitor
Feedback from customers who bought the Avari also commented on the usefulness and accuracy of the heart rate monitor, which comes in the form of a chest strap. Compared to some heart-rate monitors which are designed to read heart rates from the hands the chest strap is better at giving an accurate reading.
The heart rate monitor uses a button battery (CR2032) to power it, which is included with this rower. We didn’t hear of any users having issues with this battery running out but depending on how often you use it there will come a time when you will need to replace it so we’d advise anyone who buys this machine to have a spare battery.
Foot Plates
The foot plates on this machine did receive some mixed feedback from users, with some disliking the fact that the foot plates were too loose
to get a good leg drive. This complaint was likely about the fact that the foot plates pivot which is quite common on rowing machines, so if you prefer a machine with static foot plates then this rower might not be for you.
Other users were concerned with the Velcro foot straps becoming worn after regular use, with one user saying theirs had snapped on the second use. However there were users who noted that the straps were still working fine even after 6 months of regular use.
Seat
The seat is one of the most important parts of the rowing machine for many people, with even the top rowers like the Concept 2 Model E receiving complaints about having an uncomfortable seat.
The Stamina Avari again had some users who didn’t like the seat and others who said it was fine. Unfortunately the only way to know for any potential buyer is to try the seat for yourself, so unless you have used the Stamina Avari before you’ll find out after you buy it.
If you do find the seat too uncomfortable there are plenty of household items that can make it more comfortable – like a folded towel or a piece of foam. There are also rowing machine seat pads available to buy online like this one but it’s important to measure the dimensions of your seat to ensure that it will fit.
Handlebar
The handlebar on this rower is a good size and well padded according to most users. We have found in the past that smaller handlebars that aren’t well padded will affect your hands over time and can lead to calluses or blisters on higher resistance settings, so a well padded bar will be ideal for new users.
Rower Size
For most people buying a home rowing machine the size will be a factor depending on how much space you have at home. A lot of people who bought this rower were pleased with the compact size of it and were able to store it away easily.
Some did have issues with folding the rower where it required a bit of wiggle to get it to lock into position but other than that this seemed to be a good feature for this rower.
Pros
- 12 program profiles to lose weight and build stamina
- Easy to transport with wheels included
- Accurate heart rate monitoring
- Adequate resistance levels for all fitness levels
- Very quiet
- Easy assembly
Cons
- Rowing belt can fray under certain conditions
- Seat was not comfortable for some users
Our Verdict
The Stamina Avari is a top rated machine that is priced just right. It’s smooth and quiet while being easy to assemble and transport. The 12 built-in programs provide good workout variance, while the built-in monitor provides all of the data you need to stay on top of your workout at all times. I do believe that magnetic rowing machines tend to make the best rowing machines for use at home and the Stamina Avari is no exception.
User Manual / Assembly Instructions
You can find the user manual which includes assembly instructions for this rower here on Stamina’s website.
Videos of the Stamina Avari
below you can find some videos of the Avari in action, although they are promotional videos I still find seeing a rowing machine in use can give a better perspective than a picture.
