Rowing engages major muscle groups, including your quads, core and upper body. A well-rounded workout, rowing can be done in the comfort of your home and doesn’t need to be expensive. The 1201 is one of my personal favorite, low-cost rowing machines that provides a great overall workout for a price that fits into virtually everyone’s budget (approximately $150).
Before I tell you about my experience in my review, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of this model.
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Pros
- Priced for the at-home user
- Can be stood up to save room
- Weighs just 35 pounds
Cons
- Resistance is weak
Resistance isn’t going to provide you with substantial muscle gain. In fact, the resistance is rather mediocre and is a complaint of mine. But this model is so inexpensive that you really can’t complain.
I want to state that this isn’t an alternative to a high-priced water rower. You won’t get that high-end quality and intense workout with a cheaper option, but that doesn’t mean that this isn’t the perfect model for entry-level users.
Out of the box, you’ll need to assemble this model – it’s a breeze.
Weighing just 35 pounds, virtually anyone will be able to assemble this model on their own and get right to rowing. Sitting on the seat for the first time, you’ll notice that it is nicely padded and on a ball bearing roller system for easy catch and release.
Pivoting foot plates allow you to adjust the position of your feet as needed, and padded grips are available that keep your hands comfortable and safe from blisters.
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Console
As you begin rowing, you’ll want to click on the single-button monitor. Not advanced in nature, this monitor has a simple design, but gets the job done by displaying the following workout information:
- Time
- Stroke count
- Total strokes
- Calories burned
If you find that rowing is too easy, you’ll want to try to pick up the pace – there aren’t true resistance levels given. The piston design allows for some resistance naturally, but this resistance will be applied to the back and upper body rather than the legs.
The piston design allows you to feel like you’re rowing on water, and you’ll gain a substantial boost to your overall range of motion as a result. Overall, this is the right choice for a low impact exercise that will allow you to achieve full range of motion while not putting excess pressure or strain on the joints.
When you’re done with your rowing session, you can easily flip this model upright and place it in the corner to save space.
And when completely laid out, this model has the following dimensions: 50” x 50.5”.
Comfortable to use and including a monitor, Stamina’s 1201 really appeals to new rowers that want to start exercising at home and take advantage of a full body workout.