This rowing machine’s name is a mouthful but it is one that is long overdue.
I say that because it is a magnetic rower that is affordable!
It’s been so long that people have had to buy magnetic rowers for more than $500.
People would settle for hydraulic piston rowers if they required a rower with no noise, but all that has changed now.
This Sunny SF-RW5515 Magnetic Rower is showing good results and has had good reviews from the time it has been in the market.
View the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 lowest price here
Resistance Type
This rower is a magnetic resistance rower.
The resistance is created by the magnet in the flywheel against a spinning metal drum.
The various magnetic rowers are air, hydraulic piston and water which are silent and smooth in terms of the rowing motion.
This Sunny rower has 8 resistance levels which can be changed by turning a knob on the centre panel.
One can slowly progress through from the first level as a beginner to the eighth level which is the most intense workout.
When you turn the knob from the first to the eighth level, the magnet inside the flywheel gets close to the drum. When it gets closer to the drum, more resistance is then created.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Company brag that the SF-RW5515 has a new and improved magnetic tension system. I cannot clearly verify what that means but reviewers seem to be of similar opinion based on their positive comments.
There were users of all fitness levels who said that resistance on the rower is great. Most of them use level 4 to 5 leaving room for growth.
To adjust the resistance you need to just turn the knob either to the left or to the right. Unfortunately, you have to stop rowing to do so but it’s not really a problem.
The Magnetic Rower is pretty quiet and will not be heard in the next room. You can even watch TV while getting your workout.
Those that have used the rower said that its resistance is sturdy and smooth.
The thing most noticed is that magnetic rowers have a different feel to them in comparison to air rowers which is expected.
The difference that is most notable is that the strength in air resistance is based off your rowing speed. There may be an unfamiliar feeling on the magnetic rower during transition because their tension is dependent on the resistance level that has been set.
Generally, users are happy with this rower. On top of that where will you get a magnetic rower at this price?
Monitor
The Sunny SF-RW5515 Magnetic Rower has a large and basic LCD monitor. The low price is why the monitor is a basic one. The advanced monitors are found on rowers that cost more than $500.
The monitor tracks strokes, time, calories, total strokes and also displays them.
This monitor scans through all of the data sets every few seconds. It uses batteries so you do not need an electrical outlet.
The complaints about the monitor were on the fact that it does not calculate the meters or distance covered. They also said that it was fairly small and difficult to read because of no back light.
It is also important to note that the calorie counters on basic monitors should only be used in comparing effectiveness between workouts since it is based off an average user.
For instance if you burn 400 calories in one session and 600 in the next, the second one was more intense in helping you lose weight.
There is nothing more on the basic monitor.
Build quality
The Sunny Health and fitness rower has a steel frame and is of good quality.
Users said that the rower felt durable, not the same as a rower that’s $1000 dollars but durable enough not to break.
The hands are in place with nylon straps to help them avoid them wearing out and to provide a strong and sturdy stroke.
The Sunny SF-RW5515 is not noisy and has no squeaky or clinking noises.
View the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 lowest price here
Comfort
This rower has non slip handles and a comfortable padded seat.
The large foot pedals fit all shoe sizes and have straps you can adjust to keep your keep in place.
There were no issues from reviewers even during long rowing sessions.
If one is rowing on slick hardwood, it is advisable to place the rower on a carpet or a mat.
Even if you are on the highest level on the rower, it remains comfortable and stable.
Storage
If you want a rower that consumes less space, then this rower will definitely do for you because it folds up for storage.
Storing is easy and only takes 30 seconds.
You only need to unscrew a bolt, remove the pi, fold it up and put the pieces back together. That’s it!
The rower also has wheels at the front which make it easier to move around.
It can fit at the corner of your house or in the closet.
Capacity
The maximum weight for this rower is 250lbs. It may accommodate more but I strongly advice against it.
The seat rail is long and accommodates rowers who are up to 6’’7 leaving more room to spare.
Some reviewers said that they use it as a family and they have kids who are 8 and 11 and they used it without any problem.
Not unless you are more than 6’7 tall this rower will fit just well.
In case you weigh more than the recommended maximum weight then you should consider rowers with higher weight limits such as the Concept2 Model D or the Stamina Avari Magnetic Rower.
Dimensions
Assembled Dimensions:
- 0″ x 19.0″ x 23.0″ (L x W x H)
Shipping Dimensions:
- 0″ x 10.0″ x 26.0″ (L x W x H)
Assembled Weight:
- 59 lbs
Shipping Weight:
- 71 lbs
Assembly
This rower is very easy to assemble. It has among the best instruction systems in a rowing machine.
It has 4 steps in assembling and each has a bag labelled with instructions.
Reviewers said that they were able to assemble it in less than 30 minutes.
The magnetic flywheel is assembled with the handle as well as the rowing strap in place. All you need to assemble is the seat area.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Large Capacity
- Strong resistance
- Foldable storage
- Comfortable seat
- Very quiet
- Great seat
Disadvantages
- Large when not in storage
- Short warranty
- Basic monitor
Consumer Reviews
Many people had positive things to say about the Sunny Health Fitness SF-RW5515 Magnetic Rowing Machine. I went through many reviews of the rower online and there were very little complaints. The main one was just the monitor not having advanced features which is common among rowers of its price range.
The reviewers also liked the strong resistance the rower offered and the smooth stroke.
Overall rating out of 5 -> 4.6
Warranty
The frame has a one year warranty and the parts have a 90 day warranty.
Price
This rower’s best feature is its price. It is a magnetic rower that is not above $500. It is among the first low priced magnetic rowers in the market.
View the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 lowest price here
Conclusion
Feel free to let me know any questions you may have about this rower in the comment section below and I hope you enjoyed the review!