| Unit | Size | Supported weight | Flywheel weight | Resistance | Fitness meter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
pooboo H012 Check Discounted Price | L:60.2" W:18.9" H:23.6" | 220 lbs | 18 lbs | Magnetic, 8 levels | Time, Count, RPM, Distance, Calories, Goals |
The pooboo H012 is one of the newest rowers released in the second part of 2019. It’s a magnetic rowing machine offering a similar range of features to the Marcy NS-6002RE or the Tunturi R30. It’s equipped with a slightly heavier flywheel but has a lower weight capacity (only 220 lbs). This being said, it’s a trainer made for home use, not a commercial machine.
Key Features and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 60.2L x 18.9W x 23.6H inches (153L x 48W x 60H cm)
- Flywheel weight: 18 lbs (8 kg)
- Weight capacity: 220 lbs (100 kg)
- Footrests: Pivoting, with straps
- Resistance: Magnetic, 8 levels
- Console: Time, count, total count, calories, goals
- Extras: Tablet holder, bottle holder
- Warranty: 1 year limited
Frame construction
The pooboo H012 rower combines aluminum, steel, and ABS parts in its construction. The main sliding
beam is aluminum made, the front section of the frame that sustains the drive mechanism and the front base is steel-made, while the covers of the drive and resistance elements are made of durable ABS plastic. The machine offers a pretty sturdy overall construction, but it’s only rated for a user weight capacity of 220 lbs (100 kg).
The unit’s sliding rail is fairly wide; therefore, it offers superior stability for the seat. Its exact length is not specified, but considering that it’s more than 2/3 of the total length of the machine, it should provide at least 40″ (101 cm) of travel for the seat. This being said, the rower should accommodate users of at least 6’2″ (188 cm).
The fully assembled machine isn’t too large compared to other rowers, such as the Endurance R300, for example. It is only 60.2″ (153 cm) long, and 18.9″ (48 cm) wide, so it should fit even to a smaller room or apartment. The rail is not foldable. However, the machine can be stored vertically. Its front large stabilizers can rotate on their tube in order to provide the required stability when the machine is stored in upright position. Plus, the drive unit has an extra stabilizer at the front.
The pooboo H012 doesn’t offer super portability. Unlike most other rowing machines, it does not have transport wheels on its front base. But on the other hand, it’s a fairly light trainer; it doesn’t weigh more than 50 lbs (22 kg) so it can easily be carried by only one person.
One important aspect that we must mention here is that the sliding rail of the rower is inclined forward by a few degrees. This promotes a quicker recovery motion and a slightly better workout for the legs.
Seat and other parts
The pooboo H012 magnetic rower features a seat designed for optimal comfort. Its top is mould-injected 
with a textured surface to provide additional adherence for the user. It is 11.8″ (30 cm) wide, and 9.8″ (25 cm) long, providing plenty of contact surface. At its highest point (when extended all the way to the rear of the sliding rail), the seat stands at approx. 10″ (25 cm) above floor level. It’s also sturdy enough to support users up to 220 lbs (100 kg).
The seat frame is metallic. It is equipped with two sets of wheels that integrate sealed ball bearings for a smooth seat motion. They slide through the inner side gaps of the rail and are fully concealed by the side sections of the seat frame for extra safety. The wheels also have a rubberized coating to minimize noise.
The pooboo H012 magnetic rower is equipped with a set of large footrests. They’re made of thick ABS material and have a pivoting design. This means they allow a bit of foot movement during the rowing motion giving you the possibility to adapt the position of your feet better throughout the rowing motion. The lower frame bar serves as a stopper for the footrests, though. Therefore, they won’t incline backward past an angle of approx. 55°.
The footrests are non-adjustable. However, they’re fairly large and can accommodate athletic shoes of all sizes. They feature a textured surface, small heel guards, and adjustable straps in order to keep your feet secured during your exercising routines.
The unit’s pulling handle is a short straight bar equipped with foam grips. It is connected to a nylon strap which is highly resistant to abrasion. This can be a plus, as it reduces noise during rowing in comparison with a chain drive rower. Also, the strap does not require lubrication. The handle does not have any pulse sensors, and the unit does not have a pulse reading function.
Resistance system
The pooboo H012 is equipped with a manual magnetic resistance system that consists of a mechanical 
magnetic brake connected to the tension dial on the front unit of the rower. When you turn this dial clockwise, the internal brake moves closer to the flywheel which increases the rowing difficulty.
Since the rower is not motorized, you don’t have to connect it to a power outlet. Also, the resistance is done exclusively from the dial; the console does not play any role in the resistance adjustment and does not have any preset programs that automatically adjust the resistance.
This pooboo rower makes available 8 levels of resistance. The first level offers a fairly light resistance, great for recovery training. Conversely, the 8th resistance level provides quite a bit of extra tension, offering the possibility to perform a more intense workout and achieve a higher burn.
As we’ve mentioned above, this rower is equipped with a slightly heavier flywheel than other machines in this feature range. This adds difficulty to the rowing motion. The other important element of the unit’s drive system is the transmission. It is powered by a belt, which means you don’t ever have to lubricate it. Plus, since there are no air resistance elements, and the brake elements do not touch, the operation of the machine is whisper-quiet.
One last important aspect to mention here regards the rowing feel provided by this machine. Since it does not have any water resistance elements or air resistance elements, it does not provide a dynamic response. Differently put, the resistance only depends on the selected difficulty level. It does not increase if you put more strength behind the stroke. This shouldn’t influence the consistency of the workout; the rower does provide a very consistent, full-body cardio workout. However, a professional rowing athlete may need the dynamic response to focus better on their training.
Exercise meter
The workout meter unit included with the pooboo H012 magnetic rower is similar to the console of various 
magnetic exercise bikes, such as the Efitment RB034 or the Tunturi B40. It features an LCD display that tracks time, distance, RPM, stroke count, and calories burned. It does not have a pulse reading function, so it cannot read your pulse from a wireless HR chest strap transmitter. If you still need to keep an eye on your heart rate during rowing, you will have to use a separate device for it.
The fitness meter unit is very easy to use. It has three buttons – Mode, Set, and Reset. The Mode button allows you to select any of the workout metrics to be shown on the display, or select the Scan Mode which rotates all the metrics showing each one for four seconds. The Set button allows you to set goals for time, count, and calories; once a goal is selected, it will count down to zero from the selected value for each one of them. And finally, the Reset button allows you to clear all the values on the meter to zero.
The unit is battery-powered. It requires two AAA batteries. It automatically turns on when you begin rowing and also has a sleep mode which is initiated if there isn’t any activity on the rower for several minutes.
The meter unit integrates a media holder. Therefore, you can place your smartphone or tablet on it to browse the web or view your favorite streams while exercising. However, it does not have a USB charging port for your device.
Assembly and Maintenance
The front unit of the machine with all the drive and resistance elements comes pre-assembled. You only have to attach the front base bar and the rear stabilizer, the rail, the seat, and the exercise meter. This shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes. A set of basic tools is included, and the brochure provides step-by-step assembly instructions.
For maintenance, it is recommended to keep the unit’s rail clean to prevent any damage to it or to the seat wheels. The internal parts do not require any lubrication. Other than this, you only have the periodically check for loose bolts and parts.
The Pros
- Light-weight construction, easy to carry and handle;
- Compact and aesthetic design;
- Can be stored vertically;
- Large stabilizers on the front base;
- Sturdy metallic seat frame with a moulded, textured top for optimal comfort;
- Quiet aluminum rail system;
- Pivoting footrests with straps and heel guards;
- Fairly long rail – can accommodate users up to 6’2″;
- Smooth magnetic resistance system with 8 distinct levels;
- Exercise meter included – it can track time, speed, count, total count, and calories burned;
- Goal settings for time, count, and calories;
- Media holder included;
- Easy to assemble;
- Little maintenance required.
The Cons
- The mount of the exercise meter does not fold;
- No backlight on the meter display;
- No pulse reading function;
- A tablet placed on the media holder will cover the meter display.
Summary
The pooboo H012 is a magnetic rowing machine made for home use. It features a manual magnetic brake with 8 levels, a heavy, 18-lb flywheel, and an exercise meter that tracks time, distance, count, calories, and RPM. It’s an excellent machine for a full-body cardio workout, interval training, stamina development, and weight loss. It’s not exactly the most affordable magnetic rower within this feature range but definitely offers decent quality for the price.