| Unit | Size | Supported weight | Product weight | Resistance | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stamina Avari Magnetic Rower Check Discounted Price | L:81" W:20" H:24.5" | 275 lbs | 88 lbs | Magnetic | Frame: 3 years Parts: 90 days Labor: 90 days |
Magnetic rowing machines offer the advantage of adjusting the resistance during your workout, up to the point each row becomes a real challenge. To put it differently, a rowing machine of this type not only that will provide the proper setting for a superior aerobic workout, they also offer the extensive possibilities for strength and interval training.
An excellent rowing machine with magnetic resistance that you can find at the moment, is the Stamina Avari Programmable Magnetic Rowing Machine. This particular rower has a plethora of features and functions to offer. It’s an ideal exercising machine for home use, it’s quiet, space-saving, durable, and can provide the training conditions for strength and stamina, for users of all levels.
Before we proceed with the detailed presentation of this rower, there’s one aspect to be clarified, though. This Stamina rower is the Avari A350-700 model number.
Technical Details and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 81L x 20W x 24.5H inches (206L x 51W x 62H cm)
- Product weight: 88 lbs (40 kg)
- Supported weight: 275 lbs (125 kg)
- Frame: Steel and aluminium
- Footrests: Pivoting, with straps
- Resistance type: Magnetic
- Progress tracking computer: 12 workout programs
- Warranty: Frame 3 years / Parts and labor 90 days
Frame
The frame of this rowing machine is made of steel, however the rowing beam, or the seat’s rail is made of extruded aluminium. It’s a two-piece frame, solidly built, designed to support users up to 275 lbs (125 kg). It can accommodate users up to 6’6″ or even taller, depending on their inseam 
length. The overall body of the machine also has plastic parts, such as the rear base, and the casing of the braking mechanism.
The frame is foldable, actually being quite easy to fold. The rail of the rower folds up, once you have removed the locking knob at the front and of the rail. In folded position, the AVARI Magnetic Rower measures 20 x 53.5 x 36 inches (51 x 136 x 91 cm) (W x H x L). The front base is finished with two transport wheels to make the relocation of the rower easier. The rower is meant to be moved while folded.
This rower has three points of contact with the floor, or differently put, three bases. The front base is steel-made, finished with two endcaps made of plastic. Just under the footrests of the machine, there is a rubber stand that offers better stability to the machine. The rear base is made of hard plastic, and finished with a stand pad, meant to protect your floor from damage. The rower is 13″ (33 cm) high at the rear, and only 8.5″ (22 cm) at the front part of the rail. This being said, the aluminium rail is slightly inclined, at an angle of roughly 10°, generating a better workout for the legs and thighs.
The Stamina Avari Programmable Rowing Machine features two extra large footplates, which basically can accommodate users with feet of all sizes. They have a ribbed design, to ensure a better adherence. Each footplate features a strap, important feature especially for beginner rowers who might have trouble keeping their feet on the footrests while rowing. However, the best part of the footrests is that they’re pivoting, automatically adjusting as you row, supplying the most comfortable foot position at all time.
The seat of the machine has a contoured and ribbed design just as the footrests. It’s also padded with a rubber material, however it’s not cushioned. The only reasons the seat is not cushioned is that cushioning is not recommended for a rowing boat’s seat, as it might result in numbness of the buttocks and other problems. On the other hand, a non-padded seat can lead to a sore lower back. Therefore, you can apply a gel padding on the seat if you require.
Resistance system
The AVARI Programmable Magnetic Rower actually has an eddy brake system. This means the resistance is lowered or increased by adjusting the magnet’s pull. It also requires the machine to be plugged into an current circuit in order to benefit from the multiple resistance levels, and the workout programs of the machine. The resistance is exclusively adjusted via the machine’s console. Also, it’s important to be mentioned that the resistance supplied by this machine is constant. In other words it won’t vary if you pull harder or faster, similar to rowing an actual boat, a rowing machine air or water-based. On the other hand, the resistance will auto-adjust depending on the program you have selected on its console.
This Stamina rowing machine is equipped with an 8.8 lbs (4 kg) flywheel, which is set in motion by a heavy-duty nylon strap. The strap is pretty solid, and made to last for years, even with the daily use of the machine. It comes attached to a handle, nicely padded with rubber foam, for a better grip. Since it’s a magnetic resistance machine, it’s pretty quiet, substantially quieter than a water or air resistance rower.
The box contains an Output 6V DC, 1000mA adapter, which is plugged in main housing of the braking system, near the front base.
Console
The performance tracking computer of the machine is not an extremely advanced one. However, 
it does cover just about everything an athlete would require from an exercising machine. First of all, it displays time, distance, stroke/min, calories burned, watts (the amount of power exerted), and pulse. It has 12 built-in workout programs: 6 cardio, 1 for heart rate, 4 custom user programs, and 1 manual. Depending on the program you choose, you can set up goals for specific values displayed by the monitor, such as time, stroke per minute, or calories. The Manual program will give you full control over the workload, offering the possibility to manually adjust the resistance during your workout via the arrow (Up/Down) keys.
The pulse function of the console requires you to equip the elastic heart rate chest strap. The strap is included in the box, you won’t have to pay additionally for one. The heart rate monitor and strap use 5khz low frequency RF transmission. So, basically any heart rate strap that uses this particulat technology will function with the monitor of this Avari rowing machine.
Assembly and Maintenance
This rowing machine is fairly easy to assemble. The “guts” of the machine come readily assembled, pulling strap and console being also in their place. The whole assembly is done in 9 steps, requiring you to attach the front stabilizer base to the frame, connect the two frame pieces together, add the seat on the rail, and then the footrests. The box includes the brochure with the step-by-step assembly instructions, and the tools required for this part.
This machine is pretty much a low-maintenance one. For this part, you only have to check from time to time if all the bolts are tight and holding, and of course, re-tighten them if it’s the case. The rail of the seat must be kept clean of any dirt or particles that might nick it. Also, make sure to keep moisture away from the console and electrical parts of the machine.
What’s Best About This Rower
In case you’ve missed any of them, here’s a summary of the pluses of this machine:
- Programmable and auto-adjusting resistance.
- 12 workout programs.
- Heart rate chest strap for pulse monitoring also included.
- Extremely quiet machine, ideal for apartment use.
- Solid and durable frame.
- Foldable frame.
- Slightly inclined seat rail, providing a superior workout for the thighs and legs.
- Ergonomic, contoured seat.
- Pivoting footrests, supplying the correct foot positioning with every rowing stroke.
- Great rower for interval, stamina and strength training.
- Low-maintenance exercising machine.
Drawbacks
The drawbacks that come with this machine, are basically common for all magnetic resistance rowers. First of all, if the console is not powered up, the machine won’t supply any resistance levels or programs.
The second drawback concerns the resistance. Even though the resistance on the machine is manually or auto-adjustable, depending the program you choose the resistance for an exercising
routine is constant. On an actual rowing boat, a water rower or wind rower, the resistance varies with each stroke: the harder you pull, the more resistance you will get. In other words, the rowing stroke doesn’t have a natural feel. This shouldn’t affect your workout, though.
Bottom Line
Overall, the Stamina Avari Programmable Rower is a great exercising machine for any home gym, and a good choice for anyone who hasn’t the luxury of space. It’s an excellent rower for stamina, interval and strength training, an exercising machine that will most definitely put your thighs, torso, back and arms to the test. In terms of weight loss, you can burn up to 6-700 calories per hour on a medium level intensity with this machine. Finally, it’s a durable, gym-quality rower, which comes for a decent price/quality ratio.