| Unit | Size | Supported weight | Product weight | Resistance | Console |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
pooboo H716 Check Discounted Price | L:68" W:22" H:33" | 300 lbs | 61 lbs | Magnetic, 16 levels | Time, Distance, Count, Count/Min, Calories, Goals |
The pooboo H716 is one of the magnetic rowers released in 2020. In terms of features and design, it can be compared with the UREVO UR9RW0010. However, it offers 16 levels of resistance rather than 8 and has a steel rail, rated for a superior user weight limit.
Key Features and Specifications
- Assembled dimensions: 68L x 22W x 33H inches (173L x 56W x 84H cm)
- Assembled weight: 61 lbs (27.6 kg)
- Weight capacity: 300 lbs (136 kg)
- Frame: Steel
- Resistance type: Magnetic, 16 levels
- Fitness monitor: Time, distance, strokes/min, strokes, calories
- Warranty: 1 year limited
Frame construction
The pooboo H716 rower features a steel frame. It’s equipped with a rectangular rail which is approx. 41″ (104 cm) long.
However, the footrests are attached to the front unit of the machine, so it can accommodate users with an inseam up to 44″ (111 cm). In other words, it should be able to accommodate users up to 6’4″ (193 cm) with no problem. The rail is also pretty durable; it is rated for a maximum user weight limit of 300 lbs (136 kg) which is not bad for a home-use machine.
This pooboo magnetic rower is not too large. With all the parts assembled, it is only 68″ (173 cm) long, and 22″ (56 cm) wide. This being said, it can fit pretty well even in a small room or apartment. However, just as for any rowing machine, it is recommended to allow some clearance especially on each side and at the rear. Two feet of clearance is usually optimal.
The rower is also foldable. The rail can be folded up. With the rail in folded position, the machine’s footprint becomes approx. 23.6″L x 22″W (60 x 56 cm) while its height reaches approx. 43″ (110 cm).
The rower isn’t too heavy either. Its net weight is approx. 61 lbs (27.6 kg). Thus, it can be carried and assembled by only one person. Once it is assembled, it is very easy to move and handle as its front base stabilizer integrates a set of small wheels. Also, the rear stabilizer features adjustable levelers.
Seat and other parts
The pooboo H716 rower features a seat similar to the Sunny Hydro+ SF-RW5809. Its top consists of a layer of 
high-density foam material, so it’s not super hard, in order to alleviate the impact on your tailbone. It is contoured and textured for improved contact. It is also fairly large, approx. 14.5″ (36 cm) wide, and 11″ (28 cm) long, so it provides plenty of contact surface.
The base of the seat is made of steel. It is equipped with three sets of wheels. Two of them are on top of the rail, the other one closes the base of the seat on the rail and slides underneath it for extra stability. The wheels integrate sealed ball bearings and have a rubber layer on the outside to reduce noise.
It’s also important to mention here that the machine’s rail is slightly inclined forward. Therefore, the machine provides a slightly better workout for the legs than a machine with a horizontal rail. At the front end of the rail, the seat is at approx. 13″ (33 cm) above the floor, while at the very end of the rail, its height is approx. 15″ (38 cm).
The rower is equipped with two fairly large footrests. They’re made of black thermoplastic material. They feature adjustable straps and small heel guards for improved foot stability.
The footrests feature a pivoting design. Differently put, they can tilt forward and backward on their axis in order to provide better positioning for your feet during each stroke. However, they do have stoppers at the heel which prevent them from tilting backward past an angle of approx. 50°.
The pulling handle is pretty standard. It consists of a short straight steel bar. It has rubber foam sleeves for an improved grip. It’s attached to the machine’s resistance system via a heavy-duty, braided nylon strap, highly resistant to stretching and abrasion. It does not have any controls or pulse sensors.
Resistance system
The pooboo H716 is a full magnetic rower. It uses a manual magnetic resistance system. This means you don’t need a 
power adapter or an external power source for it. It also means that the fitness monitor does not have pre-set workout programs and cannot adjust the resistance automatically.
The unit’s resistance system consists of a magnetic brake attached to the internal flywheel system and to the tension knob on the front unit of the rower. When you turn this knob, the magnets on the brake move closer or farther from the flywheel which increases or decreases the rowing resistance.
The main advantage of the magnetic brake is that the magnets do not touch the flywheel and rowing motion is smooth and very quiet compared to air or water resistance rowers. But on the other hand, the machine does not produce a dynamic response during rowing. In other words, the resistance does not depend on how fast you pull the handle as is the case for water resistance rowers or air resistance rowers. These provide a more appropriate rowing sensation to rowing a real boat. But nonetheless, any magnetic rower still provides a pretty consistent full-body cardio workout, great for toning muscles, improving stamina, and losing weight.
This pooboo rower offers 16 levels of resistance, similar to the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5935. The first level provides a fairly light workout difficulty, great for a workout warmup. Conversely, the 16th level provides distinguishably more tension. However, as a general idea, the machine does not offer a super tough workout load. It’s great for beginners or mid-level users, but may not be the best choice for a professional athlete.
Fitness monitor
The fitness monitor included with the pooboo H716 rower is not too fancy but does offer quite a few more features
than a basic unit. To begin with, it features an LCD display divided into several sub-sections in order to show multiple workout metrics at once, so you don’t have to keep scrolling between them. It tracks time, distance, strokes (count), strokes per minute, and calories burned. It does not have a pulse reading function.
The monitor unit is fairly easy to use. It has four buttons: Mode, Up, Down, and Reset. The Mode button allows you to enter its setup mode and select goals for time, distance, count, and calories. If a goal is selected, the unit will count down from the selected value until it reaches zero. The Up/Down buttons allow you to give the desired values to your workout goals. And finally, the Reset button offers the possibility to clear all the values on the monitor to zero.
The unit is battery-powered, but the batteries are not included. It requires two AAA batteries. It starts counting your stats when you begin rowing or when you press the Mode button. It also automatically turns off if it does not detect any activity on the rower for more than four minutes.
The monitor unit does not have any pre-set programs, Bluetooth connectivity and it is not compatible with any fitness apps. However, it does integrate a device holder which consists of a small shelf placed between its controls and the display. It can serve as support for your phone or tablet but there are no connection ports for your device (no AUX, no USB).
Assembly and Maintenance
The pooboo H716 rower is fairly easy to assemble. Its resistance unit comes pre-assembled. You will only have to attach the front stabilizer, insert the seat onto the rail, connect the rail to the front unit of the machine, close the rail with the rear stabilizer, add the footrests, and the fitness monitor. This shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes of your time. All the necessary tools are included and the manual provides clear assembly instruction.
The rower’s internal mechanism does not require lubrication. So, for maintenance, you only have to keep the machine clean, especially the rail, to prevent any damage to the seat’s wheels. Other than this, it is recommended to periodically check for loose bolts and parts, and to make sure that the rower still functions properly.
The Pros
- Sturdy frame for a home-use machine – can hold users up to 300 lbs;
- Fairly long rail – applicable inseam of 44″ (111 cm);
- Folding design;
- Transport wheels on the front base stabilizer;
- Adjustable levelers on the rear stabilizer;
- Large, padded, and contoured seat for improved comfort;
- Pivoting footrests with straps;
- Quiet magnetic resistance with 16 distinct levels;
- Fitness monitor included – it tracks time, distance, calories, strokes, and strokes per minute;
- Goal-setting function;
- Device holder included;
- Easy to assemble;
- Little maintenance required.
The Cons
- The display of the fitness monitor does not have backlight;
- No pulse reading function.
Summary
The pooboo H716 is a rowing machine designed for home use. It is equipped with a 16-level resistance system, a long steel rail, a large padded and contoured seat, and a fitness monitor that tracks time, distance, count, count/min, and calories burned. It is a fitness machine great for a full-body cardio workout, muscle toning, stamina development, and weight loss.