Sunny Health Rowing Machine Review 2024

Are you thinking about buying the Sunny Health & Fitness Rowing Machine in the coming days? Before you do, please make sure to check out our Sunny Health Rowing Machine review which covers several models under their brand so at least you have more than just 1 option when it comes to making any final decisions.

Hydraulic vs Magnetic

Our focus will be on the lower priced SF-RW1205 Hydraulic Sunny Health & Fitness Rowing machine but we will also cover 3 further models with different types of resistance such as elastic cords, magnetic and water in the event that you are prepared to spend a little more than the lower priced Hydraulic resistance version.

Rowing Video Support

A number of video inserts are included throughout this review which will give you a better understanding of what these Rowing machines from Sunny Health & Fitness are all about so feel free to check them out while you are here today. In addition, please note that guide prices can only be shown at the time of this review so please make sure to view the price checkers provided below to help ensure you have the most accurate up to date price information.

Rowing Machine Overview

Model:	Sunny Health & Fitness Hydraulic Rowing Machine SF-RW1205
Weight Capacity:	100kg or 15.7 stone or 220 lbs
Resistance levels:	12 hydraulic resistant levels
Dimensions:	54 inches by 20 inches
Warranty:	12 months protection
Best place to buy:	Amazon UK – View stock availability here

View also: Our review for the foldable Ovicx Treadmill here

Sunny Health Hydraulic Rowing Machine Review

Rowing Machine Description:

This lower priced Rowing machine from Sunny Health has proven to very popular especially with the lower prices on offer and it provides a Hydraulic piston resistance in the design that performs well against other Hydraulic rowing machines in this category. The frame is made with lightweight aluminium, it has a maximum weight capacity of up to 100kg or 220 lbs or 15.7 stone and the length of the sliding rail is 73cm
For people who are seeking the lowest possible price, this rowing machine provides a basic yet effective option for beginners or casual athletes looking to burn calories, lose weight and tone up on various muscle groups such as your legs, gluts, buttocks, arms, stomach, back and chest muscles. There are 12 levels of adjustable resistance on the hydraulic piston and it comes with the digital tracker for tracking calories burned, total counts, timings and scan reps.
For the size, the overall size is small and compact and the dimensions are only approx. 137cm long by 51cm wide by 58.5cm high so you get a lot of calorie burning results in such a small confined space. There is no plug – instead you use 2 AA batteries which are included in the pack and the weight is less than 10kg which is awesome so moving it around from one location to the next is no hassle whatsoever.
The LCD monitor is small and compact also and would be consider quite basic but it still gives you enough information all the same to keep you motivated. There are adjustable straps on the pedals, the saddle is nice and comfortable with a 2 inch depth and the handlebars have the non-slip cushioned support to make sure your hands are well protected during the longer rowing sessions

Price Guide: Less than £100

Video Insert: Sunny Health Hydraulic Rowing Machine Overview

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1, How long is the sliding rail?
A, The Sliding rail on this hydraulic rowing machine is 73cm and the slide rail inseam is nearly 94cm
Q2. How big is the rowing saddle?
A. The dimensions of the saddle is 13 inches long by 10 inches wide by 2 inches deep
Q3. Does it need to be plugged into the mains?
A. No as batteries are used to power the digital tracker (included in the pack)
Q4. Can it be folded away after use?
A. No, once assembled it cannot be folded down (unless you disassemble it)
Q5. Can it work for a man nearly 90kg in weight?
A. Yes, as the maximum weight capacity is up to 100kg bodyweight
Q6. Does it require much assembly work?
A. There are some bolts to secure the various parts but it shouldn’t take you any longer than 15-30 minutes
Q7. What is the frame made with?
A, The frame of this rowing machine is made using durable Aluminium steel alloy

Pros for the Hydraulic Rowing Machine:

Great value rowing alternative which costs less than £100 which makes it ideal for bargain hunters or people seeking the lowest possible price
Small footprint dimensions that doesn’t take up a lot of space in your home – you get a good workout without having to give up the space of a treadmill or larger longer rowing machine
The saddle was better than expected for the longer rowing sessions so there shouldn’t be any major problems here for you
The quality of the frame is heavy duty with the lightweight aluminium and it can handle people’s weights of 100kg no problem whatsoever
It can be placed in front of the telly with the lightweight design which makes up for the lack of loud speakers, MP3 players and Bluetooth connectivity’s
As it comes with such a simple and basic design, there is very little that can go wrong with it and all the expensive add-ons have been removed to make it more affordable for you the end user
It serves well as a basic entry level rowing machine backed with a price level that most people will be attracted to
Assembly is easier than you will expect and it includes a good manual where you can follow the instructions step by step (or check out the video above)

Cons for the Hydraulic Rowing Machine:

Very basic design with a very basic digital monitor – only suitable for beginners or casual users looking to start out in our opinion
Limited to a maximum weight capacity of 100kg only – if you weigh over this then you should start looking elsewhere
The tracking information on the digital monitor seems to be a bit off and not 100% accurate – again a very basic and simple tracking device
There is no pre-set programmes, no MP3 connection, no Bluetooth and no loud speakers either so there is very little it can do besides rowing strokes.
If you are over 6 foot tall, then you will most likely feel that this rowing machine is on the shorter scale for you
It tends to slide slightly with faster rowing so a small rug or carpet surface underneath can help in this regard.
As time goes by and the hydraulic cylinder heats up, the level of resistance seems to fade away which is disappointing
The piston can get very hot after longer sessions so extra care and attention is required on your end
Isolated issues have been reported about leakages from the piston and loss of resistance

Video Insert: Overview of the Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing machine

Final Conclusion

Let’s face it, this Sunny Health Hydraulic Rowing machine is a cheap and cheerful rowing machine solution for smaller people or casual athletes or beginners that comes with a low priced design and a low priced digital monitor which makes it ideal for people seeking the lowest possible price. It is quite small and compact and we would feel it is better suited for people less than 6 foot and also less than 100kg in weight so it is certainly not for everyone – it is more geared towards entry level rowing exercises.

Cylinder

The hydraulic resistance could be a whole better as it seems to fade away as the cylinder heats up and the digital tracker is very basic which won’t be good enough for the hard core elite athlete types. That being said though, if you are someone just looking for a bit of additional low impact exercises on the more casual side of things, then this Rowing machine will do the job for you as it provides a home exercise low impact workout solution that you can do at your own pace in the comfort of your own home.

Verdict

Would we buy the Hydraulic version? To be honest, it would have to be a no mainly because of the poor resistance and basic features provided. Our preference would have to be the Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine code SF-RW5515 instead to cater for our own individual needs and further information along with updated prices and reviews can be double checked below

Sunny Health Rowing Machine Community Feedback

Have you ever used a Sunny Health Rowing Machine yourself in the past? Did you prefer the Hydraulic, Elastic cord, Magnetic or Water resistance versions?

If possible, feel free to educate others in the wider community by leaving your opinions or feedback in the comment box section provided below…