Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

Great rower!!! Bottom line up front, I would recommend it to all. The rower is super smooth and quiet. The foot pedals are easy to set up and you can quickly start your exercise. The only improvement would be to the program screen. It is at an angle that makes it difficult to see clearly unless you are at full extension. Minor inconvenience for a top machine rower.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

We use the rower 3 times a week and love it. The low impact is great on our 50 plus knees. The only problem is with the LED readout, the color makes it hard to read.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

overall great product for the price.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

makes one look forward to using it

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

Due to arthritis in knees and hips, I wanted a low impact aerobic workout that would provide some strength training. This machine does it all. Plus it was easy to assemble and use from the very outset (use online instructions). The monitor is clear and easy to use as well. Since the rower's placement in my house is conspicuous, a bonus benefit is its attractiveness and quietness.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I purchased the rower as I don't have time to go to a gym but like to stay in shape. This has been a great workout and the quality is very good.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

Great workout. Pretty tough once you get to level 4. Extremely quiet and very smooth. The blue back-light on the monitor doesn't have enough contrast to the black letters and can be difficult to read.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

Just started back into a routine after many years and have used the machine for a couple of weeks so far. I am finding it to be exactly what I was hoping for, easy to use with good results, though not painful. It is smooth, quiet and very easy to use. Somewhat bulky and difficult to move around, but to be expected, in this type of machine. So far I really like it. It is a good value, comparitively, for what it offers and how well it works. It has definitely met my expectations and I would highly recommend it.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

Preforms really well. I started having knee
pain while jogging about a month ago, and this rower helps me get cardio without the knee pain.
Solid, fluid motion, very quiet.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I like this product for the following reasons:

1. I'm 6'2" and it accomodates my frame.
2. I am a competitive powerlifter and I have discovered that using a rowing machine is a great way to properly warm up my joints (ankle, shoulders, elbow) & my core (abdominals, back), arms and legs.
3. Effective use of time vs. calories burned. This rower provides various program options which allow you to expend a maximal amount of calories for the time spent rowing. It's a very effective method of exercise when compared to other exercise machines, i.e. stair-mill, stationary bicycle, Versa-climber, treadmill, etc.
4. Technique - one of the inherent features of this type of exercise (rowing) is that you must develop proper technique in order to efficiently use this product. It's really not a mindless form of cardiovascular exercise. You constantly should be striving to maintain proper form, which in turn keeps your mind occupied while training.
5. It's fun and you can set attainable goals! You can always attempt to reach new records by beating your last exercise session by 1-2 strokes or 5-10 calories.

I don't like this part of the product:

The primary challenge with this unit is with the monitor. It can be difficult to read because it is placed a little too low but in the fully extended position you can make out all of the screen output/categories, assuming your you have no personal vision issues.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

It's too soon to tell if the product is sturdy. It's a nice addition to my home gym, and it's getting easier and easier to do. I like it, except for the display. I work by time and it's important to be able to see the numbers without trying to get in the right angle.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

When I wanted to pick up a rowing machine, I wanted one that would give me a good workout. My school (a well known crew school) only uses concept 2s, but becuase this machine was going to be in my home, those machines would have been way to noisy. Because of the price, the quiet operation, and the great levels of resistance it offers, I picked this one up. There are only a few things I would change on this machine, but because of the almost silent operation I wouldn't pick up anything else. The monitor is a little hard to read close up. As long as you're not training to be a major rower, this machine is great and you should consider it.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

very easy to use

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I was a bit nervous reading the review before I made my purchase; however now that I have it I think it is great! Super quiet so I can watch tv during workouts, and It was SOOooooo easy to set up...literally 10 minutes, and not too heavy. I love the programmed workouts and there is space for you to program 4 of your own workouts...very nice. I am seeing results after only a couple of weeks. Go for it!

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I bought this after reading all the reviews on this site and I will say that most of the reviews were accurate. This is a sturdy, quiet rower with some limitations preventing it from being great.

First of all, the setup instructions are poor at best with pictures and descriptions that do not match making it more difficult to assemble. If I were not an engineer, this would have been quite a challenging assembly process.

As for the rower operation, it is virtually impossible to read the electronic display as it is set at the wrong angle for viewing unless you are shorter than four feet tall and slide the seat all the way back. When setting the exercise choice, it is extremely difficult if not impossible to read and set the rower the way you want it. This company could make some money offering an upgraded display and base plate (to change the viewing angle) so users could more easily set up the rower.

Finally, the one of the reasons I chose this rower was the ability to set a target heart rate and use the chest strap included to allow the rower to change resistance while I row and my heart rate changes. Well, forget this! As I sit and row, the heart rate contraption loses connection over and over again making the rower jump back and forth from lowest to highest resistance all during the workout, It is so annoying that it is not worth trying to do it.

The lack of a warm up and cool down as part of the programmed exercise routines is a clear oversight that makes the programs poor.

In summary, I am forced to use this rower in manual mode and and simply use the up and down buttons to change rowing resistance as I want during my workout. As a manual rower, it is not too bad but a little too expensive.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I like everything about the machine except for the display. While in use it is difficult to read data due to placement and color of the data on the screen. For the cost of this machine I would expect a better screen.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

This is a step up from a "cheaper" model. Definitely a better investment. The machine is very quiet and smooth. Since the handle is a little higher on this machine, my knees do not get in the way. Much more comfortable and easier to workout, which makes you look forward to using the machine. Great purchase, very satified with the workout and the weight I have lost since purchasing it. Highly recommend spending a few extra $$ to get this more reliable, comfortable rower.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

We use the machine in conjunction with an elliptical trainer and light weights three days a week. Two days a week we walk, weather permitting, or use the elliptical. We really like the quietness and smooth operation. As for improving the machine; we like to keep track of our time spent on each machine and when coming back to the rower the timer has kept running, so to keep track we have to reset the machine and start the timer at -0-.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I use the rower 2 - 3x per week for weight loss & cardio workout. The display & heart monitor make it easy to keep track of my progress & the various programs allow me to customize my routine to fit my needs. Happy with my purchase & expect to use this product for a long, long time.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I love my new Lifecore rower. It's been a great addition to my gym.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I love my new rowing machine. It's so quiet and stores away easily. Its nice to get good exercise in my own home. I would reccomend this for all ages.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I needed a low impact machine, that would still give me a great cardio workout. This machine fits the bill. What surprised me were the strength gains I have experienced with this rower. I was expecting more endurance training, but have been pleased with the impact on arms, back and gluteal areas. It is especially nice that it is so quiet. I would definitely recommend this for all but the most hard core of rowers.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I'm not a big fan of exercise, but I knew from previous experience that if I have to choose, I really like rowing machines, and this is a top of the line model for a homebody like me. It had everything I want - folds up and out of the way, quiet enough for me to watch a DVD while I work out, and a nice, smooth operation. Buy this model with confidence!

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I love this machine! I use it 5 times a week now for 30 minutes a day. Not only is it great for cardio, but strengthens and tones as well. It is so user friendly and quiet.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I use my rowing machine twice a week. I bought it as a alternative cardio workout to mix things up for me. The best thing is I can get my cardio in and some strength training also. It is great at toning the arms. All my friends notice a difference. I also love the fact that it is quiet making it great for early morning workouts.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

Nice machine in many ways but I wish I could read
the screen while rowing. I must stop rowing and get
my view angle just right to make out the numbers.
I work out daily. Playing with the times, calories burned, etc in my head as I work out is a way I keep motivated. Since this machine is not user friendly in this regard, I use it less often and tend to use my exercycle instead. Would not buy this model gain.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I had used only piston-style and flywheel rowers before buying this magnetic one and was pleasantly surprised by the quiet and smooth action. The computer is awkward to use while rowing and is hard to see in bright light. The programs are really useful, but the manual setting is the one I use the most. My least favorite aspect of the machine is that the resistance gets very tough after the third level. Someone without a lot of upper body strength would find this impossible to use and I have trouble above the fourth level. Not for beginners!

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

The R900 Rower is smoth and quiet. It give you a great overall workout. The drawback is the design of the foot pedals with straps. Your feet do not stay in place and slip.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

[...]I find the overall product more than adequate BUT have a GREAT deal of trouble setting up a manual program which I need to do.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

After participating in a fitness project for my son's college class, I decided that although I needed to do something for my fitness, I didn't want to spend so much time and I needed an activity that would be low impact. I checked out the pros and cons of different types of equipment, and found that a rowing machine would exercise all of your major muscle groups, plus give a cardio workout. I like the Lifecore Fitness 900 rower because it provides a good workout in 20 minutes or so, while providing lot of information about how you did. Since rowing is not a particularly exciting activity, this information gives me a target to shoot for each time. You can adjust your workout on the Lifecore Fitness in so many ways! In addition to 7 preset programs, there is one that adjusts to keep your heart rate at a specific level, and 4 programs that allow you to setup your own workout. All of these programs allow you to work for a specific time, stroke count, distance, and/or calories. If you are using the heart-rate monitor, you can get a reading of how good your heart rate recovery is at the end of your workout (on a scale of scale of 1 to 6). One of the negatives was that the rower had virtually no explanation about how the monitor operated, so I had to go to the company web site and download a copy of the instructions. Also, I've noticed that one problem with a rowing machine is that sitting can become a little uncomfortable after about 15 minutes or so. Other than for these two negatives, I have been very pleased with my purchase of the Lifecore Fitness 900.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

This is my first rowing machine at home. I really like it. It was easy to set up and use. The only problem that I have it that there was no manual to describe the program functions. I think I could get more out of it if I knew all of the functions.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

My only thought is that I found it amazing that there was NO handle on top of the main portion of the machine in order to move it around and make it much easier to man-handle while putting it together.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I use it daily to supplement my bicycle racing fitness arobic training. It really is a great machine, a wonderful surprise. It will give you all the work out you are up for. It is very quiet and smooth. The heart monitor strap and readout is a bit inconsistent but not to the point of extreme frustration.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

I LOVE my new rower! At first it took some getting used to finagleing with the options because there is not much info given in the operators manual, but now I am feeling like I'm really working hard and I am used to the programs! I work out at 4am so I really appreciate how quite and smooth the rower is. My kids LOVE to use it to warm up for baseball and softball too.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

The rower is definitely a good product. You can tell it's sturdiness right from the start of the setup. The operation of the machine is smooth and pretty easy in my opinion. The programs give you a pretty wide range of different settings so that you can do an easier or harder workout. The heart monitor seems to be a bit cheap, but the trick is to wet it and then as you start to sweat it gets more accurate and gives more steady readings. [...]

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

When I first bought this machine, I felt compelled to email the president of LifeCore about the quality and excellent simulation to rowing it afforded. Having rowed for Vesper Boat Club in Phila., as a young man, and later sculled on a lake for a few years, I can attest that this machine is the closest to having oars in the water. I know the U.S. Rowing Assoc. recognizes another product for its indoor competitions (Concept II), but I like the smooth resistance afforded by this machine's electro-magnetic generated resistance. It's settings allow an infinite graduation in resistance increases, and it's smooth all the way through the stroke, and extrememly quite. A great machine - have had it for some time now. Use it regularly I'm no "gym rat," (the closest choice I could chek) but do exercise regularly. It works as reliably as the day I set it up.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

This rowing machine is very quiet, although it has developed a bit of a clicking noise from the seat. The movement is very natural and the resistance levels are quite functional. The only drawback I would list is the inability to disable the beep when starting the machine or using the menu.

Comments about LifeCore Fitness LifeCore Fitness R900 Rower:

This is a great piece of equipment for toning and losing weight. The only big disappointment is that there was no owner's manual in the box and repeated calls to the manufacturer with promises of it being sent have not materialized. This means I cannot use the rower to its full potential, which is a big disappointment.