StaminaBodyTrac Glider Hydraulic Rowing Machine with Smart Workout App - Rower Workout Machine with Cylinder Resistance - Up to 250 lbs Weight Capacity

I've had this rower for over six months and use it several times a week. I bought it because I was a big fan of the hydro-rowers at the gym but can't afford the price tag nor the space for one of the 'fancier' machines that rowing snobs tout like the Concept 2. I chose this one because it uses more of a rowing motion rather than the typical pulling one you get on hydro rowers.The assembly was a little tricky but once i figured it out, was super easy , it just took a little patience. Once it was up and running, it took a little while to figure out which level to start at to give me a good workout but not feel like Sisyphus trying to push a rock up a hill.I have to say, for the price, this machine is great. I've never had any issues with the pedals nor the straps as I've read on other reviews. I just make sure I velcro my feet tight and am able to push with my legs with no issues. I did have an issue with one of the bolts coming out but that was my fault for not tightening it enough. I've also had to change the batteries in the display console once which was fine except I didn't realize I needed to until I was strapped in and ready to start rowing. It's great that you can reset each workout down to zero when you start but the machine maintains a running count of strokes up to 10K and then it resets.I bought this machine because I don't like going to the gym but I love rowing for exercise. This allows me to have the best of both worlds- getting to work out but doing so in the comfort of my own home. I highly recommend it if you're looking for a way to get a good full-body workout at your own pace but don't have the room/finances to get one of the fancier rowers. One piece of advice- invest in workout gloves; I tend to grip hard and found myself developing blisters under my middle finger but gloves solved that issue nicely.

Update 3/27/16 I'm size 4 again!The rower still works great. I hit a plateau in my weight loss soon after losing 30 pounds. I believe it's because I'm close to my ideal body weight. So I gave the rower a break, and started back after a few weeks, averaging maybe 4 hours a week. I've lost another 10 pounds in 4 months, bringing the total weight loss to 40 pounds. I'm 5'10" and 155 pounds. I think 140 pounds will be a good place to stop. This is the only exercise machine I'm using. I am also mostly avoiding the junk food and no soda at all. (Although I did have a can of cashews to celebrate the weight loss yesterday.)The instructions weren't that clear, but overall, It was pretty easy to put together.I never had a problem with my weight until recently, and this is my first attempt at losing weight, and this rower makes it so simple.I wanted to wait awhile before I wrote a review. I'm 5'10, female, and weighed 195 pounds on July 10, 2015.I was a huge junk food eater, not much of real food. For instance, 4 half-gallons of ice cream per week, every week...yeah, and I'll leave it at that.I cut my junk food consumption to under 2,000 calories a week, and I row 2 hours per day, every day, at resistance level 7.The machine comes with the resistance at 6, which I didn't even check for awhile. I read that the greater the resistance, the bigger your muscles, so I'm going to wait until I'm done losing weight to see if I want to go bigger.I now have no back fat. I can count my ribs below my breasts. I had a HUGE stomach before. People starting asking if I was pregnant. Now I have a very small one.Don't believe the reviewers who say they didn't get much of a workout. If you use it for a good amount of time and are consistent, and get rid of your bad habits, you will be toned. My leg muscles and arms, stomach, back, are toned. I don't believe in days off. You don't take a take off from eating, why should you from exercising? I had never tried the rower at the gym, because it looked boring, but the first time I used this, I fell in love with it.It's very quiet. The thing with the pedals is you have to apply some pressure to it. If it's making noise, then you're either not applying pressure, or you're pulling the arms too hard. The legs are supposed to do some of the work.Use weightlifting gloves. It makes it easier to get up and down from rower, and you won't get callouses on your hands.Buy padded bike shorts, and wear sweatpants for more of a cushion. The seat doesn't hurt all the time, but wearing padded shorts makes it possible for you to use it for a longer amount of time.I have chronic knee problems and using any other machine every day caused me knee and ankle pain in the past. I have had no problem at all with this machine.I don't use the display at all. There's really no purpose to it. I have a post-it over it, and track my time on my cell phone.I do daydream about getting a more expensive one with programs, but this is A-Okay for someone on a budget, and the results are miraculous.I'm now about 165 pounds, and falling out of my clothes. I look forward to shopping in December when I'm back to my size 4!