Looking for a quiet, low cost rowing machine with “free-motion arms”?
Well look no further than the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine with Full Motion Arms.
Yeah that name is a mouth full! We can just call it the SF-RW1410.
The SF-RW1410 offers everything a beginner rower needs to receive a great full-body workout.
Complete with “full-motion arms” and 12 levels of resistance, users can vary their workout to their specific needs.
While the price and description of the SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine may be alluring, I will say that there are some downsides to this model.
Read my full review below to find out all the pros and cons!
Resistance Type
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine with Full Motion Arms is a single hydraulic-piston resistance rowing machine.
This means it has a single hydraulic-piston located beneath the seat that is attached to both rowing arms.
Hydraulic-piston rowing machines have many advantages such as being lightweight and inexpensive to manufacture.
They also have the ability to adjust to different resistance levels, which makes them great for warm-ups/ cool downs and intense rowing.
You can read more about some of the different characteristics in my rowing machine resistance comparison article.
While hydraulic-piston rowing machines like the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 have many benefits, they also have their downsides. I’ll touch on each of these in the section below.
Resistance Benefits
The Sunny Health & Fitness Rowing Machine with Full-Motion Arms has many resistance benefits that beginner rowers will enjoy. The main ones being that they are lightweight, compact, and inexpensive.
Unlike the other resistance types, where you need a large fan or metal flywheel at the front of the rowing machine, a hydraulic-piston can be placed right under the seat to reduce size and weight.
This makes is great for older individuals or people living in small apartments.
Hydraulic-pistons also make very little noise, so users can watch TV while rowing or not worry about making too much noise while exercising.
The SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine comes with an adjustable piston that has 12 different resistance levels. All a user has to do is twist the knob to the desired resistance level.
Level 1 being the easiest and 12 being the hardest.
Adjustable resistance is a nice feature when using your rowing machine for different workouts such as long, easy rows or short, hard rows.
Having a hydraulic-piston also allows for the “full motion arms” of the SF-RW1410, which mimics rowing oars on a boat. Many people like this movement because it can target many different muscle groups by changing the grips or angle of the rowing stroke and actually feels like rowing oars!
Another great addition to the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 resistance is the inclined seat rail. If you look closely (in the picture above) you will see the seat rail is set to an incline to add a little extra resistance by causing the user to push their weight up the seat rail.
This also allows for a smoother return and can add great “negative” resistance as the user controls their recovery.
Resistance Negatives
While there are many positives to hydraulic-piston rowing machines, there are unfortunately many negatives.
One of the main issues is the lack of overall resistance on the SF-RW1410 Rower. If you are already strong or looking for a strenuous rowing workout, then this is not the machine for you.
Some users felt it did not provide a high enough resistance to satisfy their needs and wished it had a few more resistance levels. However, many older individuals or people just looking to get a light workout everyday, felt the resistance was all they needed.
Another problem that is seen on hydraulic-piston rowers is the oil inside the piston will heat up after 15 minutes and sometimes leak. This has not been a major issue on the SF-RW1410 but it is something to look out for and may be advisable to put down a Stamina fold-to-fit protective rowing machine mat.
In addition, when the oil heats up and becomes less viscous (thick) the rower will lose resistance intensity. Basically, if you set the resistance to 8 and row for 15 minutes, you may need to re-adjust the resistance to 10 to feel the same tension. This is the main reason why people feel the overall resistance is too “light”.
When the oil heats up, the hydraulic-piston can also become hot to touch, so only touch the adjustment knob. This isn’t a serious issue and just something to keep in mind.
To combat the “oil heating” issue, many users will row for 15 minutes and then do another exercise like push-ups, sit-ups, or jump rope. After a few minutes the oil cools down and the rowing machine is back to normal.
Overall
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine with Full Motion Arms operates the same as all the other hydraulic-piston rowers and has the same pros & cons.
When buying an inexpensive hydraulic-piston rower you have to expect some of the downsides and I think the SF-RW1410 does a great job at minimizing these negative aspects.
Monitor/Control Panel
The Sunny Full Motion SF-RW1410 comes with a basic LCD monitor. It can track the following fitness data:
- Time
- Count (stroke count during workout)
- Calorie
- Total Count (total stroke count overall)
As you can see, the monitor is very basic but that is expected on such a low cost rowing machine.
The data is easy to read while rowing and a user can select what data point they want displayed during their workout. They can also choose “SCAN” mode to rotate between each data point.
The monitor runs off two AAA batteries which are included.
One side note is the calorie counter is based off an average user and is not specific to the actual person rowing. This is common on many rowing machines, as an accurate calorie counter needs your age, height, weight, and heart rate to calculate accurately. Many people use the calorie counter to compare different workouts to see which was more strenuous than the other.
Overall, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine monitor is decent for the price. Other rowing machines in this price range offer the same type of monitor.
Build Quality
The SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine is built with a strong steel frame that supports its sleek design. Many users mentioned the rower felt sturdy while using and was good quality for the price.
Users felt the foot-pedals and velcro straps securely held their feet in place and offered a strong base for pushing off.
The seat and handles felt durable and made minimal noise while using. Often times any squeaking or clinking noises can be a concern for quality issues.
A few users complained about some quality issues after a few months of use, but this is common on all rowing machines in this price range.
Any rowing machine for sale around $100 will have its share of machines that break after a few months. All you can check for is if the company replaces the broken parts within the warranty period and that there are no consistent issues that recur an abnormal amount of times.
I saw no out of the ordinary signs with the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine and the quality seemed to be better than average.
Comfort
The Sunny Health & Fitness Full Motion Rowing Machine comes fully equipped with a thick-padded seat, non-slip grip handlebars and large anti-slip pedals with adjustable velcro straps.
These key features allow for a very comfortable rowing stroke.
The cushioned seat allows you to row for longer periods of time without any discomfort. Your hands will also not become fatigued due to the soft, non-slip grip handlebars.
This also allows you to row more comfortably as your grip changes from utilizing the different rowing motions allowed by the “full-motion arms”.
Being extremely quiet means you can watch TV while rowing to push yourself to row longer and avoid getting so bored!
One user commented that the only noise she could hear was the seat sliding up and down the seat rail.
Overall, I felt the comfort of the SF-RW1410 Rower was adequate for most people and very few users had any complaints.
Check out the video review below to see it in action!
Storage
There isn’t really an easy or great way to store the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 but there are a few tips I picked up from owners.
One being, don’t store it at all because once you store it, you’ll never use it. Very true!
However, if you are limited on space there are a few things you can do.
Being lightweight means you can easily move the rower and stand it up against a wall. You can also remove the back pin from the rear support and fold this section down. This will make the profile against the wall a lot smaller.
If you need to store longer term you can remove the monitor arm very easily with 2 screws and it should fit under a bed or in a closet. Then it only requires two screws and reinserting the pin to be back to normal.
While there isn’t a fancy way to fold this rower up like a pretzel, I think the compact nature of this machine won’t cause any storage issues.
Capacity
When first looking at the Sunny Health & Fitness Rowing Machine with Full-Motion Arms, I didn’t think the capacity would be that big. However, after researching different size users I was very surprised.
The manufacturing weight capacity is listed at 220 lbs. but some users as heavy as 260-280 lbs. said they used the rower with no issues.
I also didn’t think a taller person would fit on this rowing machine but multiple users from 6’2″ to 6’4″ said they could perform a complete rowing stroke.
Even shorter users around 4’11” said the rowing stroke felt fine and they had no issue with the “free motion” rowing arms.
While there have been users of many different sizes who have used the SF-RW1410, I wouldn’t say these testimonials are a guarantee. I always like to play it safe and stay close to the recommended capacity because failing to do so can result in the machine breaking or not lasting as long.
Dimensions
- Assembled Dimensions:
- 59.0″ x 29.0″ x 21.25″ (L x W x H)
- Assembled Weight:
- 34 lbs.
- Shipping Dimensions:
- 51.5″ x 8.0″ x 17.0″ (L x W x H)
- Shipping Weight:
- 39.5 lbs.
Assembly
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine is very easy to assemble and comes partially setup.
Most users were able to assemble the rower in about 15-20 minutes following the easy to read instructions.
The manual has many large photos showing the assembly and the main frame is already put together (as shown in the photo below showing the rower out of the box).
Another great feature is all the necessary tools come with the package for assembly!
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Inexpensive
- Free-motion arms
- 12 levels of adjustable resistance
- Comfortable rowing stroke
- Easy assembly
- Good build quality for the price
Cons:
- Resistance can be easy for some users
- No storage capabilities
- Low manufacturer weight capacity
- Common hydraulic-piston issues (seen on all hydraulic rowers)
Consumer Reviews
Consumers have been happy with the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine overall. Most users felt the rowing machine offered good quality and an effective workout for the price.
Consumers who were unhappy either had a rowing machine with a quality issue or were upset about the resistance strength. These are two things that a potential buyer should keep in mind. For around $100 there will always be some risk of a quality issue and resistance levels will be lower than higher priced models.
You can read more consumers reviews about the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine with Full Motion Arms here.
Average Rating: 4.2
Warranty
- Frame: 3-Years
- Other Parts & Components: 180 Days
- Model #: SF-RW1410
Be sure to check packaging for additional warranty information as sometimes details can change.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine Price
The price of the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine is one of the major factors in reviews and ratings. Most high reviews were from people who felt the quality and performance surpassed the expectations of such a low priced rowing machine.
You can find this model on a few online retailers for close to the same price. Amazon usually offers very competitive pricing and has free shipping on qualified orders. They also have great customer support and act as a layer of protections between the manufacturer and consumer.
Overall Review
I feel the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine with Full Motion Arms offers a great full-body workout for beginner rowers or people who are just looking to get off the couch for a little bit everyday. It’s also perfect to use during the winter when outside exercise isn’t an option.
If you are looking for a serious rowing workout or to row for an hour a day, then this is not the rowing machine for you. It is also not a great choice for multiple users since this increases the likelihood of components wearing out.
People looking for a little better quality, who want to stick with hydraulic pistons, should look at the Stamina “Free Arm” Orbital Rower. This rowing machine offers dual pistons and a little better build quality.
Another great option with a little more resistance strength and more suitable for multiple users is the Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rower SF-RW5515.
There has also been another release of rowing machines and a very similar model was released with a few added features. If you are still in the market for a good quality, low priced hydraulic-piston rower, then I would check out the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5639 here.
I hope you enjoyed my Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Rowing Machine review! If you have any questions leave them in the comments below.
