I’ve used this machine for 45 min every other day for a year and a half. It is this only exercise that I do and I have seen remarkable results. I am 30 years old and I have lost thirty pounds of fat and have turned an average body type in an athletic one.

My back and shoulders have especially benefited. Those are the results you can expect from using this low impact, compact, easy to use and actually pretty fun piece of exercise equipment – all form the comfort of your living room.

As for the machine itself:

Pros:

It is sturdy – I am 6’2″ and 190lbs (started at 220lbs) and have never had a problem with stability.

I like the free rowing arms (as opposed to a bar like I’ve seen at gyms), gives the feel of a real row boat and also allows for exercising different parts of arms and back.

Quick results – and probably quicker if I made some changes to my diet.

Cons:

Calorie counter sucks butt. Infact the computer in its entirety isn’t all that great. Keeps time and number of strokes accurately though.

Pretty squeaky. Always has been.

Bottom line:

If your looking for a machine to get the job done and you don’t need a lot bells and whistles – get this machine.

45min = 1000 rows average
3 x week = 3000 rows a week
1.5 years = 234,000 rows in total and this machine is still going with no maintenance.

I bought this machine after quite a bit of research into various rowing machines. I am not a rower. My goal is to lose weight and get a good aerobic exerciser. I did not care too much whether the machine approximated actual rowing. I was looking for a rower that was smooth and challenging. This one fills the ticket for a VERY REASONABLE price. (Most rowers are $500 and up.)

Packaging

The Trac Glider comes in pieces that you have to assemble. Be careful that you don’t lose any parts, because I did not get any extra screws or pieces in my package. The machine is fairly simple to put together. It only took about 15 minutes.

The Machine

I noticed immediately that the materials for the rower are pretty solid. However, I found the plastic for the monitor to be pretty flimsy but serving their purpose. Another quality issue is the nylon and velcro foot straps that may break over time. My feet slip into the foot stirrups easily but if the straps aren’t tight they can and do slip out occasionally. The monitor conveniently measures time, estimated calories, and number of rows. You can set it to scan through this information while you are rowing so that you don’t have to stop to change what is shown. The monitor also cuts on and off automatically, saving power.

The rower was not silent. When I first got it, it squeeked fiercely. But a few squirts of WD40 and the annoying noise was taken care of. The pistons hiss and the seat rolls back and forth making a sound similar to what a skateboard makes.

The seat is cushioned. This is very important for anyone wanting to row for long aerobic workouts. The row arms move nicely…similar to an outrigger but not quite the same movement.

I am six feet tall and immensely pleased that I chose the Body Trac Glider because it has a longer track than most rowers. I am able to extend my legs fully with each row and my arms can go through a full range of motion with this machine.

Storage

The arms fold underneath the track and the machine stands on its ‘head’ for storage. I live in a small condominium and need that space. The design is quite effective. The monitor is not touching the ground as it appears to be in the picture. The T-style ends make a 3 point stand when tilted up.

On the whole, I don’t think anyone could find a better rowing machine than this anywhere near this price. It provides an effective workout and is made of sturdy material. This is a five star machine. I considered 4 stars only because I wish the monitor was made of better materials. –But, I would have bought this even if it didn’t have any monitor.

I wanted to buy a rowing machine but because I have not used any of them before, I decided to start with an inexpensive one, just to try.

After reading many reviews, I noticed that most inexpensive rowers get very negative reviews, with one possible exception: the Stamina Body Trac Glider.

So I ordered it through Amazon and received it after two days.

After I opened the box, I was surprised at the quality of the material and of the components. The rowing machine was also extremely easy to assemble.

Unfortunately, there was a big dent on the rail, where the seat slides, which prevented the seat to slide properly. This was probably due to lack of care during shipping.

I managed to bend the dent back with a pincer, and fixed the problem. The Body Glider works perfectly and it is very pleasant to use. It is smooth and almost silent. So far I like it a lot.

Some reviewers complained that the shock absorber looses oil, that the machine squeaks, and that the footstraps are not well designed. Perhaps I got an updated , but I have not experienced any of these problems so far.

PROS:

a. Real rowing (oar-like) action, rather than just pulling on a single T-bar.

b. Comfortable even with tall people (I’m 6’1′).

c. Adjustable rowing tension.

d. A very sturdy, rigid, and well-built frame.

e. Easy to assemble.

f. Takes little room to use.

g. Very low cost (one hundred twenty dollars).

CONS:

a. The seat is not well padded.

b. The unit creaks and squeaks a bit until it is warmed-up.

c. No instructions explaining how to actually row properly. (I found some great videos and info on the Web, however, that instruct as to how to use rowing machines).

You simply cannot beat this Stamina Body Trac Rowing Machine at this very low cost — it is an amazing deal!

I normally don’t leave reviews even though I rely on them myself for advice when purchasing items online. So for what it’s worth here is my take on this rower.

I can’t speak for customer service problems or bad shipments that result in broken pieces. However most of the reviews deal with the foot rests. Most people think it is the straps that are bad. If they would examine the product while in use and not is use they would know the straps are fine.

It the actual foot supports that are bad. The heel support on them is way too shallow. This is what is causing peoples feet to fall out. My fix until I can find some better foot supports to use on this machine is this.(By the way it isn’t pretty but it works.)

I took 6 3″ deck screws and screwed 3 in on each foot support at the heel. This extends the support for your heels. Your shoes and feet will not move at all. This will take the stress away that some people are complaining they are having on their legs. You can cut the ends of the screws that come out of the bottom with bolt cutters. You don’t have to because the angle of the foot supports prevents them from hitting anything.

Now some people are complaining about the shock absorber. First thing this is basically a cardio machine. I’m not trying to get big I’m trying to work up a sweat and burn calories. I can lift weights for bulk or tone muscles. Second, the shock is basically like the shock on the rear window of an suv. Over time this shock gets worn out and needs to be replaced. Now it may take ten years or more before that happens because you are probably only opening that rear window now and then. Now consider you are using a shock for 30 minutes of consistent rowing everyday or every other day. The life of it is going to go out. I don’t agree with a 1 star rating from someone who used this consistently for three months or more and then their mad because something that can be easily replaced wears out and doesn’t last longer than what they feel it should last. Especially considering the price of this machine compared to another machine or a monthly fee at a gym.

Use some common sense people.

So in my opinion the machine is 4 stars. I would have given it 5 had the foot supports been made properly.