Stamina ATS Air Rower
Editor’s Conclusion
Looking for an air rower on a budget? The Stamina ATS Air Rower has all of the advanced resistance features of an air rower without the high price point. What users love most about this machine is that it provide smooth, quality air resistance that is approachable for users of all skill levels. Whether you are just getting started on your rowing adventure, or you are a skilled veteran, this machine is a great choice.
It’s important to note, however, that this machine does have a few disadvantages that are worth mentioning, but you may be able to overlook them given the affordable price point. This machine doesn’t provide the same commercial-grade workout you would get at one of the more expensive machines at your local gym, but it does a great job at elevating your heart rate and working up a good, old-fashioned sweat!
Below, I wanted to dive into the good (as well as bad) features of the Stamina ATS Air Rower.
It’s important to note, however, that this machine does have a few disadvantages that are worth mentioning, but you may be able to overlook them given the affordable price point. This machine doesn’t provide the same commercial-grade workout you would get at one of the more expensive machines at your local gym, but it does a great job at elevating your heart rate and working up a good, old-fashioned sweat!
Below, I wanted to dive into the good (as well as bad) features of the Stamina ATS Air Rower.
Stamina ATS Air Rower Review Facts
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
Very affordable
Consistent air resistance
Sleek powder-coated finish
Comfortable seat and grips
Adjustable pedal
Foldable
Cons
Very noisy
Does not offer a full range of motion
Limited durability
Key Features
PERFORMANCE
Overall, this is an effective rowing machine that will help you shed calories and elevate your heart rate. The overall design of this machine does suffer from a few design flaws that will hinder your workout slightly. The biggest issue with this machine is that the glide track is shallow, which means you won’t be able to reach that full range of motion.
A full range of motion on a rower means that your knees should come to a 90-degree angle over your shoes. This rower stops a little short, which will rob you of that full-body workout that helps to build muscle in your legs.
While it stops short at a full range of motion, it’s still a really great machine for elevating that heart rate, burning fat, and taking it easy on your bank account at the same time!
LCD SCREEN
The LCD screen on this design is small, simple, but it gets the job done. To me, the screen is just slightly smaller than I would have liked, which makes it a little difficult to read your progress at a glance. Using this screen is incredibly simple, however, and tracks all of the information you need to push yourself a little further.
The screen displays your time, speed, distance traveled, and calories burned. It doesn’t provide a heart rate monitor, but there are plenty of affordable heart rate monitors out there on the market if you feel that it is something that you absolutely need! It also boasts a scan feature that allows you to toggle through your progress at a glance with just the touch of a button.
RESISTANCE
What I love most about this design is that it boasts air resistance, while still coming in at an affordable price point. Many air rowers are quite expensive, but the Stamina ATS Air Rower is one of the most affordable air rowers that money can buy. It has an open fan design that is perfect for beginners or intermediate users. There are no knobs or buttons needed to change up the resistance on the line. Tension occurs when you row faster. For those nice and easy workouts, the tension will be minimal. As you increase your speed, the tension on the cable increases naturally.
The only downside to this form of resistance is that this machine is quite loud. Typically, I like to find a rating for the decibel level and compare it to something common to give you an idea of how loud it is, but Stamina doesn’t provide noise level information. I do know, however, that this machine makes it difficult to hold a conversation, or even watch television while in use. I suggest popping on a pair of headphones before jumping on this machine!
COMFORT
Users also really appreciate the comfort of the seat and the handles while in use. The upholstered seat has a high level of padding while keeps your rear end nice and comfortable as you row. The padding on this design is much more soft and plush than other options out there on the market, but it also means that it will likely flatten out over time.
The handlebars are slim and narrow for a secure grip and coated with a layer of durable EVA foam. This coating not only helps to fight off blisters but also works to wick away sweat so you can maintain a firm grip on the bar even as your hands really start to sweat.
PORTABILITY
Overall, the size of this Stamina rowing machine is much smaller and compact compared to other air rowers out there on the market. What I like about this design is that it is foldable as well. The glide rail has a set of pins that you can pull out and fold the rain against the fan mechanism in order to clear up essential floor space.
What I noticed, however, is that the foldable features found on this design are pretty difficult to implement. While many users were able to pull the pins out and fold the glide rail up, they ran in trouble popping the pins back in place once it was in the folded position. The good news, however, is that this design is fairly lightweight and compact so it will be easy to move against a wall to clear up floor space much quicker than trying to fold it.
ASSEMBLY
This unit ships in one central box, and there is some assembly required. The fan chamber comes completely assembled, which means that all you need to do is affix the frame to the central fan. The time it takes most users to assemble this unit ranges from 30 minutes up to about an hour and a half. Much of the time-consuming work lies with tightening the bolts, so encouraging a friend or family member to help will cut down on installation time significantly.
This design also comes with a set of instructions that are easy to read and follow. Plus, the frame comes with a 3-year warranty, and the parts included come with a 90-day warranty. As always, if you are concerned about your handyman skills, you can always contact the pros to assemble your machine for you (for an extra fee) to ensure that it is assembled properly.
STYLE
I don’t often talk about style when discussing workout equipment, but the style of this design is worth noting. Many rowers have a simple and utilitarian design that’s effective, but not exactly aesthetically pleasing. What I love most about this option is that the frame boasts a sleek powder-coated finish (that is also resistant to rust and corrosion) and the air fan chamber comes in multiple colors. Users can select from lime green, white, or basic black.
PRICE
This design suffers from a few missteps when it comes to overall performance and durability, but you cannot beat that price point. Many rowers on the market that have similar price points often use magnetic resistance.
Overall, magnetic resistance just isn’t as smooth or reliable as air resistance. When you take into consideration the high-quality air resistance and smooth ride, this machine is the perfect option for beginners that are reluctant to spend big bucks on a high-end rowing machine.
Overall, this is an effective rowing machine that will help you shed calories and elevate your heart rate. The overall design of this machine does suffer from a few design flaws that will hinder your workout slightly. The biggest issue with this machine is that the glide track is shallow, which means you won’t be able to reach that full range of motion.
A full range of motion on a rower means that your knees should come to a 90-degree angle over your shoes. This rower stops a little short, which will rob you of that full-body workout that helps to build muscle in your legs.
While it stops short at a full range of motion, it’s still a really great machine for elevating that heart rate, burning fat, and taking it easy on your bank account at the same time!
LCD SCREEN
The LCD screen on this design is small, simple, but it gets the job done. To me, the screen is just slightly smaller than I would have liked, which makes it a little difficult to read your progress at a glance. Using this screen is incredibly simple, however, and tracks all of the information you need to push yourself a little further.
The screen displays your time, speed, distance traveled, and calories burned. It doesn’t provide a heart rate monitor, but there are plenty of affordable heart rate monitors out there on the market if you feel that it is something that you absolutely need! It also boasts a scan feature that allows you to toggle through your progress at a glance with just the touch of a button.
RESISTANCE
What I love most about this design is that it boasts air resistance, while still coming in at an affordable price point. Many air rowers are quite expensive, but the Stamina ATS Air Rower is one of the most affordable air rowers that money can buy. It has an open fan design that is perfect for beginners or intermediate users. There are no knobs or buttons needed to change up the resistance on the line. Tension occurs when you row faster. For those nice and easy workouts, the tension will be minimal. As you increase your speed, the tension on the cable increases naturally.
The only downside to this form of resistance is that this machine is quite loud. Typically, I like to find a rating for the decibel level and compare it to something common to give you an idea of how loud it is, but Stamina doesn’t provide noise level information. I do know, however, that this machine makes it difficult to hold a conversation, or even watch television while in use. I suggest popping on a pair of headphones before jumping on this machine!
COMFORT
Users also really appreciate the comfort of the seat and the handles while in use. The upholstered seat has a high level of padding while keeps your rear end nice and comfortable as you row. The padding on this design is much more soft and plush than other options out there on the market, but it also means that it will likely flatten out over time.
The handlebars are slim and narrow for a secure grip and coated with a layer of durable EVA foam. This coating not only helps to fight off blisters but also works to wick away sweat so you can maintain a firm grip on the bar even as your hands really start to sweat.
PORTABILITY
Overall, the size of this Stamina rowing machine is much smaller and compact compared to other air rowers out there on the market. What I like about this design is that it is foldable as well. The glide rail has a set of pins that you can pull out and fold the rain against the fan mechanism in order to clear up essential floor space.
What I noticed, however, is that the foldable features found on this design are pretty difficult to implement. While many users were able to pull the pins out and fold the glide rail up, they ran in trouble popping the pins back in place once it was in the folded position. The good news, however, is that this design is fairly lightweight and compact so it will be easy to move against a wall to clear up floor space much quicker than trying to fold it.
ASSEMBLY
This unit ships in one central box, and there is some assembly required. The fan chamber comes completely assembled, which means that all you need to do is affix the frame to the central fan. The time it takes most users to assemble this unit ranges from 30 minutes up to about an hour and a half. Much of the time-consuming work lies with tightening the bolts, so encouraging a friend or family member to help will cut down on installation time significantly.
This design also comes with a set of instructions that are easy to read and follow. Plus, the frame comes with a 3-year warranty, and the parts included come with a 90-day warranty. As always, if you are concerned about your handyman skills, you can always contact the pros to assemble your machine for you (for an extra fee) to ensure that it is assembled properly.
STYLE
I don’t often talk about style when discussing workout equipment, but the style of this design is worth noting. Many rowers have a simple and utilitarian design that’s effective, but not exactly aesthetically pleasing. What I love most about this option is that the frame boasts a sleek powder-coated finish (that is also resistant to rust and corrosion) and the air fan chamber comes in multiple colors. Users can select from lime green, white, or basic black.
PRICE
This design suffers from a few missteps when it comes to overall performance and durability, but you cannot beat that price point. Many rowers on the market that have similar price points often use magnetic resistance.
Overall, magnetic resistance just isn’t as smooth or reliable as air resistance. When you take into consideration the high-quality air resistance and smooth ride, this machine is the perfect option for beginners that are reluctant to spend big bucks on a high-end rowing machine.
Comparisons to Previous Versions
Over the years, Stamina has listened to criticism on their previous models and worked to make targeted improvements to this machine. One of the biggest complaints when it comes to previous models is that they just weren’t comfortable.
This newest model boasts handlebars that are coated in a layer of EVA foam that makes it easier to handle on long distances, and the seat is much more padded and comfortable than older iterations of this machine. Sure, you can save a bit of money by opting for an older model, but to me, it just isn’t worth it.
This newest model boasts handlebars that are coated in a layer of EVA foam that makes it easier to handle on long distances, and the seat is much more padded and comfortable than older iterations of this machine. Sure, you can save a bit of money by opting for an older model, but to me, it just isn’t worth it.
Verdict
If you are looking for a great rower that comes in at an affordable price point, this design is a great choice. I love that it utilizes air resistance, which provides a more much smoother and reliable ride that increases in difficulty as you row faster. Many air resistance models clock in pretty steep price points, which is why the Stamina ATS Air Rower is so unique and worth checking out!
It does have a few downsides that may be deal-breakers for some, however. The overall design of this machine doesn’t allow you to reach the full range of motion that is necessary for targeting the full range of muscle groups in your legs. If you are looking for a machine to help build muscle, this may not be your best option. However, if you need a simple machine that can help raise your heart rate and burn fat, the limited range of motion will not be as much of an issue for your workout needs.
It does have a few downsides that may be deal-breakers for some, however. The overall design of this machine doesn’t allow you to reach the full range of motion that is necessary for targeting the full range of muscle groups in your legs. If you are looking for a machine to help build muscle, this may not be your best option. However, if you need a simple machine that can help raise your heart rate and burn fat, the limited range of motion will not be as much of an issue for your workout needs.
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