Sunny Obsidian Surge 500 Water Rower Review – Still One of the Best?

Sunny Has Always Been One of My Go-To Budget Brands

I’ve always liked Sunny Health & Fitness because these guys are some of the best at delivering quality at a low price. I’ve been reviewing their gear for over a decade, and they’ve always been one of my go to companies when recommending low cost fitness gear for home.

And their rowers are some of the best in the budget space. The monitors may be a little basic, but it’s the build quality that really shines through with Sunny rowers.

An 81lb Steel Frame Makes a Big Difference

The Obsidian Surge 500 is their flagship water rower, and it’s impressive. This thing weighs 81lb. That’s almost twice the weight of some budget wooden water rowers, and it’s a good thing because all that weight helps keep the rowing machine planted on the floor.

It’s a solid, sturdy rower. It won’t feel like some cheap, unstable Amazon rower. It’s a well-made, heavy machine with a strong steel frame, made by a company that really knows what they’re doing.

And with one of the best free apps I’ve come across, including immersive rowing workouts, training, and tons of other stuff, it’s certainly a low cost rower that offers more than most, and one that should still be taken seriously.

You certainly get a lot of rower for your money with the Surge, and it’s a rower that really deserves a closer look. So in today’s Obsidian Surge 500 Review, I want to take a close look at everything it has to offer, including any drawbacks.

Also, at the end of the review, I thought it would be interesting to compare it with my favorite low cost solid wood water rower, the Merach R28. They’re two very different water rowers, so it’ll be interesting to see how they match up.

But first, a quick look at the Obsidian Surge 500 specs, pros, and cons!

Specs

Why Do We Like The Obsidian Surge 500 Rowing Machine?

What really makes me like this rowing machine is that it’s been around for a few years now. It’s stood the test of time, and people are still praising it years after owning it, which just proves what a great rower it is for the price.

To still receive excellent feedback after seven years is impressive, and it just shows that the build quality is something you can always trust from Sunny Health & Fitness.

And as I mentioned in the intro, that heavy 81lb frame is a telling sign of the quality of parts used in the build. And the heavier the better when it comes to rowers, as that extra weight really adds to the overall stability of the rowing machine.

That Rowing on Water Feel at Home

And I love the dynamic resistance system. It’s a system that mimics rowing on actual water. The harder and faster you row, the stronger the resistance you’ll feel from the handle. Ease off your rowing pace and the resistance drops with you, so there’s no need to keep stopping and changing resistance levels.

And when you combine that dynamic resistance with the sound of the paddles pushing through the water in the tank, you really do get much closer to that rowing on water feel at home.

You’ll love the app too, as it adds even more to the experience with its real time rowing workouts. I’d recommend using a large tablet or even your TV with the app if you can. The larger the screen, the more you can get into the workout, especially with the scenic rowing sessions.

Combine that with the sound of the water and the dynamic resistance system, and you can see why water rowers like the Obsidian are so enjoyable to use.

Click here to check price of the Obsidian Surge 500 on Amazon

Wide Inclined Slide Rail

I feel the slide rail is another big selling point of the Obsidian Surge 500. The reason I like it is that it’s nice and wide, which adds some extra stability to the seat.

Also, I love that it’s slightly inclined. An inclined slide rail is going to add that little bit extra to your workouts.

You’re having to push yourself slightly uphill with every stroke, so those large leg muscles have to work that bit harder. It’s only a slight incline, but it’s enough to add a little more to the push phase of your rowing stroke, which I like.

And the length of the rail is pretty impressive too. With a 39″ inseam, you’re looking at a max height of around 6’5″ to 6’6″ for this rower, depending on leg length. That’s plenty of room for most people to achieve a full rowing stroke, which is exactly what I’d hope to find at this price point.

Impressive Monitor and an Even Better Free App

I actually really like the monitor on the Obsidian Surge 500. You get a nice large LCD that’s easy to read while you’re rowing, and it’s a step up from the basic monitors you normally find on lower cost water rowers.

Of course, it tracks all the usual workout data, but what I particularly like is that you get your 500m split time. This is one of the most useful rowing metrics to have, especially once you start improving and want to beat your previous times.

It’s also great to see wireless heart rate monitoring. Sadly, Sunny doesn’t include the chest strap, so you’ll have to buy one separately, but at least the option is there. If you like training in your chosen heart rate zone, it’s a very useful feature to have.

But it’s the free SunnyFit app that really sells the monitor for me. I reviewed this app a few years ago and remember being impressed with it then, and it’s even better now.

You can connect the Obsidian to the app through Bluetooth, track your workouts, and there’s a ton of other stuff on there, including rowing workouts, training classes, and scenic routes.

And the best thing is Sunny still doesn’t charge you for any of it. So many companies want a monthly subscription for their apps now that it’s refreshing to find one this good that’s actually free.

One tip: if you’re going to use SunnyFit regularly, try to use the largest screen you can. A tablet is great, but if you can get the app up on your TV, even better.

Those scenic rowing workouts are so much more enjoyable on a large screen, and when you combine them with the sound of the water and the dynamic resistance of the Obsidian, you can really get into your rowing sessions.

Don’t Let the 300lb Weight Capacity Put You Off

One spec that might look a little disappointing is the 300lb weight capacity, especially when you consider there are budget wooden water rowers weighing around 50lb that claim they can handle 350lb or even 400lb.

But I really wouldn’t read too much into those numbers.

Sunny Health & Fitness has been making home fitness equipment for over two decades, and one thing I’ve always liked about these guys is that their specs tend to be pretty realistic.

They’re an experienced company that knows how to build fitness equipment, and I’d much rather see a believable 300lb weight capacity than a huge number printed on the spec sheet just because it looks impressive.

I’ve seen this for years with budget weight benches. You’ll sometimes find a $100 bench claiming a crazy 1,000lb capacity, but there’s a big difference between something being able to handle a certain weight in a test and something handling heavy use reliably for years.

And the Obsidian itself weighs 81lb. This thing is a beast compared with most budget water rowers, and that heavy steel frame tells me far more about how solid and sturdy this rower is than the 300lb weight capacity might suggest.

To be fair, those wooden water rowers have something going for them too. They’re very low profile, with the seat and rails sitting close to the floor, which naturally makes them stable and helps them handle plenty of weight despite being lighter machines.

Still, I certainly wouldn’t look at a 400lb capacity on a 50lb budget rower and assume it’s better built than the 81lb Obsidian simply because the number is higher.

Vertical Storage Saves a Ton of Space

What I like about a vertical storage rowing machine is just how much space you can save.

When the Obsidian is stored upright, its overall footprint is reduced by around 80%. That’s much more than a typical folding rower, where you’re usually looking at around a 50% reduction.

So if you’re tight on space and need to put your rower away after every workout, vertical storage is definitely something I’d recommend.

You get a full-size rowing machine when you’re using it without having a full size rowing machine taking over the room for the rest of the day.

And storing the Obsidian is a breeze. Just tilt the rower upright and store it against a wall. Moving it around is easy too. Simply tilt and roll it on the built-in transport wheels.

Drawbacks of the Obsidian Surge 500

There’s a lot I like about the Obsidian, and considering how long this rower has been around, it’s impressive how well it still stacks up. Still, it’s not perfect, and there are a few things worth knowing before you buy.

• Chest strap isn’t included: It’s great that you get wireless heart rate monitoring, but it’s a shame Sunny doesn’t throw in the chest strap.
• It’s a heavy rower: I love that 81lb weight when you’re actually rowing because it makes the Obsidian feel so solid, but you’ll certainly notice it if you regularly need to move the rower from room to room
• The design is starting to look a little dated: This is an older rower, and next to some of the new solid wood water rowers, it doesn’t look quite as impressive in the home. That’s purely cosmetic, though, and I’d take the Obsidian’s build quality over good looks any day
• It’s more expensive than some excellent budget water rowers: You can now pick up a surprisingly good solid wood water rower for around $300, so the Obsidian has much tougher competition than it did a few years ago

Will I need a Rowing Mat?

Most people will go and buy a rowing mat to protect their hard, polished floors from scratches. Also, a rowing mat is great for stopping the rower from sliding around on a polished floor. But with the Obsidian Surge, the feet of the rower are capped in rubber, so you shouldn’t need a rowing mat for either of those issues.

The one time I would reccomend buying a rowing mat for the Obsidian is if you live in an apartment or shared housing, as a mat will help soak up most of the vibrations from your workouts, certainly a good idea if you want to keep the neighbors happy

Rock Solid Stability

And finally, something that really helps sell this rower to me is just how stable it is. As I mentioned in the intro, you have the weight of that heavy duty frame keeping the rower planted, but those wide front and rear stabilizing feet really help too.

And I love that Sunny uses adjustable levelers built into the feet. You can adjust these to keep the rower stable on uneven floors, which is a really handy feature, especially if you’re setting it up in a garage or basement where the floor isn’t always perfectly level.

Plus, the seat is nicely contoured and gives you enough support so your butt doesn’t slide too far back during the push phase of the rowing stroke.

Sunny really did think about stability when they designed the Obsidian, and it shows

Final Verdict

I’ve always liked the Obsidian. It offers some of the best value among steel frame rowers. What I like most is the heavy duty build. It’s a substantial rowing machine that’s proven to be durable, with people still praising the design and build quality years after owning it.

And that means a lot because there aren’t many water rowers in this price range that have stood the test of time.

So yes, as always from Sunny Health & Fitness, this is a well-made, durable rowing machine that gets the job done. I like the monitor, the free SunnyFit app is excellent, and that heavy 81lb build really sets it apart.

The Obsidian may be an older water rower now, but it’s still a very good one and one I’d happily recommend.

How Does The Obsidian Surge 500 Compare To The Merach R28?

Merach R28 vs Obsidian Surge 500

I’ve reviewed a lot of solid wood water rowers over the years, and surprisingly, some of the budget models really aren’t that far away from the high-end $1k oak rowers. The Merach R28 is one of those impressive machines, and probably my favorite of all the budget wooden rowers.

The R28 offers so much but somehow keeps the price under $300. It’s a 50lb solid wood rower with a long dual slide rail, an excellent low-profile stable design, and the seat glides so smoothly across the dual rail.

And you’ll love the app too. It’s packed full of real-time rowing workouts, classes, fun games and training, and just like SunnyFit, it’s free!

So, is the R28 better than the Surge 500? It really depends on what you’re looking for. If you love the solid wood design and want the most for your money, I’d go for the Merach. It’s the best budget wooden water rower I’ve come across right now.

But if you want something more heavy duty and old school, I’d choose the Obsidian. It’s an 81lb steel beast that’s been around for years and has already proved it can stand the test of time.

Both are excellent water rowers, so I wouldn’t call an outright winner. For looks, price, and that modern solid wood design, I’d choose the Merach. For a heavier build, higher seat, and proven durability, I’d spend the extra on the Obsidian.

Still comparing rowing machines? Read Next: Best Water Rowing Machines

Sunny Obsidian Surge 500 FAQs