Stamina Rower Review (ATS 1399) still the best cheap air rower

Stamina has been making rowing machines for years. They produce more indoor rowers than any other company. These guys know what they’re doing and do it well. In our Stamina Rower Review, I want to take a close look at the Stamina 1399 Air Rower; it’s Stamina’s best-selling budget air rowing machine and has been for over five years.

Before we look at everything the Stamina 1399 has to offer, let’s take a quick look at this rower’s product specs!

Why Do We Like The Stamina 1399 Air Rower

A price tag this low is impressive for a decent air rower like the Stamina 1399. A decade ago, I remember having to pay nearly $1000 for a well built air rower; fast forward a few years, and now you can reap the benefits of a dynamic resistance system for around $300. Yes, the Stamina isn’t in the same league as a Concept 2, but this thing is easily good enough for home use, and it’s the dynamic resistance system that sells it.

Dynamic resistance system – mimics the feel of outdoor rowing

What’s so good about a dynamic resistance system? It mimics the feel of outdoor rowing more closely than any other resistance system. The faster you row on the Stamina 1399, the stronger the resistance, just like rowing on actual water. This is the natural feel we’re looking for from a home rower.

Magnetic rowing machines are the alternative and have their benefits – they are whisper-quiet in use, but they don’t allow for a natural rowing resistance because their resistance system is constant – the resistance only gets stronger when you select another resistance level.

Limitless amount of resistance levels

And because the resistance of the Stamina rowing machine is dynamic, it allows for a limitless amount of resistance levels which makes it an excellent choice for a beginner or a seasoned rower; anyone can benefit from using an air rowing machine.

Smooth, quiet belt drive system

Something else I like about the Stamina 1399 is that it utilizes a belt drive rather than a chain.

There’s nothing wrong with a chain drive system; they’re durable and can last a lifetime, but they’re noisy and create a ton of vibrations. Vibrations and extra noise is ok if you have a garage gym, but if you want to use your rower indoors, it’s always better to choose a rower with a belt drive system. Belt drives are near-silent, and they help keep the rowing motion smooth.

Quick look at the 1399 ATS Rower in Action

Click here to check price of Stamina ATS 1399 Air Rower on Amazon

Stability & Build Quality

Stability can be an issue with cheap rowing machines because they are light, and it’s typically the weight of a rower that keeps things sturdy. Thankfully the Stamina isn’t too light. It weighs 53lb which is mid-weight for a rowing machine. 53lb is just enough weight to help with stability. It’s not going to feel cheaply built and unstable.

Wide front and rear stabilizers

Also, we have fairly wide front and rear stabilizers; these will prevent any unwanted wobble, and the two rubber feet built into the rear stabilizer are adjustable. Adjustable levelers are another handy feature as they can be independently adjusted to keep the rowing machine stable on uneven surfaces.

No contoured seat

One drawback is the seat. It’s not contoured, which means there isn’t much support for your butt. We need a contoured seat to prevent your butt from slipping in the push phase of the rowing stroke, this isn’t a deal killer, but I was disappointed that Stamina hasn’t provided this basic design feature.

Otherwise, the seat is well padded. It’s not too soft to cause stability problems nor too hard to be uncomfortable. It’s just right.

An Easy To Use Monitor That Lacks Features

It’s not just the Stamina Air Rower monitor that lacks features. Nearly every air rower I’ve reviewed, including air rowers costing twice as much as the Stamina 1399, suffers from basic monitors.

The Stamina monitor tracks most of the essential workout data such as distance, time, speed, and calories, but that’s about it—There’s no workout programs, no way to monitor pulse, and no Bluetooth.

Still, on the positive side, basic monitors are easy to set up and use, and they don’t require a power outlet. A basic monitor helps keep the price of the rowing machine down. You’d be looking at paying an extra $200 + if you wanted an HD screen and fancy workout apps. I personally prefer to save cash. The monitor isn’t so important if the rower is well built and provides a decent workout. The tracking of essential workout stats is all you really need.

Any Other Features Worth Mentioning?

The folding system is worth mentioning as it’s a handy space-saving feature that halves your rower’s overall footprint. The Stamina folding system is not fiddley like so many I’ve used. The pull pin type folding system takes just a few seconds to fold.

We also have transport wheels built into the stabilizer base – just tilt and roll the machine to store.

And another impressive feature of this budget rowing machine is that it comes with a reasonably long rail. The rail has a 38″ inseam, which means it can accommodate users up to 6’4″ at full leg extension, unusually long for this price range.

Also, the rail is angled. I prefer an angled rail as it intensifies the push phase of the rowing stroke ‘great for building up the legs’ and speeds up the recovery phase.

And lastly, you have high-grade rollers with ball bearings. High-grade rollers and bearings allow the seat to glide effortlessly across the rower’s rail, which adds to this rower’s smooth motion.

Assembly

An easy to assemble rowing machine, most people have taken between 15-45 minutes to assemble, nothing too tricky, supplied with all the tools and very coherent instructions

Alternatives

Stamina X Air Rower ($499)

I reviewed the Stamina X Air Rower a few months ago and was expecting big things, this machine looks great, but sadly it doesn’t really offer much more in the way of build quality or features than its little brother, the 1399 ATS Rower.

The Stamina X does have a slightly heavier build. It weighs 63lb which tells us it’s not made from cheap materials, and it’s a sturdy rowing machine. Besides a heavier build, it’s very similar to the 1399 rowing machine as both boast the same dynamic resistance system. Both have long rails accommodating users up to 6’4″. Both use the same footrests and have disappointing monitors.

The Stamina X does include a few extra monitor features such as SPM and total strokes, but there’s no way to monitor pulse and not a single workout program which is disappointing for a $500 rowing machine.

Overall it is a solid air rower, and to be honest, there aren’t many decent air rowers in this price bracket, so Stamina doesn’t have much competition. If you’re after a heavy-duty air rower and don’t want to pay Concept 2 money, this is about as close as you’re going to get for around $500

Efitmnet Air Rower ($299)

The Efitment Rower is surprisingly good, designed with a sturdy solid steel frame; this rower will be durable, with a slightly better build than the Stamina 1399. Efitment’s new rower is going to become a very popular choice indeed.

The Efitment rower weighs 10lb more than the Stamina 1399, and as with most fitness equipment, the extra weight is a good sign. Weight is excellent for stability and will also give us a good clue to the overall quality of the rower.

Although this rower has only been available for a few months, it has already received high ratings, with an average of 4.5 out of 5. With many users commenting on how smooth the rowing motion was.

Again we see another basic monitor with the Efitment, but that’s about the only downside I can find with this excellent rower. Taller folk will be happy to hear the Efitment rower comes with a long rail.

Best Magnetic Rower Under $300 – Sunny Health SF-RW5155

Sunny Health & Fitness are very well known for making some of the best entry-level rowers out there, the 5155 being their most popular model.

And it’s popular for a good reason; while most entry-level magnetic rowers suffer from resistance issues ( lack of strength in the upper levels), the Sunny Health 5155 has been praised for its strong, smooth resistance right through levels 4-8.

This whisper-quiet rower has one of the longest rails of any magnetic rower, users as tall as 6’4″ have had no issues achieving full leg extension.

With a comfy seat, pivoting oversized footrests, a high-quality build, and strong resistance, the Sunny Health and Fitness magnetic rower is one rower you should take a closer look at.

To Sum Up

The Stamina 1399 and Efitment rowers are machines at the top of their games. There are no two air rowers more impressive in this price range.

With the Stamina 1399 Rowing Machine, you have a company you can trust, it’s been around a long time, and their customer service is excellent. And with the Efitment Areo Rower, you have a slightly stronger build and useful extra weight.

However, if you like the idea of rowing in near silence, then you won’t find a better magnetic rower for the price than the Sunny Health 5155, a well-built magnetic rower with strong resistance, and with eight resistance levels to choose from this rower should cater for most fitness levels.