Sunny SF-RW5515 Rowing Machine Review – Still the Best Budget Rower?

Sunny Health & Fitness have dominated the budget rowing machine market ever since I started reviewing rowing machines over a decade ago. They’re one of the few companies out there that consistently deliver on quality while keeping prices low.

Not All Budget Rowers Are Created Equal

One of the biggest problems with budget rowers is the huge difference in quality from one rower to the next. Buying a budget rower can almost be like a lottery because you never really know what’s going to turn up on your doorstep.

With Sunny, you know what you’re going to get. They’ve been around for over 20 years now, and if you buy a Sunny Rowing Machine, you know the quality is going to be there.

They’re a company that gets all the essentials right and, best of all, you won’t break the bank buying one of their rowers.

A Budget Favorite That Stood the Test of Time

The SF-RW5515 is Sunny’s flagship budget rowing machine. I first reviewed it over seven years ago, and it was outselling the competition back then.

Fast forward to 2026, and it’s still one of the most popular budget magnetic rowing machines on the market, with people praising it years after buying it.

Out of the 40 or so budget rowers I’ve reviewed over the years, the Sunny SF-RW5515 still remains one of my top three picks for beginners.

Even though I’m not usually a huge fan of budget rowers, this is one machine I feel deserves a much closer look.

It’s had a couple of updates since I last reviewed it, so in today’s Sunny Rowing Machine Review, we’ll take a close look at everything it has to offer, including any drawbacks.

At the end of the review, I’ll also compare the Sunny SF-RW5515 with another favorite of mine in this price range, the YOSUDA H-181. They’re two of the best budget rowing machines you can buy, so it’ll be interesting to see how they compare side by side.

First, let’s take a quick look at the Sunny SF-RW5515’s specs, pros, and cons!

Specs

Why Do We Like The Sunny Rowing Machine?

What I’ve always liked most about the Sunny SF-RW5515 Rower is the build quality. It’s a step up from most budget rowers. The Sunny Rower weighs 60lb, which is at least 20lb heavier than most rowers in this price bracket.

And that extra weight is a good thing. It’s a telling sign that this machine is made from high-quality parts. The heavier the better when it comes to rowers and all fitness equipment.

Also, that extra weight helps keep the rowing machine planted to the floor. A lot of users have praised how sturdy this rower is, which is surprising for a $200 machine.

Wide Stabilizing Feet

And it’s not just the weight that helps keep this rower stable, I love that Sunny has used wide stabilizing feet front and rear, they really help prevent any annoying wobbles when rowing.

Also built into the feet are adjustable levelers. This is a really handy feature, as you can adjust the levelers to keep the rower stable on uneven floors. A feature a lot of the low cost rowers don’t inclue.

And the seat is impressive too, they’ve raised the lip at the back of the seat. This helps a lot when in the push phase of the rowing stroke, it stops your butt from slipping too far back, which is very important for form.

Also, the seat is well cushioned, so if you enjoy long rowing sessions, you’re not going to suffer as you do with hard, rigid seats on many budget machines.

Strong Resistance in the Upper Levels

One of the main issues that plagues low cost rowers is weak resistance, which is typically due to light flywheels. Some budget rowers boast just 4lb flywheels.

Of course, you can’t expect heavy-duty flywheels in this price range, but you need a flywheel with a decent weight, even if you’re a beginner, because you want your rower to be able to grow with you as you get stronger and fitter.

The Sunny includes a 10lb flywheel, which is pretty good for this price range. The upper levels are strong and provide enough resistance for beginners and even intermediate rowers.

Click here to check price of the Sunny SF-RW5515 rower on Amazon

How Quiet is it?

The Sunny Rowing Machine uses a magnetic resistance system, which is among the quietest on the market.

The reason it’s so quiet is that the magnets of the resistance system never need to contact the flywheel, so it’s a frictionless system that produces little to no noise.

Also, the Sunny SF-RW5515 uses a belt drive system, which is much quieter than the noisy chain drives of some rowers.

When you combine the belt drive system with a whisper-quiet magnetic system and a decent weight flywheel to keep everything running smoothly, you have one of the quietest combinations possible for a rower. Which is why the Sunny Rower only has a noise level of under 30dB.

A well-made magnetic rower like the Sunny is the perfect choice for people who dont want to disturb others around them with the sound of their workouts.

I know there’s one guy who owns this rower and keeps it in his bedroom. He wakes up at 6 am for a 30-minute workout, and his wife doesn’t hear a thing, she keeps sleeping, even though the rower is in the same room.

Long Inclined Slide Rail

One of the features I’ve always liked about the Sunny Rowing machine is its slide rail. It measures 48″, which is impressive at this price point.

A 48″ slide rail means users up to a height of 6’6″ can achieve a full rowing stroke with the Sunny Rower, so it’s a great choice for taller users, and with a minimum height of 4’10”, it’s a rowing machine that’s going to suit just about any size person.

Also, the rail is inclined, which is something I like to see. An inclined slide rail adds something extra to your workouts. Rowing at an incline burns more calories and really gives the large leg muscles, like the quads, a proper workout.

Basic Monitor – Tracks Your Essential Workout Date

One thing all the sub $200 rowing machines have in common is a basic monitor. It doesn’t matter if it’s made by Sunny, Yosuda, or Merach, all of them come with basic monitors. You won’t find a large, color HD screen in this price range, and fancy apps.

And for a lot of people, that’s a good thing. When you buy a budget rower like the Sunny, you don’t have to spend hours scrolling through complicated menus just to figure out how to work it.

You can just jump on the rower and row, which is what most people are looking for when choosing a low-cost rower.

And the monitor does track all your essential workout stats, including SPM, distance, Time, calories, and total count. And for those of you who want more. Sunny has a free fitness app called Sunnyfit that can be downloaded and used with the rower.

So, a decent basic monitor, yes, there’s no built-in workout programs and no way to accurately measure heart rate, but really, Sunny has to cut somewhere to keep the price low, and I prefer they cut on monitor features rather than build quality.

Will You Need a Rowing Mat?

One of the main reasons people like to use a rowing mat is to prevent slippage on hard, polished floors, and as the Sunny Rowers’ feet aren’t capped in rubber, a rowing mat may be a good idea. Also, a rowing mat will protect your floors from scratches.

The one time I’d certainly recommend buying a rowing mat is if you live in an apartment or shared housing, as a rowing mat is excellent for soaking up the vibrations from your workouts, a must if you want to keep your neighbors happy.

Sunny Health & Fitness makes the best low-cost fitness equipment mats. Here’s the link if you’re interested: Sunny Health & Fitness equipment mats

Drawbacks of The Sunny Rowing Machine SF-RW5515

For just under $200, it’s hard to find any faults with the Sunny SF-RW5515. Bang for your buck, this is one of the best budget rowers out there. One minor drawback is that resistance isn’t strong enough for more intense, serious workouts, but that’s to be expected in this price range.

You can’t expect the resistance strength of a commercial-grade rowing machine for $200.

The only other minor drawback I think some users may find disappointing is the monitor. It really is very basic. Yes, it tracks all the essential workout data, but that’s about it. It hasn’t been updated in many years, which is a shame, because even at $200, I expect a little more from the monitor.

Storage and Assembly

There’s nothing difficult about storing the Sunny Rowing Machine. Simply remove the pin and fold the rail. Once folded, you more than halve the overall footprint of the rowing machine, great for those of you who are tight on space, and takes just a few seconds.

Also, there are built-in transport wheels, so if you need to move the owner, just lift, tilt, and roll.

Assmebly

Assembly isn’t difficult, but it takes a little time. You’ll need to attach the slide rail to the flywheel housing, the stabilizing feet to the rail, and attach the monitor. All parts bags are labeled, which is a big help, and tools and clear instructions are provided. Most people got it together in under an hour.

Final Verdict

Is it still the best budget rower? Yes, but there are other companies getting close now, like Yosuda and Merach. What sets the Sunny SF-RW5515 apart from its closest rivals is the build quality. It’s a 60lb rower, it’s pretty heavy, and it feels more premium than all the others.

Also, the slide rail is long, a 48″ slide rail is almost unheard of in this price range, so it’s a great choice for taller users as well.

I still feel the monitor could do with an update, but apart from that, the actual rowing machine is faultless for the price point. It’s an excellent choice for beginners looking for their first rower. You won’t find better for under $200.

How Does the Sunny SF-RW5515 Compare to the YOSUDA Rowing Machine?

Yosuda Rowing Machine H-181

Yosuda has come a long way in the past 10 years. These guys are now making some of the best budget fitness equipment on the market, and they’ve become so popular because, like Sunny Health & Fitness, they deliver high-quality gear while keeping prices affordable.

Their flagship low-cost rowing machine is the H-181, and it’s another one of my favs for under $200. It’s sturdy, and most importantly, the resistance is pretty strong in those all-important upper levels, thanks to that impressive 12lb flywheel.

The Yousda H181 offers 16 levels of magnetic resistance compared to the Sunny’s 8, but just because there are more levels doesn’t mean the upper levels are any stronger than the Sunny’s; it simply means you have more choice. Both of these rowers are very similar in resistance strength.

Both rowing machines are also very similar in quality, and both offer smooth rowing strokes thanks to their belt-drive systems and silky, frictionless resistance systems.

Where these rowers differ is in weight: the Sunny weighs 20lb more than the Yosuda, so, as many users have mentioned, the Sunny has that more premium feel. Also, you have the longer slide rail with the Sunny.

However, I do prefer the vertical storage of the Yosuda. It takes up less room than a folding rower, and its monitor is slightly better.

Both rowing machines are excellent value for money and great choices for beginners. It’s a tough choice between the two. Still, I feel the Sunny just trumps the Yosuda Rowing machine on quality, plus the longer slide rail is appealing to taller users.

Sunny SF-RW5515 Rowing Machine FAQs