Bladez Fitness Cascade Rower

The screen won’t get out of set up mode, basically useless now..

New to rowers, and not particularly cardio-focused. I chose this one because it was recommended on another site that did very thorough reviews of the rowing machines (instead of the usual 'This has 4.5 stars on Amazon' junk filler reviews). I didn't want to go full-out and spend a grand on something I might not enjoy, and this one seemed like a good mid-range purchase; roughly equivalent to something I could buy in a local athletic store. I'm 6'5", and it's long enough to give me a full stroke. The resistance can get difficult; I doubt I could do a full 20 minutes at the highest resistance without either stopping or slowing down to a crawl. I usually go about 1/4 of max on anything longer than 15 minutes. I can't give any specific numbers, I'm afraid, but I can tell you that the max setting feels like it'd be rowing through molasses. I knocked a star off for three minor reasons: The food pads are not adjustable. Very minor for me. There is a small misalignment in the front of the mechanism's housing. Again, very minor and doesn't affect the operation in any way. The on-board computer and HR monitor is a mixed bag, and probably the biggest fault. The HR monitor doesn't really work for me; it registers something, but not at the correct rate. The computer itself has its strong points (the racing mode is the most fun for me, and the other modes -- aside from the HR training -- also work well), and its weak points (the interface is not very intuitive). Since the three modes I use most are easy to access and setup after a bit of fiddling it's not a product-breaking issue, and I do not I feel a better layout would lead to better workouts. Overall, satisfied with the purchase. Use it often, and I doubt I'll feel the need for a step-up in terms of rower quality anytime soon.

Lots of resistance levels (I don't go past level 5 and there are 16 total), much quieter than an air rower. Preprogrammed workouts have a lot of options. The seat is more comfortable than any other I've used. Well built, no issues with parts malfunctioning. Had this for about a year with regular use 1-2x / week. Transport wheels work OK on bare floor or sisal rug. Recommended for those who would like something on a more serious level than the cheaper rowers out there, without going all out for a Concept 2.

one year warranty. the flywheel assembly breaks and needs replacement every five months. my wife uses it, not enough resistance for me. cascade did provide a new machine as the one we had was shot, again. we requested money, but replacement was all they offered. we have had the new machine for two months. i'll update this review if/when it survives a year. i would not recommend unless the price was greatly reduced or the warranty was five years

Just put this together over the weekend. Took longer than I expected, but still just under an hour. Seems to be good quality and very sturdy. Very quiet operation, if it wasn't for the sound of the wheels on the track it would be almost noiseless. The wheels on the front are pretty useless on carpeting. Not sure how they would be on hard surface but they are just too small to make the unit easy to move. The computer is confusing and the instructions need to be clearer. Finally figured it out but I would have preferred an easier method to adjust the settings. Seat is pretty comfortable. Overall I think I'm going to like it.

Pros: 1) Quiet - virtually no noise at all, perfect for workout infront of the TV 2) Comfort - the foot plate is cushioned so no shoes required 3) Versatility - 16 programs to keep things interesting Cons: 1) Mobility - the design makes it a bit tricky to move around 2) Storage - you can't stand this up completely like water based rowers 3) AC cord - the wire restricts the placement of this machine For general fitness in the living room with minimal moving around, this is ideal. No maintenance. The resistance is not great for training purposes so if you are a serious rower, there are better options available.

I have used this twice so far in two months. It is comfortable, gives a good workout, and looks great folded up in my living room.