Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine Review

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The Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine is another good mid range rowing machine option to look at. Reliable magnetic resistance, a good and strong build, a great fitness monitoring system, and a whole lot more make this a good investment for anyone wanting to engage in some serious rowing.

Overview

The Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine is definitely a good option to go with for several different reasons. If you would like to watch a little demonstration video on it, here it is.

Main Features

  • Smooth and quiet magnetic resistance.
  • 8 different preset resistance levels.
  • Easy to adjust resistance with a dial.
  • Comprehensive fitness monitoring system.
  • Solid build.
  • 300-pound weight limit.
  • Foldable for easy storage.
  • Comfortable handlebars.
  • Adjustable foot rests for comfort.
  • Well-padded seat.
  • Built-in transport wheels.

Dimensions & Weight

The Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine is not the heaviest mid range rowing machine around, but it does have a pretty big size to it. It is not the biggest or the smallest of rowing machines.

  • Length: 74.4 inches (189 cm)
  • Width: 19.7 inches (50 cm)
  • Height: 31.9 inches (81 cm)
  • Weight: 64 pounds

Warranty

In case something goes wrong with the Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine, something which can happen with fitness equipment, it comes with a 2-year limited manufacturer’s warranty on the frame and moving parts.

Assembly

All of the tools required for assembly are included, which is a big bonus. On the other hand, the instructions leave a little bit to be desired, plus the pieces are not labeled. That being said, the Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine is not all that hard to assemble, but if you don’t know what you are doing it may take you upwards of an hour to complete. You can pay an expert close to 100 bucks to assemble it if you so choose, but is not necessary.

What We Like About The Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine

The Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine is a good mid-range rowing machine option to go with, but why is that?

One of the things about the Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine that we really like is that it features magnetic tension as its main form of resistance. This type of resistance is usually very quiet and smooth, which is a big bonus for many people. Moreover, magnetic resistance rowing machines tend to be fairly durable, plus easy to adjust as well. Beginners and intermediates alike can use the 8 different preset tension levels to get the customized workout of choice. This thing is so quiet and smooth that you can easily watch your favorite TV shows while using it.

The multi-angle monitor which the Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine features is another thing which we really like about it. The monitoring system is fairly comprehensive and can keep track of things like time, distance, stroke rates, totals, calories burned and more. The LCD display is bright and easy to read, plus it can also be adjusted to multiple angles for various users. Keeping track of your progress is something which the Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine does without question.

We also like how the Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine is fairly comfortable to use as well as versatile. The seat is made of high-quality materials and has good padding to ensure the comfort of your backside. Moreover, the handlebars are padded with high grade foam designed to help you get a good grip on things. Also, the foot rests are adjustable for various sizes of feet. As you can see, the Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine will work just fine for a variety of people.

The Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine may not be the smallest rowing machine around, but it does have a saving grace in terms of its footprint. This thing has an easy to use locking pin which can be taken out in order to fold this rowing machine in half, thus making it a lot smaller and easier to store in small places. Also, this thing is around 65 pounds, making it fairly average in terms of its weight. At the same time, the rolling wheels make it fairly easy to move from one spot to another.

The fact that the Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine is made with very high-quality materials and has a frame that can support up to 300 pounds is also quite impressive. Even some pretty large people can use this particular rowing machine without fear of having it break under pressure.

What We Don’t Like About The Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine

There are always aspects of every and any fitness machine that could be improved upon. When it comes to the Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine, what are they?

While the magnetic resistance which the Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine features is solid, there could be more resistance levels. 8 levels are fine for beginners and intermediates, but for experts, it may not be good enough. Generally speaking, the more resistance levels a rowing machine has the better. The resistance on the highest level is still pretty light, so it won’t offer a huge challenge to more experienced rowers.

When not folded in half, or other words, while in use, the Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine is of a pretty fair size, so you will need a bit of room to use it effectively.

Alternatives To The Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine

So you can have a little perspective on things, let’s compare the Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine to a couple of other mid range models.

Stamina X Air Rowing Machine 

This mid range rowing machine option is a pretty decent no doubt. It is around 80 bucks more expensive than the Marcy, which in our opinion might or might not be worth it. With Stamina you are paying for the brand name and the quality that comes with it, which mind you is very high. The Stamina X Air Rowing Machine is a very solid machine with a high weight capacity, it’s comfortable, and it definitely won’t break anytime soon. This thing is an air rower, which means that unlike the magnetic resistance used by the Marcy model, this one uses an air flywheel. The problem with the Stamina X is that the resistance is not manually adjustable.

Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 Magnetic Rowing Machine 

This option actually costs about the same amount as the Marcy model. The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 Magnetic Rowing Machine uses magnetic resistance just like the Marcy model and even has the same number of preset levels. The Marcy Rowing Machine does have a slightly better LCD display. Like the Marcy NS-40503RW, the SF-RW5515 folds in half which makes it convenient in terms of storage as well. In terms of their overall function, comfort, and durability, both of these models are fairly similar.

Final Thoughts On The Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine

The Marcy NS-40503RW Rowing Machine is a very good rowing machine considering the decent price it comes in at. It is a very durable rowing machine with a fairly high weight limit. It is comfortable to use for various reasons, has a good LCD display and tracking abilities, it isn’t too heavy, and it is compact and foldable too.