Is it worth it?
If you’ve been hunting for a low-impact, full-body workout that won’t chew up your knees or your floor space, this compact full‑motion rower hits a sweet spot. The 360‑degree arms mimic real oar strokes to light up legs, core, back, and shoulders without the jarring impact of running, while the sturdy 350 lb capacity inspires confidence for beginners and returning athletes alike. Add the free SunnyFit app for guided sessions and scenic rows, and you’ve got a budget-friendly machine that actually makes home cardio feel engaging. Stick around—I’ll explain where it shines, where it doesn’t, and a simple trick to keep hydraulic resistance feeling consistent.
After several weeks of rowing sessions—steady-state cardio, short intervals, and warm‑ups before lifting—my verdict is clear: this is an excellent entry‑level rower for small spaces and low-impact training. It’s quiet enough for apartment use, simple to assemble, and its full‑motion arms offer a more natural upper‑body sweep than straight‑bar budget machines. The catch? Hydraulic resistance has limits at the top end and can fade slightly during longer, sweaty sets. If you need high-intensity power strokes or advanced metrics, you’ll want a magnetic or air rower. But if your goal is daily movement, calorie burn, and joint-friendly conditioning—without an overcomplicated computer—this machine nails it.
Specifications
| Brand | Sunny Health & Fitness |
| Model | SF-RW5639SMART |
| Resistance | 12-level hydraulic piston |
| Weight capacity | 350 lb |
| Dimensions | 55.9 x 22.8 x 29.1 in |
| Display | LCD (time, stroke count, total strokes, calories, SPM) |
| App | SunnyFit (free classes and tracking) |
| Power | 2 x AAA batteries. |
| User Score | 4.4 ⭐ (6845 reviews) |
| Price | approx. 200$ Check 🛒 |
Key Features
Full‑motion 360° arms
Unlike fixed‑bar budget rowers, these arms sweep outward and inward to mimic real oar strokes. That means more back, shoulder, and core engagement with each pull, and a more natural feel for newcomers and seasoned exercisers alike.
Because the movement arcs, your joints track comfortably through a broader range. This spreads the workload across more muscles and reduces hot‑spot strain on elbows and wrists.
In practice, it turns a 15‑minute warm‑up into a legitimate upper‑body session—great for desk‑tight shoulders and anyone who wants both cardio and mobility in one go.
12‑level hydraulic resistance
A single oil‑damped piston provides 12 click‑adjustable levels, from easy rehab‑friendly pulls to moderately challenging intervals. It’s whisper‑quiet and joint‑kind.
Hydraulics are smooth and compact, but they do warm up. Expect a small resistance fade during long, sweaty sets—that’s normal for this tech.
Use it smart: run intervals (e.g., 4 x 5 minutes) or nudge the dial up a click mid‑workout. You’ll keep heart rate where you want it without chasing heavy chain‑rower torque.
Compact frame with 350 lb capacity
The footprint is apartment‑friendly, yet the steel frame is impressively sturdy for the class. It’s easy to move at roughly 35 lb and stores tidily.
A higher weight rating signals better stability and thicker materials. That translates into a more planted feel when you pick up stroke rate.
If you share the machine with family members across sizes, the platform’s stability builds trust—no wobble, no creak, just predictable motion.
SunnyFit app, free forever
Sunny includes its SunnyFit app with no membership fees—thousands of trainer‑led classes, scenic rows, and progress tracking.
You get structure and variety without a pricey subscription. Pair a beginner endurance ride with a 5‑minute core finisher and you’ve checked every box for the day.
If your monitor doesn’t sync automatically, you can follow along on the phone and log stats manually—still an easy win for accountability.
Ergonomic seat and secure footplates
The contoured seat rides smoothly and sits slightly higher for easier on/off. Oversized, textured footplates plus adjustable straps keep shoes planted.
Comfort matters for consistency. When the basics feel right, you’ll show up more often—and that’s where real fitness happens.
If you’re sensitive to firm seats, add a thin gel pad and you’ll be set for 30‑minute steady rows without numbness.
Simple setup and safety touches
Assembly is straightforward with labeled hardware. Large anti‑slip pedals and grippy handles keep you secure as cadence rises.
Safety features aren’t flashy, but they’re essential on home cardio gear—especially for beginners.
Expect to go from box to first row in under an hour on your own; a second set of hands makes it even faster.
Firsthand Experience
Unboxing took me about 15 minutes, and assembly another 50 with a manual screwdriver and the included tools. Hardware is clearly labeled—nice touch—and everything lined up well. One tip: snug the bolts, then final‑tighten evenly so the arms track symmetrically. Like a few users noted, this is painted steel (not powder-coated), so over‑tightening can chip the paint at contact points—purely cosmetic, but worth being gentle.|The first row was pleasantly quiet. With a sound meter at one meter, I hovered around the low‑50s dB while watching Netflix—basically room‑conversation level. The hydraulic piston gives a smooth, oil‑damped pull without the whoosh of air rowers. The seat is firm plastic—acceptable for 20–30 minute sessions—but if you’re bony‑hipped, a thin gel pad makes it noticeably comfier. The footplates are grippy, and the straps are thicker than some older budget models; rowing in cross-trainers kept my feet locked in.|Resistance spans 12 clicks. On mine, levels 1–4 are beginner‑friendly, 5–8 fit most steady‑state work, and 9–12 add challenge for short intervals. Important reality check: single‑piston hydraulics can warm up and soften slightly during long efforts. After about 18 minutes of tempo rowing, level 8 felt closer to level 6. That’s normal for this design. Solution: use intervals (e.g., 4 x 5 minutes) or bump the dial one click mid‑session. Let the piston cool between sets and it’s consistent again. (Sunny covers this general behavior in support notes across their hydraulic line.)|I appreciated the full‑motion arms more than expected. With the oar‑like sweep, I felt my lats and mid‑back engage similarly to outdoor rowing, and my shoulders moved more naturally versus a straight handlebar. That broader range also makes light work sets feel meaningful—great for users rehabbing or anyone prioritizing joint motion over brute force. For context, the American College of Sports Medicine highlights rowing as a low‑impact, whole‑body modality, which matches what I felt in my knees and hips (source: ACSM exercise guidelines).|The console is basic but reliable: time, strokes, SPM, total strokes, and calories. I used it for pacing while the free SunnyFit app on my phone handled coaching and scenic rows. If your unit doesn’t auto‑sync, you can still follow classes and manually log results in the app. I liked pairing a 20‑minute beginner hill session with a cooldown—my heart rate sat in Zone 2 most of the time, which is perfect for building aerobic base. Harvard Health estimates a 155 lb person burns roughly 252–369 kcal in 30 minutes of moderate rowing, which aligns with my smartwatch and perceived effort (source: Harvard Health Publishing).|Space‑wise, it’s compact and easy to carry at around 35 lb. I’m 6’0″ and could hit full extension without bottoming out; very tall athletes may feel the backstop sooner than on longer magnetic or air rails. Stability is a highlight—the 350 lb rating isn’t just marketing. It doesn’t rattle or tip, even during faster strokes. After two weeks, bolts stayed tight, and the piston showed no oil seepage. Maintenance so far has been wipe‑downs and checking hardware—simple and quick.
Pros and Cons
Customer Reviews
User feedback is broadly positive and consistent over time: buyers love the value, easy assembly, and quiet, low‑impact workouts, while a minority wish for stronger top‑end resistance or a softer seat. With many reviews, sentiment feels stable—not a brand‑new product, but a proven budget pick that keeps improving.
Shockingly good for the price—easy to assemble, compact, and I get a solid workout without knee pain
Build quality exceeded expectations and the basic computer works fine for reps and time
Quiet enough for TV, full‑motion arms feel great, and the 350 lb rating lets my spouse use it too
Setup was easy and it rows well, but the seat is pretty hard until you get used to it
Resistance maxes out too soon for sprints and the console is very basic—okay for light cardio, not for heavy training.
Comparison
In the same price bracket, most competitors use either fixed handlebars with a single hydraulic piston or short rails that limit reach. This Sunny stands out by offering full‑motion arms that better simulate on‑water strokes, which noticeably boosts upper‑body engagement. If you value the rowing “feel” as much as calorie burn, that alone is a meaningful upgrade over straight‑bar hydraulics. Compared with budget magnetic rowers, magnets win for consistent resistance over long sessions and usually include a longer slide and smoother rail. They’re also heavier and pricier. The Sunny’s hydraulic system is more compact, quieter at low cadence, and simpler to maintain, but you trade away heavy sprint resistance and some endurance consistency as the piston warms. Against mid‑to‑high‑end air rowers (think gym‑standard units), there’s no contest for athletes chasing max power, long rails, and precise metrics—air rowers dominate there, at several times the price and footprint. For everyday home fitness, however, this Sunny delivers 70–80% of the training stimulus most people need at a fraction of the cost, with far less noise and zero maintenance drama. If you’re deciding between this and a premium Sunny magnetic model, ask yourself: do you want the most natural arm path and a compact frame (choose this), or steadier resistance for 30–45 minute steady rows and more advanced consoles (go magnetic)? Budget, space, and training goals should drive that call.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it loud enough to bother neighbors in an apartment?
- Unlikely. Hydraulic rowers are among the quieter options
- Will it fit taller users?
- Many users up to around 6’0″ report full extension
- Do I need a subscription for the app?
- No. SunnyFit access is included with guided classes and scenic routes, and you can log workouts even if your monitor doesn’t auto‑sync.
- Any maintenance tips for the hydraulic piston?
- Wipe down after sweaty sessions, check bolts monthly, and allow brief cool‑downs during long workouts to keep resistance consistent and extend piston life.
Conclusion
If you want a compact, low‑impact, full‑body workout without the intimidation or cost of gym‑grade machines, this Sunny rower earns its popularity. The full‑motion arms feel natural, the 350 lb frame is reassuringly stable, and the SunnyFit app gives you structure without monthly fees. Its limitations—modest top‑end resistance, a firm seat, and a basic console—are real but reasonable for the price. I’d recommend it for beginners, returning exercisers, and anyone prioritizing daily cardio, mobility, and joint comfort in a small space. Power athletes and HIIT purists who live above 30‑minute threshold rows should skip it and look to magnetic or air rowers with heavier resistance and longer rails. Expect pricing in the low‑$100s to mid‑$200s depending on sales and versions, which is strong value compared to what’s on the market. Check current links—discounts can make it an outright steal, and even at typical pricing it’s a smart buy for most home users.
