Fitness Reality, a division of Paradigm Health & Fitness, currently sells 5 rowing machines, representing water air, and magnetic resistance types and ranging in price from $349 to $799. This review focuses on their most popular model, the budget, the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus.
- Budget-priced
- 14 magnetic resistance levels
- Smooth operation
- Extra-long seat rail
- Extra exercise station
- Bluetooth enabled
- Short warranty
- Basic monitor
This is our review of the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus rowing machine.
I’ve pored over this rower from every angle to provide you with the most complete review possible. I’ve also spent a lot of time researching online, drawing from user experience and manufacturer stats. I’ve put it all together on this page to provide you with the total picture of the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus.
I found the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus to be quite impressive for a budget rower. It has 14 levels of resistance, delivers a smooth, quiet rowing performance, and has a 39-inch in-seam rail length to accommodate taller users. It is also one of the few budget rowers that are fitted with Bluetooth technology, allowing you to access fitness apps.
In the following paragraphs, I will go in-depth on the features and benefits of the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus, uncovering the good and the bad. I’ll also compare the 1000 Plus to its nearest competing budget rower and spell out exactly who should and should not buy this rowing machine.
Keep reading to find out if the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus is the right rower for you.
Fitness Reality Rowing Machine
The Fitness Reality 1000 Plus is a budget magnetic resistance rowing machine. It was one of the first budget rowers to incorporate Bluetooth, opening up the monitor to online apps. This rower came onto the market in 2019 and has been a top seller in the budget market ever since.
The frame is quite solid, allowing for a max user weight of 250 lbs. It’s got the basic type of monitor that is standard in this price range but features a longer seat rail than most budget rowers, allowing taller people to get a full range of motion.
Functionality And Design
The Fitness Reality 1000 Plus features a high-grade aluminum seat rail. The rail has a 39-inch inseam, making it suitable for people who are up to 6’6” in height. Industrial quality ball bearings allow for a smooth, quiet glide up and down the rail. The seat itself is quite large, being contoured for comfort. It is fitted with 2-inch thick padding and covered in a sweat-resistant fabric.
The handle is connected to the inner workings by way of a nylon cord. I couldn’t find any reviews where people complained of the cord fraying so it appears to be suitably durable. The foam handle is 21.5 inches long and slightly angled for better ergonomics.
The anti-slip foot pedals are large, fixed, and non-adjustable, which can be a good thing in that it allows for a more secure foothold. They feature velcro straps to allow you to lock yourself in. The front and rear bases feature stabilizers to help you get just the right leveling.
This rower also features unique front stabilizer footpads that allow you to use the resistance system of this rower to perform weight training exercises such as curls and upright rows.
Fitness Reality markets this as an extra exercise station that can operate like a cable resistance machine in a commercial gym. In actual practice, it is quite awkward to use and the resistance doesn’t feel very natural or smooth. Your best bet would be to buy a set of dumbbells and use the Fitness Reality for what it does best – rowing!
Features and Benefits
Now let’s take a look at the features of the Fitness Reality rower.
Height and Weight Capacity
The maximum user weight on the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus is 250 pounds. That is about what you would expect in a budget-priced rowing machine. What is slightly out of the norm is the longer-than-standard rail length, with an inseam of 39 inches. As a result, the 1000 Plus is suitable for people from 4’0” to 6’6” in height.
Monitor
The monitor on the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus features a 3.5” LED display. It allows you to track your essential training data, including distance, time, total count, calories burned, strokes/min, and scan.
There are no built-in programs or games on this monitor, which is what you’d expect for a budget rower. The provision of Bluetooth connectivity, however, opens up your training experience so that you can integrate with fitness and training apps online.
Your purchase includes a download of the MyCloud Fitness app, which allows you to download your training diagnostics for later referral.
Technical Specifications
| Fitness Reality Rowing Machine | Specs |
| Weight capacity | 250 lbs |
| Resistance | 14 Level magnetic tension resistance |
| Monitor | 3.5” LCD displays distance, time, total count, calories burned, strokes/min, and scan |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth Smart Cloud Fitness with free MyCloudFitness app available on iOS and Android |
| Slide rail length/inseam | 39” |
| Seat height range | 9.5” – 12” |
| Folded Dimensions | 39.5” L x 21.5” W x 53.5” H |
| Warranty | 1 year limited warranty |
Setup Process
The Fitness Reality 1000 Plus is a foldable rowing machine that can be stored in an upright position. To fold the rail up, unscrew the locking knob on the underside of the seat rail and then fold the seat up. Now re-insert the locking knob to hold the rail in a vertical storage position.
This machine is fitted with transport wheels, making it easy to roll it across the floor.
Price and Value
The Fitness Reality 1000 Plus sells on the official Fitness Reality website for $349. That well and truly puts it into the budget category as far as magnetic rowing machines go. Unlike many of the other models that sit in that range, however, the Fitness Reality delivers a level of smooth rowing action that is consistent and lag-free and offers a comfortable ride that allows even very tall people to get a full range of rowing motion.
It is the combination of functionality, comfort, and affordability that has made the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus a top seller since it arrived on the market – and looks to keep it there.
Warranty
It is standard practice for budget rowing machines to come with a less-than-stellar warranty and that proves true in this case. Here is the warranty cover that you get when you buy the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus …
- Frame: One Year
- Parts: 90-days
It would have been nice to have seen a longer period of protection in both of these areas. You can, though, pay a little extra to extend your warranty coverage.
Alternatives
Even though the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus is a clear standout in the budget category of rower, it is always a good policy to check out the competition. Let’s take a look at the best budget rower that Sunny Health & Fitness, a very popular budget fitness company out of California, has to offer.
Sunny Health & Fitness Ultra Tension Pro
- 10 levels of resistance
- Smooth rowing experience
- Good monitor for the price
Sunny Health & Fitness is a main competitor for Fitness Reality in the budget space. The Ultra Tension Pro is a magnetic resistance rower that provides 10 levels of resistance to provide a smooth, seamless rowing experience. The monitor is one of the most comprehensive I’ve come across at this price range, covering the following data points:
- Time
- 500m/Time (split time)
- Strokes
- Strokes/Min
- Distance
- Calories Burned
- Pulse
The frame on this machine is solid enough that Sunny can list a 300-pound max user weight on the machine. That is 50 pounds higher than the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus. Unlike the 1000 Plus, however, the Ultra Tension Pro does not fold for storage.
The warranty on this machine is similar to that offered by Fitness Reality, The price is also comparable.
Should you Buy The Fitness Reality Rowing Machine?
The Fitness Reality Rowing Machine is a very impressive low-cost rower that offers features you don’t normally see at its price range. Here’s a breakdown of who should buy this rowing machine …
The Fitness Reality Rowing Machine is for you if:
- You want a smooth, reliable magnetic rowing machine at a budget price
- You are a beginner or intermediate-level rowing machine user
- You don’t need an elaborate monitor with built-in programs
The Fitness Reality Rowing Machine is not for you if:
- You prefer an air of water rower
- You want more data capability from your monitor (go for the Sunny Ultra Tension Pro)
- You are taller than 6’6” in height
Final Thoughts
The Fitness Reality 1000 Plus is a reliable rowing machine that will deliver a quality workout, enabling even taller people (up to 6’6”) to get a complete rowing experience.
Even though the monitor is basic, the built-in Bluetooth capability means that you can access online apps at your leisure. The warranty is disappointingly short but, going by the overwhelmingly positive online reviews, you shouldn’t have to use it.
Check the latest price and user reviews for the Fitness Reality 100 Plus. You can also check out our list of the best rowing machines available.
Fitness Reality, a division of Paradigm Health & Fitness, currently sells 5 rowing machines, representing water air, and magnetic resistance types and ranging in price from $349 to $799. This review focuses on their most popular model, the budget, the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus.
Fitness Reality 1000 PLUS
Fitness Reality, a division of Paradigm Health & Fitness, currently sells 5 rowing machines, representing water air, and magnetic resistance types and ranging in price from $349 to $799. This review focuses on their most popular model, the budget, the Fitness Reality 1000 Plus.
Product Brand: Fitness Reality
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 349
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.7
