Marcy RE1016 Azure Folding Magnetic Rowing Machine Review: A good thing in a small package?

Marcy RE1016 Azure Folding Rowing Machine Cheapest Price
Product	Price Check	Original Price	Discounted Price
Marcy		WAS £349	CLICK HERE
Read more customer reviews here –  (9)

The Lowdown

Simplicity is the aim of the game with the Marcy RE1016 Azure (don’t ask us where the 1016 came from). It comes complete with a belt driven 4 kg flywheel and 8 resistance settings.

One of the main selling points that it is hinged at the middle, making this foldable for convenient storage. This is by no means perfect, but it does mean that you have many more options to store this in a cupboard or under the stairs.

First Impressions

We have had the benefit of reviewing rowing machines from many different budget categories. Being realistic it is basic because it needs to be portable, and has all the standard features you would expect, but thee are two distinct camps that you may fall in:

I want a feature packed rowing machine that gives me an optimal workout – This is not the rowing machine we would recommend. If features and performance are high up on your priority list, then we would recommend looking elsewhere.

I am looking for a rowing machine that is no fuss and can easily be stored away after each use – If simplicity and portability are higher up on your requirements then we can absolutely recommend this rowing machine. It has enough, so you can get a sweat on fast, and the ability to be stored away if space in your home is limited. We know many people who want to ‘just have a rowing workout’ 2-3 times a week, or include it as part of their workout routine.

Marcy RE1016 Azure Folding Magnetic Rowing Machine

Looking at the fine details

We know it’s overall pro’s and cons’, let’s take a closer look at performance.

Setting up the rowing machine was fairly simple and took no more than 1 hour 30 minutes, this is because like many rowing machines the bulk of the rower is pre-assembled. There are a few fiddly bits to attach, such as the feet etc.

The colour scheme is a nice blue, black and silver, it looks quite nice in our test room. I would imagine that it would not look out of place in many rooms or home gyms. 

Upon first use, I was pleasantly surprise that the foot straps were material based with a Velcro strap and not a rubber locking system that we have seen on other rowing machines. This is a system that will last you much longer, we have seen those rubber locking systems wear and break if put under too much stress.

The LCD screen required two AA batteries and gives you standard feedback such as time, calories, distance etc. There is nothing groundbreaking here, and it is missing a heart rate monitor that we have seen with more expensive models. Having said that, we typically see more and more people use their fitness watches to record this data, as they are typically more accurate.

Being a portable rowing machine, they have had to limit the Marcy Azure in a number of areas. One being the rail length, they recommend that the rowing machine can cater to people up to around 6ft 2-4in in height. Any more than this and you may start to hit the end of the glide rail if you were performing full strokes.

Performance:

While in use, we are happy to feedback that the performance was good. The foam pull handles were nice to grip and did not slip when our hands become more sweaty during a workout. As mentioned above, the foot pads are suitable for anybody up to a size 14 shoe, and the Velcro straps held our feet in place well.

There was no need to apply lubricant to the glide rail as it has been pre greased. You can check this by just going back and forth slowly a few times without pulling the handles. The bearings should be smooth, with little friction and little noise. 

We would always recommend first simply blowing along the rails, then applying bike chain grease or WD40. This will prevent any bits during manufacture or setup from causing your rowing machine to wear quicker.

Comfort:

From the pro’s and cons, you may have seen that a softer seat would have been a nice addition. This isn’t that much of a deal as the seat itself is made from a soft supportive foam and this seems to be the standard with any rowing machine apart from a select few. Unless you are doing extremely long rowing sessions, we would not see this as too much of an issue. 

The foot plates pivot, allowing you a bit more flexibility and comfort while in use. This is a nice addition over a fixed plate machine, it allows a more natural foot and leg placement while gliding back and forth.

Things we really liked:

A good all-round rowing machine that simply gives people what they need

Easy to store aware upright. Feels safe and doesn’t take up much room.

Customer service is excellent and with the 2-year warranty

Final thoughts on the Marcy RE1016 Azure Folding Magnetic Rowing Machine

A great low-mid range rowing machine for those who are tight on space. If you want to include rowing as part of a wider workout routine, then this would be an ideal rowing machine to fit the bill.

Yes, sure it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of a £1000+ rowing machine, but the end result for many will be the same. It has the added benefit of being battery powered, so you can store and use the rowing machine in any room in the house.

If you are on the fence, Marcy as a brand has been around for many years and produced many high quality workout machines, weights and accessories. You know that you will be getting a good quality item at a low price.

Marcy RE1016 Azure Folding Rowing Machine Voucher Code
Product	Price Check	Original Price	Discounted Price
Marcy		WAS £349	CLICK HERE
Read more customer reviews here –  (9)