Being a fitness freak can be both challenging and expensive.
Especially when you’re trying to stay within budget and time constraints.
If you’re like me, I’m sure you’ll find this review useful in deciding whether the Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 is right for you.
Want a quick “Yes or No” for Glider 1050?
Yes, go for it if you’re not a professional athlete and looking to buy your first rowing machine. It’s a bargain for the price it’s available at.
The 1050 model from Stamina is an affordable yet complete solution for those who want to achieve their fitness goals while staying at home.
There’s a range of other rowing machines under the Stamina brand, but if you’re looking for something basic yet useful, then you’ve considered the right model.
The Glider 1050 rowing machine is meant for beginner to intermediate users. It’s:
- designed with a lightweight body
- supports multilevel resistance
- comes with dual handles to emulate actual rowing
- has a multi-function electronic monitor to keep an eye on your readings
However, this model is not meant for advanced rowers or athletes.
I’d recommend they look for some advanced machines with top-of-the-line features.
You can check out my review of the Concept2 Model D, which is considered the gold standard in rowing machines.
The Body Trac 1050 is designed for those who are seeking basic features.
Here’s a detailed list of features you’re going to experience with this machine, and what you should expect:
Features of Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine
1. Resistance adjustment is one of the key features this rowing machine offers. It has up to 12 levels of resistance beneath the seat, powered by a hydraulic piston. Beginners can start from lower levels, and as you get used to the machine, you can increase the resistance to make your workout harder.
Caution: If you plan to change resistance level during an exercise, make sure to wait until the shocks cool down, as they get extremely hot during usage.
2. The machine is made of a steel frame with an aluminum centre beam. The body is lightweight and almost noise-free. Some users might not agree with this as there’s a slight hushing noise from the back of the seat. I believe this annoying sound is avoidable if you’re watching TV or listening to music alongside your workout. Despite the price you’re paying for the machine, this minor issue shouldn’t be a deal-breaker.
3. The seat is made of moulded plastic. It’s good enough for short or moderate intervals of exercise. Since it’s not padded, you might feel a little discomfort after a while. The solution? Just use a small gym towel folded and placed on the seat. I’d advise using a small cushion – it’ll do the trick. The key is to do exercise in small intervals of about 15-20 minutes.
4. Handles and footrest: The handles come with a standard padded grip which has intermediate softness. You might not find it super comfortable, but as I mentioned before – the overall package fits well together.
Any harshness you might experience is avoidable by wearing a pair of rowing gloves that are easily available in the market. I always suggest and use gloves myself no matter what machine I’m using. (You can check out my top picks for rowing gloves here.)
As for the footrests, they come with foot straps and are bigger to fit all sizes. However, you might not like that they’re too big and the foot straps are too high, which can make your shoes slip out of the straps too often.
By the way, if you don’t have a pair of rowing shoes, I would highly suggest to have one. I reviewed them here as well 🙂 – Best rowing shoes for a cofortable rowing experience.
Quick fix: While assembling the machine, you can install the footrests upside down so that the foot straps can be adjusted well for smaller foot sizes too.
5. The machine also has a small digital monitor. You can keep an eye on time spent, strokes, and estimated calories burned in the session. It could be good motivation to keep you going when you see the output right upfront; however, expert rowers will need advanced metrics that this simple monitor can’t show.
6. The Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 is storage-friendly as well because of its lightweight structure. You can easily disassemble and store it in a corner when not in use, or when you need to use the space temporarily for something else. You won’t need any additional help or space to manage it.
Overall, this machine is a useful addition to your home exercise equipment. You no longer need to find time to go rowing at a gym, because this machine will help you mimic a similar exercise while staying at home.
While this machine is handy, easy to store, budget-friendly, and recommended for beginners, there are a few cons to keep in mind before investing in it:
✘ Cons:
- While it’s budget-friendly, it’s not meant for professional athletes.
- You might need to invest in additional cushions/towels for the non-padded seat, and rowing gloves for longer sessions.
- This machine isn’t meant for overweight people aiming to reduce weight. The material is solid, but the weight limit and structure aren’t fit for people over 113 kg (250 lbs) or taller than 6’2″.
- Assembly isn’t very technical, but the footrest needs adjustment upside down to fit better.
- The knob gets hot, so be cautious touching the equipment if you’ve been rowing on it for a while.
- I wouldn’t recommend it to professional athletes, as it’s too simple.
🔗 Side Note: If you can stretch the budget a bit and need a more robust rowing machine, do check out my review of Merax rowing machine.
The Glider 1050 would work for users who are intending to tone their muscles, build stamina for a more robust exercise routine, as well as lose some weight.
I found it user-friendly; even older adults can use it while staying at home and keep themselves active with this machine.
A Tip:
I’d recommend using this machine in smaller intervals of about 20 minutes at a time.
You can start with a 3-minute warm-up and then continue for nearly 15 minutes.
It’ll be good enough to start and will help you increase your stamina over time. This tip applies to everyone regardless of age, gender, or weight!
Good luck rowing, and let me know how you find this machine if you use it!
Additional Resources
- User Manual of Body Trac 1050 – https://staminaproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/35-1050E_MUUV_2020-11-24.pdf
- Featured image credits: Stamina Products
