Cecilia B., CF-L1 trainer and FIPE coach, has put the new Xebex Air Rower 2.0 to the test.
If you are one of the many fitness enthusiasts looking for a rower for your training area, whether to keep at home or set up in your garage gym, you have probably noticed that the search lately is anything but easy.
In recent months, it has indeed become nearly impossible to find cardio equipment such as rowers, bikes, and ski ergs on the Italian and European markets. The reason can simply be attributed to the increased demand for these products, especially with the closure of gyms, while the production capacity and material supply for such a large number of machines couldn’t keep up with market demands. This is also due to delays in shipments and challenges in maintaining the same production and workforce levels as before the Coronavirus.
In this uncertain scenario, the Research and Development Department of Xenios USA immediately took action to find a solution to the shortage of cardio equipment on the market, considering carefully the possibility of a collaboration with numerous industry-leading companies and ultimately selecting Xebex’s products as valuable allies to enable you to train in your homes, boxes, and garage gyms.
Why did Xenios USA choose Xebex?
Xebex Fitness is a company with its headquarter in America, handling product design and development and manufacturing in Taiwan. It’s one of the world leading companies in the production of cardio fitness equipment, with over 30 years of experience and a presence through retailers in more than 40 countries worldwide.
Xenios USA was looking for a strong and reliable partner who had a deep understanding of the industry our company caters to: the design and production team at Xebex consists of engineers, athletes, and coaches who have a strong understanding of the functional fitness and cross-training market. This allows them to incorporate the necessary features into their products to withstand high-intensity workouts effectively. The strength of the Xebex brand lies in its industry knowledge and the reliability of the materials used, with durable and high-quality components designed to last over time.
Additionally, when it comes to brand reliability, the Research and Development team at Xenios USA has also carefully evaluated other essential characteristics that any brand collaborating with our company must invariably have. We are talking about a product compliant with EN-20957 standards, tested in TÜV laboratories, and with electronic components (the console) compliant with ROHS and REACH regulations.
Product features
After this introduction on the reliability of the Xebex brand, let’s now look at the main features of their rower.
Net weight: 42.1 Kg (95 LBs)
Shipping weight: 50.8 Kg (110 LBs)
Shipping dimensions: 146 x 66 x 38 cm
Assembled product dimensions:
– Length: 213 cm (7’3’’) from the front stabilizer to the rear stabilizer. 243 cm (8’4’’) from the fan to the rail;
– Width: 50,8 cm (20’’).
Maximum user weight: 226 Kg (500LBs)
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Type of rower
The Xebex Air Rower 2.0 is an air resistance rower, like every commonly used rowing machine for indoor workouts found in boxes and gyms worldwide, also recognized for use in indoor rowing competitions.
This type of rower features a fan with a damper that allows you to adjust the air intake on a scale from 1 to 10. By setting the damper, you can consistently control your level of effort and the resistance of the machine. The work you do on the machine will be directly proportional to how hard you pull. You’ll need to row harder to go faster, but you can always adjust the damper setting according to how much air you want to let into the fan, making the rowing more or less challenging as you prefer.
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This type of resistance mimics the resistance of rowing in water, allowing you to make your workout more or less intense and customize the effort you put into your cardio machine. The fan design in this model makes rowing particularly smooth and enjoyable, while reducing noise during use.
Screen features
Thanks to the integrated console and its essential and clear screen, with large and visible numbers, you can monitor and keep track of all the data you need, which are also visible simultaneously on the same screen: usage time, meters rowed, strokes per minute, calories burned, watts, split pace over 500 m, and calculation of their projected time, calories per hour, average meters rowed per stroke.
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Bluetooth/ANT+ connection
Furthermore, with the additional feature of its console, which is compatible with Bluetooth/ANT+ connected devices, you can connect your heart rate monitor with a 5 kHZ connection or your smartwatch to the rower and sync and view data on various workout apps like Kinomap, Gymtrakr, and Selfloops Group Training Apps. This functionality allows you to monitor your heart rate continuously and make your training sessions even more comprehensive and trackable.
Design and comfort
Xebex rowers are known for their durability and sturdiness. Its approximately 45 kg base provides excellent stability for users of any weight. Many parts of the machine are made of metal and steel, even where other manufacturers typically use plastic.
So, the design of the equipment is essential and robust, solid and reliable in the choice of materials without sacrificing comfort: the seat is higher than that of other rowers we are used to using (50.8 cm) and is defined by the company itself as “dining chair height”, the height of a chair at a dining table. The seat is designed in this way to facilitate getting on and off the machine without the need to bend too much, making it comfortable for users of any age and physical condition.
Other distinctive and particularly comfortable features include the folding chair and handlebar with extra padding, covered with a special high-density foam with an ergonomic design. Not to mention the ease of adjusting the foot straps and the smoothness of the seat’s movement on the rail, which is stable and resistant to prolonged use. It’s worth noting that this machine was tested with 1 million consecutive strokes performed by a robotic arm and passed the test with flying colors!
Ease of storage
The most unique feature of the Xebex brand rower is the ease of storing the equipment: this rower can fold in on itself using less than 50% of the space occupied by the machine when in use. Its extremely solid and foldable structure, thanks to its “pivot” hinge that doesn’t compromise the frame’s robustness and solidity, offers an unmatched level of resistance and convenience on the market. Once folded, in an operation lasting less than 5 seconds, this rower only occupies 91 cm in length and 50 cm in width. Additionally, 4 wheels at the base of the rower will help you position the rower wherever you want with ease, allowing you to move it with just one hand.
User experience
After this detailed explanation of the main features of the Xebex rower, you might be wondering: so, have you tried it or not?
Well, yes, I can confirm that I had the pleasure of trying out this equipment exclusively and I’ll provide you with my feedback as a user.
As a CF-L1 Trainer and FIPE coach, in my years of coaching experience at Crossfit Riccione and Crossfit 3 Towers in the Republic of San Marino, I’ve realized how important it is to have solid, robust, durable, and reliable cardio equipment in your training area.
Certainly, the first feature that captures the interest of a trainer or an individual looking to place this rower in their home gym is the ability to fold it and easily store it in a small space. When folded, it’s remarkably manageable, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy and intuitive the closing system is and how practical it is for storage and transport when closed.
Regarding the actual usage, starting with the premise that it’s never easy to switch and use different equipment than what you’re accustomed to, I must say that the impact was positive from the beginning: the high seat is comfortable and the folding chair with extra padding provides a comfortable feeling right from the first use. I found the rowing motion to be very smooth compared to other rowers, and as you increase the intensity of your rowing, it becomes progressively smoother, making it particularly enjoyable even during prolonged use.
Furthermore, I find the console screen to be very clear and understandable, with large and visible numbers. It’s especially useful that the main screen displays all the values simultaneously: meters, calories, usage time, watts, meters per stroke, all in the same screen to monitor all these variables at once.
Moreover, the ability to monitor heart rate through Bluetooth/ANT+ connection with your heart rate monitor is a definite plus that adds value to the equipment, making it suitable for every type of user, from beginners approaching a cardio machine for the first time to experienced individuals.
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Conclusions
The experience of using the Xebex Air Rower 2.0 has left me pleasantly satisfied: it was easy to adapt to the rowing style of this cardio machine and its innovative and interesting features.
For more information about the product, please visit the product page on our website www.xeniosusa.com.
Since 2009, we’ve been by your side, helping you create the perfect training spaces for Cross Training Boxes, Personal Trainer Studios, and professional Home Gyms.
