The Stamina Trac Glider is a big seller on the internet - due mainly to its price. But beware, it does have its weaknesses. For some these will definitely be a deal-breaker, but for others it will be a low-cost way to stay in shape. This is a hydraulic rower that uses a single piston underneath the main column to provide the resistance. Some of our reviewers found regular heavy use caused problems with the piston. After about 15 minutes of use the resistance drops and it hardly takes any effort to row. This doesn't seem to be an issue for light users so It's probably a problem with the gas/ oil mix in the piston.

Another deal-breaker seems to be the foot rests. Three out of our five testers had problems keeping their feet strapped in - which means you have to keep stopping to strap them back in. This can be resolved by fitting thicker velcro straps - but this should be something sorted before it gets to gets to the market

The seat is quite comfortable for a budget model and the action is fine for short workouts of fifteen minutes or less. If you're planning on training for longer periods you may find this model less comfortable. It's quite sturdy for a compact machine and also folds up for easy storage - something to consider if space is short. The twelve resistance levels should be plenty for most users - but remember this can drop off during longer workouts.

The Console/ Monitor
The display is basic but easy to use and shows you distance, time and estimated calories used. It doesn't have any preset programs, targets or PC-connectivity - but this is a budget model.

Summary:
The Stamina Trac Glider 1050 is a budget machine so you shouldn't expect too much. In our view, it's fine for light workouts a few times a week. But if you're serious about getting into shape and will be using it on a regular basis this machine isn't for you.

  

 

 Our overall rating: 50%