Product Description

Rowing is a particularly balanced form of training which exercises all the main muscle groups and increases personal stamina and endurance. In addition, rowing stimulates the matabolism and raises the oxygen content of the body. The many benefits for both strength and general fitness combined with the natural sequence of movements make rowing one of the most effective types of exercise. The KETTLER® KADETT is fitted with rowing arms, hydraulic resitance system, and a special outrigger design which is now featured on many boats. Fitted with easily understandable display electronics which give the user information on important data such as number and speed of strokes and the pulse rate during exercise.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26588 in Sports & Outdoors
• Color: Silver/Black
• Brand: Kettler
• Model: 7977-900
• Dimensions: 18.00" h x 24.00" w x 45.00" l, 66.00 pounds

Features

• Rowing machine to help you stay in shape and train in your own home
• Outrigger style rower simulates actual water rowing; resistance setting from 1 to 12
• Training computer provides info on time measurement, number of oar strokes, speed of strokes, distance covered, and more
• Program for desired distance covered and stroke speed; visual and audio signals
• 250-pound weight capacity; measures 49 x 31 x 10 inches

Amazon.com Product Description
Stay in peak shape and train in your own home with the Kettler Kadett rowing machine. With the special outrigger design's circular movement, the Kadett closely simulates the actual process of rowing on water. It features two hydraulic cylinders with the ability to set force resistance on a scale of 1 to 12, and a comfortably ergonomic seat with smooth running rollers mounted on rails. It also has moving foot plates with adjustable straps, folding oars with continuous force adjustment, and an anti-slip base that protects the floor.

The Kadett is outfitted with a training computer that provides info on time measurement, number of oar strokes, speed of strokes, distance covered during training session, total distance, energy consumption, and pulse rate. You can program settings for desired distance covered and stroke speed and receive visual and audio signals when you've reached your goals. It has a 250-pound weight capacity and measures 59 x 67 x 18 inches.

Rowing is an especially balanced form of exercise that involves all the main muscle groups and increases the efficiency of the heart and circulatory systems. It also encourages the metabolism and raises the ability of your organs to absorb oxygen.

Customer Reviews

The rowing motion is like heaven
I initially tried to order my Kettler Kadett from a company called Mercantila, a.k.a. Rowingmachines.com. It was a complete disaster and nightmare including some false advertising, trying to cover up some mistakes on their part which caused about a month of delays, some horrible customer service (or lack thereof), some false charges, and a lot of headaches. Eventually enough was enough and I wound up ordering it directly from Amazon, which cost me a few bucks more, but was well worth it.

The machine comes mostly disassembled and took about an hour and a half to put together. There were a few confusing moments as the instructions are only pictures and no text, so making sure you have the right part takes a little extra focus. It came with all the tools necessary except an allen wrench which was necessary for one small thing.

In terms of overall quality, it's very high. I'm not concerned about this thing breaking, nor does it rattle or have ill-fitting parts. That said, the housing for the computer is a little wimpy and doesn't attach very securely to the main body as I've knocked it off a couple times. A small piece of tape at the base has kept it firmly locked into place since.

Some people have complained about the location of the straps on the foot plates. I actually find their location ideal, although they do tend to loosen themselves during a workout. I made a trip down to the store and bought some velcro which I sewed onto the straps. It took 15 minutes to do and I now have the best foot straps in the world.

The best thing about this machine, and the reason I bought it, is that it REALLY DOES in fact mimic an actual rowing motion. When I close my eyes I can actually believe I'm on a boat on the water which makes my workouts much more pleasant. So for anyone with any doubts, you can in fact believe the hype, it IS like rowing a boat. Additionally, all the action is very smooth. The seat is very sturdy and comfortable and it doesn't wobble. The arms are also smooth and the grips spin freely.

One other reason I bought this machine is that I'm very tall and the Kadett adjusts to accommodate my size. It does this by placing the footboards on a center beam that slides inside the central housing. This beam can be adjusted allowing my incredibly long logs to get a full complete extension without the seat hitting the end of it's track.

Although it takes up a lot of space during use due to the outrigger style "oars", it does fold up to the size of a traditional hydraulic rowing machine in about 30 seconds. I keep mine leaned up against a wall and out of the way in an adjacent room, and as it's not very heavy it isn't a big deal pulling it out every morning.

One problem I did discover, is that the numbers on one of my adjustable hydraulic pistons is misaligned. So it was a minor nuisance to set the resistance initially as I had to do it by feel.

In preview, the Kadette appears to be overpriced compared to virtually all other hydraulic rowing machines. But it really is a completely different kind of animal in terms of the rowing action that makes it worth the price tag. It still suffers from a slow start as the pistons come up to temperature like any other hydraulic rowing machine, but the rowing motion is like heaven.

Best thing I've done for myself in a long time!
The Kettler Kedett rowing machine is an amazing piece of equipment. I unpacked mine last night and despite missing a washer and having to wade through 90 minutes of assembly instructions, I was impressed from the very start.

From the solidity and the perfect fit of the parts, it is clear that this machine is the product of German engineering. I haven't seen anything so well designed in years. Each part fits well, tightens nicely and still rotates or slides with ease. The machine is sturdy, sits well on carpet or hard flooring and easily folds into a compact shape when not in use.

A workout on the Kadett is better than any workout I've ever experienced, aside from rowing or kayaking. The motion is very realistic, with nothing to distract one beyond the small chirping of the pistons and the occasional knock of the seat against the front of the rail. It is easy to close my eyes and imagine myself rowing down a quiet river. The entire experience is more like meditation than exercise -- the perfect way to start, or end, a busy day.

After a 45 minute workout, I wasn't sure that I had really gotten a particularly strenuous workout. Then I stepped off the machine and realized that my legs were like rubber. It was that subtle.

I highly recommend this machine to anyone looking for an alternative to the ordinary. The full-body workout provided by rowing is a beautiful thing. The price is less than most elliptical trainers, the unit weighs only 66lbs, and it gives your arms a workout too! I can't say enough good things about this machine.

Happy rowing!

Excellent Machine - With some easy modifications
When I got the machine and started putting it together, I noticed I was missing a few small pieces. Understandable, I think, as this machine was shipped from Germany. 3$ and a trip to my local hardware store later, the Kettler Kadett was all assembled. I had some problems with the foot straps loosening while I exercised, but I found that a velcro strap fastened around the toe area (to provide an additional foot strap) and some velcro adhesive slapped on the existing foot strap fixed that problem.

With the exception of those minor nuisances, the Kettler Kadett is an amazing piece of machinery. When I use it, I can tell it's not going to break or fall apart at the nuts and bolts. It went together easily and it's solid as a rock when I use it. I've never rowed on a real boat in my life, but this feels just as I'd imagine it would. And of course the most important part, when I get off, I feel like I've gotten a gym quality work out.

4 out of 5 stars for this rowing machine, the packaging could have been better and slightly re-designed foot wraps, but all in all an excellent buy.