The Lifecore R88 Rowing Machine – Most Economical Lifecore Rower

The Lifecore R88 rowing machine is a mid-priced hybrid rower at $699. While is may save you some money over the high quality rowers that start at $899, it isn’t worth the extra bit of savings when you are so close to buying the best.

The Rower

The LCD console display has readouts for time, speed, strokes, calories, and more.

The specs of the Lifecore R88 are:

• Solid steel fan / flywheel
• 6 levels of air & magnetic resistance
• Adjustable cooling air vent
• Heart Rate Chest Strap compatible
• Maximum User Weight – 300 lbs
• Folded Frame occupies just 16 x 24 inches of space
• Warranty: lifetime frame, 2 yrs parts, 90 days labor

The Buzz

UPDATE: The LifeCore R88 rowing machine has been discontinued, as have the remaining LifeCore rowers. Take a look at NordicTrack rowing machines for similar priced machines with great features and capabilities.

The mechanical features and frame on the Lifecore R88 rowing machine include a magnetic Eddy Current Brake drive system, solid steel fan and flywheel, and an extruded aluminum frame with steel support for a total machine weight of just 67 pounds, yet it supports a user up to 300 pounds.

Other features include oversized foot plates, a large ergonomically designed seat, a console with tilt adjust, a manual tension dial, and a battery-powered console.

When strictly speaking about performance, the Lifecore R88 delivers a good workout at a decent price. As for the downside, it is a noisy rower for a magnetic resistance model – but that is also a benefit of the built-in air fan at the lower resistance level since it does deliver some cool air back towards the user.

The main drawback though, is the display, which is not backlit so it can be hard to read if the machine is in a room that isn’t well lit.

What We Say about the Lifecore R88

The $699 Lifecore R88 rowing machine is the most economical of the company’s rowers and makes the most sense. It has a decent 2-year parts warranty and is built with the same frame and drive system as the more expensive R99, but you’ll save $200 over that one especially if you don’t need pre-set programs.

If you are an occasional rower, this one may be fine for you, but if you really love rowing as a form of exercise we recommend that you spend a little more money and get a commercial quality rower such as a WaterRower or Concept2 for as little as $899.

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