In this review article I share my results after product-testing the popular & cheap Stamina Body Trac Glider.
It’s a good choice for some people, but definitely not everyone who wants a home rower.
The Stamina Body Trac Glider is a very inexpensive rowing machine that doesn’t take up much space, and is portable enough to pick up and park out of the way if you need to.
It’s also quiet enough to work out with in an apartment, thanks to its hydraulic resistance.
- STAMINA ROWING MACHINE - Our full-motion rower provides effective, natural...
- ALL-IN-ONE CARDIO EQUIPMENT - This versatile hydraulic rowing machine...
- HYDRAULIC CYLINDER RESISTANCE - This row machine cardio is equipped with a...
Last update on 2025-03-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Science resources included
As is my custom here on heydayDo, I will provide links to all of the relevant sports science & medical resources, clinical studies, and nutritional data used in this article.
Stamina Body Trac Glider Review
Owner satisfaction rating 82% 4/5 stars (7,000+ online reviews)
The Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 is a best-selling home rowing machine with mostly positive reviews from several thousand owner ratings.
This rowing machine is better suited for cardio & muscle toning workouts of low intensity & duration (any longer than 30 minutes or so and the hydraulic resistance could stop working until it cools off).
For a casual user, it’s definitely worth considering if you’re looking for a cheap, quiet, and compact rowing machine that can give you a convenient low impact workout.
These positive features are also its weaknesses, and so it won’t be an ideal rower for everyone.
Hydraulic resistance and a lightweight frame mean this Body Trac rowing machine won’t cut it if you’re athletic & intend to put in serious workout time.
What I like:
It’s cheap – If you can’t or don’t want to spend more for a higher quality rowing machine, this home rower is worth considering.
Decent reviews – Body Trac Glider reviews are generally positive, and over 6,000 owners have weighed in across the internet.
Not much noise – It’s pretty quiet. Quiet enough for a thin-walled apartment, and obviously quieter than an air rower.
Compact – The Body Trac Glider has a footprint of 52” x 32”.
Portable rowing machine – While it doesn’t fold up completely, its footprint for storage can be reduced to 24”W x 46”L and it can be stood upright.
Easy to adjust – Resistance level is easily adjusted using a dial that’s on the hydraulic cylinder.
Decent cheap monitor – It runs on batteries that shows basic workout stats for you: time, strokes, calories. I think stats on a cheap fitness equipment monitor are useless, but I’m jaded by 4 decades in the fitness industry.
Shipping free on Amazon.
What’s not so good
It’s cheap – in this sense it means that it won’t last forever.
The warranty isn’t great – only 90 days for parts.
Hydraulic piston leak – Some Body Trac Glider owners report the hydraulic fluid leaking after awhile (usually outside of their 3-month warranty). Current price for a replacement piston from Stamina is around $40-50.
Hydraulic failure – Another related problem the Body Trac has is the inconsistency of the resistance due to the changing temperature of the hydraulic piston.
(This also happens to some other cardio machines with hydraulics like other rowers, steppers, etc.)
After the Stamina Body Trac Glider has been in heavy use for several minutes, the pistons heat up to a point where the resistance goes away.
Conversely, if the temperature of the unit is too cold when you’re starting out, the resistance will be too high for a normal workout until the machine (and its hydraulic fluid) warm up.
Body Trac Glider Technical Specifications
- Resistance type: Hydraulic piston
- Max user weight: 250 lb.
- Steel frame
- Aluminum slide rail
- Dimensions: 58”L x 43”W x 18”H
- Stamina Body Trac Glider weight: 39 lb.
- Warranty: 1y frame, 90 days parts
Stamina Body Trac Glider FAQ
Here are answers to a few of the commonly asked questions about the Stamina Body Trac Glider rowing machine.
What Does a Body Trac Glider do?
The Stamina Body Trac Glider is a portable, cheap rowing machine designed for home use. Its rowing motion can provide good cardio exercise & light muscle toning when used regularly.
How do you use the Body Trac by Stamina?
Sit on the seat pad. Position your feet on the footrest. Grab the handles & pull them towards the sides of your body roughly shoulder height, then relax & slide forward to the start position. Repeat.
Does a rowing machine increase stamina?
When used consistently several times a week with enough workout intensity that it elevates your heart rate sufficiently, a rowing machine can improve your cardiovascular stamina.
Wrapping Up
If you’re interested in improving your rowing form… ..I’ve written an article here on heydayDo — A Helpful Rowing Machine Muscles Guide — that features instructional videos with tips on proper form and on avoiding common rowing mistakes.
It also shows you the different muscle groups that are activated during each part of the rowing stroke.
To see how the Body Trac Glider compares to 6 other popular rowing machines that are also cheap, check out my Best Budget Rowing Machine review article.
