Viavito · Folding Rower Review
Viavito Sumi Review
The Viavito Sumi is the cheapest rower we cover and the one built purely around saving space, a quiet, fold-in-half magnetic rower for £149.
Viavito Sumi Folding
Cheapest folding rower
Price and any code applied at checkout via Sweatband
The verdict
It folds in half for storage, uses quiet magnetic resistance, and at £149, down from £299, it is a low-risk way to find out whether rowing suits you. A 4.7-star retailer rating across many reviews backs up its value credentials, and a 7kg flywheel and 4-roller system give a smoother stroke than the price suggests.
Set expectations correctly and it delivers. This is a light, entry-level machine for gentle, regular use rather than serious training, and committed rowers will eventually want more, but as a first, affordable, tuck-away rower it does the job well.
Strengths
- Cheapest rower we cover at £149
- Folds in half, stows in a corner or closet
- Quiet, friction-free magnetic resistance
- 7kg flywheel and 4-roller system for a smooth stroke
- Lightweight at 26kg, easy to move
- Two-year warranty, easy assembly
Watch-outs
- Basic LCD console
- Maximum resistance is modest for advanced rowers
- Entry-level build for gentle use
- No app connectivity
The row
The Sumi is more capable than its price suggests. A 7kg flywheel and a commercial-quality 4-roller system give a smoother, more fluid stroke than you would expect at £149, and the 10 levels of friction-free magnetic resistance are adjusted by an oversized knob below the console. Magnetic resistance is quiet, which suits a flat or a shared room and early-morning sessions.
The honest limit is at the top end. Advanced rowers will find the maximum resistance modest, and this is a machine for gentle, regular fitness rather than hard training. Within that brief it is genuinely good.
Folding and storage
This is the Sumi’s reason for being. It folds in half, weighs just 26kg, and rolls on transport wheels, so it stores in a corner or a closet and one person can move it easily. For anyone whose main constraint is space, that fold-away design is the whole appeal.
The LCD console is basic but clear, showing time, distance, calories, stroke count and strokes per minute. There is no app connectivity, which at this price is no surprise, this is a get-on-and-row machine.
Who it is for
Buy the Viavito Sumi if you want the cheapest possible route into rowing, you are short on space, or you want to test whether rowing suits you before spending more. If you plan to train hard or often, step up to a JTX Freedom Air or an Echelon Row, which offer more resistance and a sturdier build.
Specifications
| Resistance | 10 levels, silent magnetic (knob-adjusted) |
|---|---|
| Flywheel | 7kg, 4-roller system |
| Console | Basic LCD, time, distance, calories, count, SPM |
| Row length | 80cm |
| Frame | Folds in half, steel rail, transport wheels |
| Weight | 26kg |
| Warranty | 2 years |
FitRank breakdown
Performance 3.4
A smooth 7kg flywheel and quiet magnetic resistance handle gentle, regular rowing well, if the top resistance is modest.
Build quality 3.5
Sturdier than the price suggests for an entry machine, folding in half and weighing just 26kg.
Value 4.2
Its strongest pillar by far. A capable, fold-away rower for £149 is hard to beat as a first machine.
Features 3.3
A basic but clear LCD and a fold-in-half frame. No app connectivity, which is no surprise at this price.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Viavito Sumi any good?
Does the Viavito Sumi fold?
Is the Viavito Sumi suitable for tall users?
Can you do serious training on the Viavito Sumi?
Related rowing machines
Compare it against the field in our best home rowing machines guide. You might also consider the Echelon Row-7s and Echelon Row Smart Folding.
Chris writes the home fitness reviews across our sites, including our sister site HomeTreadmill.co.uk. He compares every machine against its rivals on UK pricing and specs, and scores each one with FitRank.
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