Today’s market offers a number of rowing equipment, most of which are affordable, reliable and durable. Before choosing the best rowing machine, it is important to know the your perefences.
Not everyone may require advanced features. It is always better to go with customer reviews, as they are the real deciders about the genuine factor of the product.
You can read through the reviews in to learn about the various models available. If you find the one that best suits your need, then search if it is a part of the hot offers in the market.
Make sure to compare the prices offered by different vendors for the same product. In addition, it is important to know about the warranty provided by the manufacturer. Try to gather the negative points about the product.
If you feel that they doesn’t matter you much, and if majority of the customers opinion that the product is good, then you can go for it without second thought.
When buying any exercises equipment, it is also good to look at the mechanism involved. There are four kinds available todate. Water, air, hydraulic and magnetic.
Table of Contents
Best Rowers (Buying Guide)
With the advent of activities for better health awareness, people are now trying to realign their lifestyles to create a healthier way of living. Because of this, more people are injecting physical activities into their daily lives to improve their health.
Some of the more popular activities that people do would be running or swimming while others would prefer attending classes such as Pilates, yoga or Zumba. One of the upcoming popular exercises that people are starting to enjoy would be rowing.
Not only does rowing give you a full workout, but it also helps you tone all the muscles in your body. However since rowing is not a readily available sport, many people would invest in a good equipment to help them work out even in the comforts of their own home. So for those who are looking at purchasing one for your home, here are some tips:
It is important to look at the quality of the euqment. There are a lot of home equipment available in the market but not all of them are of equal quality.
You need to make sure that you get one that is sturdy and can take a lot of abuse. This might be a bit pricey. But remember, shelling out a bit of money for your health’s sake is money well spent.
It is also good to look at the space in your house. There are two kinds of equipment available in the market. One is the foldable type while the other one is a fixed type. If you stay in a place with limited space such as a condominium, it is best to pick the fold-able type.
However do make sure that you take good care of it as foldable types are not as durable as fixed types.
Comparison Chart
| Rower Machine | Category | Model No | Warranty | Cost | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stamina Air Rower | Air Resistance | 35-1399 | 3 Years for Frame and 90 Days for Parts | $$$ | (3.8 / 5) |
| ProForm 440r Rower | Air Resistance | PFRW3914 | 5 Years for Frame and 90 Days for Parts and Labor | $$$ | (4 / 5) |
| Stamina 1215 Orbital With Free Motion Arms | Hydraulic Resistance | 35-1215 | 5 Years for Frame and 90 Days for Parts | $$$ | (4.2 / 5) |
| Waterrower Natural In Ash Wood With S4 Monitor | Water Resistance | Ash S4 | 1 Year for Frame and Parts | $$$ | (4.6 / 5) |
| H2o Fitness Rx-950 ProRower Club Series | Water Resistance | RX-950 | Lifetime for Frame, 3 Years for tank and seals, 2 Years for non-wear components | $$$ | (4.3 / 5) |
| Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower | Magnetic Resistance | CHR-2001 | 1 Year on Frame and Parts | $$$ | (4.3 / 5) |
| Waterrower A1 Home Machine | Water Resistance | 120 A1 HOME | 3 Years on Parts and Labor | $$$ | (4.7 / 5) |
| Stamina Avari Programmable Magnetic Exercise |
Magnetic Resistance | A350-700 | 3 Years on Frame and 90 Days on Parts | $$$ | (4.8 / 5) |
| Concept2 Model D | Air Resistance | 1990-US-P | 5 Years on Frame and 2 Years on Parts | $$$ | (4.9 / 5) |
| Concept2 Model E | Air Resistance | 1997-US | 5 Years on Frame | $$$$ | (4.8 / 5) |
| Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 | Hydraulic Resistance | 35-1050 | 1 Year on Frame and 90 Days on Parts | $$$ | (3.8 / 5) |
| Kettler Favorit |
Hydraulic Resistance | 07978-900 | Lifetime on Frame and 3 Years on Parts | $$$ | (4 / 5) |
| WaterRower Club |
Water Resistance | Club S4Club S4 | 5 Years on Frame and 3 Years on Parts | $$$$ | (4.6 / 5) |
Equipment Types
It produce resistance while making workouts. The resistance is offered through different techniques and this results in categorizing ot into various types.
The list is as categorized below:
Water Rowers
If you want a really good workout, a water would be your best bet as it provides high resistance.
However maintenance would be an issue as it has cylinders that contain water which need to be changed on a regular basis.
Equipment that produce resistance through water are constructed to have a water tank that has inbuilt paddles.
Therefore, when the user paddles, it is actually happening in waters. These machines mimic the real rowing on boat over the waters. These models are affordable.
Hydraulic
If space is an issue, a hydraulic is a good choice for you. As these contain cylinders that are filled with oil, these are very light, thus easy to carry around.
Equipment in this category contain a couple of hydraulic pistons that are attached to the handles. Thus, the equipment produce hydraulic resistance and are much cheaper than water or air resistance machines.
These are the smallest of all the other types available. The only negative point is that they demand maintenance and are not as smooth as magnetic ones.
Magnetic
For those who really enjoy rowing as an exercise, it is best to invest in a magnetic models. Though a bit on the high side, these are quiet machines that are easy to store and lift around.
Tehy are very smooth and they produce magnetic resistance offered by the electromagnets. These equipment is quiet, small and customizable. Above all, they need no maintenance.
Air
If you want one that flows smoothly, the air machine is good for you. Just make sure that you can contend with the racket it makes.
These one make use of a fan blade which is fixed inside a flywheel.
While making workouts, the user moves the flywheel and that moves the fan, thus creating resistance. These work great for tall users. They can control the workouts at the desired speed.
One important thing to look at when buying would be the rowers. Make sure that these parts are made of sturdy material and that they are firmly attached to the equipment.
Folding
They are widely categorized based on the type of resistance they use while they are under operation. On the other hand, the factor that categorizes them is the fold-able feature.
The present trend is a busy lifestyle and hence people do not get much time for personal essentials. Extracting time for spending in gym is almost a dream for many people.
Therefore, majority choose to make workouts while being at home, instead of spending extra time by traveling to gyms. At the same time, space is the main factor of concern when using at home. This aroused a great demand for fold-abletype.
Folding machines are space efficient, affordable, and best for home use. One may be surprised to know that the equipment that cannot be fold-able are costlier compared to the foldable ones. All these factors result in demand for foldable one.
Air Machines
Stamina
Air rowing machines are one of the best exercise machines for a perfect work out. If you want to get into the best shape of your life, those are an excellent choice. Not all machines are durable. Stamina known for their brand, durability, reliability and at the same time, inexpensive.
They are highly sophisticated and robust. The equipment enables the user to achieve whole body activity and result in great weight loss.
The calories burn successfully and the muscles achieve great toning. Also, the users who dream for great body shape can see their dreams come true.
The product achieved a rating of 3.8 out of 5, which proves that the product satisfied most of the users.
Customers feel that the stamina team is very responsive when they needed proper service. In cases where repair was on demand, the stamina offered best services by replacing the whole unit.
ProForm 440R
The exercise equipment – ProForm 440R is an integrated dual action machine that offers both aerobic and strength training simultaneously. With this machine, the user’s total body is engaged with the rower.
It comes with pedals that offer great base while at proper posture during workout. The footrests are flexible, offering a good grip to the feet as the user continues with the exercises.
It is embedded with soft ergonomic handles and the aluminum seat rail is over-sized. The seat is also adjustable, thus offering good, relaxed and protected workouts. You can make use of the low pulley station in order to attain strength.
By having the cable and handle right in the front, the user can add deltoid raises, bicep curls, overhead triceps extensions and dead lifts.The product appears to have satisfied many customers, as it is rated 4 out of 5 stars. The customers opine that the product enabled them to attain their dream structure, fat loss, and healthy body and toned muscles.
Concept2 Model D
For a complete body workout, choose the Concept2 Model D. With a flywheel design that gives you that smooth feeling, the Concept2 Model D does not come with the racket that other machines have.
With the built in performance monitor, you can easily check your progress so you can monitor your regimen. It also comes with adjustable footrests, making it a must equipment for everyone at home.
Its ergonomic handle allows your hand and arm to be naturally supported so you need not worry about injuring yourself. Best about it is that it is storage friendly. You can easily separate it into two parts for easy storage. Should you wish to move it around, it comes with caster wheels.
Concept2 Model E
Known for its full function and durability, the Concept2 Model E is the one of the most highly recommended. Similar to the Model D, it promotes a complete body workout.
The Model E, however, has a seat that is about 20 inches above the floor, making it good for those who are having trouble keeping their balance. Like the Model D, the Model E also comes with a performance monitor.
Attached to the equipment, the performance monitor also comes with a rechargeable battery pack. Moreover it comes with a Garmin chest belt to allow easy monitoring of your heart rate.
Also with ergonomic handles and adjustable foot rests, you can be certain that you will not injure yourself while rowing at home.
Water
WaterRower Natural In Ash Wood with S4 Monitor
Unlike the traditional rowers, the water natural is one of the models that is noticeably smooth. Unlike conventional aerobic machines, the results obtained from water rower natural are amazing.
The machine is made of oak wood that is consistent while making workouts on the floor.The workouts not only improve heart rate, but also works almost 84% of muscle mass.
This helps in complete toning and strengthening of the muscles. At the same time, calories are burned at high per cent when compared to any other aerobic machine.
In spite of engaging all the limbs at full extent during the workouts made by the machine, the user will have no impact on joints like ankles, knees and hips. The motions offered by the machine range from fully expanded to fully contracted.
The product achieved an exceptional rating of 4.6 out of 5. This shows how outstanding the product proved to be. Almost all the customers who bought the product are happy with its performance, and the results they achieved with this are amazing.
H2O Fitness RX-950 ProRower Club Series
H2O Fitness RX-950 Pro Club Series is a high-quality equipemnt that uses hydro power drive system technology. It is equal to a commercial grade quality, used at home.
For users who are very serious about the workouts, this model is ideal. The user does not need to make any manual and mechanical adjustments for making the workouts.
It has the ability to offer natural adaptive resistance from the water to provide the amount of push-back that a user needs while doing the exercises. The feeling while on the machine just resembles the boat rowing over the waters.
The information displayed on the screen is easy to understand, easy to read and easy to operate. The information includes details like 500m split time, calories burned, time (strokes per minute), speed, distance and heart rate.
The customers who used it gave reviews even after 2 years of using it. The product achieved 4.3 rating out of 5 stars, which is an outstanding score.
WaterRower A1 Home
The product is a handcraft, designed by making use of ash wood, treated in a clear Danish oil. The solid ash wood has certain engineering properties as it absorbs vibrations and sounds.
The design includes black coloured steel mono-rail. The monitor belongs to A1 series, a basic model that can be operated by five buttons. The material with which it is constructed is known for its durability and reliability.
It is really surprising and amazing to see the ratings given by the customers for the product. The product achieved an outstanding rating of 4.7 out of 5.
The product is an apt and perfect choice for anyone who wants to use at home. Many customers are satisfied with the performance of the product and it is affordable.
Magnetic Kind
Velocity Exercise Magnetic
Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower is a powerful and effective velocity fitness CHR-2001 programmable magnetic machine, offered by velocity exercise. The machine enables the user to experience the comfort of cardio exercise at home.
It generates resistance through Drum Magnetic Control system. The resistance can be adjustable through electronic tension controls. The monitor is an LCD display, big enough and clear at vision to read the results comfortably while making the workouts.
The information displayed includes details like calories burned, speed, time, distance and pulse rate. It is foldable and is designed to occupy less space for storage.
It is made of good quality and the beam is made of anodized aluminum. The model is highly reliable and durable and is affordable. The design appears to be modern and trendy.
The product achieved a rating of 4.3 out of 5, which is outstanding. The product proved to satisfy majority of the customers. The features and specifications mentioned by the manufacturer and the real time performance almost match and thus, the customers are happy with the model.
Stamina Avari Programmable Magnetic Exercise
Stamina Avari Programmable Magnetic Exercise Rower is one of the best offered by Avari. It offers 12 exercise programs, out of which 6 are cardio profiles, 1 is manual, 4 are customizable user programs and 1 is heart rate program.
With this model, the user can enjoy indoor rowing, that engages total body of the user while at workout. The body organs that are engaged include arms, buttocks, legs, abdomen and back. It is ideal for effective strength and cardiovascular fitness training. The inclination of the seat rail is comfortable.
This model is a great manufacture by Avari. After several research on knowing the taste of the customers, this model is designed. The customers liked the product to such an extent that the product achieved a rating of 4.8 out of 5 starts.
Some of the customers who were uncomfortable with the less padded seat and handlers, also liked the product because of its performance and smooth working.
Hydraulic
Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050
For those who have limited space, the Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 is the best for you. With a compact footprint of about 23 inches as compared to other equipment that are about twice the size, the machine is also fold-able, making it ideal for small homes.
With its frame made of steel, you are certain that it is sturdy and durable. Coming with a performance monitor, it allows you to check the amount of time you have spent exercising, the number of strokes you have done and the amount of calories you have burned.
One of the more efficient home models on the market, this model is a must buy.
Stamina 1215 Orbital With Free Motion Arms
Users who use Stamina 1215 Orbital can experience the joy of best activities available in the workouts. The resulted action imitates the rowing on waters. They can achieve both cardiovascular and body fitness with the exercises.
Complete body is engaged while rowing, thus offering full range motion to the body. The hydraulic cylinder resistance is very smooth and the tension controls are very adjustable. The seat is very padded and the machine comes with spinning footrests.
The monitor operates with a single button and shows multiple results like distance, speed, time, miles and the amount of calories burned while workout. The manufacturer offers a warranty of 5 years for the frame and 90 days for the parts.
The customers seem to be very happy after using the product and the product achieved a rating of about 4.2 out of 5, which is remarkable. The users opine that the product is as per the promises made by the manufacturer.
Decision Time
Now that you have a nice selection of models to choose from here is a video to help you avoid some of the most common mistakes people make when working out on a rower!
This article is written after a good research about various rowing models. So, it is good decision to go after proper review of various machines. Not all users have same requirement.
So, always go for the one that best meets the requirement. Sometimes, the one that best suits a person might not work the same way for the next person because, the user requirements are different, and every model has its own features, qualities, pros and cons.
If you are looking for best rowing machine, you can refer to the above suggestible models for an idea. This article guides the users who are looking for the best machines among the available categories.