Anyone who has spent any length of time using a rowing machine will tell you a workout with one of these is not an easy ride. Whenever we’ve been a sweaty mess recovering on a gym floor, we’re usually lying prone right next to the rowing machine (or ergo). The low-impact exercise makes use of 86 per cent of the muscles in your body, and incinerates calories.
The smart fitness boom has made waves when it comes to indoor rowing, and there are now many connected rowers on the market, offering more than just a monitor’s worth of feedback stats. Designed to take your time on the digital water to the next level, these machines provide immersive content and live or online classes to help you smash your fitness goals.
Whether you’re looking to make your first foray into indoor rowing or you’re a well-versed veteran, you’ll want a machine that can keep resistance as uniform as possible throughout the stroke, to recreate the river-rowing experience – even if you’re just sitting on a machine in your living room watching EastEnders.
In rowing, technique is everything. So, all the component parts of the machine – from the sliding action of the seat on the rail to the resistance mechanism – need to be smooth, fluid and stutter-free. Then there’s the build quality to consider, which is also key. It needs to be designed to stay anchored, even when you’re at maximum output – after all, you don’t want to start your rowing session in the living room and end up in the kitchen.
Of all the moving parts on a rower, the seat and rail are crucial. It needs a comfortable perch that slides smoothly through the catch and release phases of every stroke, so there’s no undue pressure put on leg muscles, particularly your hamstrings. To back this up, solid foot plates that are easily adjustable are essential, powering you through your time on the machine.
How we tested the best rowing machines
All our rowers were put to the test by an amateur club rower who competes in national tournaments and is used to the experience of actually rowing on water, so we could get good insights into how well each machine recreates the river experience. Ultimately, we needed to know whether a machine would keep us coming back, rather than it just gathering dust after a few weeks.
We tried a range of different models that relied on magnets, air and water to mirror the resistance of pulling your blades through the wet stuff. When we weren’t being shouted at by an online coach, we were looking for comprehensive data from a monitor that was easy to read – even when going all out to maintain an impressive split time. These are the best rowing machines that really float our boat...
The best rowing machines for 2024 are:
Hydrow wave rower
Xterra ERG600W
JTX freedom air rowing machine
NordicTrack RW900
Echelon row
TechnoGym skillrow
Concept 2 RowErg
Water Rower original series S4
Why you can trust us
Rowing machine FAQs
Is it safe to row every day?
What muscles does a rowing machine work?
What is the difference between a magnetic, air and water-powered rowing machine?
- Air – These devices provide resistance by blowing air through a flywheel, meaning the harder you pull, the faster the fans spin and the more resistance you get. Fan-based rowing machines are typically the best value, which is why they are the go-to choice for most commercial gyms. However, they can be noisy.
- Magnetic – As the name suggests, these rowers use two strong magnets that move past one another to create resistance. Because there’s no friction, magnetic machines are fairly quiet and are generally more compact.
- Water – What separates these machines from the others is that they work by using a transparent drum that’s full of water. Resistance is created by paddles that turn as you row and many claim the action more closely replicates the feel of rowing on water. However, these machines tend to be the most expensive.
How much do you need to spend?
Do I need a rowing machine mat?
Does the level of resistance on a rowing machine matter?
The verdict: Rowing machines
Local News
