Rowing looks harder then anything else for some reason. And yet, it’s one of the only moves in gym that does. As you move your body forward, pulling yourself against a magnetic field, air, or water, you’re burning calories rapidly.
At the same time, you’re building your arms, back, and legs, while protecting your joint. No wonder the rower is so popular among home gyms. But this isn’t a purchase you usually make without a lot of thought.
There are a lot of machine out there that look identical, but don’t feel anything alike. You can spend your weekend on research, but end up with a rower collecting dust because something about movement just didn’t feel right. This is all about cutting through marketing noise: You want a machine that works with how you move, matches your budget and matches your space.
Not all rowers is created equal, some are designed for hardcore interval training; others, for quiet, steady cardio. Match it right, and you’ll actualy use the thing. Match it right, and you avoid buyer’s remorse from an expensive model that doesn’t fit in your living room or a cheap one that breaks after only a few week.
Here’s what matters once you step onto footplates. Each stroke feel different depending on resistance type. This is the primary consideration.
Key Features To Consider Before Buying
Types of Rowing Machine Resistance
With air rowers (such as the Concept2 Model D), there is a fan wheel that generates drag proportionate to how fast you go. So basically: the harder you pull, the harder the resistance are. This comes closest to real-world rowing on water.
With magnetic rowers (like many NordicTrack models and the WaterRower’s magnetic versions) you get consistent, quiet, smooth tension. The resistance isn’t dependent on your effort level; it depends on what setting you turn the dial to. Depending on where you live (i.e., if you live in an apartment with thin walls), magnetic or water resistance may be all you can work with.
The air resistance sounds like a wind tunnel. That’s because it is, but again, that’s why it exists. It is not for everybody.
A rower’s aesthetics can be trumped by two real-world concerns: footprint and storage. Most rowers folds up, but not all fold equally well. The Concept2 folds down into a relatively small footprint.
Storage and Footprint Considerations
It allow for easy vertical storage and preserves valuable floor space. The WaterRower Natural and other large water rowers makes beautiful, furnitures-like pieces that deserve a spot front-and-center in your living room. Though they’re rarely able to fold flat, they require their own corner.
Before measuring your ego, measure your space. If half your room is taken up by a machine, sooner or later, you’ll put it out of sight in the garage. And that kind of goes against the point of owning one at home.
Finally, can you get through a twenty minute session sitting on this thing? Seat comfort is key to any machine. Most have a narrow, hard seat that rolls under you.
Seat Comfort and Stability
This keeps your legs locked in place when you are pushing hard. Other brands uses more cushy, wide seats to make them more comfortable. However, if you pull hard you might lose some stability too.
If possible, test the seat out. Get on there and swing your legs around. If it feels like you’re balanced on a railroad tie, maybe try a different model or at least a mat.
Trust me, your glutes will thank you later. How important is flywheel weight? More than you might imagine.
Flywheel Weight and Momentum
On the backside of your stroke (the recovery), a heavier flywheel keep moving momentum into your next stroke. So there’s no jerkiness. It feels smooth and naturaly.
That’s what makes the Concept2 feel solid, they use a 9 pound flywheel. If the flywheel is too light for heavier users or people who pull hard, it can feel jarring, like something’s not quite right. Inertia helps you; don’t make it fight you.
The flywheel should fit your rowing style and your strength level. Monitor quality vary wildly across different price points. A large touchscreen is nice but not necessary.
Monitor Features and Build Quality
Pace, distance, and stroke count really are all that’s needed. Video classes and heart rate monitoring are fun additions that come with a higher price tag (and more possible things to go wrong). If you plan on syncing your device to an app such as Zwift or Kinomap, Bluetooth capability is handy.
But sometimes a straightforward monitor that can take a beating by water, dust, and sweat is preferable over one that’s pretty but fussy. Simple wins. The last filter is build quality.
Does the frame wobble? Will it shift when you pull on the handle? Cheap flimsy rails and a cheap plastic track won’t stand the test of time.
Aluminum and steel frames tends to hold up longer with years of use. And look for warranties where both resistance mechanism and frame are covered. You want a brand that stands behind its own hardware.
You should of, too. Choose a rower based off who you are and what you do rather than what you might become. Good enough will trump perfect if good enough means something gets used regularly.
Practical will trump performance if practical means something actually makes it into your routine. Pull on it.
