Menu
If you’re searching for the best rowing machine reviews in 2017, then you are at the right place. Our extensive analysis of the top rowing machines and buying guides can help you find the best one for your money in 2017.
Rowing machine is one of the best indoor home gym devices you can install at home. Most people who’ve worked on rowing machines (Concept2 Model D rowing machine) before whether at the gym or someone else’s equipment, have agreed that it gives you a great overall body fitness workout while taking up less space than other comparable equipment.
If you’re on the hunt for the best rowing machine in 2017 for home fitness, keep in mind that there are many different styles and features to consider before choosing.
The best part about rowing machines is that they not only help you reduce weight, but they also build strong core and enhance your musculature and give you a fit appearance. Never mind that I had lost money first, I was determined to make sure that I did not make the same mistake twice.
Here are the benefits of preferring a rowing machine over the rest:
Like I said before, the low resistance cardiovascular movements that are prevalent in rowing exercises means that it can take your aerobic state to a place not many equipment can get you.
We have established through various sources that physical activity gives us more confidence and relieves us from stress.
When it comes to losing weight, rowing machines are a champ at getting you slimmer and fitter.
The great thing about rowing machines is the fact that even though you are executing cardiovascular movements it works out your entire body and you end up with great looking and toned physique.
A rowing machine is quite unlike any other in the fact that it has several benefits that most people are not aware of. Truth be told, I only got to know about it since I was researching at depth into the advantages of rowing machines.
Previously, I thought that a rowing machine was something that was like any other piece of equipment at the gym. Meaning that, you push or pull enough times and you start to lose weight. Little did I know that it offered much greater benefits. Here are a few:
After looking through numerous models and collecting a lot of data about all kinds of rowing machine, these are the machines I believe that can give you the best bang for your buck when it comes to getting your workouts right. There are more than a few things to consider when you’re looking at making a purchase. It will also give you some insights into what metric I use to rank them all.
Rank | Product | Picture | Our Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine |  | ||
2 | Velocity Fitness CHR-2001 Programmable Magnetic Rowing Machine |  | ||
3 | Pro Rower H2o Rx-750 Home Series Rowing Machine |  | ||
4 | Stamina 1215 Orbital Rowing Machine Review |  | ||
5 | Stamina Air Rower Rowing Machine Review |  | ||
6 | Kettler Favorit Rowing Machine Review |  |
The Concept2 Model D rowing mac hine has got what it takes to give you a chiseled body if you are regular with it. Considered the top rowing machine ever built, it has all the features that you would commonly associate with equipment of its class. It is also durable and has a really good lifespan complete with great after sales support.
This is a basic overview of the features of the machine and how it can help you achieve total body fitness.
Design and features: In my opinion this is one of the best designed and featured rowing machine out there, and knocks it out of the park. Here are a few points that people should be aware of.
The Model D has a low profile with 14 seat height adjustments. It is super smooth and easy to get a proper workout done. This is also applicable for people who have injuries or are old.
Most other rowing machines I saw had this really noisy mechanism to the point that it began to intrude when I was getting a workout done. The presence of a weighted flywheel provides a lot of dampening to noise when using this machine.
The machine has dampers which channels air into the machine on every stroke, forcing you to expend more energy. There are several settings on these which you can increase or decrease as per your liking. I recommend a setting from 3 – 5 when using this as this gives you an optimal workout.
It has a detailed performance monitor unique to this model gives you exact and analogous data from which you can gain information. It has various adjustments so you can tailor it exactly to how you want it. It also has various games when you need a bit of extra motivation to complete your workout!
The Concept2 Model D is a machine that can be easily dismantled for convenient storage. It has a quick release frame lock mechanism that splits the machine into 2 parts. The front section has caster wheels which can be used for when you need the machine rolled into position.
Most machines come with a fixed number of settings which can only go up to a certain size of shoe, not the Concept2 Model D. You can fit a lot of different shoe sizes on this machine.
The handles are comfortable and made of certified materials, it is soft and yet supple enough to support you through your most intense workout. It also uses anti-microbial protection which gives you safe and trouble-free operation with it during its lifecycle.
It has a warranty period of 5 years which is literally unheard of in this category of machines.
Well, it might be a bit on the expensive side but you get the feeling that it is well put together and it won’t break anytime soon. To me though, this is definitely worth it.
Click here to read our review of the "Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine".
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Velocity Fitness CHR-2001 Programmable Magnetic rowing machine is a quality, state of the art piece of fitness equipment that incorporates a magnetic system to achieve resistance. The overall fit and finish is great and it has a large and easy to read display as well.
You can find my overview here, bear in mind that I had this only for about a day and so these are my thoughts of how it was able to perform during that period.
Design and Features: A slightly more dated model, but this nevertheless is a very reliable alternative to most other machines. Let’s take a look at some of its features.
There are different types of rowing machines that create resistance using various mediums like air and water. Interestingly, this machine is designed to work withmagnetic resistance and features upto 8 adjustable levels of resistance. Many people are put off with the machine thinking that magnetic resistances do not offer you enough of a challenge, but believe me I’ve got a good solid workout when I tried it myself! The best part is you can adjust it easily using a simple button interface.
It has fantastic build quality and it comparable to several other premium products that are available. The seats are comfortable and offer protection from bruises during strenuous exercise sessions. It also has a smooth sliding mechanism.
It haspremium adjustable footrests that are comfortable and durable. It has a wide range of sizes that it can accommodate.
It has a fitness monitor at the base of the rowing machine which displays and records all manner of data. It has 5 buttons on its face and is a multi-function type device. It can record and display time, rep count, distance, strokes and pulse. It has a large and clear LCD display with a blue backlight. It automatically calibrates itself when you start rowing.
It is pretty mobile and easy to store as well. If you are done with it for the day, all you have to do is remove a knob and it can be folded to half its size and stowed away for the next day.
The machine can take a load of about 275 pounds.
It has a great number of benefits, features and is easy to use. For the price it’s a good machine which means that it will end up being a great buy for you.
Click here to read our review of the "Velocity Fitness CHR-2001 Programmable Magnetic Machine".
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
A rowing machine is a great way to keep fit and build your core up. This rowing machine is different in that it uses water to achieve resistance. It is offered at a great price and is available all over the world.
I’ve used this extensively at my friend’s place so this will be an in-depth, long term review which I hope will answer most of your questions about it.
Using innovative water based resistance system, this still manages to deliver the goods as far as workouts are concerned. Why don’t we find out more:
When it comes to rowing machine, the type of resistance powered by the machine is everything. For getting a type of resistance as close to a boat as possible these people have incorporated ahydro drive system which uses water as base. With water’s natural adaptive resistance, you get a feeling that is close to being on a boat as possible.
By increasing/ decreasing the water in the tank you can setdifferent intensity levels that engage more of the drive and gives you a better workout.
H2O RX-750 Home Series Rowing Machine has amultifunction monitor that keeps track of every stroke, distance rowed, time taken, split time, heart rate and calories burned. All this data is presented in an easy to read format on the large LCD screen. This makes checking your statistics at the peak of your workout a trivial affair.
It is long lasting and durable, withstanding a lot of abuse which is thrown at it every day.
It can support weights of up to350 pounds
It has adjustable footrests and most feet sizes are included on the H2O RX-750 Home Series Rowing Machine.
It is a great tool for beginners and you can get a thorough workout done when you get one of these. The pro Rower H2O RX-750 Home Series Rowing Machine is an excellent piece of equipment for people of all ages.
Click here to read our review of the "Pro Rower H2o Rx-750 Home Series Rowing Machine".
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
The Stamina 1215 is an orbital style rowing machine that is an excellent choice for people who want to burn flab in a short time. There are several features which are designed keeping in mind the people most likely to use the machine. Unlike other machine, the Stamina 1215 is a compact solution and does not occupy too much space and is ideal for home use.
These are the list of features that are incorporated in the rowing machine which sets it apart from others in the same genre.
A well-built and robust piece of machinery, it offers most of the features that are offered by top rowing machines in the genre.
Everyone who owns a rowing machine at home with testify to how critical thetexture and comfort of the seat is to the machine. This seat is contoured to offer ample support to your lower back and is made of supple material.
Any hydraulic machine depends on the master cylinder for their characteristic smoothness and the Stamina 1215 is no different. It has aprecision engineered master cylinder and piston that focuses your effort on the machine rather than fighting against friction because of bad hydraulics.
Stamina 1215 orbital rowing machine offers youadjustable resistance in the rowing arms. The more resistance on you the better you burn calories and become stronger. Since it is also connected to the monitor, it gives you readouts of how much resistance is actually applied.
When you row, you tend to put a lot of strain on your feet. For this reason, this machine hasadjustable footrests which can also pivot giving you the perfect place to push your feet against.
This machine has abasic LCD fitness monitor that you can use to track information. It gives you calories burned, time duration, speed and stroke count. Even though it simple, it’s clear and easy to read which makes it pretty useful.
The Stamina 1215 rowing machine has a5 year warranty on frame and 90 days on parts. This makes it a pretty attractive package for beginners and experienced people alike.
This is built sturdy and definitely a value for money addition to your home gym. While assembly might take some time, you can easily fold it away for the next day.
Click here to read our review of the "Stamina 1215 Orbital Rowing Machine Review".
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Another hit from Stamina, the Air Rower rowing machine is touted to be one of the better rowing machines on the market. It has several unique safety features and controls that make it worth buying. Like its namesake, it helps build your endurance and lose weight while strengthening your core. Using this for about an hour everyday can give you the chiseled look.
While it uses the same technology as a few other machines, it has a lot of things that are different. Let’s go through them one after another.
Another machine that goes up against companies twice its size and products that are more expensive.
The Stamina Air Rower Rowing Machine has an advanced fitness display that updates data in real-time and it easily readable as well. It gives you a measure of usage time,total calories burned, speed and distance.
You can get very efficient resistance when you use this machine. Most machines that use air are sometimes very loud but this machine is very effective at masking the sound. This makes sure that you are not disturbed while you get your full-body workout going.
The manufacturers have taken extra care to make sure that the smooth rowing arms are not hindered by jerks or pauses when you operate them. So you can get maximum benefit from them during your rowing session.
The great sliding mechanism of the seat has been tweaked for extra smooth feel and durability. It uses ball bearing rollers to achieve this and the seat is molded to better support your pelvic region and lower body during extended workout sessions.
Supporting your feet is very important when you are rowing. This means that you should opt for a machine that gives you a comfortable fit. Stamina Air Rower Rowing Machine has extendable, adjustable foot plates that are suitable for almost all foot sizes. Additionally, there are nylon straps that secure your feet and cushion them.
This machine isn’t very complicated and so you can fold it away and store it easily. It only takes half as much space as equivalent machine from other manufacturers.
Since the machines are simple and easy to service, it’s pretty durable and is built to last. If you give it proper maintenance, it can serve you for a really long time. Also, since it just uses air for resistance, it has minimal wear and tear so it really can go on and on.
Stamina makes good rowing machines and this is one of their better ones. They are durable and offer an easy way to get your full-body workout done every morning. It gives you a chiseled body and a strong core with just an hour’s work every day.
Click here to read our review of the "Stamina Air Rower Rowing Machine Review".
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
Weight loss is a process with which a lot of us struggle in our daily lives. But with machines like Kettler Favorit Rowing Machine you’ll be able to work harder and lose that flab quickly and safely. It is built simple and to take a lot of everyday abuse, so you don’t have to give it any special care, just regular maintenance will do.
I have detailed a review below where I highlight all the good things and flaws with the machine. Hopefully it can help you guys out.
It is a pretty advanced bit of kit that uses state of the art pistons to achieve resistance through the rowers. A lot of people I know opt for this machine for the key reasons that it’s simple and it gives you good results. It is also touted to be more advanced than the rest of the machines in its genre.
Here’s where I give you a rundown about what this machine is actually capable of and how effective it was for me while using it.
I will run you through the different features of this advanced machine here.
Considered an advanced option, a lot of people prefer this for the amount of information that is available as feedback from the machine for the user.
When you are talking about advanced features, Kettler Favorit Rowing Machine haspre-programmed exercise routines which give you the ability to control speed and distance of your rowing. With this, you can maintain a constant speed according to what you are comfortable with.
Since it has 2 individual hydraulic cylinders as opposed to just one on most machines, you will find that the resistance is more easily distributed and it will give you a better workout compared to the rest. Since the pistons are built to high specs, resistance is smooth and this gives you a better workout.
Kettler Favorit Rowing Machine has a pretty large LCD screen that can give you readouts of almost every attribute of your rowing workout. This means calories burnt, time spent, speed, distance and number of strokes. A glance at the info screen gives you progress tracking over the last few days. This can be useful for analyzing how effectively you’ve been burning calories in the last few days.
Most machines in this price range do not have strong frames that as well built as this. Plus only a good frame like on this one can give you the feeling of sliding easily on the machine. Since it also has a comfortable seat with ball-bearing rollers, it doesn’t matter how long you are at this machine, you won’t feel bruised.
Kettler Favorit Rowing Machine’s unique selling point is the fact that it has anearlobe heart rate monitor that gives you accurate readings of your pulse and heartbeat during strenuous exercise. It helps you attain optimal heart rate so you can regulate your exercises accordingly.
It has adjustable foot plates that also pivot to give you the exact resting position for a comfortable workout. It comes with durable nylon straps to secure your feet to the footrest.
Kettler Favorit rowing machine has floor protectors that help keep your floor free from marks and scratches during extended workout sessions or moving the machine.
It’s easy to assemble and you can do it yourself without calling for help. The manual is extremely detailed and comprehensive.
Kettler Favorit rowing machines are one of the best and simple machines that I’ve used that has given me results. Like I said before, a lot of my friends use it and have seen great results with it. If you are looking for one of the fastest ways to lose weight, you’ll be hard pressed to find something better than this machine.
Click here to read our review of the "Kettler Favorit Rowing Machine Review".
The quandary everyone faces when reading reviews off the internet is the fact that none of us are the same and so what works well for me might be a total waste of time for you. It’s easy to blame the person doling out advice in spite of him toning up his body with the same machine they recommended. What you actually need is a method by which you can choose the best machine for yourself.
This is what I follow when I wanted to get a rowing machine for my personal use. Hopefully, you can use it to shortlist what you want as well.
One of the most important aspects for me is the resistance any given machine offers. The type of resistance usually determines how effective your workouts are. The level of resistance will ensure that you put in maximum effort. I would prefer a rowing machine with a high level of resistance. Not too high that would give me sores every time I spend a session on it.
You are paying good money for a rowing machine; you might as well get the maximum features you possibly can. Take care to separate the useful features from the ones that hardly give you any benefit. Out of all these rowing machines, there were a few of them that had a lot more features than the rest. The key is to choose the one that suits you best.
A lot of people totally neglect this because of the glitz and glamor of some of the rowing machines. Be wary about this and always prefer a durable machine with slightly less features than something which is shiny and ends up breaking the minute you put some work on it. Be on the lookout for machines with a 5 year warranty period.
I listen to music when I work out so I actually don’t have a problem with a good bit of noise. If you have problems with noise where you work out, then this should definitely become a priority. Some rowing machines that use air resistance especially are prone to produce a lot of noise. So be wary and test it on the shop floor before you buy it.
It is important to be comfortable to get any meaningful workout done. Exercises on a machine which doesn’t provide adequate comfort can mean that you tire of it and eventually falls into disuse. All of the rowing machines’ seats mentioned here were comfortable and I think they might be for you as well.
This is something that varies from person to person. I would advise you to especially check the amount of weight a machine can take so you can be comfortable knowing that it won’t break down easily. If it does not have weight on the documentation, then as the guys at the store and they should be able to help you with it.
For people with smaller rooms and houses, this is an important thing to watch out for. The amount of space used by you to work out on it comfortably and the machine itself should be taken into account before arriving at the total. Too many people have just taken the machine’s footprint into account with disastrous results.
Most machines have simple assembly procedures that you can be done with in a jiffy using some tools that come with the machine and some elbow grease. There are machines that are incredibly complex also and require trained professionals to assemble it for you. take your pick with whatever you are comfortable with.
The price point for different equipment also varies from person to person. When I was doing my research I found that they were selling rowing machines for a huge amount of money! Personally, I don’t think I would invest in such an expensive proposition. But there might be people who do, so this attribute is strictly on a “what you are comfortable with” basis.
When it comes to clothes and other trivial stuff, I’m comfortable with whatever’s lying around in my wardrobe. But I would be lying if I said brands don’t matter when it comes to fitness equipment. Why I say this is because the bigger brands 90% of the time offer great quality as well. This means that paying a bit extra for something that is genuinely better is something I would do.
While a rowing machine can be mastered in a matter of days but there are certain exercises that you need to understand which will help you get the most out of your workouts with the rowing machine. There are several levels that you will find give you the best benefits regardless of your current physical ability. As you get better at it, you can advance to more complex or harder workouts.
You need to understand how to accomplish this basic motion to move ahead with the rest of it. Even though it looks fairly simple, most of them get it wrong at the outset. This is nothing to be ashamed of, rather you need to need to learn how to do this effectively. What you need to note is that when you finish you need to do so just under your pec, after a good long stroke. Many people choose to go a lot higher, but this is just bad technique according to rowing professionals. Remember to keep your rowing strokes smooth and not to snatch at it when you’re rowing.
Most experts say that rather than focusing on short strokes that are brisk and end quickly, you get more output with longer strokes that are a lot smoother. This makes your muscles work harder than usual and gives you the better workout. Taking longer strokes also lets people extend their muscles and becomes a lot stronger than just letting momentum taking you through the exercise.
Since rowing is a whole body exercise, to find the optimum rhythm and technique you have to make sure that your legs are involved as well. Most people who work out with rowing machines agree to the fact that the last stage of perfecting the rowing machine motion is to get into the rhythm with your legs as well. They liken it to a squat, where you have to push off with some power. This enables all the rowing motion to fall into place.
I’ve rated these rowing machines on a scale of 10 as is usual. Please remember, these are just suggestions and how I see them, you might rate them differently. The best way to find out what is apt for you would be to visit their store and check them out yourself.
This scored top marks on my list just for the sheer quality of the machine. It scored well in almost everything except price. Personally, I don’t mind high price if it’s built well and this piece of equipment is built to exacting standards.
Coming in a close second, I scored this 4 out of 5. Overall, it’s a good piece of equipment marred only by the fact that assembly is not as straightforward as I would’ve liked or expected. Of course, people might think differently about this issue.
This is an average rowing machine and did not have the expected build quality of a top class machine. I scored it 3.5 out of 5.
A very limited feature set coupled with suspect build quality ended up me giving this only 3/5. Out of the things that it has got going for it, it’s cheap and good for basic use. If you want something with additional features, you need to look elsewhere.
A pretty good piece of equipment, and performed pretty well. Build quality was the highlight on this machine and it feels like it could last an eternity.
The only thing that kept me from rating this any higher is the feeling that it was not built so well and has fewer features than the rest of the machines. But it’s a great machine for its price.
If you just want to burn a few calories while working out at your home garage gym then you need to get a rowing machine that can grow a bit with you. For this purpose, getting the top of the line machine might not be suitable for you and it might be a needless expense. The best thing to do would be to get a model that has most of the features that you can find on the higher end models but while remaining a bit more easily accessible.
This is where Stamina Air Rower Rowing Machine comes in. It is a pretty value for money proposition and you get a whole lot of equipment for that money. I need to admit that I was surprised that I was able to get so many features at this cost. Assembly is pretty easy straight from the box and you’ll find that all the nuts, bolts and brackets are all available perfectly sealed in the box. After you’re done with your session, you can put it away quite easily and it will hardly take any space. Also I like its sleek design and it won’t look out of place among my other equipment from Precor and Rogue.
Well, this has been a pretty much comprehensive look at one of the staples of a lot of gyms. The reason why a lot of people prefer this is that it offers considerable benefits for both toning your body as well as reducing fat.
You will find that young and old, professional and beginner alike take an instant liking to a rowing machine. This really is a machine that gives you a total body workout experience bar none.
While these are some of the brands that are the most common ones out there, just remember that this is not a popularity contest. Just do your research and find out what best works for you and get cracking with it. As long as you remember the important things, you should end up with a rowing machine that works hard on your body to give you a great looking physique.