Like most people who work out five to seven times a week at the gym, we’ve experienced our share of fitness-related issues. Injured, for one. Inappropriate and ineffective form, another. And when no training pays off, we start to look inside—am I… built differently? No, we are not that special. We just need to befriend a more infallible and foolproof piece of equipment i.e. a rower.
You’ve certainly seen one in your gym. Perhaps you’ve watched users agape as they move back and forth with a full motion resembling a summer Olympian rowing on water. They’re actually in the middle of a full body workout that combines cardio and weight training, burning calories while building muscles by stroking them. The power of each pull tones all arms and lats, engages the core, and pierces all legs hard. That is, a good rowing session will stimulate almost any muscle.
Best of all, a rowing machine workout is low impact – gentle on your joints but high intensity – a formula that spells out results. Same same better, these results are readily available to get to the house. So, we’ve rounded up 9 of the best rowers for upping your endorphin levels and getting you in shape at home.
Before you inevitably get hooked, we want to inform you about the types of resistance mechanisms of rowers: water, air, magnetic and hydraulic. You will get similar results across the board, but experiences vary. Water and air resistance results in a smoother rowing (water being the most realistic), while magnetic and hydraulic resistance are often the most adjustable. (Magnetic rowers are also the quietest option, and hydraulic rowers actually mimic the circular motion of rowing on a boat.) Either way, take your pick and rowing good.
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Best advanced rower
Hydrow rowing machine
The bright spot of this smart rower lies in its experience of immersive content beyond live and on-demand lessons. Thanks to its touch screen, you will take part in guided trips around the world. Just watch out for cars, cheetahs, and cuttlefish you might drift into. You can’t get better than Hydrow if you’re looking for a top of the line canoe for the home waterways.
Best water resistant rower
The rower Ergatta
The Ergatta Rower leads an interactive video game-inspired challenge where you have to row race-style obstacles or, if you want, compete against other Ergatta owners. By appealing to your competitive spirit, you’ll look forward to making the rankings after completing a full body workout calibrated to your fitness profile. On top of that, it looks sleek made of cherry wood and is equipped with silent water resistance technology.
Best Muscle Building Rower
Power10 rowing machine
Ready for a challenge? Try to row while pumping more muscles in your upper and lower body, combining both cardio training and strength training. The. The Power10 Rower lets you swap mid-push-to-pull movements to drill designated muscle groups while allowing others to recover, sculpting your chest, back, legs, arms and abs in one only training.
Best digital resistance rower
RW900 Rower
How can home training equipment be versatile? A rower with 26 resistance levels, performance trackers, live and on-demand workouts, that’s how. With the RW900, your magnetic resistance level will be programmed based on your workout by a coach, so you won’t have to worry on the screen. (On the other hand, you can always manually adjust the air resistance to keep you up to speed.)
Best low budget rower
Magnetic rowing machine
Let’s say you live on a budget, in an apartment that is not too spacious but has just enough room for a rower. Checked the boxes? Then this foldable model is sized for your apartment. It’s downright inaccurate, and has all the ABCs to get a hot workout: magnetic tension, varying levels of resistance, a monitor for tracking measurements, and an almost silent rowing experience.
Best air resistance rower
Indoor rower model D
I haven’t seen it for a long time, old friend. You have certainly spotted, and probably even tried, one of these before. Fitness centers love it for its regular runs, quiet flywheel, and durability. You’ll love it for its performance monitor that breaks down rowing movements, and its air resistance system that gives you the best sailing sensations: the faster and harder you drag, the more strength you’ll feel for you. push further.
Best hydraulic resistance rower
BodyTrac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine
If you’ve ever been hit by a dishonest pulley, an affordable hydraulic rower is a safer alternative. Grab the arms and your circular motions will take off naturally, pushing and pulling against resistance, mimicking the fluid motion of continuous strokes on the water, meaning you can actually practice at home to row a group row on a seashell on a river with this machine.
Best Intermediate Rower
750R Smart Rower
ProForm’s 750R only lacks a bigger screen and built-in streaming capability – okay, and perhaps a sleeker appearance – to take its price up to four digits. But it retains the necessities of most high-end rowers, such as 24 resistance levels, a virtually silent flywheel, and a display that shows all the stats you need. Plus, its ergonomic, padded seat delivers a comfortable riff that outperforms many of its competition.
Magnetic rower with bluetooth
The Fitness Reality 1000 Plus polishes the details of a standard magnetic rower – 14 resistance levels, access to on-demand classes, real-time analytics, and more. approach to rowing at home.
Maverick li
Maverick Li is associate editor of ecommerce at Esquire, where he covers tech, home, and all things lifestyle.
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