Using a rowing machine gives you a fantastic full-body workout as it works all of your main muscle groups simultaneously. It’s an ideal low impact exercise for people of all capabilities, and it's a great way of improving your cardiovascular health and overall fitness too. It's no wonder rowing machines for home use are so popular, but which one is right for you?
If you’re in the market for the best rowing machine to buy online then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve searched high and low to bring you everything from the best rowing machines for under £500 from Amazon and Argos and the best rowing machines for beginners. So don't swim against the tide, stick around to find your perfect match!
Quick List - Top Rowing Machines
WaterRower
Track Your Fitness to a Tee on This Hand Crafted Rowing Machine
TOPIOM
A High Quality Finish to Fit in With Your Home Decor
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There are quite a few different areas that you need to consider when choosing any piece of fitness equipment, but even more so when it's a large, complex machine. So don’t miss the boat and read on to find out about these elements to make buying your rowing machine plain sailing.
There are four main types of rowing machine, so first on the agenda, we'll take a look at the pros and cons of each to help you decide which one will work best for you.
Air rowers use your rowing motion to turn a large fan or flywheel, and as the fan turns it moves the air around it which then creates resistance.
Their biggest draw is the fact that the resistance always matches your abilities. The faster you row the more air is displaced, so the resistance will always be suitable for the speed that you’re rowing at. They have a really natural feel and smooth motion too, and they’re fairly low maintenance.
This also means that you’re not able to adjust the resistance, as it is derived purely from the air being displaced by the fan. So, if you want a rowing machine with more resistance control this may not suit you very well. They can also be noisy and can take up more room than other options available.
Water rowers convert your rowing action to turn fan blades in an attached water reservoir to create resistance, which can then be adjusted by adding or removing water.
Water rowers give you much more control over the resistance than air rowers, so you can easily tailor your workouts to your needs. They’re also much quieter than air rowers, and the water in the reservoir mimics rowing in water for the full true-to-reality experience.
Water rowers tend to be the most expensive type, however, and there is more maintenance needed as well as the risk of the water reservoir leaking (although this is not very common). They take up a lot of space, and due to their design, they can't be folded up to help with storage.
Hydraulic rowers work by the rowing action moving a piston through a hydraulic fluid filled cylinder, which then works like a shock absorber and creates the resistance needed for your workout.
Hydraulic rowers are smaller in their design and are therefore great for if you’re short on space. They also tend to be less expensive to buy than other rowers, and they're very quiet.
Hydraulic rowers use more of a sculling action than a rowing action, so they only really work your upper body. If you’re looking for a machine with a true full-body rowing action, then these rowers won’t work very well for you.
Magnetic rowers let you adjust the resistance by means of a magnetic brake that you can adjust to suit your needs.
They’re a great option if you’re trying to keep costs down as they tend to be less expensive, and they’re really quiet when in use. Most models will fold for storage and they’re very low maintenance.
Magnetic rowers don't feel very realistic, but they can be great for beginners or anyone just looking for a good workout that doesn't need to simulate being on the water. In addition, the action isn't as smooth as air or water rowers, which should be taken into account if this is important to you.
There’s no escaping the fact that rowing machines are bulky pieces of equipment that can take up a lot of space in your home.
If you don't necessarily have a huge room or garage to dedicate to your new piece of kit, then you need to pay particular attention to the size of the machine when fully assembled. This way, you won't unwittingly buy one that’s too big for your space.
A lot of rowing machines can be collapsed when not in use for easier storage, so you should also take note of the folded dimensions in order to pick the best spot to store it.
The amount of resistance a rowing machine provides can determine how hard your workout will be. As discussed in the section above, not all rower types have this adjustability, so having this feature will depend on which style you choose.
If you want to have more control over the resistance as you row, then you should pick a rower with adjustable resistance so that you can completely tailor your workout to your abilities, as well as when you progress or when your needs change. This is also a good inclusion to look for if more than one person will be using the machine.
Most rowing machines have a display of some sort to show key statistics and figures relating to your workout. This can be particularly useful if you don’t use a personal fitness tracker, as this will be able to tell you information like how far you rowed, your average speed, and how many calories you burned.
The vast majority of rowing machines have a basic LCD display showing you the main stats, but some will connect to your phone or laptop for enhanced functionality. If this is something that’s important in your decision making, look for a way of connecting to another device to better track your progress.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | WaterRower Rowing Machine with S4 Performance Monitor Oak | ![]() | Track Your Fitness to a Tee on This Hand Crafted Rowing Machine | |
2 | Pro Fitness Air and Magnetic Rowing Machine | ![]() | A Machine With the Best of Two Worlds | |
3 | TOPIOM Wooden Rowing Machine With Water Resistance | ![]() | A High Quality Finish to Fit in With Your Home Decor | |
4 | Opti Magnetic Rowing Machine | ![]() | Perfect for Apartments and Small Spaces | |
5 | Body Fit Hydraulic Rowing Machine | ![]() | Feel the Burn With Adjustable Resistance and Incline | |
6 | Dripex Magnetic Rowing Machine | ![]() | Heavy Duty With a Shock Absorber for a Smoother Row | |
7 | V-fit Tornado Air Rower | ![]() | Air Resistance Makes for More Effective Workouts | |
8 | Body Sculpture Compact Hydraulic Rower|BR1000 | ![]() | Great Adjustable Resistance and Incline Features for a Cheap Price | |
9 | Circuit Fitness Folding Magnetic Rowing Machine | ![]() | Handy Device Holder Allows You to Netflix and Row |
The first thing you'll notice is this rower's looks – it's handcrafted from American oak and uses a patented self-adjusting flywheel to create tailored resistance and an amazing simulation of rowing on water. It can be stored vertically when not in use, and the built-in wheels to allow you to easily move it around your home.
This machine is compatible with WaterRower's We-Row app where you can store training data, race online against others, or try to beat your personal best. While it is pricey, we love this machine and its app functionality which is sure to keep your fitness journey heading in the right direction. It's a no brainer for our top spot!
If you're looking for the best of both worlds, this machine has you covered – as well as the resistance from the fan, it also has adjustable magnetic resistance. This magnetic resistance system is friction-free for smooth, quiet function and the oversized padded seat keeps you comfortable as you row.
It's a good option for those who don't have as much space too, as it folds up for storage and has wheels for easy transportation. This is a great machine offering fantastic functionality at a very reasonable price, so we give it a big thumbs up as our silver-medal buy.
Handmade with a natural wood finish and of very high quality, the makers of this machine have designed it to effortlessly blend in with your home furnishings. The water tank has been crafted to the highest standards, and the LCD screen has Bluetooth connectivity meaning that it can sync with your phone or fitness tracker.
It is suitable for people up to 2 metres tall so will work for most heights, and the footrests have long straps to accommodate most sizes of feet. The only reason we've marked this down is that the LCD monitor could be better quality, but otherwise this is a fantastic machine.
Short on space? This rower can be stored vertically on end, so it would be great for small homes or apartments. It has fully adjustable pivoting foot plates with Velcro straps to keep you secured as you row, and the LCD console gives you plenty of information including your stride, time, distance, and calories burned to help you track your progress.
Where this rower could be improved is that, once again, the resistance isn't as strong as some users would prefer it, and also that the LCD screen isn't backlit which can make it hard to read. Generally speaking, though, this is another well-priced option for rowing newbies.
In addition to the resistance settings, this rower has an adjustable incline to get you really feeling the burn! The seat has a six-wheel roller underneath too so that you can be sure to have a really smooth rowing action, and the adjustable footplates provide greater ankle support as you exercise.
Some users found that even with the different settings, this rower didn't offer the amount of resistance that they desired, so it may be better for beginners who need to build up their fitness. In that case, this would be a really affordable option for those just starting out.
As well as a triangular stabiliser at the rear to keep the machine from moving about as you row, this model also features a shock absorber underneath the seat runner to give you a smoother and more comfortable rowing action. Another plus is that it can be stored upright to save space.
Given the higher price point of this rowing machine, the screen is lacking in functionality and clarity so you may find this is a bit of a let down. Some also found that the foot rests are better suited to smaller feet, and don't have the full range of adjustability that will accommodate a larger range of different foot sizes.
This folding rowing machine from V-fit has a 6-function LCD screen for keeping track of your workout, and whilst there are no resistance settings, the faster you turn the fan the more resistance is created. It also has oversized footrests with deep heel cups that are sure to keep your feet firmly in place as you row.
One of the main issues with this rowing machine is that the distance measurements are calculated based on seat movement and not on your rowing action, so the distance figures could be quite inaccurate. Taller users may also find that the seat track is too short to get to full leg extension.
Despite the low price, this rower has an impressive 12 adjustable resistance settings which gives you a great range to work with, plus it also has an adjustable incline to add that extra calorie-burning power! It has a very smooth action, and it comes with a 12-month warranty for extra reassurance.
The tracker on this rowing machine can be quite unreliable owing to how sensitive it is, so for the best accuracy you may need to use a fitness tracker. People who are taller may not find this rower suitable, as its design means that they may not be able to get to full extension in their stroke.
This folding rowing machine from Circuit Fitness offers a good range of resistance settings to match your abilities, and the LCD screen features a handy device holder so you can watch TV as you work out! It has wheels to make it easier to move around too, and the moulded seat helps you be more comfortable as you row.
There is some assembly required with this one, and some found that this was trickier than they expected. The other downside is that the size and weight of the rowing machine makes it difficult to move around your house, even with the added assistance of the wheels.
Buying home fitness equipment can be a real investment of not only your money, but also your time and the space in your home, so getting equipment that works well is really important.
But we're always here to help, and we have a whole host of recommended products to get you on your way. Have a look at these product recommendations, and make sure you check out the Sports and Fitness section of our website!
That concludes our look into the world of rowing machines. We hope that you found the information useful and that you found the perfect one for you in our listing, so that you can get your oar into your home fitness journey – hopefully, from here on out it'll be smooth sailing!
Author: Catherine Torrance
No. 1: WaterRower|Rowing Machine with S4 Performance Monitor Oak
No. 2: Pro Fitness |Air and Magnetic Rowing Machine
No. 3: TOPIOM|Wooden Rowing Machine With Water Resistance
No. 4: Opti|Magnetic Rowing Machine
No. 5: Body Fit|Hydraulic Rowing Machine
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