The expert coaches at Training Think Tank—a monthly training program designed to improve your competitive skills in CrossFit—work with some of the world’s best CrossFit athletes. People like Alexis Raptis, Noah Ohlsen and Travis Mayer, to name a few. 

While I’m not an elite athlete I have been using the online training platform for the last couple of months.

I’ve made good progress in a short space of time, particularly on gymnastic skills like muscle-ups and handstand walking, but my favorite Training Think Tank workout is one of the most straightforward: a two-move CrossFit workout that alternates between the rowing machine and burpees.

That makes it accessible to anyone with a gym membership (or a rowing machine at home). The ideal rower is a Concept2 RowErg (Coach’s pick of the best rowing machine), which is often found in commercial gyms and is almost always used in CrossFit boxes, but any rower will do. Just brush up on good rowing form before strapping in. 

Being a generous sort of person, I decided to share it with Coach readers (with the coaches’ blessing, of course). Read on to find out the finer details, what represents a good time, and the lessons I learned while tackling it. 

How To Do Training Think Tank’s Rowing And Burpee Workout

10 rounds for time (time cap 33min):

1. Row x 500m
2. Burpees x 15

Rounds for time is a common workout format in CrossFit. It just means completing the workout as quickly as possible, but with a total of 5km of rowing and 150 burpees to complete in under 33 minutes, you have to pace the workout smartly.

The Training Think Tank team advises that you find a pace you can sustain comfortably and stick with it, leaving a little bit left in the tank for a “big kick at the end. Do not go at a max effort then blow up early.” 

The coaches say an elite score would be to finish the workout in less than 27 minutes. RX athletes (people who can tackle competitive CrossFit workouts without modifications) will be able to finish in under 30 minutes, while others should aim to finish within the time cap.

What I Learned Trying This Workout

My relatively long limbs are an advantage when rowing and I found I was initially able to hit my target pace of 2min/500m without too much difficulty.

Buoyed by this strong start, I added more power to my stroke and my pace quickened. My 500m splits fell to 1min 50sec, and the burpees didn’t seem too draining either. I was finishing each of the first few rounds in under three minutes, putting me on track for an RX time.

However, before long I was breathing hard and running out of steam. With a significant chunk of the workout still to go, I eased off and returned to my target pace, which I clung to for the last few rounds until the end. 

With one final push in the last interval, I finished the workout in 31min 44sec. I was happy with that time, but a steadier approach with more consistent pacing would have been more effective. The coaches were right. Stick with a sustainable pace—even if it feels easy in the early stages—until the final sprint.

Hugh Jackman returning to the role of Wolverine in the forthcoming Deadpool 3 film, which can mean only one thing—he’s hitting the gym very, very hard.

As he prepares to play the clawed crusader, the Aussie actor has been sharing workout clips with his modest 31.5 million followers on Instagram.

These include touch-and-go reps of trap bar deadlifts (at somewhere between 285lb and 330lb by my estimation) and a bit of bench press accompanied by the caption: “Hurts so good.” Because not even Wolverine is above a bro sesh.

And while Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine workouts will always involve heavy lifting, that’s not all he does. Jackman’s latest post shows him in the gym hitting what looks to be a short, max-effort interval on a Concept2 RowErg. 

He paired the post with the description: “Literally a millisecond more! #throwbackthursday #becomingwolverineagain.”

But what on earth was he trying to do?

When the camera pans round to the monitor it shows that Jackman was on the fourth interval of his rowing session, covering 126 meters in about 20 seconds at 40 strokes/minute. The screen also reveals the rest time he has remaining (a little over one minute) and his total rowing distance of 614 meters—suggesting short, sharp and fast efforts.

Jackman tags trainer Beth Lewis in the Instagram post, who recently shared a video on the social media site about 100m repeats.

She describes them as max-effort intervals. For her session, she did six intervals in total, each taking about 20 seconds. Her total workout time was just over 11 minutes, suggesting rests of about 90 seconds.

Lewis writes that intense training protocols like this can be “invigorating, give us a rush of adrenaline, train much needed power production, take less time, and they aren’t boring”. But she warns against exercising like this every day.

“If you are always ‘maxing out’ or even moving like you’re maxing out, something is eventually going to break.” That’s where working with a coach such as Lewis pays dividends—they have the experience to know when to add max-efforts into a training plan.

Find out why the Concept2 tops our list of the best rowing machines.

I’ve tested almost every rower you’ll find in a list of the best rowing machines (albeit before I began writing for Coach). Eight brands in total including the original Hydrow, Hydrow Row, Ergatta, WaterRower and Echelon Row. But in spite of the spate of Black Friday rowing machine deals on the usual suspects (Hydrow, Ergatta, Echelon, NordicTrack), I would still point most people in a different direction: the Concept2 RowErg.

The Concept2 RowErg is almost never discounted so if you’re shopping for a rowing machine during the Cyber Monday sales you’re unlikely to have it suggested to you. 

You may well have come across it in real life, though. Have you ever used a rowing machine in a gym? Chances are it was a Concept2. I have friends who row competitively and what do they train on? The Concept2. As a CrossFitter, every box I’ve ever trained in has a bunch of rowers lining one wall. Their maker? You guessed it: Concept2.

It’s the industry gold standard, which is why, despite my experience with most machines on the market, I only had eyes for one rower when I set out to buy one a few years ago.

Why Should You Buy A Concept2 RowErg?

I’ve owned a Concept2 RowErg for two years and use it at least once a week. In all that time I’ve never once regretted my purchase. 

The machine is robust and reliable, and it’s long enough to comfortably accommodate lanky users (I’m 6ft 2in on a good day). It can be dismantled into two halves to make it a little bit easier to store. I pulled it out of the corner where it currently lives to photograph it for this article and, once laid out in front of me, it took me all of 40 seconds to assemble.

The PM5 monitor, though monochrome, is surprisingly detailed, offering plenty of customizable workout options and all the performance data you need. 

If you think you’ll miss the connected experience offered by Hydrow, Peloton or Ergatta, you’ll be pleased to know one of Coach’s favorite workout apps, Fiit, now offers connected workouts for the Concept2 RowErg. 

You will have to pay a subscription to use Fiit, but at $19.99 a month it’s a lot cheaper than the $44 a month for Hydrow, and the Concept2 is eminently usable without an app. If you buy a connected rower, you really need to budget for the ongoing cost of the app. With the Concept2 you can cut costs and follow something like Coach’s rowing workout plan for a couple of months.

You’re also spending less upfront compared with my second favorite rowing machine, the Hydrow Wave. Even with a $450 Cyber Monday discount, Hydrow’s more affordable option is still nearly $500 bucks more expensive. 

You don’t even have to plug the Concept2 into the mains outlet to use it.

Who Shouldn’t You Buy A Concept2 RowErg?

The Concept2 isn’t perfect (what is?). The air resistance is fairly noisy and the machine isn’t the prettiest or most compact. Even split in two, the bulky fan cage and lengthy rail aren’t going to fit in your average cupboard. 

Also, if you just want a machine for occasional rowing workouts or a low-impact exercise option to help you recover from injury, a cheaper model like the Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 or, in the UK, JLL R200, might suffice and save you a lot of money. 

The gamified fitness pioneer Ergatta has released a new rowing machine that’s smaller, lighter and, at launch, $1,000 cheaper than its predecessor. 

The Ergatta Lite is on sale in the US for $1,499 (a launch price, Ergatta quotes $1,799 as the MSRP) and offers the same 17.3in HD touchscreen and game-based platform, coupled with the gorgeous wooden-framed WaterRower machine that impressed me when testing the original Ergatta (it also won over the writer of Coach’s Ergatta review).

The move mirrors that made by Hydrow, one of the pioneers of connected rowing machines. The well-received original Hydrow rower was followed by the smaller and cheaper Hydrow Wave.

Ergatta launched the Ergatta Rower in 2020 and it quickly established itself as one of the best connected rowing machines. Central to that success was a move away from the studio classes offered by rivals such as Hydrow and Peloton, taking its cues from video games instead and essentially turning the rower into the controls.

I found my competitive side couldn’t get enough of the race mode, which allowed me to compete against up to eight other Ergatta owners.

That Ergatta uses the high-quality WaterRower, which you may recognize as Francis Underwood’s rower of choice in House Of Cards, certainly contributed to its success, too.

Ergatta Vs Ergatta Lite

As you can see, the dimensions of the Ergatta and Ergatta Lite aren’t dramatically different (there’s a bigger difference in size between the two Hydrow models), but the Ergatta Lite is almost half the weight of the Ergatta.

I’d guess the switch from using cherry wood to sustainably-sourced oak from Appalachia is behind the dramatic difference in weight and price.

Speaking of price, the difference is not so dramatic over Black Friday, with Ergatta cutting $500 off the original’s price.

The Ergatta Rower is a connected rowing machine that does things differently. It uses water resistance for one (the hardware is, in fact, a WaterRower which you may well recognize from Netflix’s House Of Cards), but the biggest difference is that instead of placing you in front of an instructor or river scene—as with Hydrow, Peloton or Echelon—it makes sitting down to row feel like playing a video game.

With a number of connected rowing machines on the market and competition fierce, does this new approach earn the Ergatta a place among the best rowing machines?

The Ergatta Rower: Price And Availability

The Ergatta Rower launched in the US in March 2020 for $2,499 and started shipping to the UK in 2022, where you can buy it through WaterRower for £2,495. 

On top of the one-off price, you’ll need to budget for a subscription to access its full suite of features (the machine can be used without a subscription, but if that’s your intention a standard WaterRower is half the price). It’s $29/£29 a month, although if you pay $319/£319 up front for an annual membership the monthly cost drops to $26.58/£26.58. That discount is available only for the first year, however.

The Set-Up

When I test indoor rowing machines, getting them up a short flight of stairs and into an apartment has proved a challenge. The original Hydrow was the worst offender, so it was a relief to discover that the Ergatta comes packaged in boxes.

There are four boxes in total: The main square one that houses most of the parts including the water tank; two longer ones for the rails; and a smaller box that contains the touchscreen display. The boxes aren’t especially heavy—it’s mostly wood and an empty water tank. 

I set up the machine by myself and it was relatively straightforward, with all the tools you need included in the box. The main tasks are to connect the rails to the main frame, fill up the tank, add the footboard, and get the seat and the drive strap in place. It felt like I spent more time taking items out of boxes than putting the rower together. It should take around an hour.

Once it’s plugged into the mains and the screen is activated, the final thing to do is connect the rower to your home Wi-Fi which was stress-free, as with most smart rowers.

The Design

I have a dedicated rower-testing spot in my apartment and it was a breath of fresh air to have something that wasn’t made of metal and plastic. This rower is handmade from cherry wood and all the materials feel high-quality. 

It sits close to the floor, which means it doesn’t feel imposing in the space, and measures 86in/218cm long by 23in/58cm wide, so it’s shorter and not as wide as, say, the Concept2 RowErg rower (96in/244cm x 24in/61cm). Despite this the rower doesn’t feel too small when you’re using it. If a higher seat position would make it easier for you to get on and off, the machine can be bought in the US with a high-rise add-on which raises the seat 8in/20cm for an extra $159.

The 17.2in, 1,920x1,080 touchscreen is powered by an Android-based operating system and can be tilted left and right to avoid screen glare. That’s smaller than the 22in one included on the original Hydrow, but bigger than the screen on the Hydrow Wave.

How I Tested This Rower

I had the Ergatta for a month and tried all the modes the rower had to offer, including the basic open row mode, interval-based games, on-demand workouts in single and multiplayer gaming modes as well as checking out the workout programs. I went through the main tutorials and calibration.

I also have tested nine indoor rowing machines for Coach, including other water rowers and connected machines.

The Experience

Using the Ergatta without the full subscription limits its functions significantly. You can row, pair Bluetooth headphones and a heart rate monitor, and access the built-in music station. With a sub there’s a whole lot more. 

You get a tutorial for beginners, training and workout programs, and thousands of workouts built around HIIT, endurance, recovery and technique. You can build your own workouts, and play single and multiplayer games on-demand or live against others. Whatever level of rower you are, it’s worth starting off with the calibration, which is a 1km-long routine that asks you to row at a range of intensities so the Ergatta can assess and classify your level of rowing ability.

The five main options on the home menu screen are a library of your favorites or previously completed workouts, programs, interval workouts, races and the open row mode.

I started by exploring the interval workouts. There’s Pulse, where you’re essentially trying to move a ball into target zones on screen that represent sprint, race pace, steady rowing or resting. It’s simple and probably the easiest game to get to grips with. Select the right level and it will work you hard, but it cleverly obliges you to ease off when you should, which can sometimes get lost in instructor-led workouts.

There are also Meteor workouts, which are side-scrolling-game-influenced workouts built around intervals that are based around effort as opposed to speed. I initially found it tricky to get to grips with, but once I understood how my rowing relates to scoring points for staying in different intensity zones, it worked well.

The mode that really struck a chord with me, however, were the competitive workouts where you can try to set new records or, as I did, race against other Ergatta users. The Race workout requires you to row the hardest to cover the target distance the fastest. It’s done in segments and then you get an overall score for how well you did in all segments. There’s Vortex, where your challenge is to score more intensity points than others. These games are simple, but I found it was what made me want to row harder and faster.

I also tried the open row mode to experience what you’ll get without a full subscription. The scenic rows, while nice to have, didn’t feel immersive or impressive on the screen. This mode tends to repeat the scenery you’re rowing through so it can feel boring to look at.

If you don’t just want to dip in and out of games, there are workout programs that can build training plans lasting a month or longer, to improve things like your stamina and your cardio base. You can scroll through each of the planned workouts in your program, so you have a good idea of what’s to come later in the program.

The rowing experience is good, and if you perform the calibration the machine will ensure that rowing feels challenging by building personalized intensity zones, which represents your output relative to your capacity.

This is a water-based resistance rower only, so you control the rowing difficulty because it’s based on your input and how much you’ve filled up the tank. I went to the maximum, and this rower worked me hard. While you can’t adjust resistance, that resistance feels smooth and the nylon drive strap is quiet. The swirling of the water in the tank is the noisiest aspect but isn’t as loud as the DKN H20Ar water rower, which I’ve also tested.

The rower works with Strava, which is great because who doesn’t want to get kudos for their time on the rower? There’s a companion app as well, though it’s not essential to the rowing experience, giving you simply another place to view workout history, overall rowing stats and to plan workouts. I had no problems pairing up different headphones, while it worked with heart rate monitor chest straps like the Garmin HRM-Pro Plus and the Polar Verity Sense as well. 

There’s an onboard radio station offering a selection of music although I would have welcomed more station options. The integrated speakers, while loud, don’t exactly pump out warm, rich sound, so I’d recommend using workout headphones instead.

Is The Ergatta Worth It?

The Ergatta Rower is perfect if you want a seriously stylish piece of rowing fitness equipment and need some guidance and motivation, but don’t like the idea of having instructors telling you what to do.

There are things I liked about using the Ergatta. For starters, its design is head and shoulders above the competition. I didn’t think I’d find the gaming approach stimulating or motivating, but it tapped into my competitive side and helped me achieve the right levels of intensity. All the same, I missed the instructor-led classes you get on rival rowers. 

Then there’s the price. It matches the price of the original Hydrow ($2,495/£1,995) but the Ergatta subscription is cheaper ($29/£29 vs $39/£38), so while it’s at the expensive end of the market it’s a cheaper option within that bracket. 

The smaller Hydrow Wave costs $1,495/£1,395 and the Echelon Smart Rower is even cheaper at $999/£749, but that doesn’t include a screen and has a similar $34.99/£39.99 monthly subscription. The NordicTrack RW900 costs $1,799/£1,999 and can be linked up to the iFit app, where subscriptions sit at $15/£10 a month. Spending less gets you a less high-end look and the rowers are generally heavier, with software that’s dominated by following trainers and instructor-led workouts on screen.

If your budget stretches to the Ergatta and Hydrow rowers, my recommendation is to buy the Hydrow. Its design might not be as sleek as the Ergatta’s, but it operates quietly and the software feels more polished, intuitive and engaging to use in comparison. It also gives you the option to go the instructor-led route or keep things simple. There’s also a great emphasis on learning and perfecting the correct rowing technique through rowing professionals that will help you to get the most from the time you spend working out.

The Technogym Skillrow, much like the Concept2 RowErg, is a popular indoor rower choice for gyms because it prioritizes a strong design that’s built to handle gym-goers constantly jumping on and off it.

The self-powered rower is one you can have inside your own home, too, and uses magnetic and air resistance to let you switch between cardio workout time or a focus on building power and stamina.

It’s also compatible with heart rate sensors for that extra hit of workout data and works with Technogym’s smartphone app to offer workouts that can mix up the indoor rowing experience. The Skillrow sits at the top end of rowers to set up in your home, so does it do enough to justify that steeper financial outlay over other rowers that are among the best rowing machines for home?

Technogym Skillrow: Price And Availability

The Skillrow is available in Pearl Grey or Anthracite Black with both priced at $3,950 in the US and £4,150 in the UK. It has to be bought directly from Technogym.

That price makes it one of the most expensive rowers we’ve tested. It’s more expensive than the Concept2 RowErg (from $900/£900) and connected rowers like the Hydrow ($2,495/£1,995), the Ergatta ($2,499/£2,495) and the Echelon Smart Rower ($1,495/£1,395).

The Set-Up

The Skillrow I tested was delivered to my apartment already assembled, though it made for an interesting (challenging) time getting it up the short flight of stairs to my door.

As a result I can’t vouch for how long it takes to put together, but I can comment on how heavy a rower it is to handle. I would not have wanted to set this up on my own. This rower weighs 134lb (61kg) with most of the bulk up front, at the flywheel. It is almost as heavy as the Hydrow (145lb/66kg). The Concept2 RowErg, in contrast, weighs just 57lb (26kg).

Fortunately, this is a rower that can separate into two parts, with wheels up front to make it easier to move around. There are two large buttons where the flywheel and rail meet just in front of the footplates, though the top-heavy nature of the design means it’s not the easiest to separate. You need to be careful if doing it on your own.

How I Tested This Rower

I spent a month testing the Skillrow, using it in the open rowing mode and with the free Skillrow app on an iPhone 14, trying out the video and non-video based workouts. I’ve tested different rowing machines for Coach across price ranges, from affordable rowers like the JTX Freedom Air and popular rowers like the Concept2 RowERG to connected rowers including Ergatta, Hydrow and the Echelon Smart Rower.

The Design

The Skillrow is heavy, but there’s no doubt it feels like a rower that’s well equipped to handle frequent use. It’s made mostly of metal and has a sleek, bold look, though it’s not on a level with the Ergatta in terms of attractiveness.

The seat is a good size and didn’t leave me feeling sore after longer rows. The footplates are one of the few plastic elements, but it’s a straightforward job adjusting them to ensure they keep your foot planted. The metal chain connecting the handle to the flywheel feels like it can handle vigorous use.

There’s nothing to plug in, which gives you options as to where you can place it in a room, although wherever you put it in a room it’s going to dominate it. It measures 96in (2,435mm) long, 25in wide (629mm) and 50in (1,280mm) high. That’s as long as a Concept2 RowErg, which is also just slightly narrower by comparison. Even when separated into two parts, it’s still two bits of rowing machine you’re not going to be able to effortlessly shift out of the way. Technogym has an option on its website to view how the rower will look in your space.

There is a built-in 7in LCD screen, with buttons down the side of it. It’s not like the tablet-style screens you’ll find on connected rowers but it’s bright, making it ideal for evening rows, while the sun glare doesn’t hugely impact on visibility.

The Experience

Rowing on a Skillrow wasn’t a new experience for me because it’s the one I’ve used in my gym for a while. The biggest thing to take on board is the use of magnetic and air resistance, which alters the kind of workout you can get from the Skillrow.

This is dictated by the resistance dial that’s in reach when you are on the rower. Moving the dial to the right gives you 10 rowing resistance levels that use the air resistance—and what Technogym dubs its Aquafeel technology—to mimic the feel of rowing in water, with a more gradual build-up of resistance. Twist the dial the other way and you can select from three power modes. This brings the magnetic resistance into play, and so when you pull the handle it feels like you are rowing with added weight to contend with.

Whether you opt for rowing mode or power mode, the sensation of rowing on the Skillrow is superb. In rowing mode that action feels smooth and fluid. Switch to power mode and you instantly feel how much harder it is to row. The Skillrow is relatively quiet too.

The LCD screen makes it easy to absorb your real-time metrics, letting you see duration, meters covered, calories burned, strokes per minute, pace per 500 meters and power in watts when you move into power mode. There’s an additional data screen you can switch to and display more of the power stats, plus the ability to pair external heart rate monitors via Bluetooth. I managed to do it with a Polar H10 and a Garmin HRM-Pro Plus chest strap monitor with no issue.

The Skillrow can also function like a connected rower because of its smartphone app. You can clamp your phone into the holder above the display to follow along with workouts and to take part in challenges. The first section of the app is dedicated to those challenges, in which you can climb user rankings by participating in tasks such as rowing the farthest in a month or trying to set the fastest time for 500 meters.

In the video workouts section of the app, you are guided by trainers on aspects like technique, or you can take on power-based workouts where you’re sat in front of trainers with basic data like workout duration displayed. The non-video-based workout section has interval-style workouts, or you can create your own. These workouts kick into gear when you start rowing, which is enough to connect the app and rower via Bluetooth to make sure it’s tracking your performance.

The workouts do a sound job of providing strong, tough challenges. The interval-style workouts are short and sweet and make you sweat. The power workouts are a good introduction to how you can use that additional mode to build core strength. However, it doesn’t take long to get through a lot of the workouts and it isn’t the extensive library of workouts you’d find on most connected rowers.

If you want a rower you can sit in and participate in a regularly updated library of on-demand and live classes, don’t buy the Skillrow. If you want a slick indoor rower with an authentic rowing feel, consider buying the Skillrow.

Is the Technogym Skillrow Worth It?

The Skillrow is much more expensive than other rowers I’ve tested. For that money you get a well-built machine and a rowing experience that feels smooth, authentic and challenging, with scope to add smart rowing time, too. 

Ultimately, though, the Concept2 RowErg gives you a similar rowing experience. It’s also well built, but it’s easier to move, offers better value and has scope to be connected to other third-party apps. There’s no doubt that the Skillrow provides a great rowing experience, though. If you like the idea of a tough machine that provides a tough workout, this rower delivers just that.

I’ve been a bit disappointed with the lack of deals on big-ticket fitness equipment this Amazon Prime Day, but there are a couple of offers that caught my eye. 

The Hydrow Rower is down $500, while it’s more compact and relatively affordable cousin the Hydrow Wave has had its price slashed from $1,895 to $1,695. 

Now, I’ll admit, both rowing machines still represent a considerable investment. But I genuinely believe the chance to save a decent chunk on these impressive at-home training tools is always worth flagging—here’s why.

As an avid CrossFitter, and consequently a Concept2 RowErg devotee, I approached both the Hydrow Rower and Hydrow Wave with a heavy hit of apprehension. Why did rowing machines need extra tech, and how would Peloton’s touchscreen-meet-exercise machine format play out on something other than a static bike?

Happily, after spending time testing each of them, these machines blew all my preconceptions out the water.

While the comparisons to Peloton (which is offering up to $350 off its bikes for Prime Day) are inevitable, Hydrow charts its own course with a new approach to smart fitness. Instead of bright lights, studio settings and enthusiastic instructors, Hydrow’s team comprises former Olympians, international athletes and elite coaches who lead you through immersive on-water workouts. 

You’re taken aboard the boat alongside your coach as they talk you through each session, providing tips, tricks and some entertaining patter to help you get more out of your time on the machine. The scenery doesn’t hurt either, with the chance to virtually visit some of the world’s most picturesque lakes and waterways. 

As a result, I found that committing to a consistent stroke rate and listening to the gentle swooshing of the water made it easy to forget I was in our testing center and not skimming across the surface of Loch Lomond, particularly after linking my Bluetooth workout headphones.

There’s a steady stream of new content to enjoy on the Hydrow platform too, including rowing sessions to suit a variety of fitness goals and some off-rower options such as yoga, Pilates, circuits and functional strength training. There’s an online community to compete against, tutorials on proper rowing technique and thousands of different classes to try. 

These aren’t free, unfortunately. You’ll have to pay a monthly subscription of $44/month to access the app, and without it the only thing available to you will be a basic “just row” option. It adds to the expense, but for the right person, I think it’s worth it. If you’ve tried conventional gyms or reluctant treadmill trudges, and both left you mind-numbingly bored, this fresh take on fitness might be the thing that gets you hooked. 

Peloton launched its first consumer product 10 years ago and since then it’s established an entire category of connected home cardio machines. Now it’s mainstream, the big question is what’s the next big thing?

“I think game-based workouts will go mainstream,” says Ergatta co-founder Tom Aulet. Ergatta sells a product widely regarded as one of the best rowing machines, which uses virtual races and interactive games to keep users coming back for more. Having taken it for a spin, I can confirm this approach quickly becomes addictive—think Candy Crush, but cardio. 

It’s also a welcome alternative for people who don’t want an enthusiastic coach shouting instructions from a brightly lit studio, but this is just the tip of the iceberg according to Aulet. 

“Right now, everyone knows what it’s like to take a fitness class, everyone knows what it’s like to take a streaming fitness class, but people don’t really know what it’s like to play a fitness game.

“By that, I mean the content you look at when you’re doing cardio is a game that you’re interacting with—it’s responding to your inputs, like when you’re playing Mario Kart or Donkey Kong. I think that will enter mainstream culture and be something a large chunk of the population participates in.”

As someone who likes both video games and fitness, it sounds fun, but Aulet says gamifying fitness could lead to a more personalized experience as well.  

“If you go to an Orange Theory or Barry’s [Bootcamp] class, an instructor will be giving instructions to the room, but you look around and there are people of all different fitness levels. Everyone’s trying to figure out what’s right for them and hold themselves accountable. 

“But in a game, the software has this ability to give people targets which change as you get better or worse. It will continue to calibrate to you so the workouts are always challenging enough to be interesting—not too hard as to be discouraging, but not so easy that it’s boring. 

“They can keep nudging you to get better and better over time, giving you this sense of improvement and achievement.”

This could be a way to slip progressive overload—the principle of incrementally increasing the challenge—into people’s home workouts without them even realizing. 

It could even adjust the difficulty of your session mid-workout depending on your performance on the day (and yes, we asked and Aulet confirmed that this means it could give you an easier ride if you’re tired or hungover). 

By the end of our chat, Aulet left me far more convinced of gaming’s credentials as a bona fide fitness tool than I was at the start. What I had previously dismissed as a gimmick now seemed like a motivating way to exercise outside of a gym.

Yet, for me, none of the above were the most promising thing about this potential trend. Instead, it’s the possibility that fun takes precedence over calorie burn, with the health benefits a welcome bonus.

The Concept2 RowErg is the rowing machine you’ll find in most gyms. It’s what many Olympians and elite rowers use to train indoors, and it’s found at or near the top of every selection of the best rowing machines out there (including ours). It’s been around since 2003 and may be better known as the Model D, its name at launch (there was also the Model E with taller legs, which had a 20in (51cm) high seat versus the standard 14in (35.5cm). In 2021 Concept2 renamed it the RowErg, offering two height options, but fundamentally it’s the same machine.  

The RowErg uses air resistance to recreate the feel of rowing on water, whereby the harder you row the more resistance you have to overcome, and there’s a damper setting so you can adjust the drag, giving a lighter or heavier feel to the stroke.

Although it’s not traditionally treated as a smart rower, the RowErg can also connect to host of apps via Bluetooth, including Concept2’s own ERGData app, Kinomap, up-and-coming platform Asensei and, since October 2022, Fiit – one of the best workout apps, if not the best.

With Hydrow leading the charge of the smart rowing machines, and Peloton and others following after, does the added app support help the Concept2 RowErg keep its nose in front?

Concept2 RowErg: Price And Availability

The standard 14in RowErg tested in this review costs $990 in the US and £990 in the UK. The 20in version is $1,155/£1,155. 

It’s available direct from Concept2 and from a range of third-party retailers including Amazon. There’s little point waiting to see if the RowErg will be reduced in annual sales such as Black Friday – it hasn’t in all the years Coach has been covering sales.

While it’s not Concept2’s most expensive rower (that honour goes to the Dynamic Indoor Rower), at just shy of four figures it’s at the more expensive end of the market. It’s similar in price to water rowers and in the mid-range price bracket for smart rowing machines, which begins at $799/£799 for the ProForm 750R and goes up to $2,495/£1,995 for the original Hydrow, by way of $999/£749 for the Echelon Smart Rower and $1,495/£1,395 for the Hydrow Wave.

The Set-Up

Given its reputation as the most robust indoor rower, I assumed the RowErg would be tricky to put together, but my expectations couldn’t have been further from the truth.

The RowErg is delivered in one box and it’s a package that was nowhere near as challenging to get into my flat as rowers from Hydrow or the cheaper, albeit bulkier, ProForm 750R.

Open the box and you’ll find the RowErg split into two parts: the flywheel and monorail. All you need to do is connect the two, and with both screws and screwdriver included, I was able to set it up by myself in 15 minutes.

It helps that it’s a relatively light machine – 26kg compared with the 66kg the original Hydrow weighs. It’s heavy enough to feel sturdy and grounded, but easy enough to manoeuvre when tipped onto the wheels mounted at the front of the machine.

The RowErg is 95in (2.44m) long and the monorail measures 54in (1.37m). It dominates a room so think carefully about where it can live. You can separate the rower in two again and store the monorail upright, but it’s not convenient as a rowing machine that folds.

Once you’ve got it in place, pick up and pull the handle to wake up the PM5 monitor and you’re off.

How I Tested The Concept2 RowErg

I rowed 40km on the RowErg, testing both the built-in workout modes on the PM5 monitor and the connected workouts on Fiit.

I have reviewed seven indoor rowing machines for Coach, both of the connected and non-connected variety, including the Hydrow, Hydrow Wave, Echelon Smart Rower, ProForm 750R, DKN H20ar Water Rower, JTX Freedom Air and budget rowers like the Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0, so have a wide range of experience to compare the performance of the RowErg against.

The Experience

For starters, this just feels like a really well-built rower. It might not be the sleekest-looking but you can tell it’s built to withstand regular rigorous use. The monorail is big, the footrests hold my feet firmly in place during workouts and the seat offers the right balance between firm enough to transfer power and soft enough to row for long periods. I didn’t love the basic-looking device holder, but it does the job of holding a smartphone or tablet in place.

As mentioned, there’s a more expensive version with taller legs, which makes it a little easier to get on and off the rower. I’m 5ft 5in (1.66m) and getting on and off the rower hasn’t been an issue, so to me it seems like a lot of money to pay for that extra height. If you’re unsure, see if you can get a free trial pass to a local gym that has them.

While the air resistance certainly isn’t as quiet as a rower which uses magnetic resistance, it doesn’t make as much racket as I thought it would even when working at a high intensity. Put it this way, someone watching TV in the next room isn’t going to be disturbed by the noise of it.

The RowErg’s PM5 backlit display is easy to read and it has all the essential stats such as strokes per minute, pace per 500m and power. I’ve used Concept2 rowing machines a fair bit at the gym, so using the RowErg wasn’t an entirely new experience, but I was surprised by the range of modes available without syncing it with a rowing app. There’s a standard list of workouts by distance or duration, and the ability to build your own custom workouts; less standard is the Paceboat mode, which offers a clear onscreen indicator that you’re keeping to a target pace. There’s also a wireless race mode here to race against other rowers. There are games, too, which provide a fun element: you can fish, or play darts, with variables (like your stroke rate) used to control your player and score points.

I found myself using the custom workouts along with the free rowing mode, but there’s more scope to vary your training than I had appreciated.

The other side of the RowErg I had not tried before is the connected element. It has built-in support for both ANT+ and Bluetooth, so you’ll be able to pair external heart rate monitors and sports watches to more accurately measure your effort levels or transfer the rowing data to your watch for an enhanced log of your training. I had no problems pairing up a Garmin HRM-Pro Plus chest strap or a Garmin Epix 2.

More interestingly, there’s the ability to connect to a range of third-party apps. Most smart rowing machines are closed platforms, so you’re locked into the manufacturer’s app – which in the case of Hydrow costs $38/£38 a month. 

Concept2’s own ErgData app is free, but feels like an extension of the PM5 monitor. You can tackle single distance, time or calorie workouts, or tackle intervals, and a challenges mode will be added at some point. It’s a simple app, but well designed at least and offers a more vibrant display.

I also spent time using Fiit, a great fitness app, which has now added an array of rowing workouts that connect with the RowErg. Unlike ErgData, Fiit requires a subscription of $19.99/£19.99 a month to use, less if you pay for a year up front. 

Fiit’s offering is unique, however, offering both dedicated rowing sessions and workouts that mix periods on the rower with exercises using your bodyweight or free weights. There are currently just under 20 rowing classes available and you can also enlist in a two-week row academy designed (for any level) to get to grips with rowing. There are four workouts per week and the workout duration doesn’t go above 25 minutes.

Beyond the academy, Fiit takes a no-nonsense approach that focuses on the fitness element of rowing as opposed to technique. It does help you get to grips with technique at the beginning of classes, but it wants to quickly get you into working hard.

Once you’ve picked a class, you’ll need to pair a heart rate monitor and the rower to make sure you can display real-time data like strokes per minute and speed. It was straightforward to pair dedicated heart rate monitors and sports watches to the app, but I did have some connectivity issues with the rower every now and then, which meant I ended up without the rowing-specific data at the end of a few workouts. It wasn’t clear if that was an app and phone issue or an onboard Bluetooth connectivity issue, but things weren’t flawless.

When it did work – and it did work on most occasions – the metrics on display are easy to absorb and you have a clear indication of what you need to do during the workout even if you somehow missed some instructions from the trainer. Like Fiit’s non-rowing classes, the classes are well designed and push you hard.

One thing missing on the row-only workouts is the accumulation of Fiit points, which are based on hitting specific heart rate zones for cardio classes. Unless you’re doing the more mixed rowing and weight-based classes, you’re not going to see many Fiit points amassed on your screen, which is a pity for Fiit devotees.

The addition of Fiit to what’s on offer to Concept2 owners is a big development and on the whole it works well, plus there are other apps to explore too. It’s not as slick an experience as with Hydrow, but there’s scope to make it much more polished.

Is the Concept2 RowErg Worth It?

There’s a reason the RowErg is the rowing machine you find inside most gyms. Its rugged, durable construction means you can be confident it can handle as much rowing as your body can (and that it holds its value well), it doesn’t weigh an absolute ton, and it’s very easy to use.

Crucially, it’s satisfying to use whether you’re new to indoor rowing or already au fait with SPM metrics and splits. The connected workouts are a bonus, but you have to provide the screen, as with Echelon, and it doesn’t feel as slick as dedicated smart rowers.

It’s certainly not cheap, but if you value a tried-and-tested rowing machine that will let you push yourself as hard as you can, this is undeniably the best and you can rest assured that you get what you pay for.

In our eyes, Hydrow is offering the best Black Friday rowing machine deal of 2022. Not only has the brand slashed the price of its original Hydrow Rower by $500/£400, but it has also taken a healthy $150/£125 off the cost of the new Hydrow Wave (a smaller, more affordable alternative to its inaugural machine). 

We’ve come to that decision after testing both Hydrow rowers and many other indoor rowing machines, then gathering all the Black Friday deals. In the UK, some of the best rowing machines from Echelon, JTX Fitness and others have also been put on sale, with top models available from just £299. There are also great options in the US, including a rare Ergatta Rower deal at Best Buy.

Below you’ll find the Hydrow deals, why we rate Hydrow so highly, then more Black Friday rowing machine deals to choose from. Dive in. 

UK Hydrow Black Friday Deals

US Hydrow Black Friday Deals

Why We Recommend Hydrow

Both Hydrow models have featured on Coach’s selection of the best rowing machines, and the Hydrow review and Hydrow Wave review awarded the maximum five stars. 

I also put the Hydrow Rower and the Hydrow Wave to the test earlier this year and was quickly won over, too. 

The Hydrow uses computer-controlled electromagnetic resistance to mimic the feeling of rowing on water and it’s also considerably quieter than air rowers such as the ever-popular Concept 2. The machine looks sleek and is sturdily built, while the seat glides up and down the rail. 

However, it’s the immersive connected workouts that really sets the Hydrow apart from the competition. You have to pay a monthly membership fee ($39/£38 a month), but that grants you access to thousands (more than 4,300, at the time of testing) of engaging workouts, all displayed on the 22in HD touchscreen. 

While Peloton classes transport you to a studio with bright lights and (very) enthusiastic instructors, Hydrow takes you on-board the boats of decorated athletes, former Olympians and knowledgeable coaches as they traverse some of the world’s most beautiful waterways. I found this approach was a breath of fresh air. With my headphones in, it was easy to forget my surroundings and enjoy rowing across Scotland’s Loch Ness. 

Introductory videos also help to teach beginners proper rowing technique, and cues from the coaches help to fine-tune your form. There are also off-rower workouts which include yoga and Pilates sessions, functional strength training and more.

My only qualms were the high price and considerable dimensions. However, Hydrow addressed both points with the release of the Hydrow Wave – a smaller, more affordable alternative to its original rower. 

The Wave offers the same high-end performance and uses the same app as its older brother, with the only noticeable difference being the smaller 16in display. It is shorter, but I'm 6ft 2in and the rail was still long enough for me to fully extend my legs at the finish of each stroke, and the electromagnetic resistance was just as smooth and silent. 

If you’re after an engaging home exercise machine, I can’t recommend Hydrow rowing machines enough – particularly now they’re down in price. 

More UK Rowing Machine Deals

More US Rowing Machine Deals

For a considerable period of time, Hydrow was referred to as the Peloton of rowing machines by the media and with good reason. The machine had a modern design, it had an enormous touchscreen which streamed workouts, and it cost a lot of money, just like Peloton’s bike. It was also a fixture at the top of our best rowing machine recommendations.

And if the Peloton of rowing machines is successful, it was only a matter of time before Peloton launched its rowing machine. It took longer than many expected, but the Peloton Row was revealed on 20th September and made available to preorder in the US. So when Coach was offered the chance to speak to Hydrow co-founder and CEO Bruce Smith we had to ask what he thought about Peloton’s effort. 

“I really feel like the Peloton Row has copied us in lovely ways and imitation is the most sincere form of flattery,” says Smith. When we pressed him on those similarities, he said Peloton was “using a very similar drive train mechanism that is as quiet as ours” and that the Peloton Row “basically [has] the same overall shape as the Hydrow.”

We also asked whether there was any feature on the Peloton Row that Hydrow would want to emulate and got a no, as you’d expect. Not even the Form Assist, which uses sensors in the seat and handle to correct people’s technique? And that’s when things got interesting.

“I know an awful lot about that stuff,” says Smith, “because of my experience with the national team coaching [Smith was the coach of the US Lightweight Eight team which won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Rowing Championships]. And I’ve put sensors in handles and seats, and looked at all kinds of acceleration and then all kinds of joint analysis. 

“There are some other companies in the space that do really great. They use your camera to capture your whole body. You’re not extrapolating from the seat and the handle, you’re actually looking at somebody’s body. And that is crucial, because you can get a misdiagnosis. 

“That camera vision is just a way better tool. The sensor model is a blunt object compared with a razor blade. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s a place to start, but there’s a much, much better future and that sensor stuff is not where it’s at.”

Smith also hinted at Hydrow expanding beyond rowing machines in the future. He explained that Hydrow rowing machines use a combination of electric motor, eddy current brake and algorithm to fine-tune the level of resistance throughout the stroke, and that can be applied to cross-country skiing machines, climbing machines and strength training machines. Watch this space. 

• See what we made of the original in our first Hydrow review.
• Our Hydrow Wave review runs the rule over the company’s smaller, cheaper, second release.

There are few types of exercise as beneficial for your overall health and fitness as rowing. It’s a tremendous cardiovascular workout that’s low-impact on your joints and it works muscles all over your body.

On the other hand, neither strapping in and coasting for a bit nor rowing until you drop will help you get the most from your time in the sliding seat – plus poor form can undermine well-programmed sessions. So we’ve enlisted the help of Mike Dostal, former British National Championship winner and a trainer for Hydrow’s excellent connected rowing machines (the Hydrow and Hydrow Wave, both of which we gave five-star reviews and feature on our selection of the best rowing machines), to break down the technique and supply three rowing machine workouts that are tailor-made for beginners.

Once you’ve worked your way through the below, we have plenty more rowing machine workouts for you to tackle, as well as a four-session a week rowing workout plan to sink your teeth into.

Rowing technique

To make the most of these ample benefits, however, your rowing technique needs to be watertight. “It’s vital that you engage the right muscles in the right order,” says Dostal. 

“If you start the movement off right, you’ll feel your legs, glutes, core, and back muscles engage, and your arms will naturally flow into the body, helping generate a long, dynamic, powerful action with every stroke.”  

The rowing stroke is broken down into four phases as follows: 

1. The Catch

When sitting on the rower with your feet strapped in tightly, hold the handle with an overhand grip and your arms straight. Slide your bum on the seat towards your heels while keeping your torso upright and back straight. Take a deep breath in to engage your core and brace your body for action.

2. The Drive

With your core braced, extend your legs powerfully to initiate the rowing movement while exhaling forcefully. When your legs are almost fully straight, harness the momentum to lean back slightly into the stroke, keeping your core engaged.

3. The Finish

Use your large upper back muscles to help pull the handle in towards the lower part of your ribs, while continuing to lean back into the stroke. 

4. The Recovery 

This last phase is as crucial as the three preceding it. While maintaining a straight back and upright torso, extend your arms fully, lean forwards slightly and bend your legs to return to the start position. Breathe in as you recover to fill your lungs ready for the next powerful stroke.

Rowing Machine Workouts for Beginners

Of course, practice makes perfect, and Hydrow has distilled its workouts into three signature formats called Breathe, Sweat and Drive. Here Dostal explains the theory behind each one and provides three beginner-friendly workouts that you can try for yourself. He also suggests a workout to try if you get the chance to row on a Hydrow machine.

“Remember, whatever workout you pursue, make sure to include time for a proper warm-up and cool down,” he says. 

Breathe

“Breathe workouts lay your foundations,” explains Dostal. “They are set at a relatively low overall intensity – around 20-24 strokes per minute (SPM) that should keep your heart rate between 60-85% of your maximum. They’re perfect if you’re new to fitness, want to work in the fat-burning zone or are working on building up your cardio after an extended break.”

The Workout 

Three rounds: 

3min @ 22 SPM

1min @ 24 SPM

1min @ 26 SPM

Dostal says: “The aim is to lower your split – the time it takes to cover 500m – across a series of intervals. Really zero in on your technique during each split and try to stay consistent, even as the rhythm cranks up.” 

Hydrow example: 20-Minute Climbing Intervals Row with Aquil Abdullah

Sweat

“Sweat workouts are set at moderate to high intensity, around your anaerobic threshold,” says Dostal. “They target the mid to top range of your heart rate zones, somewhere between 85-95% of your max, and help develop resilience. Training around or slightly above your anaerobic threshold helps to gradually increase it, so you’ll be able to work out at higher intensities in the more comfortable aerobic zone.” 

The Workout 

30min @ 26 SPM 

Dostal says: “This takes discipline and control to stay consistent. It’s as much a mental challenge as a physical one.” 

Hydrow example: 20-Minute Pick Drill Row with Laine Maher

 Drive

“Drive workouts will test your upper fitness limitations,” says Dostal. “Think of high-intensity interval training. They are designed to build strength and speed across a series of short, sharp intervals. Typically, the rhythm during the max efforts will sit between 26-32 SPM, pushing your pulse into the highest heart rate zone, but these intervals are spaced out with lower-intensity recovery periods so you can push hard throughout.” 

The Workout 

Eight rounds:  

1min 15sec @ max pace

45sec @ recovery pace 

Dostal says: “Drive workouts are wicked and an excellent test of grit. Driving through your legs is critical. It’s also important you don’t abandon proper form even when you start to fatigue. Stay committed and power through to the finish.”

Hydrow example: 20-Minute Unleashed Row with Dani Hansen

Connected spin bikes are, it seems, old hat. Connected rowing machines are where the action is. The eagerly anticipated Peloton Row was announced in September and is available to pre-order in the US, while competitor Hydrow released a second-generation machine, the Hydrow Wave, which was smaller and cheaper but retained the immersive workout experience.

Despite this, the Concept2 reigns supreme atop our selection of the best rowing machines. It’s used the world over by competitive rowers and both commercial and CrossFit gyms, and it’s significantly cheaper than even the more affordable Hydrow. That kind of durability and value is more important than ever – it doesn’t even need electricity to operate.

If anything counted against the Concept2, it was that the apps it works with weren’t as good as Peloton or Hydrow’s. That’s no longer the case because Fiit, the best workout app in our book, has released a series of rowing workouts that connect to the Concept2 RowErg.

While you can follow the workouts on any rowing machine, the Concept2 will transmit your strokes per minute, calories and distance travelled metrics to the app so you can compete with other users on live leaderboards. 

This is the third set of connected cardio machine workouts that Fiit has released this year. It began with a Bike program which worked with the Assault Fitness AssaultBike, then a Tread program which connected to the AssaultRunner self-powered treadmill. We assumed Fiit was lining up the AssaultRower Elite to complete the series, but we’re delighted it was able to work with the ubiquitous Concept2 instead. It makes the Concept2 an even better choice for a home treadmill, and also makes a full Fiit subscription even better value if you pair it with membership to a gym.

Fiit’s full-access monthly subscription costs $19.99 in the US and £19.99 in the UK ($119.99/£119.99 a year upfront). That compares with $44/£39 a month for Peloton and $39/£38 a month for Hydrow. 

Fiit also offers just the Row workouts in a Fiit Only Plan subscription for $7.99/£7.99 a month. That’s even cheaper than the iFit subscription of $15/£10 a month, which works with the ProForm 750R.

If you already own a Concept2, you may want to invest $25/£26 in a device holder to hold a tablet or smartphone, although any new RowErg comes equipped with one.  

• Fiit X Assault Fitness AssaultBike Pro Review
• Killer Air Bike Workouts From Fiit To Crank Up Your Cardio
• Fitness App Fiit Adds Connected Treadmill Classes, And They Are As Challenging As You’d Expect

If you’re only going to get one piece of cardio equipment to use at home, a rowing machine should be a strong contender. It works more muscle groups than any other machine and, while you can get a serious cardio workout from it, rowing is low-impact, protecting your joints from injury. 

You can pay up to four figures for a rowing machine but throwing money at it won’t necessarily get the most suitable one for you. Our buyer’s guide to the best rowing machines will help you to decide which one to choose.

The ConceptErg is Coach’s top pick but if you aren’t willing to pay $900/£860 for a rowing machine, there are plenty of more affordable options that will do the job. Rowing machines tend to take up a lot of space but there’s now a wide range of folding ones available that make storage easier. Top-end models offer touchscreens, connected classes and streaming services, but if you just want a machine that displays basic workout stats you can save a lot of cash.

I tested the JLL R200 Rowing Machine. It’s the UK-based fitness equipment manufacturer’s cheapest rower and uses magnetic resistance, whereas JLL’s more expensive models use air and water. I usually run a lot outdoors, but recurrent injuries have pushed me towards lower-impact forms of cardio exercise. Before getting this machine I hadn’t done much rowing, except for the occasional session at the gym.

JLL R200 Rowing Machine: Price And Availability

The JLL R200 Rowing Machine, which is available only in the UK, costs £259.99 but is often available with a discount from the manufacturer or from Amazon.

The Set-Up

The R200 arrives in a long, narrow box with all the tools required for its assembly, which is straightforward. There’s no need to plug it in: the 3in (76mm) LCD screen is powered by batteries that are supplied with the machine.

Once assembled the rowing machine feels robust, although note that the maximum user weight is 100kg. The housing for the flywheel is a large hunk of silver and black plastic that isn’t the nicest to look at but it feels strong and durable. 

Folding the rowing machine involves unscrewing two knobs and raising the slideway until it locks into an upright position, tightening one of the knobs to secure it. Once folded, the 23kg machine is easy to wheel around, although the foot cradles tend to catch on the floor and end up facing down, which is annoying to rectify when you’ve unfolded it and are ready to row.

Disappointingly, there’s nowhere to put a phone or tablet – not ideal if you wanted to follow a live class or pre-recorded rowing workout. You’ll need to set up a device on a chair in front of you or move the rower to face your TV.

The Experience

In the rowing position the metal slide rail feels sturdy, while the padded seat is comfortable – even for long periods – and slides smoothly. The plastic foot cradles are wide and they swivel to allow freedom of movement, with Velcro straps that feel slightly cheap but fasten your feet securely. The handle is thick and foam-padded but not that ergonomic, and I found it was the first thing to get uncomfortable during longer workouts. There’s plenty of room on the rail to extend back fully, even for my partner who is 6ft tall.

The R200’s LCD screen has a basic, monochrome display that’s clear and easy to read, showing two sets of numbers at a time. There are no workout programmes or connected features here. Distance is displayed at all times at the top of the screen and, below that, the display cycles through the other data available: strokes per minute, stroke count, total stroke count, calories and time elapsed. The calorie information lacks accuracy because the machine doesn’t take your personal data such as weight, height and sex. 

There are 10 levels of resistance, which are set by cranking a chunky round knob below the display. The first five levels feel easy, even for a warm-up, and level 10 feels much too hard to me, but it may not be enough for a serious rower or someone a lot more powerful than me. Level seven and eight suit my partner and me, providing a serious workout for both of us.

While rowing, the R200 is reasonably quiet, although it does occasionally get a mysterious rattle under the seat that eventually seems to resolve itself. The rower gets used about six times a week in our household, and has stood up well to that level of use for six months. 

Our home has uneven Victorian floors that tend to sag in the middle of the room so the main challenge is finding a level spot to position the rower in. Once you’ve got it on a level bit of floor, the rowing experience is fine, although I’m not sure it would be comfortable to use for long periods of time.

Is the JLL R200 Rowing Machine Worth It?

As an entry-level home rowing machine, the R200 ticks all the boxes and its modest price represents good value. There are cheaper rowing machines but they tend to be flimsy and often restrictive in size.

The screen is small but it displays the necessary information efficiently. Certain parts of this rowing machine like the foot cradles and handlebar feel a little cheap and may not last. It’s a shame there’s no device stand, but that’s not a dealbreaker for me.

When in use the R200 is quiet enough that I’m not worried about disturbing the neighbours. It folds up to be able to fit in my wardrobe, and yet it feels sturdy and robust when I’m using it. The R200 is not a thing of beauty but it’s practical and offers excellent value.

The original Hydrow was the closest you could get to a Peloton for rowing, and featured in Coach’s selection of the best rowing machines as the best connected rower. It combined a high-grade design with engaging workouts for an enjoyable experience that was worth the money.

Since then, Peloton has revealed it will enter the indoor rower space and while we can’t say for definite the Hydrow Wave is a response to a Peloton rower, it certainly does feel like that.

The Hydrow Wave is 30% smaller and significantly cheaper than the original, but streams the same live and on-demand rowing workouts and training plans through the accompanying subscription service. 

Hydrow Wave Review: Price And Availability

The Hydrow Wave was released in the US on 8th July 2022 and costs ​​$1,495. It was then released in the UK on 8th September at £1,395. The original Hydrow is sticking around and is priced at $2,495/£1,995, making the Wave $1,000/£600 cheaper. You do still need to pay for the subscription service to access the platform, which currently sits at $39/£38 a month.

Other smart rowers include the Echelon Smart Rower ($999/£749) but it doesn’t include a built-in screen and also requires a monthly subscription of $34.99/£39.99. There’s also the NordicTrack RW900 rower for $1,799/£1,999, which has an integrated touchscreen display and links to the iFit app which is priced at a mere $15/£10 a month.

The Set-Up

While the original Hydrow was an attractive addition to your home, it was big and really only made sense if you had an entire room or at least a large part of a room to dedicate to it. While the box the Wave comes in is still big, what lies inside is much more manageable. 

The Wave is 80in long, 19in wide and 47in high (203cm x 48cm x 109cm). The first Hydrow was 6in longer and another 6in wider, and the Wave is noticeably better suited to smaller spaces.

My Wave was delivered to me out of the box, in three parts: the main frame, the monitor, and the seat and electronics, all of which was comfortably handled by a single delivery man, compared with the two who struggled to lug the original up the stairs to my apartment.

While it might not dominate a room like the first Hydrow, it’s still not small. I was fortunate to have space for it, but if you’re in cramped quarters, be aware that it takes up more room than an exercise bike or a cheaper rowing machine.

It weighs 46kg and there are wheels at the front to help you manoeuvre it around a room. You can lift the frame and store it upright if you buy the storage kit ($80/£70), which is essentially a hook allowing a strap to hold the rower in place.

While the frame feels familiar, Hydrow has swapped aluminium and steel for a polycarbonate material to keep both the price and weight down. The change hasn’t damaged its looks at all and the max user weight is unchanged at 375lb (170kg).

As well as the smaller frame, the HD touchscreen has shrunk to 16in compared with the original’s 22in one. It does lose some of the immersive quality, but it’s still a great-quality display to view workouts on and interact with.

The Hydrow Wave needs to be plugged in and thankfully the cord is long enough that the machine doesn’t have to be placed in close quarters to a plug socket. The machine also requires a Wi-Fi connection to set up the software, but any updates are usually pretty quick. 

How I Tested The Hydrow Wave

I followed the same testing approach as when I wrote my first Hydrow review, trying a mix of on-demand and live instructor-led classes, as well as the non-rowing, strength workouts. I covered more than 40km in 10 workouts over a couple of weeks, including some double session days. 

I also have experience of using and reviewing other connected rowing machines, such as the Echelon Smart Rower and ProForm 750R, as well as a range of other models including some cheap options and those which use water or air resistance.

The Experience

Other than the smaller frame and screen, you get a virtually identical experience to the original machine. Like the first Hydrow, the Wave uses a computer-controlled resistance.

If you’re a first-timer, you’re greeted by an introductory video explaining the Hydrow story and then you’re into your home screen. Once you’ve put in some rowing time, that home screen will offer a recommended workout and also display your current rowing streak (Hydrow will also donate to the charity water.org for every 25 days you work out on the machine). You can swipe up on the pleasingly responsive touchscreen to see a range of training plans you can follow, including learning to row and programmes dedicated to runners.

You’ll also find live rowing sessions, featured workouts and a list of the Hydrow instructors – the latter is especially useful if you start to gravitate to certain instructors’ styles, as I did.

You can also keep track of your weekly and monthly progress, see workout summaries and previous workouts completed, and take part in the challenges to secure prizes for hitting milestones. I want to say I wasn’t motivated to row long distances for a pair of Hydrow socks, but I found myself chasing targets for those socks. 

There is a companion Hydrow phone app worth mentioning too. You can check your activity feeds and live class schedules, as well as connect to Strava to export your workouts automatically.

There are four types of sessions to choose from. There are on-demand or live classes led by instructors, which in my opinion are the best parts of the Hydrow experience. I really enjoyed the extra level of control you have over the audio. You can independently control the volume of both the music and the instructor’s voice, so you can choose to listen to long-winded stories that fill the time or drown it out with music. The speakers are of good quality and you can also pair Bluetooth headphones.

There’s also the free row option in Journeys mode, set in locations like Lake Tahoe or the Connecticut river without the instructor talking to you, although this is where I missed the larger screen on the original Hydrow. The vistas feel less immersive on a smaller screen. 

Finally there’s a racing mode, where you team up with other Hydrow owners to tackle target rowing distances or to row for a specific amount of time.

In each mode you’re shown the real-time rowing stats you’d expect: strokes per minute, average pace over 500 metres, total metres and calories burned. You can also display heart rate data if you have an external Bluetooth sensor. I had no problem pairing up a Garmin HRM Pro Plus chest strap and a Polar chest strap (if you’re in need of one, browse Coach’s recommendations of the best heart rate monitors). There’s also a leaderboard to show where your performance sits among other rowers and it’ll also predict how much distance you’ll cover based on your current effort.

The workouts can be short and sweet or you can go longer and there’s a good filter to find something to suit your mood. There’s enough variety to cater to a beginner who’s just looking to sweat as well as a more advanced exerciser who wants to build their endurance.

The rowing experience itself is impressive and not all that different from the first Hydrow. There’s a welcome range of resistance levels which caters to a mix of abilities, although I suspect some more seasoned indoor rowers might be hoping for a tougher maximum resistance setting. That said I found the resistance, which Hydrow says is designed to mimic rowing on the water, smooth and the workouts challenging. For reference, I’m a pretty fit person who rows a few times a week, and runs and swims regularly. I still think it’s primarily aimed at people that are new to indoor rowing, but the workouts still satisfied me.

One misstep is that you have to use the touchscreen to adjust the resistance, breaking your stroke rhythm. As before, I’d like to see a control a little closer to the handle.

I definitely felt that the Hydrow Wave was a little quieter than the first machine. There’s still the noise of the seat moving on the rail, but it’s a gentle whirring and the resistance wasn’t horribly loud. I felt comfortable using it early in the morning and late at night.

The handle was easy enough to grip, although slightly different from that used on the pricier Hydrow. I did notice on a couple of occasions that the handle was a little rough against my fingers, but on the whole it was comfortable.

The footplates are very accommodating and the strap that keeps feet in place never budged or ever felt loose. The seat is comfortable too and that remained the case even after longer 45-minute sessions.

Is The Hydrow Wave Worth It?

Hydrow has taken the great indoor rowing experience it delivered with its first machine and packaged in a much more compact design.

Crucially, it hasn’t made any major sacrifices in the hardware and software that dramatically changes the user experience. The rower is still good for beginners, but those who could use the motivation of classes to keep them coming back to the rower will also benefit.

Even at the lower price it’s not cheap, and you can pay less for a connected rower, but Hydrow gets more things right than the competition. Until Peloton’s rower surfaces, this is the smart indoor rower and coaching platform to beat.

More Reviews Of Connected Rowing Machines

• Hydrow Rowing Machine Review
• Echelon Smart Rower Review
• ProForm 750R Rowing Machine Review

Peloton is expected to make waves later this year with the release of a rowing machine, but connected-fitness competitor Hydrow is stealing a march on it with the release of the Hydrow Wave in the US today (it’s due for release in the UK in autumn). 

The Hydrow Wave is smaller and lighter than the original machine and, most importantly in this economy, cheaper. Not cheap by any stretch, but at $1,495 it is $1,000 cheaper than the original Hydrow. There’s no price (or other details) for the Peloton rowing machine, so we can’t compare it with that, but it’s more expensive than the Echelon rowing machine and the undisputed best rowing machine – the Concept 2 RowErg – costs even less. While Hydrow has the advantage of a built-in screen to stream live and on-demand workouts, it requires a monthly $38/£39 subscription – something that elicits a sharp intake of breath every time we write it.

There’s no question that Hydrow makes excellent rowing machines, though. Our reviewer gave the original full marks in his Hydrow review because, although it’s expensive, the feel of rowing on it was great and the video workouts had an immersive quality that kept him coming back for more. From the scant information available, including from reviewers, we can’t discern a difference between the two Hydrow machines’ electromagnetic method of resistance and Hydrow Wave owners will have access to the same library of workouts. 

The reviewer was struck by the size of the original and how it dominated a room, so a slimmed-down version is a welcome development. Here’s how the two compare.

One bit of good news is that even though the Wave is shorter, it can still accommodate a rower with up to a 36in inseam, and the max user weight is the same across both machines at 375lb (170kg). Both machines can also be tipped onto their ends and hooked on a wall for secure storage, although that requires a $190 vertical wall attachment which isn’t included in the basic price.  

The Hydrow Wave is available to buy now from Hydrow and Best Buy. 

Rowing machines can be expensive, but if you aren’t prepared to or simply can’t shell out big bucks for the industry-standard Concept2 RowErg (the best rowing machine in Coach’s opinion) or a connected option such as the Hydrow, there are cheaper alternatives like the Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0. While it doesn’t offer follow-along workouts, you can connect the rower to your phone to upgrade the screen, and the machine itself folds up for easier storage.

Bluefin Fitness Blade Air Review: Price & Availability

The Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 is priced at $399/£359, but is often available at a reduced price from the Bluefin Fitness website and third-party retailers. That puts it in the same price realm as rowers such as the JTX Freedom Air, which also uses magnetic resistance and offers connected features like the ability to pair it with heart rate monitors. It’s also cheaper than the DKN H2Oar water rower, which uses water-based resistance, can be stored upright and can be connected to fitness apps as well.

The Set-Up

I’m happy to say, having dealt with a lot of big boxes and heavy lifting lately, that the Blade 2.0 is a much smaller rower that’s easier to get out of the box and put together.

Setting it up took about an hour; there’s a clear set of instructions to follow and all the tools came in the box. You’re basically getting the main frame, pedals and feet in place. It’s small and light enough for one person to assemble, and the trickiest part involves getting the rail connected to the frame.

Once built, I was surprised at how small it was. It doesn’t dominate a room in the same way that other rowers I’ve tested do. You can easily lift the rail to store it upright and there are pads on the stabilisers, so it’s not going to scratch or scuff a hard floor.

It’s significantly lighter than most rowers I’ve tested at around this price, which makes it easier to pull it out when you need to get to work and slide it away when you’re done.

It’s not the sleekest-looking rower I’ve had in my flat. Yes, it’s more space-friendly, but there’s a lot of plastic here and not a lot of character. That’s perhaps not all that surprising given the price, but if you’re hoping for a showpiece of your home gym, you’ll be left disappointed.

The Experience

The first thing that strikes you when you’re in the seat is that it feels small. I’m not exactly the biggest person, but I think someone with a larger frame may feel this rower isn’t the most accommodating. That small design extends to elements like the handle, which felt like it could do with wider arms and wasn’t the most comfortable to grip. 

Once you’re ready to get rowing, you have a couple of display options. The integrated one is a basic LCD affair, which can scroll through speed, time, distance, strokes per minute and calories burned. In front of that display is a shelf to prop up a tablet or phone.

It’s compatible with a very basic but free companion app called Fitness Data where you can simply track your stats in real time with a gaming section listed as “coming soon”. Connecting to the app over Bluetooth was fine, but it’s bare-bones stuff and doesn’t offer you anything in terms of structured workouts or classes.

The rowing experience is underwhelming. With such a small range of resistance levels (eight), the highest setting doesn’t provide enough resistance for my tastes. Bluefin uses magnetic resistance, which is relatively quiet in operation but in this instance doesn’t provide the smoothest or slickest rowing experience. Plus, the chain needed to be longer.

If you’re starting out on a rowing machine and don’t want to go heavy on resistance, then you may get on with this rower, but as you progress you may outgrow this machine.

There are other elements in the design that I didn’t particularly love. The padded seat wasn’t super-comfortable and, again, was on the small side, while the tilting, anti-slip foot pedals and the straps that keep your feet in place felt cheap.

Using the connected support will help you get the most out of it, but the rowing experience that underpins that connected support doesn’t feel all that satisfying.

Verdict

The Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 is an option if you’re short on space, but the overall rowing experience isn’t the slickest I’ve used. The limited range of resistance levels is unlikely to satisfy those who want a tough workout, and some elements like the foot pedals and handles feel a little cheap. 

You do have to keep in mind the price, especially if you can pick it up at a reduced price. However, I’d still say it’s worth spending a bit more to get a much better rowing workout experience.

More Rowing Machine Reviews

• Hydrow review: The Peloton of rowing machines lives up to its billing
• Echelon Smart Rower review: A slick, if expensive, machine for rowing beginners
• ProForm 750R Rowing Machine review: A more affordable way to bring connected rowing workouts home
• JTX Freedom Air Rowing Machine review: Simple and stylish
• DKN H2Oar Water Rower review: A solid water rower that can be stored upright

If you have space for only one cardio machine in your house, it’s difficult to make a case for anything other than the rowing machine. Owning one of these means you can get a low-impact, full-body workout as well as improving your cardiovascular fitness, any time you want. 

There’s also one straightforward stand-out pick which isn’t the most expensive rowing machine—the Concept2 RowErg. It’s used by Olympians and is hardy enough to feature in commercial gyms.

You can still find a good machine for less, and rowing machines have also caught up with the best exercise bikes and best treadmills by connecting to subscription apps for follow-along video workouts. These are especially useful if you need a primer on rowing form and could do with some help planning your workouts (although our rowing workout plan does the same and it’s free). Hydrow is our top pick of this type of rowing machine, but Echelon and ProForm offer a similar experience for less money. 

Peloton has released its connected rowing machine, the Peloton Row, in the US, and the brand’s exercise bikes and treadmills really are best in class. However, we haven’t been able to test it yet and won’t include it on this list until we do.

If you’d like to know more about the types of rowing machines available and the range of features on offer we have a buying guide below which is full of expert advice and the benefit of our experience reviewing rowing machines.

How I Test

The Quick List

Best rowing machine

The Concept2 RowErg deserves its reputation as a well-built workhorse. It stood out from the off by being more straightforward to assemble than other rowers I’ve tried. It feels built to last, but surprisingly isn’t as cumbersome to maneuver as similarly-priced rowers.

The air resistance offers a similar feel to rowing on water and the damper means you can change the drag factor so each pull feels lighter or heavier. The flywheel also wasn’t as noisy as I expected it to be.

The display feels dated, but it’s readable and includes every metric you could want. It also includes a useful selection of pre-set workouts, including, to my surprise, some enjoyable gamified options.

The RowErg can connect to third-party apps too, and there’s a smartphone/tablet holder under the screen to follow video workouts. I tried it with the subscription app Fiit, which offers well-designed classes that push you hard. There were a few drop-outs, but it wasn’t clear which component was at fault, and overall it didn’t detract from the experience.

The Concept2 RowErg isn’t cheap, but it’s a lot cheaper than many smart rowers, and the connected app subscriptions are also cheaper than those offered by Hydrow and Ergatta. All in all, the RowErg’s design, features and extra smarts means it easily justifies its price.

Read more in my Concept2 RowErg review

Best rowing machine for beginners

Hydrow earned the title of the Peloton of rowing machines at launch, with a sleek-looking rowing machine and an easy-to-use app full of engaging classes and scenic rows. The Hydrow Wave is the follow-up which takes up less space, has a smaller screen and costs a lot less. It retains the well-designed workouts led by likable trainers, training programs and technique tutorials, though, making the Hydrow Wave the obvious choice for most people.

At $1,495/£1,595 it’s still at the more expensive end of smart rowers and the membership is $39/£38 a month too. But everything—from the hardware to software—is user-friendly and it helps beginners learn the correct rowing form to reduce the risk of injury. The Hydrow Row will also continue to pose a challenge as you get fitter for years into the future. If you have the money, it’s the smart choice.

Read more in my Hydrow Wave review

Best folding rowing machine

A folding rowing machine is the way to go if you don’t have a lot of room to play with. With the JTX Freedom Air, you’re getting a good-sized option that is a bit on the tall side, but does offer a simple folding design along with wheels to make maneuvering it around a room easier to do. 

It’s not the only folding indoor rower out there, the ProForm 750R, Echelon Row and BlueFin Fitness Blade 2.0 (below), all have a rail that hinges upwards, but I found JTX’s simple system the best of the options I tried. It’s only available in the UK, so I’d point Americans in the direction of the ProForm 750R.

The stroke action is good, with a magnetic-based resistance system adding extra resistance on top of that provided by the flywheel. Given the air resistance, it’s not especially noisy when in use. It only offers basic workout programs and connectivity is limited to Polar heart rate monitors.

It may prove a little lacking for more seasoned indoor rowers and I found it did move about on hard floors when rowing at higher intensities.

It’s a good option for beginners or someone looking to buy a rowing machine that complements wider training goals, rather than buying a rowing machine as the only workout option you use.

Read more in my JTX Freedom Air review

Best magnetic rowing machine

If you don’t want your rowing to disturb the people you live with, get a rowing machine with magnetic resistance. I rate the ProForm 750R as a great-value pick.

It’s quiet and the stroke action feels smooth. There are also 24 levels of resistance, which are put to good use in companion app iFit’s connected rowing workouts where the resistance changes automatically according to the virtual trainer’s instructions. iFit requires a subscription, but it’s significantly cheaper than companion apps from Hydrow, Ergatta and Echelon. It lacks the live classes you’ll find on Hydrow and Ergatta, but I enjoyed the mix of studio classes and scenic outdoor rows on offer.

Although it can fold, the 750R is big and heavy and I’d plan on having a dedicated space for it—ideally somewhere next to a socket since it needs to be plugged in. You also need to supply your own screen for the connected workouts and it’s best if you have a tablet. I found the clamp on the holder can press the buttons on the side of a smartphone. 

As long as you have the space, tablet and modest budget for the ongoing app subscription, you’ll get a solid rower that won’t annoy the neighbors or the person in the next room trying to watch TV.

Read more in my ProForm 750R review

Best water rower

The Ergatta is a connected rower that is very expensive. It’s $2,499/£2,495 up front and membership to the continually-evolving gaming-centric platform is $29/£29 a month.

You do get what you pay for, though. The WaterRower is a beautifully made machine and is a pleasure to row. I liked that it was delivered in multiple boxes so it was much easier to carry inside, and once set up it has a smaller footprint compared with other smart rowers.

The WaterRower is available without the Ergatta integration, but many people will find the gamified approach more motivating than rowing under their own steam or watching PTs in fitness studios telling you what to do. If that sounds appealing, Ergatta will be well worth the extra outlay. Or consider the Ergatta Lite, launched at the end of 2023, a smaller, lighter and cheaper second-generation model.

Read more in my Ergatta review

Best compact rowing machine

The Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 is by far the smallest rowing machine I’ve tested and the most affordable, often available for well below its $399/£359 list price. That means there’s more plastic used than on other rowing machines, but it at least makes it light and easy to set up.

The footplates and seat do feel better suited to smaller frames, while you’re getting a pretty basic LCD screen to check your stats up ahead. It does connect to a companion app, but it’s pretty basic.

It uses magnetic resistance so it’s relatively quiet when in use, but the range of resistance levels will leave more experienced indoor rowers wanting more. 

All the same, it’s a compact rowing machine that offers a good-enough rowing experience and undercuts everything else on this list.

Read more in my Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 review

Best rowing machine for building muscle

The Technogym SkillRow is a gym-grade rowing machine with a big metal frame that can handle whatever you can throw at it. It also has a unique power mode which adds so much extra magnetic resistance on top of that provided by the flywheel that you can perform reps of the stroke to develop strength and power.

It also operates as an excellent connected rower, although you need to supply a tablet or phone to sit above the big, bright screen which displays your stats. You’re not restricted to using just Technogym’s own app either, which isn’t the case with Hydrow, Peloton or Ergatta.

That hulking frame can be separated into two parts to make it a little easier to put away, but this is one ideally that you’ll have a permanent spot for. 

It’s considerably more expensive than most smart rowers and a few thousand dollars more than our top rower pick the Concept2 RowErg, but the power mode does offer something no other rowing machine does.

Read more in my Technogym Skillrow review

Compare Rowing Machine Specs

Rowing Machine Buyer’s Guide

Types of rowing machine

Rowing machines can be categorised by the type of resistance they offer – air, magnetic or water. Each has a distinctive feel and sound.

When you row on an air rower, air passes through a flywheel, and typically the amount of air allowed to flow through is controlled by a damper at the side of the wheel, which can be moved up and down. Having the damper on high enables you to use the rower for a strength workout, whereas a low setting gives a lighter, faster feel that’s great for cardio. The main drawback of air resistance rowing machines is that they can be noisy.

The resistance in magnetic machines is provided by – wait for it – electromagnets. This type of resistance is found at the cheaper end of the market, and on high-end connected rowers. Magnetic resistance tends to be quieter than air or water rowers and it’s easier to change the resistance level – there’s usually a dial within easy reach on cheaper models. Basic magnetic resistance can suffer from a uniform action, though, where the feeling of pressure stays the same throughout the stroke. It isn’t to everybody’s taste so it’s a good idea to try one before committing. Connected machines are able to improve the feel of the stroke to better replicate rowing on water with a combination of eddy current brakes and software. 

The third and most stylish option is a water rower – the solid wood ones in particular can look great in your living room. They have a smooth feel and a distinctive whooshing sound which many people love. The disadvantages are that they can be heavy and expensive. There’s no easy way to alter the resistance, either – you have to pour more water into the tank or drain it.

Elite rowers tend to favour air resistance machines, according to world champion rower Matthew Tarrant, who is the founder of rowing training platform RowElite. In part that’s because of the feel of the stroke. “You tend to feel most of the resistance during the first half of the stroke as you build the acceleration and move the flywheel,” he says.

Tarrant points out that the rowing machines most widely used by international rowing teams are the Concept2 and the RP3, both of which use air resistance. “Water rowers and magnetic machines are more for commercial use at the moment.”

What are the key features to look for on a rowing machine?

“My three main features are a comfy seat that slides up and down, a clear monitor that displays the relevant information, and the ability to check my resistance level [on an air rower] using the drag factor,” says Tarrant. “Having a seat that moves freely will help alleviate any excessive pulling on the hamstrings, a clear display helps you to stay consistent and accountable, and being able to see your drag factor means you can be certain that you’re always working with the same level of resistance rather than just trusting a damper setting.”

In truth, most casual exercisers won’t need (or want) to set a specific drag factor, which measures the speed at which the flywheel slows down. A low to medium damper setting an air rower will suffice (between 3 and 5 on a Concept2).

Check which statistics are displayed on the monitor before buying, especially if you are serious about rowing. If you will be taking part in indoor rowing competitions where there are standard metrics, the industry-standard Concept2 is your best bet. Keep an eye out for the inclusion of a heart rate metric as well: this indicates the machine can sync with a heart rate monitor. This can be a highly useful feature, especially when training to improve your cardio fitness.

How much do you need to spend?

The price range of rowing machines is wide, going from low three figures up to several thousand. Unusually, it’s not the case that the best rowing machine is the most expensive. The Concept2 RowErg doesn’t hit four figures, yet is considered among the best on the market. That’s not half bad for a machine that Olympians train on and that is used for setting world records in indoor rowing.

So why pay more? The more expensive rowing machines offer HD touchscreens, sophisticated companion apps, online fitness and rowing programmes, and interactive classes, although it’s possible to find pretty decent free resources online. Much will depend on whether you want a highly reliable, no-frills rower, or a slick and immersive experience, although bear in mind the latter will entail a monthly app subscription on top of the purchase price.

If you row on the water as well as indoors, you’ll probably have come across dynamic rowing machines. Instead of moving your body backwards and forwards on a monorail, these machines are designed so that your feet come towards you, mimicking the feel of rowing on the water. Some rowers swear that they are kinder to your back too.

The best-known dynamic rower, the RP3, costs a lot more than most static rowers but is radically different and may be worth the money if you take competitive rowing on water seriously. If you’ll only be rowing indoors and haven’t had rowing training, you might well struggle to master the distinctive motion and probably wouldn’t find the hefty price worth paying.

If you’re looking to spend as little as possible, you can still pick up a pretty decent rowing machine for half of what the Concept2 costs. If you just want to sweat, these rowers fit the bill, though do try to have a go on them before buying because some cheaper models can be a bit uncomfortable.

Other features to look out for

Some machines fold up or stand on end for storage. If you don’t have much space, this could be a game changer. Some rowers can be very heavy too. It’s something to bear in mind when considering delivery options, especially if you live in a top floor flat.

Finally, think about the sound of the machine. If you want something that just purrs gently, a magnetic rower is your best option, though you may find the sound of the water or air rower pleasingly mesmeric.

Whatever kind of machine you have in mind, and whatever budget you have, we’ve got the perfect rower for you in this round-up, ordered from least expensive to most.

If exercise bikes and treadmills don’t do it for you, the unique hit of cardio and strength training a rower provides may get your juices flowing. And if that appeals but you don’t really know where to start, a smart rower with an accompanying app to direct your training can help you get more out of your time on the rower.

That’s what Echelon offers. The company began by selling a Peloton-rivalling Echelon EX-3 exercise bike coupled with on-demand and live classes in your home. Now it’s applying that format to rowing machines.

It requires a serious and ongoing investment, however. The rower alone will set you back £1,199, making it more expensive than the Concept2 RowErg which is widely regarded as the best rowing machine. For access to the classes, you’ll also need to subscribe to the Echelon Fit app (£24.99-£39.99 a month, depending on whether you buy a rolling, one-year or two-year membership). Without this, though, you can still use it as a normal rower when plugged in.

As on its spin bike, Echelon’s Smart Rower requires you to supply the screen in the form of either a smartphone or tablet. This was an advantage on the bike, which contributed to it being substantially cheaper than Peloton, and if you didn’t have a tablet already you could use the money saved to buy one. Few rowers come with integrated screens, however.

The Set-Up

First prepare for the delivery of a big box, and ideally line up someone to help manoeuvre it into your home. Even getting it out of the box was a tall order and I needed to sit the box on its side to slowly nudge out all of the pieces.

Getting it put together is more straightforward. The instruction booklet is easy to follow and the sets of screws are clearly labelled and separated to make sure you’re using the right ones at each stage. The flywheel is on the heavy side and you’ll need to rest it on its side to get the front legs on to it. A couple of big cushions propping it up did the trick for me, but it would’ve been easier with someone to hold it in place.

The rail can fold up to save on floor space, though it retains a big footprint. While there are wheels up front to make it easier to move, at 49kg it’s still on the heavy side. If you have room to keep it permanently unfolded, that’s the best scenario. It is easy to unfold, though, and if you forget to wait for the click to signify it’s securely locked in place – as I did a couple of times – it’s quickly obvious so you can rectify the issue before doing yourself a mischief.

The build of the rower looks and feels more high-grade than Echelon’s bike. It uses less plastic, it stayed firmly in place during rowing sessions and it feels like it’s built to last.

The screen holder securely locks your device in place and you can adjust the angle to get a more comfortable view of the classes.

The foot pads are wide enough to accommodate big, bulky trainers and use Velcro straps to make it easier to get off the rower quickly. This is useful when following some of the app’s strength classes, which break up the rowing with dumbbells and bodyweight sections. (You’ll need to supply your own dumbbells.)

The Echelon App

The rower connects to the app using Bluetooth and works well. I had no issues pairing with several Android phones and there were no connection drop-outs during classes.

The app is split into Featured, OnDemand and Live sections with a Progress tab to keep track of the classes you’ve completed. You can also connect to Strava and Fitbit accounts to send your data to those platforms and I found it synced with my Strava profile swiftly after I completed a session.

There’s more than 900 on-demand classes available, which can be filtered by duration, experience level and instructor, and there are live classes broadcast throughout the day. The schedule is not as full as Echelon’s live cycling classes, with something like three to five live rowing classes a day. That does make for a bit of a wait at some points, though you can set up notifications to remind you about upcoming classes.

During a class, there’s a live leaderboard to see how you rank against others, as well as rowing metrics like resistance level, stroke count and overall output. You can also see a breakdown of distance covered and speed, and you can pair up a heart rate monitor via Bluetooth as another way to measure effort levels. It quickly picked up both MyZone and Garmin chest strap monitors I used to deliver the most reliable real-time heart rate data.

There are also scenic classes which let you virtually row on a river in places like Thailand and Dubai. Echelon also offers FitPass classes, which are performed off the rower and cover the likes of yoga, meditation, barre and HIIT.

The Experience

Surprisingly, the rower operates in a very quiet manner, which your housemates and neighbours will appreciate. There’s no rattle from the resistance changes and the very little noise it does emit comes from sliding your body up and down the rail as you row. That’s in contrast to when I put JTX’s Freedom Air through its paces. While having a bigger screen would have made for a more immersive experience, I found I could keep my focus on classes using a phone and headphones.

I tried a range of on-demand and live classes working on strength, endurance and sometimes a bit of both in fusion sessions. The workouts were testing even though they don’t go beyond the 45-minute mark. While many do require jumping off the rower for short periods you can continue rowing if you prefer and you’ll still manage to get a good workout. For most people, a few 30-minute workouts a week that mix resistance work with rowing will have a positive impact on their fitness.

The classes are well structured and thankfully the instructors have toned down the over-exuberant style in some of Echelon’s spinning classes. There’s a welcome emphasis on correct rowing technique to ensure you get the most out of the sessions, although at times it can feel like it cuts into some of the shorter classes. It will, however, make sure you’re using the right resistance levels and stroke rate.

The rower offers 32 levels of magnetic resistance, brought to life through magnets and a 3.5kg flywheel that combine to offer a wide range of resistance and a smooth, quiet operation. That resistance level can be changed using two buttons in the centre of the handles. It’s a smart place to put them because if you row with a narrow grip, you can reach them with your thumbs and not interrupt your stroke rhythm. Even with a wide grip, it’s not too much effort to stretch over and reach them.

I found the resistance levels pretty light until you get into the high 20s and 30s. I’m a regular runner and swimmer so I keep relatively fit and didn’t find it too challenging to move up to the tougher resistance levels. That does mean it’s going to be more suitable to someone who’s new to indoor rowing, offering the potential to progress to tougher resistance levels.

Verdict

The Echelon Smart Rower is expensive whichever way you slice it, but it is a robust and good-looking machine, and the platform is easy to use and set up. The classes give you an effective workout and promote better rowing technique in the process. The library of workouts and live classes is smaller than what is on offer for Echelon’s bike, but hopefully that will quickly grow and there’s enough there already to put your fitness to the test.

Before buying, make sure you’re OK with the ongoing cost of subscribing to the app, even if you do also have the option to jump on and use it outside of a class. The classes are really what will make you want to use it regularly.

That’s not a problem with the slightly cheaper Concept2 RowErg. While that’s aimed at serious rowers, it does now also offer greater support for coaching and training apps like asensei, which is available for a cheaper monthly fee.

All the same, we’d recommend the Echelon Smart Rower as a strong option for anyone that likes the idea of getting fit on a rowing machine but needs some guidance to make best use of the investment. If you put the time in, you’ll soon justify the cost.

More Rowing Machine Reviews

• ProForm 750R Rowing Machine review: A more affordable way to bring connected rowing workouts home
• JTX Freedom Air Rowing Machine review: Simple and stylish
• DKN H2Oar Water Rower review: A solid water rower that can be stored upright
• Hydrow Rowing Machine: The Peloton of rowing machines lives up to its billing

If you don’t have room for a treadmill or don’t like getting on an exercise bike, rowing machines offer a home cardio fix and put more of your muscles to work than indoor running and cycling.

You certainly don’t have to spend big on the very best rowing machines either. The JLL R200+, for instance, costs less than £250 and uses magnetic resistance, but if your budget stretches to £600, the JTX Freedom Air includes a fan to add air resistance to the mix. It’s the most affordable option in JTX’s range, sitting below Ignite Air rower, which drops the magnetic resistance entirely and is a larger machine.

The Set-Up

The set-up is very straightforward and the small set of tools you need are included in the long box the rowing machine arrives in. The most challenging part is getting the fairly heavy fan in place, but the polystyrene packaging comes in handy in this regard, especially if you’re putting it together on your own which took me around an hour and 40 minutes and was easy enough. Like most indoor rowers, it doesn’t need to be plugged in, although the monitor required a couple of AA batteries.

The pedals can be adjusted to one of seven points and are wide enough to accommodate a range of foot sizes even in bulky trainers. The machine is able to handle weights of up to 135kg so it’s suitable for most people.

When you’re ready to row, grasp the handle to wake the monitor up and then you can simply hit the start button where you can view time, strokers per minute, distance in metres, total number of strokes and calories burned. If you have a Polar heart rate monitor, there’s a built-in receiver to relay that data to the monitor as well. I wore a Polar H9 chest strap and as long as you’re in close proximity to the monitor, it’ll pick up the sensor and display the data.

Below the handle is where you’ll find the resistance dial, which offers eight levels of magnetic resistance, in addition to the resistance from the fan.

The Experience

The roller under the seat moves smoothly and with minimal noise, while the seat itself has a comfortable amount of padding. While the addition of the fan makes the machine look the business and gives a feel more akin to rowing in water, where the early part of the stroke requires greater effort, it does make a lot of noise. That said, it’s a swirling, somewhat soothing noise.

The feet that are supposed to keep the machine in place didn’t do a very good job of it. I had the rower on hardwood flooring and as soon I ramped up the intensity it started to move about. In the end, I had to prop it against a box to make sure it didn’t budge.

The pedals are more secure. If you’re mixing rowing with some bodyweight exercises that require jumping quickly out of the seat, they can be a bit fiddly to unfasten, but crucially they do keep your feet locked in place when you are on it.

The monitor is pretty standard, with up and down buttons to scroll through the limited settings, but it’s a good size and is easy to read even in full flow.

Workout programmes are a bit on the basic side, letting you chase down a target distance or seeing how far you can row for a period of time. There’s also a race mode to take on the computer, which while a bit fiddly to set up does add another dimension to training.

If you’re rowing for more than half an hour, the handles can feel a little hard going on the palms. If you accidentally let go of the handles too quickly, the foam handles around them have a habit of flying off too. The Freedom Air worked well for shorter interval sessions, though.

The maximum resistance may leave those who train frequently, on a rower or otherwise, a little underserved. I run and swim up to six times a week, fitting in some gym sessions too, and while the highest resistance setting did work me hard, it maybe could’ve done with a few extra levels to let you crank things up more.

When the rowing action is over, the Freedom Air folds easily. The back lifts towards the heavier part of the frame and the wheels let you move it into a corner. It does stand tall, which will limit where you store it.

Verdict

JTX Freedom Air is a decent indoor rowing machine. Frills are limited, with the emphasis on offering a smooth, comfortable experience and a resistance range that will let you raise effort levels or take things down a notch for recovery.

It’s far away from the price of top-end rowers like Concept 2’s range (from £860, with an 11-week waiting list), which will give you more connectivity options and can be paired with apps to bolster training options. What the Freedom Air does bring is something that feels built to handle tough sessions and an attractive look. Especially that big fan up front.

If you’re getting into rowing for the first time and looking for an indoor rowing machine that will make you sweat and goes big on style too, the Freedom Air certainly fits the bill – just budget for an exercise equipment mat if you have hardwood floors.

More Rowing Machine Reviews

• Hydrow rowing machine review: The best connected rowing machine
• Echelon Row smart rower review: A slick, if expensive, connected option for beginners
• ProForm 750R rowing machine review: A more affordable way to bring connected rowing workouts home
• DKN H2Oar Water Rower review: A surprisingly smart water rower that can be stored upright

The appeal of owning a water rowing machine is that pulling a paddle through water gives you a better sense – in both feel and sound – of splashing around on a river than pulling against magnetic resistance.

The DKN H2Oar is, at first glance, a wildly overpriced water rower – it’s listed at £1,799 on the DKN website. However, DKN is the in-house cardio machine brand of retailer Sweatband, which appears to have the H2Oar on a permanent reduction to £699. At that price it represents good value, especially since it offers Bluetooth to connect with a heart rate monitor or a training app like Kinomap. That means it matches up well to WaterRower, one of the best rowing machines.

The Set-Up

One of the appealing things about a water rower is that there’s no heavy flywheel to wrestle into place, which you have to do when putting together rowing machines that use air resistance like the JTX Freedom Air or Echelon Smart Rower. The H2Oar is straightforward to build, with everything you need provided in the box: an Allen key and a small collection of screws, all clearly labelled and matching the instructions.

The trickiest part is manoeuvring the rail into place in the main body, but it’s still a one-person job. Other than that you just need to get the display in place and drop four AA batteries into it and you’re ready to add water.

How much you fill it dictates how heavy or light the rowing feels, and there are six levels marked on the tank. Going for a higher water level will simulate moving a heavier boat. The resistance level is dictated by how fast or slow your rowing action is.

The H2Oar is unique in that it uses a vertical tank, rather than a horizontal tank, such as those found on most other water rowers – including DKN’s more affordable model, the Riviera (£599).

We chose the maximum fill level to get the toughest rowing feel. There’s an awkward-looking utensil included to help you add water slowly and carefully to the desired level, but we found a watering can got the job done quicker. To drain it, you’ll need to use the utensil because you can’t remove the tank from the frame and tip it out.

The large footplates work well, with the Velcro straps providing a comfortable and secure fit. The angle of the LCD screen is easily adjusted and there’s also a phone or tablet holder so you can replace the display with your stats in a connected app.

While well built, the H2Oar is run-of-the-mill looks-wise. It might have been nice to make the tank more of a design feature, but perhaps it's safest to hide it away. DKN does advise that water is refreshed, ideally every six months using a water purification tablet, particularly if the rower is positioned in bright daylight, which can create an environment where bacteria and algae thrive. These tablets are readily available from sports stores and online retailers.

Like all rowers, the H2Oar sucks up considerable floor space (212.5cm x 51.5cm), but it can be stored upright (93cm x 51.5cm, but just over two metres high) without needing to drain it. There are wheels and a large stopper behind the tank to make sure it’s stable on its end and it’s surprisingly easy to move around. If you don’t have enough space to allocate permanently to a water rower, this one provides a great solution.

The Experience

Rowing on the H2Oar is a satisfying experience. Unlike rowers that use magnetic flywheels, your intensity influences the degree of resistance, so the harder you row the tougher it feels.

The workout modes on offer are standard fare. The quick start mode tracks distance, speed, stroke rate, workout duration, total number of strokes and watts, and the stats are easy to read. To check the accuracy, I cross-referenced what was on the display with readings from Garmin’s Enduro multisport watch’s indoor rower tracking feature and they matched.

The buttons below the display offer interval, variable intensity, race and custom modes. That custom mode means you can set it up to target certain stroke rates or distances if you’re following a training plan.

One extra metric can be brought into the fold to judge your efforts and that’s heart rate (or pulse as it’s referred to on this rower) by connecting to an external sensor. I tried it out with Polar’s H10 and Verity Sense monitors in intervals mode and had no issues pairing either.

I tested the H2Oar with a mix of quick start sessions, Coach’s own collection of calorie-burning rowing workouts, following rowing workouts on Apple Fitness+ and sessions on the Kinomap app which can connect directly to the machine. While Kinomap does include guided workouts, these aren’t the slick studio workouts you’ll find on the Echelon or Hydrow connected rowers. The app’s MO is first-person videos of stunning rivers, shot from a boat, overlaid with your real-time stats displayed on your device screen instead of the built-in one.

The machine didn’t budge or slip on my wooden floor as I upped the intensity. The handle is comfortable to grip and the seat, while unusually raised from the rail, offered solid foundations for a good row.

As you pick up speed the splashing sound of the water becomes more noticeable. On one hand it’s soothing, on the other no-one will be able to watch TV in the same room if you’re powering through an interval session.

There wasn’t really anything to fault about the experience of rowing on the H2Oar. It felt comfortable and secure and, crucially, gave me the feeling that I was working hard.

Verdict

The DKN H2Oar water rower is easy to set up, easy to store and sounds great (if a little noisy) and it delivers a tough rowing session.

While it doesn’t offer the glitzy fitness class experience, it still connects to a training app that – at less than £10 a month – is far cheaper than the likes of Echelon’s.

For the money, we’d have liked something a little easier on the eye, but it does feel like it’s built to withstand plenty of hard rowing sessions. If you’re set on a connected water rower under £1,000 then the H2Oar is a solid choice.

Buy from Sweatband | £699

More Rowing Machine Reviews

• Echelon Smart Rower review: A slick, if expensive, machine for rowing beginners
• ProForm 750R Rowing Machine review: A more affordable way to bring connected rowing workouts home
• JTX Freedom Air Rowing Machine review: Simple and stylish
• Hydrow Rowing Machine: The Peloton of rowing machines lives up to its billing

The Peloton connected exercise bike is a phenomenon, so it’s little wonder that competitors quickly sprang up, and the format of live and on-demand classes streamed to a built-in screen was transposed to other types of cardio machines. The Peloton of treadmills is, well, the Peloton Tread, but there are a number of rivals vying to be the Peloton of rowing machines (at least until the Peloton rowing machine goes on sale).

The Hydrow got there first, however, and takes its place among the very best rowing machines, with its large built-in touchscreen offering live or on-demand workouts from a subscription app. Perhaps its most Peloton-like characteristic is that it costs more than its competitors.

The Hydrow costs £2,295 for the machine and requires a monthly subscription of £38. The Echelon Smart Rower costs £1,199 for the rower (there’s no built-in screen – you use a smartphone or tablet) but has a more expensive monthly subscription of £39.99. NordicTrack’s RW900 connected rower is £1,499 for the machine and £29.99 a month for access to its iFit platform (although a one-year subscription is included).

In Peloton’s case the cost is justified by a superior experience. Hydrow, too, aims to offer an all-in-one package that not only will keep you coming back for more, but will also help you become a better indoor rower.

The Set-Up

The Hydrow is huge. It’s the biggest rowing machine I’ve tried, measuring 219cm long, 64cm wide and 120cm high. There’s a sizable display too, which adds to its already quite hulking frame. Ideally you’ll have a dedicated room for it, or a particularly spacious area in a living room or garage gym to put it in.

The box it’s delivered in is a monster too. It was so big that the rower had to be taken out to get it up the stairs to my flat. The usual delivery service will drop it outside of your property, so the size of this thing is something to keep in mind.

There are wheels in the front of the frame so it can be moved around by one person and it can be stored upright, but you’re going to have to stump up another £70 for the upright storage kit (a sturdy hook for a wall, essentially) to do that. The Hydrow is big and heavy, so it’d be preferable to have a dedicated space for it, rather than wrestling with it before and after every workout.

I was lucky enough to have the Hydrow assembled for me, but in general you will need to put it together yourself. It involves getting the front wheels in place and attaching the display. I’d estimate it would be a 30- to 45-minute, two-person job – you’ll need someone to hold the front of the aluminium and steel frame while the front wheels are attached. The display is a high-quality, 56cm HD touchscreen with an adjustable angle, and it can be folded flat so it doesn’t get in the way when storing the machine vertically.

The Hydrow needs to be plugged in for the electromagnetic resistance to work. You can row without power, but you won’t be able to alter the resistance. There’s a switch near the front of the wheels to turn it on, which boots up the large display that runs on software based on Google’s Android operating system. If you’ve used an Android phone or tablet, navigation will feel familiar.

The first step is to connect to your home Wi-Fi, with the big on-screen keyboard making it easy to tap in your password. Then you drop in your Hydrow subscription code.

An optional part of the process is downloading the companion smartphone app (App Store and Google Play). It adds a convenient way to check activity feeds, your stats, and the schedule of live classes, as well as following the workouts that don’t require the rower.

The first time you log on to Hydrow there’s an introductory video covering fundamental rowing technique and a guide to the on-screen data on display while you row. After that, every time you switch it on you’re presented with a quick-start recommended workout.

You swipe up for more introductory workouts and four-week programmes to follow, which essentially bundle workouts into training camps for beginners, and to improve your endurance or ability to row at speed.

This is also the place where you can see upcoming live rows, featured rowing workouts and popular classes along with the athletes and trainers who lead the classes. There’s a welcome mix of expertise here with some Olympic-level rowers alongside personal trainers.

The Library section contains on-demand workouts, which you can filter by things like duration, trainer, workout type and location. There’s also the Journeys mode, which allows you to ditch the instructors and row solo along scenic rivers, and a variety of other workouts like strength, yoga and Pilates sessions. These are often recommended between rowing workouts, which is a smart touch.

In the Feed tab you can browse workouts other Hydrow users are doing and give them a thumbs up, in the same way you can give Kudos on Strava. There’s also a racing section, which is not the split-screen head-to-head you might imagine, but joining other Hydrow users to chase down a set distance or duration target.

The Progress section provides a calendar view of workouts you’ve logged, along with a list of workouts completed and a record of days active, metres rowed and calories burned. This is also where you’ll find challenges, including one where Hydrow will make a donation to water.org once you rack up 60 days of rowing.

The Experience

Despite the name, the Hydrow is not a water rower like the DKN H2Oar. It uses electromagnetic resistance and a belt drive, like Echelon’s Smart Rower, an approach that should – in theory – mean the machine doesn’t make a huge racket when you use it.

In practice, the Hydrow makes an audible whirring noise that, combined with the sound of the seat moving on the rail, was louder than I anticipated. It certainly made me wary of rowing in the early morning and late at night in case I disturbed my neighbours, and I preferred using headphones to hear the class instructors over the noise.

To adjust the drag (resistance), which recreates the rowing on water sensation, you need to reach forwards to use the touchscreen, which means breaking your stroke rhythm if you’re mid-workout. It would benefit from taking Echelon’s approach and adding resistance buttons to the handles.

Speaking of handles, it’s comfortable to grip, though I found it a bit of a stretch to drop it back into its holder. The footplates are big enough for large trainers and use a Velcro strap to keep your feet in place. The seat cushion is comfortable and it felt as great as it did on my final row as it did on the first.

The live and on-demand workouts are largely the same, featuring an instructor in a boat on the water as opposed to a PT on a rowing machine in a studio. It’s one of the most appealing aspects of Hydrow. The beautiful locations on that big screen make for a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

A live leaderboard is overlaid on the screen, but it can be closed if you want more screen space dedicated to those great backdrops. The stats on display are real-time pace, stroke rate per minute, split times, total metres and calories burned. You can pair up a heart rate monitor for real-time heart rate data too and I had no problems using a Polar H10 chest strap monitor and Polar Verity Sense armband.

I tried a mixture of live classes, of which there are two to three a day, along with on-demand classes and some of the non-rowing workouts. Rowing workouts can last anything from five minutes to 45 minutes and the classes are split into three categories. There’s Drive for maximum effort workouts, Sweat to work on endurance and Breathe as a stress-relieving session. For the workouts off the machine, you don’t get the same category breakdown – instead there are sessions like 10 minutes of glute strength work or a yoga session to help you sleep.

I found the Hydrow provides a satisfying workout, and while it caters to all rowing abilities, its greatest appeal is for beginners. The “learn to row” sessions help to establish correct rowing technique so you get the most from the workouts. By mastering the correct technique, you can make sure that even spending 20 minutes rowing will provide a good workout.

I’m a pretty fit person who runs and swims five to six times a week and the mix of boot camp, strength, HIIT and interval rowing workouts did help me work up a sweat. I would’ve preferred a more challenging maximum resistance level, though.

One thing that stood out to me was how talkative the trainers are. They certainly don’t limit themselves to delivering instructions. You may enjoy this chatty approach, but I took advantage of the option to turn the music up, which makes the chatter less prominent so you can tune it out while still being able to catch the instructions.

That music can be an acquired taste at times and you can’t play your own music through the system. Each workout displays the music for the class and I’ll admit to avoiding taking a class because some of the music on the playlists was a little cheesy for my liking.

Pairing up some headphones via Bluetooth offers the best, most immersive experience. While the built-in speakers offer decent sound quality, they’re fighting a losing battle with the noise once you get rowing.

Ultimately, it’s a polished experience. It’s easy to jump on and get a quick workout fix. If you want something more structured, there’s that too. Plus, with races providing a competitive element, and non-rowing workouts bundled in, there’s plenty to keep your interest.

Verdict

Of the rowing machines I’ve tried, the Hydrow comes the closest to replicating the Peloton experience. It may be expensive and big, but it quickly became something I looked forward to using.

It’s great for beginners and while stronger rowers might demand a wider range of resistance levels, it’s still one that gives a satisfying workout if you’re already pretty fit.

You could pay less for the Echelon Smart Rower, which has a similar set-up and has the advantage of being quieter, but the Hydrow feels like a step up. Yes, it’s expensive, but it works well and offers those gorgeous backdrops to lose yourself in while you row.

More Rowing Machine Reviews

• Echelon Smart Rower review: A slick, if expensive, machine for rowing beginners
• ProForm 750R Rowing Machine review: A more affordable way to bring connected rowing workouts home
• JTX Freedom Air Rowing Machine review: Simple and stylish
• DKN H2Oar Water Rower review: A solid water rower that can be stored upright

Hot on the heels of its last new piece of fitness kit – the Peloton Guide workout camera – Peloton has announced it will be launching a rowing machine in the near future. 

While there’s no official details on when the Peloton rower is expected to be available or its price, at least rowers can finally look forward to a time where they, like runners and cyclists, can use a top-class cardio machine with an outsized HD screen on it to screen guided workouts.

If that appeals, start saving now, because it’s likely the Peloton rower will follow the lead of the Peloton Bike and Tread by being very expensive – the cheapest Peloton Bike is currently £1,345 (reduced from £1,550) and the Tread is £2,445 (reduced from £2,545), and that’s before you consider the £39.99 monthly subscription you need to access the classes.

Peloton’s machines are expensive for sure, but undeniably impressive. We rate the Peloton Tread as one of the best treadmills available, and the Bike delivers the best home spinning experience you’ll find on any exercise bike.

If you’re unable to wait for the Peloton rower, there is already an excellent Peloton-style rower on the market in the Hydrow, which costs £1,995, has a monthly sub of £38 for its classes and tops our best rowing machines list. There is also the Echelon Smart Rower which connects to a partner app full of guided workouts that you can watch via a tablet or phone mounted on the machine. The Hydrow is closer to a Peloton-style experience, while the Echelon is more affordable at £949.

The Peloton rower was announced as part of the company’s keynote speech, with the major software announcement being that Peloton users will soon be able to schedule workouts with friends so you can all sweat together. Another new feature is the ability to track outdoor workouts including running and cycling in the Peloton app, so they will be counted towards Peloton challenges and streaks.

New accessibility features for the Peloton Tread were also announced at the keynote. Blind and low vision users will be able to use Google’s TalkBack feature to navigate the machine, and get feedback on their speed and incline during workouts. 

In the past few years, home cardio machines have embraced the digital revolution, connecting to workout apps so you can invite virtual trainers into your home to guide your training, then switch them off before they overstay their welcome. 

The best rowing machines to have done this cost four figures, but the ProForm 750R offers a more affordable three-figure entry point into the world of connected rowers. After reviewing one of the more expensive connected models, the Hydrow, and the mid-range Echelon Smart Rower, I was keen to see how the 750R stacked up.

As with Echelon’s rower, there’s no built-in screen so you need to use a smartphone or tablet, but unlike the Echelon, the 750R can fold up when not in use.  

ProForm 750R Review: Price And Availability

At £799, the 750R is ProForm’s second priciest rower (the £1,199 Carbon R10 takes top spot). That puts it in a price range with the most established and popular rowers, the Concept2 RowErg and DKN’s H20Ar rower, although neither of these offers guided workouts through connected apps.

In addition to the upfront cost, you should budget for the ongoing cost of the iFit app. ProForm gives you a 30-day family membership subscription to try this out. After that, it’s £10 a month for an individual membership or £28 a month to keep that family membership. That’s more affordable than the £38 a month it costs to subscribe to Hydrow’s app and £29.99 for Echelon’s.

The Set-Up

The box this machine arrives in is big and heavy, so it’s advisable to have someone around to help you with it, especially for when you have to pull the rail away from the main frame so you can drop in the seat and attach the console. That said, it’s straightforward to put it together because there are only a few screws. 

When the rower is fully open, its 213cm (7ft) frame and sizable flywheel feels big in a room of moderate size – it certainly dominated my living room. Thankfully, the rowing machine can be folded up using the handle in the centre. You lift the handle to tuck the rail and seat into the rest of the frame.

There are wheels at the front to make it easier to move around, though I found the top-heavy nature of the design made it awkward to do this. Plus the plastic handle you need to lift it broke during my testing. 

The 750R uses magnetic resistance, which requires electricity to work, and the supplied cable isn’t long so you will need to position the front in close proximity to a plug socket (unless you’re happy to use an extension cable).

The 750R looks like a typical mostly-black rower and can overwhelm a room. There are slicker-looking rowers but it feels well built, with accommodating foot pedals that use Velcro straps to hold your feet in place, and it doesn’t move around when you’re rowing your hardest.

The Experience

I like a lot of resistance when I row and with 24 resistance levels the 750R had something which really put my arms to the test. 

It’s pleasantly quiet, too: a gentle whirring and a little noise from the seat sliding are all that can be heard as you row. While the seat is accommodating and comfortable on short and longer rows, it may be on the narrow side for some.

The console looks basic but does the job, with buttons to adjust the resistance incrementally or in bigger jumps. Resistance is adjusted automatically during connected workouts, according to the demands of your trainer, and it doesn’t lag when it needs to respond to those changes.

The preset options on the machine are simply to row, set a calorie or duration target, or follow a straightforward interval workout. I tried all these modes and can’t say they offered especially engaging or interesting workouts. The interval workout simply jumped from one resistance level back to another for the duration of the workout.

There is a basic, albeit good-size, colour display at the top of the console, which scans through stats in real time including strokes, calorie burn, strokes per minute, resistance level, split times, time, distance covered in metres and wattage.

There are buttons to change the volume of tones when you adjust resistance levels and there is also an AUX-in port to play music through the speaker at the bottom of the console. Disappointingly, it can’t play sound from the iFit app when it’s connected to the machine.

The iFit app makes for a more rewarding experience. There’s a space above the console to secure a tablet or phone, though as we found on one phone we tested, the clamping nature can press down on phone buttons. This is a set-up with a tablet in mind.

The iFit app impresses with both rowing and non-rowing workouts for all abilities. You can browse and filter based on targeting a particular area of the body, focus on building strength, or pick an exotic location to row in.

During workouts, you can see real-time stats like distance, strokes per minute and 500 split per 500 metres. You’re dropped in the view of the trainer for outdoor workouts and in front of an instructor in studio mode. 

I tried a mix of classes based in studios and on location, and found a satisfying mix of difficulty. The trainers don’t grate on you and they work you hard with controlled resistance levels well implemented into the workouts I tried. I found the tracking accurate as well when compared with the indoor rower tracking on the Garmin Epix (Gen 2) – stroke counts and averages largely matched up.

Unfortunately, iFit doesn’t offer live rowing classes to add a competitive element, but you can see your milestones and weekly, monthly and yearly totals to give you a sense of how much time you’ve put in. 

My only other gripe is that because the app offers so many types of workout, searching for rowing-specific workouts can be challenging because the search often returns results for non-rowing workouts too. It’s not a dedicated rowing workout app and it shows, but what is there will serve all levels of rowers well.

Verdict

The ProForm 750R is a solid rower, though by no means perfect. There are elements in the design I didn’t love and while you can fold it down to make it smaller, I’d only recommend it for people with a good amount of space because it has a significant footprint when it’s open.

It offers a smooth and quiet rowing experience with a range of digital resistance levels, which are put to best use when you pair it with an iFit subscription. If you want a more affordable route into connected rowing, it’s a great choice.

Did you watch the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race yesterday and wonder what it would be like to row that stretch of the Thames? If so, you have two options: join one of the London rowing clubs (you’ll find them clustered along the south side of the river in Putney) or buy a Hydrow indoor rowing machine.

Hydrow is a sponsor of the Boat Race and to commemorate its involvement it produced Race on the Thames 2022, a video of Hydrow athletes and local rowers racing along the 4.25-mile course. That video has been added to Hydrow’s library of on-demand workouts, so you can join a boat and row that stretch virtually, with the video streaming to the Hydrow’s built-in 56cm HD touchscreen.

In case you’re unsure about spending four figures on a rowing machine (even one of the best rowing machines), Hydrow is giving you a nudge with a £300 discount. 

The Hydrow is one of the most expensive rowing machines and requires an app subscription of £38 a month, but as our reviewer discovered, it pulls off the connected experience with aplomb. It offers something legitimately different from the all-conquering Concept2, the yardstick against which all other rowers are measured.

Hydrow’s learn-to-row sessions are especially valuable for those who didn’t row at university (ie most of us) because correct rowing technique is difficult to master. There’s also enough depth for more experienced rowers, with daily live classes, an on-demand library, and races providing a competitive element.

Ideally, you’ll have a dedicated space for the Hydrow because we found it big, heavy and noisier than we expected. A garage gym would be perfect, although bear in mind you need power because the Hydrow needs to be plugged in for the electromagnetic resistance and screen to work.

The £300 discount also applies to Hydrow packages, and we’d recommend upgrading to the essentials package, which includes an exercise mat for the machine to protect your floors and dampen the sound. With this offer the mat is reduced by £25, bringing it down to the price of the home cardio machine mat we recommend in our best exercise mats round-up.

We’d swerve the other packages, however. The Enhance package includes the Jaybird Vista headphones for £140. While we rated these as some of the best workout headphones, you can find the next generation for £20 less on Amazon. Similarly, while we approve of the Polar Verity heart rate monitor – naming it the best arm strap in our round-up of the best heart rate monitors – you could buy a cheaper chest strap and get more accurate readings.

Buy from Hydrow | £1,695 (was £1,995) | Hydrow review 

Wouldn’t it be amazing if there was one piece of gym equipment that did it all: developed your cardio fitness, built strength – both muscular and mental – and helped you to get lean? Well, there is. It’s called the rowing machine, and with this weekly indoor rowing workout plan you’ll improve your strength and cardio fitness over four sessions a week.

The biggest benefit of using a rowing machine is that it works the whole body, targeting 86% of your muscles. Your legs will get the bulk of the exercise, with a rowing stroke being made up of about 65-75% lower-body movement. The rest of the stroke is powered by your arms, back and core.

You’ll also get a great cardiovascular workout that allows you to improve your anaerobic threshold as well as developing your endurance.

The Rowing Workout Plan Explained

This plan uses four different types of workout because if you want to maximise the improvements to your fitness, it pays to mix it up. Some sessions will primarily build endurance while others are more strength-based. Varying your workouts may also help to sustain your interest, meaning you’re more likely to keep to the plan, and a consistent training routine is more important than any single workout.

The plan fits in four sessions a week, which might seem low if you’re used to training every day, but don’t forget that rest days are essential to allow your body to repair. If you really want to add more exercise, you can do weight training to complement this programme, as well as stretching, yoga or Pilates sessions.

Rowing technique

Before embarking on this plan make sure your technique is sound. This ensures that you’re maximising your performance – the better your form, the more effective your training will be – and reducing the chances of injury. Our guide to rowing technique is essential reading.

Setting the resistance

If your rowing machine has a damper or dial to adjust the resistance, you may be used to setting it to maximum. This isn’t always the best choice, though. A low to medium setting will give you the most effective workout and can help to protect your back.

Strokes per minute

The recommended strokes per minute (SPM) may be lower than what you’re used to, but the focus of the plan is in efficiency and preserving good technique. Before you increase your effort level try to stick to the suggested SPM for a few sessions – you might be surprised by how well it works.

Exertion levels

The suggested exertion level is on a scale of 1 to 4.

1. Pace that you could sustain over a long period.
2. Sustainable, but starting to get out of breath.
3. Strenuous, but not completely maxed out.
4. Everything you’ve got.

Stretching

You should focus on stretching your lats, triceps, quads, hip flexors, hamstrings and glutes. If you don’t have an existing routine, try this cool-down stretching session.

Workout 1: HIIT

This session requires you to row at maximum effort with rests in between, with the goal of developing your muscular strength and cardio fitness. Try to maintain your split (how long it takes you to row 500m) throughout the workout. If you find you can’t maintain that level of effort, increase the amount of rest and lower the work interval.

Warm-up

Time 5min

Build up the pace and intensity gradually reach 30SPM at full exertion.

Workout

Sets 15 Time 30sec Rest 30sec Intensity 4 SPM 28-30

Progression: increase the work time and decrease rest time by five seconds each week.

Adaptation: reduce the work time and increase the rest time.

Warm-down

Time 5min

Finish with a light paddle, then stretch.

Workout 2: Anaerobic Threshold Workout

Oh, the burn! Prepare yourself because this workout is tough, but it will improve your aerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold level. The stroke rate increases twice in the final four minutes and by the end of each 10-minute set you should feel you’ve reached your limit. You then have four minutes of rest – plenty of time to fully recover from going all-out and getting ready to do it all again. Aim to keep your split consistent between the three intervals and if you’re losing a lot of power by the third set, aim to pace yourself in the earlier intervals the next time you complete the workout.

Warm-up

Time 5min

Build up the pace and intensity gradually to reach 28SPM.

Workout

Repeat the following three times in total.

1. Time 6min Intensity 3 SPM 24
2. Time 2min Intensity 3 SPM 26
3. Time 2min Intensity 3 SPM 28
4. Rest 4min

Progression: reduce the rest period to three minutes. Aim to beat your score from the previous week.

Adaptation: start with two sets rather than three and/or increase rest to five minutes.

Warm-down

Time 5min

Finish with a light paddle, then stretch.

Workout 3: Steady State

Leave your ego at the door for this steady-state session. The goal is to build your endurance and aerobic capacity. Make sure you’re rowing at a pace where you can talk, even if just in short sentences and if you’re familiar with your UT2 zone, try to keep within it. If you want to build on it, increase the length of time you row for rather than increasing the level of exertion.

Warm-up

Time 5min

Build up the pace and intensity gradually until you reach 18-20SPM. If you are pushed for time, use the first five minutes of the workout to warm up.

Workout

Time 40min Intensity 1-2 SPM 18-20

Progression: row for longer, working up to an hour.

Adaptation: start with 20 minutes and build up to 40 minutes over subsequent sessions.

Warm-down

Stretch for five minutes – if you’ve kept it steady you shouldn’t need the usual five minute light paddle.

Workout 4: Mat Attack

Rowing studios that combine indoor rowing with mat work have taken the fitness world by storm. You don’t need to join a class to benefit from this style of workout, though – just try this studio-style session, alternating rowing sprints with circuit training. The goal is to improve your overall conditioning, developing full-body muscular strength and aerobic fitness. If you’re not used to doing circuits, this may take more out of you than you expect. Make sure you include stretching at the end of this workout as well.

The session should take about 30-35 minutes plus warm-down and stretching. If you add a core circuit you can bring it up to an hour in total.

Progression: Add free weights to the mat exercises and/or repeat the final round or add a core circuit at the end.

Adaptation: complete just one round of the sections on the mat work and/or increase the rest periods.

Warm-up

Time 8min

Build from 20SPM at light effort on the rowing machine to 28SPM at firm effort.

Section 1

Complete two rounds in total of the following circuit.

1 Curtsy lunge

Time 1min Rest 0sec

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Take a step back with your right foot, but also move it behind your left leg so your right foot lands outside of your left. Bend both knees to 90°, then push up through your front foot to return to the starting position. Alternate sides with each rep.

2 Jump squat

Time 1min Rest 20sec

Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Bend your knees and push your hips back to lower until your thighs are parallel with the floor. Push through your heels and explode to jump straight up. Land softly and continue straight into the next rep.

Section 2

Get back on the rowing machine and complete this sequence of intervals.

Sets 6 Time 40sec hard at 26-28SPM Recover 20sec light at 22SPM

Section 3

Complete two rounds in total of the following circuit.

1 Reverse lunge

Time 1min Rest 0sec

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Take a step straight back with your right foot. Bend both knees to 90°, then push up through your front foot to return to the starting position. Alternate sides with each rep.

2 Burpee

Time 1min Rest 20sec

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Fold forwards at your hips and bend your knees to place your hands on the floor outside of your feet, then jump your feet back to land in a top press-up position. Jump your feet forwards again to your hands, then jump straight up and bring your hands above your head. Land softly and continue straight into the next rep.

Section 4

Get back on the rowing machine and complete this sequence of intervals. Finish on the mat taking no, or minimal, rest.

1 Row

Sets 5 Time 30sec hard at 28-30SPM Recover 20sec light at 22SPM

2 Mountain climbers

Time 1min Rest 0sec

Get into the high plank position on your hands and feet, with your arms extended and hands beneath your shoulders, and your body forming a straight line from head to feet. Bring one knee towards your chest, then the other. Repeat at pace.

3 Press-up

Time 1min Rest 0sec

Get into the high plank position on your hands and feet, with your arms extended and hands beneath your shoulders, and your body forming a straight line from head to feet. Bend your elbows to lower your chest to the floor, then push back up powerfully. Keep your body in a straight line throughout. Make the move easier by placing your knees on the floor.

Warm-down

Time 5min

Finish with a light paddle on the rowing machine, then stretch.

More Rowing Workouts To Try

• The Ultimate 2K Rowing Plan
• Rowing Machine Workouts For Fat Loss, Plus Building Muscle, Speed And Endurance
• Up The Intensity With This 20-Minute Rowing Workout

Rowing is hard, that’s why Steve Redgrave used to renounce the coxless four after seemingly every Olympics (only to inevitably knuckle down and scoop another gold medal at the next one). More specifically the 2,000m—the distance of every Olympic event emphasises endurance, power delivery and mental toughness. Rowing machine workouts are also one of the few forms of cardio that builds muscle. A 7min 30 sec 2K row is respectable and 7 min is impressive. Here’s how to achieve it.

Rowing Form

Yanking at the handle like a lawnmower? You need to work on your rowing technique. Here’s how the pros pull.

1. The Catch

Keep your arms straight, head up and upper body leaning forward from the hips. “Your shins shouldn’t go past vertical,” says David Hart of Concept2, makers of one of the best rowing machines. “And don’t overreach.”

2. The Drive

Start the drive by pressing with your legs. As you move back lean back slightly, then finally add the arm pull. “Your hands move in a straight line to and from the flywheel,” says Hart.

3. The Finish

“At the end of the stroke, your upper body should be leaning back to about 11 o’clock. Keep the handle held lightly below your ribs, and don’t ‘chicken wing’ it- keep your elbows in.”

4. The recovery

“Extend your arms until they’re straight, then lean forward from your hips. Once your hands have cleared your knees, allow your knees to bend and slide the seat forward.”

The 2K Rowing Plan

Devised by Gym Jones coach Pieter Vodden, this 2K-smashing strategy takes just 11 days to complete. Repeat the whole thing until your best reaches the “respectable” time of 7min 30sec.

Day 1: Row for 30sec with 90sec recovery. Start by aiming to go 150m per 30sec period and increase that by 1m per round. Take it up as far as you can—170 is the goal.

Day 2: Rest

Day 3: Row 10 x 500m with 1min rest. Try and hold your intended 2K split time pace—so if you’re shooting for a 7min 2K, you need to hit 1min 45 sec. On the last round go all out.

Day 4: Rest

Day 5: Rest

Day 6: Warm up for 10 minutes, and then row 1,000m as fast as possible.

Day 7: Rest

Day 8: Warm up for 10 minutes, and then row 1,500m as fast as possible.

Day 9: Rest

Day 10: Rest

Day 11: Warm up for 20 minutes at a slow pace, with occasional power 10s—10 hard strokes at your target 2K pace. Then row 2,000m as fast as possible.

Want to know why we recommend this rower? Read our Concept2 RowErg review. Want more options? Head to our selection of the best rowing machines.

More Sessions On The Rower

• The Rowing Workout Plan To Build All-Round Fitness
• This Rowing HIIT Workout Will Power Up Your Entire Body
• Up The Intensity With This 20-Minute Rowing Workout

When we asked world champion rower Matthew Tarrant why people should opt for the rowing machine in a gym over other options, his first answer was impressively practical.

“The big advantage of using a rowing machine at the gym is that there’s never normally a queue!”

Of course Tarrant, who is the founder of rowing training platform RowElite, went on to give a whole load more reasons why you should give rowing a try once gyms reopen – or buy one of the best rowing machines rather than an exercise bike or a treadmill – along with some tips on how to get started with it if you’re new to the sport.

Why should people use the rowing machine?

Once you try the rowing machine you’ll quickly notice that it is the most effective tool for calorie burn. It’s low-impact and offers a full-body workout. You'll be working your quads, glutes, core, back, shoulders and arms to name a few of the muscles involved. By switching up the resistance levels – the drag factor – and playing around with different stroke rates and durations you can quickly create hundreds of interesting rowing workouts that target areas such as, but not limited to, aerobic fitness, power development and lactate tolerance.

You can use the rowing machine to hit any number of fitness goals then?

The rowing machine is a great tool for gaining general fitness, losing weight, strengthening your core, increasing mobility especially around the ankles and hips, increasing muscular endurance and generating power, and it can also help you become more dynamic and explosive.

How often should you use the rowing machine if you’re new to the sport?

I'd suggest starting at three sessions per week. As with all things, when trying out a new exercise you’ll usually feel stiff and sore the following day because you’ve worked the body in areas that haven’t been worked before. Three sessions per week allows you at least one day of rest between sessions to recover and hopefully put you in a position where you may want to gradually increase the duration that you spend on the machine. I’d suggest that you only increase the duration of the sessions by a maximum of 50% at a time.

• Build strength and fitness with this four-times-a-week indoor rowing workout plan

How can people vary their training on the rower?

If you just jump on the machine and row until the timer runs out then the best place to start is with some structure. The two main areas of focus should be the stroke rate, as in how many strokes you take per minute (s/m), and the split, as in time per 500m. You want to learn how to control both these elements to get the most out of your training. Typically, the higher the s/m the faster you should be covering 500m. A low stroke rate typically improves power and general fitness, and a high stroke rate works on your explosive, dynamic movements and lactate tolerance.

“Rowing is one of the best forms of cardiovascular exercise because it provides a whole-body workout and isn’t load-bearing, so it’s great if you’ve had joint injuries in the past,” says Pete Reed, whose performance at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 helped his four-man crew win gold. “A rowing stroke breaks down into four parts, but they are performed together in a fluid and controlled action. The smoother the action, the more efficient the stroke.”

The catch “Reach forward with knees bent and arms extended, with your body leaning towards the flywheel. Hold your head high. Your arms should be straight, your shoulders relaxed and your back neutral.”

The drive “The drive begins with the legs and back doing all the work. Straighten the legs and push through your back. Your arms should remain straight until the end of the drive when your knees are almost straight, so keep your shoulders relaxed. Pulling with your arms too early will reduce leg power and you may hit your knees with the handle.”

The finish “Retract your shoulder blades and pull the handle into the abs. Any higher and it will make you lean back too far, but any lower and it will get caught by your knees. The legs should be straight and the body leaning slightly back.”

The recovery “After the finish, begin the recovery by letting your hands move back towards the flywheel. Always let your arms straighten before bending your legs to avoid hitting your thighs as the seat moves forward, which would make you lose all your momentum.’”

The catch (again) “The recovery takes you back to the catch position as your arms straighten and your knees bend up, ready to pull again. Make sure your legs do all the work during the drive and don’t pull with your arms until it’s complete. This will allow your action to be as continuous as a conveyor belt and is the only way to ensure that your stroke is as efficient as possible.”

Once you’ve mastered your rowing technique, put it to good use by attempting these rowing workouts, this rowing workout plan or challenge yourself with this ultimate 2K rowing plan.

Focus on quality

“For sustained improvement it’s better to accumulate quality time on the rower,” says Nichol. “Angle the rower towards a mirror to check your form and take short, frequent breaks if you notice you’re hunching or leaning excessively.”

Why it works “Unlike running and cycling, rowing is an unfamiliar movement. This often means your thoracic spine, hamstrings and hip flexors can suffer. Get off the rower for 30-40 seconds and have a quick foam roll or stretch.”

Get your rate right

“If you can control your rate, it becomes a powerful tool to increase speed. Improve it with a simple step-rate workout: five rounds of one minute on, two minutes off. Start at 24 strokes per minute, then increase to 26, then 28, then 30, then maximum rate for the last round.”

Why it works “There are three variables that determine speed: power, stroke length and rate. Less experienced rowers naturally think more about power. Rate and length are often forgotten.”

Set the drag properly

“The drag factor on your rower is the most accurate way to define resistance – to find it on a Concept2, go to More Options on the menu screen, then Display Drag Factor. Do a couple of strokes, and adjust the damper until you’re hitting 130-135.”

Why it works “Just using a damper number isn’t enough: altitude, climate and the age of your rower can all affect the drag, or resistance. Make sure you set the drag for every workout.”

Fix your set-up

“Get your feet right – less flexible people should have their heels lower so they can compress better and row longer, but more flexible people should go higher. Also, sitting in the front half of the seat will be more comfortable over long rows.”

Why it works “This allows the body to move well with optimum biomechanics. Some form guides caution against the shins going past vertical, but if you’re not too tall you can go further forwards to lengthen your stroke.”

Celebrate small victories

“Rowing can be frustrating. When you have a good session or achieve a good score, celebrate it and let people know. You’ve worked hard for it, so enjoy the small successes.”

Why it works “Positive reinforcement has been shown to increase habit retention. Anything that keeps you on your path will make your progress better. After a few weeks of technique work, it will all come together and you’ll realise you’re way better than you were.”

Find yourself a challenge

“There are lots of fitness challenges available at the moment, but not many for rowing. Having a goal – whether competition, target time or other – is vital to your journey to improve. Hold yourself accountable by setting a goal – and telling others about it.”

Why it works “Having a stated goal to work towards will keep you committed and make sure you’re invested in every session.”

Rowing Workouts To Try

• The Rowing Workout Plan To Build All-Round Fitness
• Rowing Machine Workouts For Fat Loss, Plus Building Muscle, Speed And Endurance
• Power Up Your Entire Body With This Rowing HIIT Workout

Need help choosing? Our tried-and-tested selection of the best rowing machines can help.