Rowing Machine NerdHydrow Wave vs Ergatta: Classes or Games, Magnetic or Water?
Both of these are connected rowers built to keep you motivated, but in opposite ways and with different hardware. The Hydrow Wave is the compact, more affordable Hydrow (around $1,695) built on instructor-led classes and quiet electromagnetic resistance. The Ergatta (around $2,199) is a real water rower built on competitive games. There's a price gap, and a feel gap, and a motivation gap.
If you've narrowed it to these two, the question is how you like to be pushed - and how you like a stroke to feel.
Verdict: A tie on quality - choose by motivation (classes vs games) and feel (magnetic vs water).
Hydrow Wave vs Ergatta Rower: at a glance
| Hydrow Wave | Ergatta Rower | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 4.0/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Price | ~$1,695 | ~$2,199 |
| Resistance | Computer-controlled electromagnetic (magnetic), strap drive | Water (self-adjusting, no preset levels) |
| Monitor / screen | 16" HD touchscreen (1920 x 1080), non-tilting, front-facing speakers | 21" HD touchscreen (Luxe); 17.3" on earlier model |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth (headphones, heart rate monitors, Apple Watch) | Bluetooth (headphones / heart-rate strap); Apple Watch compatible on Luxe |
| Max user weight | 375 lbs | 500 lbs |
| Footprint / size | 80" L x 19" W x 43" H | 86" L x 23" W x 40" H |
| Storage | Monitor folds flat; frame does not fold; vertical storage kit ~$190 (sold separately) | Stands upright; folded footprint ~23" x 22.5" |
| Warranty | 5 years frame; 1 year components, electronics and labor | 5-year frame, 3-year parts, 1-year tablet |
Full Hydrow Wave review Full Ergatta Rower review
Motivation: classes vs games
The Hydrow Wave is for the person who thrives with a coach - live and on-demand instructor-led rows on a sharp 16-inch screen, designed to feel like a guided session. The Ergatta throws out instructors entirely in favour of a game-based platform: races, intervals, and challenges that reward competitiveness.
Neither is better; they suit different temperaments. If you'd happily follow a charismatic instructor, the Wave wins. If classes bore you but beating a personal best doesn't, Ergatta wins.
Feel: electromagnetic vs water
The Wave uses quiet, smooth electromagnetic resistance - excellent for apartments and unusually refined for a magnetic-type machine, but still simulated. The Ergatta is a genuine water rower, with the lively, self-adjusting feel and pleasant whoosh that water fans prefer, plus a furniture-grade cherry-wood frame.
On noise, the Wave edges it (near-silent versus a water sound that's still quieter than air). On feel and looks, the Ergatta is the more characterful machine. On size, the Wave is more compact.
Price, capacity and subscription
The Wave is several hundred dollars cheaper up front and its membership runs around $44/month. The Ergatta costs more but its membership (around $29-39/month) is lighter and described as recommended rather than required, which appeals if you want to skip fees some months.
On capacity, the Ergatta is far more accommodating - a 500 lb limit and room up to 6'8", versus the Wave's 375 lb. Both have strong frame warranties, though watch the Ergatta's one-year tablet cover.
Choose the Hydrow Wave if…
- Instructor-led classes are what motivate you
- Near-silent resistance and a compact footprint matter most
- You want the lower upfront price
- You prefer a conventional machine over a wood-framed one
Choose the Ergatta Rower if…
- Games and competition motivate you more than classes
- You want genuine water feel over simulated magnets
- You want a furniture-grade wooden frame and higher capacity (6'8" / 500 lb)
- You like that the membership is optional rather than required
Our verdict
These two are close enough on quality that you should choose by temperament, not specs. Want a coach and a class in a compact, quiet, cheaper package? The Hydrow Wave. Want competition, real water feel, and a beautiful wooden frame? The Ergatta.
Tie-breakers: pick the Wave if apartment-quiet and a smaller footprint and lower price are decisive, and lean Ergatta if you want water feel, a higher weight and height capacity, or the flexibility of an optional membership.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Hydrow Wave or Ergatta better?
- Neither is clearly better - they suit different people. The Hydrow Wave offers instructor-led classes, quiet electromagnetic resistance, a compact size, and a lower price. The Ergatta offers gamified motivation, real water feel, a wooden frame, and higher capacity. Choose by whether classes or games motivate you.
- Does the Ergatta use water resistance and the Hydrow Wave magnetic?
- Yes. The Ergatta is a genuine water rower with a self-adjusting tank, giving a lively, characterful feel. The Hydrow Wave uses quiet electromagnetic (magnetic-type) resistance, which is near-silent and smooth but simulated.
- Which is cheaper, the Hydrow Wave or Ergatta?
- The Hydrow Wave is cheaper up front (around $1,695 vs $2,199). However, the Ergatta's membership is lighter (around $29-39/month and optional) versus the Wave's roughly $44/month, so ongoing costs can narrow the gap.
Jordan Lockwood (BSc, CPT)
Certified personal trainer (CPT), sports-science graduate, and lifelong rower. Jordan writes and reviews every guide on Rowing Machine Nerd.