Rowing Machine Reviews

Honest, research-based reviews scored on a consistent methodology - no paid placements, no marketing copy. Just what you need to know before you buy.

Best rowing machine buying guidesOur top picks by budget, type, and space Head-to-head comparisonsConcept2 vs Hydrow, Model D vs E, and more Concept2 owner's guideDrag factor, maintenance, monitors & buying used

Every machine is scored across six weighted dimensions - see how we rate.

Buying Guide

Air vs. Water vs. Magnetic Rowing Machines: Which Type?

Start here before you buy. How the three resistance types compare on feel, noise, data, and price - and which one is right for your space and goals.

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Air rower

Concept2 Model D (RowErg) Review

The benchmark air rower: gold-standard data, near-indestructible build, and resale value that makes its price look like a bargain.

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Water rower

WaterRower Natural Review

A handcrafted ash water rower that's as much furniture as fitness - beautiful and quiet, with a smooth natural stroke, but a basic monitor for the money.

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Air + magnetic rower

Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5623 Review

A budget dual-resistance rower that folds away and undercuts almost everything - fine for light home use, but the basic monitor and modest build show the price.

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Water rower

WaterRower GX Review

A durable studio-oriented water rower with smooth resistance, but a bare-bones monitor and no connectivity now that it's discontinued.

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Water rower

First Degree Monaco Challenge AR Review

A commercial-grade adjustable water rower with a smooth, quiet stroke, held back by dated connectivity and a price that bumps into Concept2 territory.

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Air rower

Concept2 Model E Review

The Concept2 Model E pairs the brand's gold-standard air rowing with a raised 20-inch seat, at a premium over the standard RowErg.

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Air + magnetic rower

BodyCraft VR500 Pro Review

A well-built air-plus-magnetic rower with 32 electronic levels and a strong warranty, but priced well above the Concept2 benchmark.

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Water rower

WaterRower Club Review

A commercial-grade solid-ash water rower with authentic feel and BLE connectivity, held back by a dated S4 console and premium price.

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Water rower

WaterRower S1 Review

A stainless steel WaterRower with smooth water resistance and elite build, but a basic S4 monitor and high price temper the value.

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Air rower

Assault AirRower Elite Review

A rugged, commercial-grade air rower with a comfortable seat and smooth feel, held back by a basic console and a price above the Concept2 RowErg.

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Smart/connected rower

Hydrow Wave Review

A compact connected rower with smooth electromagnetic resistance and a polished 16-inch class experience, best for subscribers.

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Water rower

Ergatta Rower Review

A handsome water rower built around a gamified touchscreen platform, delivering engaging workouts at a premium hardware-plus-subscription price.

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Smart/connected rower

Hydrow Rower Review

A premium connected rower with a 22-inch screen and silent electromagnetic resistance, strong on content but reliant on an ongoing subscription.

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Smart/connected rower

Peloton Row Review

A premium connected rower with a swiveling HD touchscreen and real-time form coaching, held back by a high price and required membership.

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Air + magnetic rower

Life Fitness Heat Row Review

A commercial-grade hybrid air-magnetic rower with excellent build and comfort, but a steep price and limited connectivity on the base model.

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Air + magnetic rower

BodyCraft VR200 Review

A compact, foldable air-and-magnetic rower with solid build and simple metrics, but a basic monitor and ~$999 price put it against stronger rivals.

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Water rower

WaterRower A1 Home Review

A handsome, smooth-rowing entry WaterRower whose appeal is real but undercut by a bare-bones, app-less A1 monitor at a premium price.

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Air + magnetic rower

BodyCraft VR400 Pro Review

A sturdy, quiet air-magnetic rower with a strong warranty, held back by manual resistance, limited connectivity and a premium price.

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Air + magnetic rower

XTERRA Fitness ERG700 Review

A feature-rich air-plus-magnetic home rower with a high weight capacity, held back by a price that drifts into Concept2 territory.

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Water rower

Xterra ERG650W Review

A well-built water rower with a 5.5" LCD, six water levels and BLE/FTMS app support, positioned as a value alternative to premium water machines.

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Air rower

Xebex Air Rower Review

A sturdy, heavy-duty air rower with a 500 lb capacity and solid metrics, though its proprietary console limits cross-machine comparisons.

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Air + magnetic rower

SOLE Fitness SR500 Review

A foldable air-and-magnetic home rower with handle-mounted resistance control, a high weight capacity and lifetime frame warranty, but a basic LCD console.

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Smart/connected rower

Echelon Smart Row (Row-S) Review

A quiet, foldable magnetic rower with a 22-inch touchscreen and app classes, best suited to subscription-minded home users rather than performance rowers.

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Magnetic rower

Teeter Power10 Elliptical Rower Review

A hybrid rower-elliptical with patented bi-directional resistance; great for low-impact full-body cardio, less so for true rowing technique.

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Hydraulic rower

Kettler Kadett Outrigger Review

A well-built hydraulic rower with a unique outrigger feathering action, but dated metrics and high pricing limit its appeal versus modern rivals.

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Air + magnetic rower

NordicTrack RW200 Review

A quiet, foldable air-plus-magnetic rower from NordicTrack that suits beginners but lacks top-end resistance and a streaming console.

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Water rower

Stamina Wave 1450 Review

A foldable water rower with a smooth stroke and bundled audio coaching, but a basic monitor and short parts warranty temper its value near the $1,300 mark.

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Water rower

Merax Water Review

An affordable steel-framed water rower with a smooth pull and inclined tank, held back by a basic monitor, no app support and a short warranty.

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Magnetic rower

Bladez Cascade Rower Review

A quiet magnetic folding rower with 17 programs and an included heart-rate strap, but limited by no app support and a short warranty.

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Water rower

Fitness Reality 3000WR Review

A budget-friendly water rower with a smooth stroke, a basic but informative monitor and app tracking, held back by short warranty coverage.

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Magnetic rower

Fitness Reality 4000MR Review

A sturdy mid-budget magnetic rower whose dual oar-style handles deliver an unusual sculling motion, but it skips app connectivity and stays bulky when stored.

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Water rower

Sunny Phantom Hydro Water Rowing Machine (SF-RW5910) Review

A capable, affordable water rower with a genuine smooth stroke and sturdy frame, held back by a basic monitor and no app connectivity.

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Air rower

Stamina ATS Air Rower Review

A genuine but basic budget air rower: real wind resistance and easy storage, held back by plastic build, a 250 lb limit, and a no-frills monitor.

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Hydraulic rower

Stamina 1333 Precision Rower Review

A compact, affordable hydraulic rower suited to light, occasional workouts, but limited by piston fade, no connectivity, and a short rail.

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Air + magnetic rower

XTERRA Fitness ERG400 Review

A folding air-plus-magnetic budget rower with a 16-level console; capable and affordable, but reliability reports and a short parts warranty temper it.

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Magnetic rower

ProForm 440R Review

A compact, foldable magnetic rower for budget home gyms, with smooth resistance but a short rail, basic monitor and modest build.

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Air rower

Stamina X Air Rower Review

A budget-friendly foldable air rower with smooth resistance, but a basic monitor, modest seat and short parts warranty hold it back.

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Hydraulic rower

Kettler Favorit Review

A compact, budget hydraulic rower suited to short casual workouts, but resistance fades with use and there's no app connectivity.

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Magnetic rower

LifeSpan RW1000 Review

A quiet, foldable magnetic rower that's fine for beginners but feels overpriced at list and lacks the connectivity and rail length serious rowers want.

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Magnetic rower

Echanfit Magnetic Rowing Machine (CRW 4901) Review

A quiet, foldable budget magnetic rower with 16 resistance levels and a 350 lb capacity, best suited to casual home cardio.

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Air rower

Stamina Air Rower Review

An affordable, foldable air rower that covers the basics for beginners but is held back by inconsistent resistance and ergonomic limits.

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Air rower

Xterra ERG500 Air Turbine Rower Review

An affordable air-turbine rower with a responsive feel and 300 lb capacity, held back by a basic monitor and no app connectivity.

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Magnetic rower

Stamina 1130 Magnetic Rowing Machine Review

A compact, quiet budget magnetic rower with 16 resistance levels and a heart-rate strap, but no app connectivity and a short parts warranty.

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Air + magnetic rower

Sunny SF-RW5940 Magnetic Air Rower Review

A foldable budget rower pairing 16-level magnetic resistance with an air fan for a livelier pull, best for casual home use rather than serious training.

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Magnetic rower

Sunny SF-RW5941 SMART Review

A quiet, foldable magnetic rower with app connectivity at around $300, best suited to budget-focused beginners rather than serious trainees.

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Magnetic rower

Joroto M35 Magnetic Review

A quiet, compact budget magnetic rower with vertical storage and a 300 lb capacity, but a bare-bones monitor and no app connectivity.

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Magnetic rower

Velocity Exercise CHR-2001 Programmable Magnetic Rower Review

A quiet, foldable mid-range magnetic rower with programmable resistance and heart-rate training, held back by no app support and a short parts warranty.

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Magnetic rower

Kettler R220 Review

A quiet, folding magnetic rower with motorized 16-level resistance and 18 programs, but no app support and a rail that's cramped for taller users.

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Air + magnetic rower

Stamina DT397 Review

A compact, affordable dual air-and-magnetic rower with a livelier stroke than basic magnetic models, but a bare-bones monitor and light frame.

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Water rower

Sunny Obsidian Surge Review

A budget water rower offering smooth dynamic resistance and upright storage, held back by a basic console and short parts warranty.

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Water rower

XTERRA Fitness ERG600W Review

A well-built, affordable water rower with a smooth, quiet stroke, but only a basic monitor and no app or Bluetooth connectivity.

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Magnetic rower

Circuit Fitness Deluxe Foldable Magnetic Rowing Machine (AMZ-986RW) Review

A quiet, foldable mid-budget magnetic rower with 8 resistance levels and a basic LCD, best for casual home cardio rather than connected training.

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Water rower

Fitness Reality 5000X Review

A mid-priced vertical-tank water rower with Bluetooth and MyCloudFitness app support that delivers a smooth pull and small footprint.

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Magnetic rower

Merach Q1S Review

A quiet, compact magnetic rower that delivers strong value for casual home cardio, with manual resistance limiting harder training.

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Air + magnetic rower

Sunny Health & Fitness Elite Wave (Hydro + Dual Resistance, SF-RW522017) Review

A hybrid water-plus-magnetic rower with 16 resistance levels, a full-metric console and app support, let down by a short parts warranty.

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Review

MaxKare Water Rowing Machine Review

Water resistance at a budget-friendly price. How this sub-$500 machine holds up against premium brands like WaterRower and First Degree.

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