Rowing machines are a great way to get some low-impact cardio while building your upper body strength. If you’re looking to purchase a rowing machine for your home, your best bet is to figure out what type of machine you want, then choose from among the best of those. In this article, we will provide you with our top picks of the best rowing machines for exercise to help you boost your fitness level and heart health.
What is a Rowing Machine?
A rowing machine, also known as an ergometer, allows you to enjoy the perks of rowing exercise right from the comfort of your home. Rowing offers numerous advantages, including enhancing endurance and bolstering overall body strength. Studies even indicate that it contributes to better heart health.
What are the benefits of using rowing machines?
Rowing machines, also called ergometers or ergs, engage your upper and lower body with each stroke, toning your muscles and boosting endurance. Additionally, rowing offers advantages for your heart and lungs. These benefits are accessible to everyone, regardless of whether or not you have professional rowing experience. Here, we explore nine key advantages of rowing in your fitness routine.
Rowing Engages Your Entire Body
Rowing is often misunderstood as solely an upper-body exercise, but it’s a comprehensive full-body workout. The rowing stroke heavily involves the upper and lower body, with the legs contributing 65–75% of the effort and the upper body adding 25–35%. This means major muscle groups like the quadriceps, calves, and glutes are thoroughly engaged while rowing. Additionally, the upper body muscles, including the pecs, arms, and core muscles like the abdominals and obliques, are strengthened with each stroke.
Beyond just building muscular strength, rowing also enhances cardiovascular fitness and endurance. This total-body exercise helps improve heart health and lung capacity, making it an excellent option for overall physical conditioning. Whether you’re a seasoned rower or new to the sport, incorporating rowing into your fitness routine can offer a range of benefits, from toning muscles to boosting cardiovascular health, making it a versatile and effective workout choice for individuals of all fitness levels.
Rowing is for Everyone.
Rowing is a versatile exercise suitable for individuals of all fitness levels, requiring only access to an ergometer to get started. Remarkably, it has also been identified as a safe workout option for individuals with low vision or blindness. In a 2015 study involving 24 participants with low vision, engaging in rowing five days a week for six weeks resulted in notable improvements. These included a significant reduction in fat mass and total body fat percentage, along with decreases in cholesterol levels. Moreover, participants experienced enhancements in back strength and trunk flexion, highlighting the comprehensive benefits of rowing for diverse populations.
Rowing offers a low-impact workout.
Rowing offers a low-impact workout that effectively burns calories without straining your joints, making it ideal for active recovery or individuals with early-stage osteoarthritis. A 2014 study observed a significant 30% improvement in joint torques, including the elbow, shoulder, lumbar, and knee, over eight weeks among 24 participants. In contrast, high-impact exercises like running and plyometrics may exacerbate joint stress.
Rowing can induce a meditative state.
Moreover, rowing can induce a meditative state, fostering a profound mind-body connection. While outdoor rowing on the water is often associated with enhanced relaxation, indoor rowing facilitates a similar experience. The rhythmic gliding motion of the ergometer allows for a smooth flow, enabling your mind to enter a state of autopilot. This meditative quality is reinforced by the repetitive movements involved in the four phases of the rowing stroke—catch, drive, finish, and recovery—and is further augmented by the release of endorphins, the body’s natural stress-relieving hormones.
Rowing is a robust cardio workout.
Rowing is a robust cardio workout that substantially benefits heart and lung health. By engaging in rowing, you enhance your cardiovascular system, which includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood, facilitating the efficient transportation of vital nutrients and oxygen throughout your body. The intense nature of rowing necessitates heightened cardiac activity to pump increased blood volume, enhancing heart strength. This attribute makes rowing particularly advantageous for individuals with or potential heart-related issues.
Rowing effectively cultivates both power and endurance.
Additionally, rowing effectively cultivates power and endurance due to its unique strength training and cardiovascular exercise blend. Power refers to the capacity to exert maximum force briefly, akin to jumping, sprinting, or striking a target. Proper rowing technique entails utilizing leg muscles to generate propulsion and arm muscles to execute the rowing motion, demanding significant power. Simultaneously, rowing fosters cardiovascular and muscular endurance, enabling sustained activity engagement over an extended period.
Rowing proves to be a time-efficient workout.
Rowing proves to be a time-efficient workout option, ideal for those with busy schedules. Its full-body engagement targets major muscle groups, delivering cardiovascular and strength benefits in one session. Incorporating short bursts of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the rower enhances cardiac function. It promotes excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, resulting in continued calorie burn after the workout. Recent research indicates that low-volume HIIT sessions, lasting less than 15 minutes per session, yield comparable or superior improvements in fitness, glucose control, blood pressure, and cardiac function compared to high-volume HIIT or moderate-intensity continuous training.
The rowing machine offers a compelling alternative.
The rowing machine offers a compelling alternative to traditional gym equipment like treadmills and ellipticals. While treadmills predominantly target lower body muscles, rowing engages the entire body, providing a comprehensive workout. Unlike ellipticals, which distribute effort more evenly between the upper and lower body, rowing emphasizes the upper body and core with each stroke. Additionally, rowing machines offer a quieter workout option, making them suitable for apartment or condo living, and are often more budget-friendly than treadmills.
Rowing machine proves to be a convenient option.
The rowing machine proves to be a convenient option for home workouts. Unlike bulky treadmill or weight rack setups that can dominate a home gym, many rowers are designed to fold up, allowing for easy storage when not in use. This feature particularly benefits those with limited space, such as individuals whose living rooms double as workout areas. Moreover, the versatility of the rower extends beyond cardio workouts, as it can also be utilized for strength training exercises, offering a multifunctional fitness solution.
Best Rowing Machines for Exercise:
Rowing Machines With Pistons
The least expensive and easiest machine to store is a rowing machine which uses hydraulic pistons as resistance. The pistons are attached to the arms of the machine, which can make the rowing motion slightly choppy but fairly quiet. The following model are among the best piston-based rowing machines.
Best Durable Rower: Concept 2 Model D Rower
Rogue Fitness offers this popular rower that boasts reviewer designations of “best rower on the market” and “best addition to my home gym.” The Concept 2 Model D Rower was named best home rowing machine by the Rowing Machine King website. Durable and ergonomically designed, this rower is a favorite in CrossFit gyms (boxes). The Garage Gyms website says the Concept 2 Model D’s $900 retail price is impressive for a commercial-grade rower used at home.
Best Low Price Rower: Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050
Top Fitness Magazine calls the Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 one of the best, most affordable home rowing machines. Unlike other rowers that feature a bar attached to a cable for pulling, this machine has two bars that mimic the feel of using oars to row a boat. The compact size and low price of just over $100 at Walmart make it a good choice for someone who wants a starter piece of cardio equipment for a home gym.
Magnetic Rowing Machines
Magnetic rowers are silent; electromagnets control the amount of resistance on the wheel at the machine’s front and make for an adjustable workout. Magnetic rowers are larger and bulkier than pistons. The best magnetic rowers include the following models.
Best Rowing Experience: NordicTrak RW900
Featuring silent magnetic resistance and a screen that allows you to enjoy virtual rides or join live streamed sessions with trainers, the NordicTrak RW900 Rowing Machine has been called the “Peloton of rowers.” The best feature of this rower is the streamed sessions where a certified trainer takes you through a workout and remotely adjusts your settings, increasing or decreasing the intensity throughout the session. Available for around $1600, this rower is a good investment for an exerciser who needs an extra push and motivation from an outside source.
Best Affordable Magnetic Rower: Merax Indoor Magnetic Rower MS037153BAA
An excellent beginner rower for home use, the Merax Indoor Magnetic Rower MS037153BAA costs around $260. Best Fitness Equipment says this machine is one of the most affordable magnetic resistance rowers available. It features quiet operation and a built-in meter to track your workouts. Amazon reviewers praise the price, the lack of noise, and how compact the unit is, making it easily stored.
Air Rowers
The air resistance rowing machine is the one most often used by professional rowers in off seasons. The resistance becomes harder the faster you work, accurately duplicating the effect of rowing a boat through water. These machines can be very noisy. Some of the top models of air rowers include the following.
Best Low Cost Air Rower: Stamina X Air Rower
The Stamina X Air Rower is a wind resistance rower with multiple options. It monitors speed, distance, time and calories burned, while large footplates and an over-sized seat make for a comfortable ride. The rower folds easily for storage and can hold users up to 250 pounds. Customer reviews praise this machine for its low cost and durability and reviewers at Top Fitness Magazine calls the Stamina X Air Rower “tough and durable.” Buy for around $400.
Best Quiet Air Rower: BodyCraft VR200 Pro Rower
The BodyCraft VR200 Pro Rower is a durable rower that will stand up to vigorous workouts. Available for just under $900, this machine gets high marks from Rowing Reviews, who praises the compact size of the unit – making this a good option for people who want an air rower for their home with limited space. Featuring six levels of resistance and surprisingly quiet operation for an air rower, customer reviews include ample mentions of the unit’s durability.
Water Rowers
Similar to the air resistance rowing machine, a water rower’s resistance increases the faster you pull. You also have the added ability with a water rower to further customize your workout by adding or removing water from the reservoir. The result is an endlessly customizable workout perfect for multiple users of all fitness levels. Top models include the following.
Best Water Rower: WaterRower Classic Rowing Machine in Black Walnut
A beautiful unit, the WaterRower Classic Rowing Machine provides not only an excellent workout, but it is also attractive enough to stay on display in your home. Made from wood obtained from replenishable forests, this is one piece of cardio equipment that also serves as a conversation piece. Priced at around $1500, Amazon reviewers call the machine a “work of art” and mention wanting a unit after seeing it on HBO’s series House of Cards. Reviews.com says this rower provides the best rowing experience available from a home rower.
Conclusion:
Start Rowing! No matter what type of rower you end up using or purchasing, you’ll be sure to get a great resistance, cardio and strength training workout in one. Give any of these rowing machines a shot the next time you’re looking for a low impact exercise, and experience it for yourself.
