Select a Category

Rowing Machine Buying Guide

Rowing machines remain a very popular piece of exercise equipment and we have outlined some of the main things to look for and keep in mind when buying a rowing machine that will suit your needs.

Price

Rowing machines can vary quite substantially in terms of both style and quality - and so does the price. A very basic model can be bought for about £70 whereas a high quality top of the range rowing machine for regular use in a gym will cost hundreds of pounds. Remember that with all exercise machines you generally get what you pay for so it is always a good idea to spend a little bit extra to get a durable and more comfortable machine. As you go up in price not only will the build quality be better but you are also likely to find extra features that will add to the comfort, convenience and motivational power of the machine.

Resistance

There are a few different types of resistance systems commonly found on rowing machines. A hydraulic rowing machine is a more low-end option which uses hydraulic pistons to provide resistance. This type of rower will offer various levels of resistance, often adjusted manually by moving some form of clamps or levers. While hydraulic rowers can provide a decent workout, they do not simulate the feel of real rowing to the same extent as air rowers do as the movement tends to lack the same smoothness and fluidity.
Magnetic rowers are a very popular choice and use a flywheel and magnetic braking to provide resistance. Just like hydraulic rowers these will often come with a number of adjustable resistance levels, although some models offer stepless resistance. There are also models that use a combination of air and magnetic resistance.
Air resistance is often found on commercial quality rowing machines. The resistance is provided by a finned flywheel which sucks in air as the row arm is pulled back. This allows for “stepless” and unlimited resistance adjustment – more resistance is simply achieved by rowing faster.    
 
Size

Rowing machines can take up a fair bit of space, especially more expensive models as they tend to have more generously sized seat rails. If you have quite long legs you will need a machine with a good length seat rail, whereas a shorter user may be able to get away with a more compact model. Measure the space you have available and compare it to the dimensions of the rowing machine before making your choice. If lack of space is a concern there are several models available that will fold for storage to free up some of that much needed floor space for other things when the machine is not in use.

Control panel 

As opposed to treadmills and exercise bikes, rowing machines seldom offer any preset or customisable workout programs as speed and resistance often completely depends on how hard and fast you pull on the row arm. As such they cannot really be called fully motivational machines but look out for models with consoles that display a wide range of workout feedback as this will still help with keeping you motivated and tracking your progress.

Warranties

As with all exercise machines, you should check out the warranties on any rowing machine you are considering. We offer a parts and labour warranty for 1 year.