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At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, I padded out my home gym, knowing that gyms would inevitably close. I already had a power rack and a Tacx Flux S smart trainer so I bought a running machine and was hoping to pick up a rowing machine.
If you use a rowing machine at the gym, it is highly likely to be the Concept2 either the Model D or Model E. These have an RRP of about £900 and rarely drop in price. Sadly, I got suckered into a suspiciously low price on Amazon, which turned out to be a fraudulent listing. By the time that was sorted out, the Concept2 was sold out everywhere. It is made in the US, and they have only just started making them, with a waitlist to pre-order the only current option.
I still don’t have a rowing machine, as I want to have the same experience as the gym. However, there are plenty of excellent options, and there are different types of rowing machine to cater for different needs and price points.
Types of rowing machine resistance
Hydraulic Rowing Machine
Uses a hydraulic piston, tends to be cheap, and you the static motion of the piston means you can’t perform a natural rowing motion. I would personally avoid these.
Air Resistance / Flywheel
This is what the Concept2 has. Flywheel exercise rowing machine receives its resistance from the pulling motion, which spins a flywheel with fan blades attached. The resistance is provided by the wind.
These tend to be the most common for gym use, offering high durability, a natural rowing motion, and resistance that can suit any fitness level.
Magnetic Resistance
These are perhaps the most common, especially on Amazon. They are cheaper than air resistance, and vastly superior to hydraulic. As the name suggests, the resistance comes from a magnetic brake system.
The main benefit of these is the much lower noise compared to air resistance. These are often combined with a belt-driven system which also offers less noise compared to a chain system.
The downside is that the motion is not as smooth or as realistic as air. I used to have a magnetic rower, and it sort of feels doughy compared to air. These also won’t offer as much resistance as air for people with high levels of fitness.
Air/Magnetic Resistance
Quieter than an air-only rower but louder than magnetic-only rower. The fan will not spin as fast as air-only rower, which makes it slightly quieter.
Water Resistance
Water-resistance rowing machines use paddles suspended in a tank of water to create resistance. It is similar to how air resistance works, but with water. The benefit of this is a much more realistic rowing experience compared with lower noise compared to air.
Resistance is controlled by pulling harder/faster but also the level of water in the tank too.
They tend to be both large, expensive and you can’t always fold them, but some flip-up vertically. The best known brand for water resistance is WaterRower. The Original WaterRower retails for about £1000 but has not been in stock since early lock down. There is a 12 week delivery for them at the moment.
The best rowing machines on Amazon
JLL R200 Home Rowing Machine – £229
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JLL® R200 Luxury Home Rowing Machine, 2024 Model Rowing... |
£239.99 | Buy on Amazon |
- Reviews: 4.4/ 5 with 508
- Available: July 3, 2020
- Resistance: 10 levels of magnetic
- Drive: Belt Driven
- Foldable: Yes
JLL seem to do a lot of well-reviewed affordable gym equipment. This is a basic option, belt-driven with magnetic resistance so it should be one of the quieter options on the market.
Fitness Reality 1000 Plus Bluetooth Magnetic Rower Rowing Machine– £399
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness Reality Magnetic Rowing Machine with Bluetooth... | £399.00 | Buy on Amazon |
- Reviews: 4.4/ 5 with 809
- Available: Usually dispatched within 2 to 3 days.
- Resistance: 14-levels of magnetic
- Drive: Nylon cord
- Foldable: Yes
Specs of this are unclear, but it is extremely well-reviewed. This can be used for resistance-based exercises to giving some full-body work out options, though these exercises are possible with any rower. It has Bluetooth and can be connected to the My Cloud Fitness ap. This has only been on Amazon for a few months, so it is impressive/surprising that they have raked up 809 reviews.
XS Sports R310 Folding Rowing Machine – £269
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS Sports R310 Folding Rowing Machine - Indoor Exercise... | Buy on Amazon |
- Reviews: 4.2/ 5 with 75
- Available: In Stock
- Resistance: 10 levels with 4kg inner magnetic flywheel
- Drive: Belt Driven
- Foldable: Yes
Seems to offer a similar spec to the JLL, but this one is currently in stock. It is worth noting that this used to sell for £159, so they have hiked the price since the coronavirus epidemic.
Hop-Sport Home Rowing Machine Boost– £269.88+ £20 delivery
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hop-Sport Home Rowing Machine HS-030R Boost | Magnetic... | Buy on Amazon |
- Reviews: 4.3/ 5 with 113
- Available: Usually dispatched within 3 to 4 days
- Resistance: 10 levels of magnetic
- Drive: Belt Driven
- Foldable: Yes
JLL Ventus 2 Air Resistance Home Rowing Machine– £449.99
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JLL® Ventus 2 Air Resistance Home Rowing Machine, 2024... |
£409.99 | Buy on Amazon |
- Reviews: 4.4/ 5 with 29
- Available: July 3, 2020
- Resistance: 8 Levels of magnetic resistance combined with air resistance
- Drive: Belt Driven
- Foldable: Yes
Doesn’t state if it uses a nylon belt or not, but I assume it does. This combines air and magnetic resistance so it will be louder but generally offers a superior rowing experience and better resistance.
Capital Sports Flow M Water Rowing Machine Rowing Bench – £819.99 + £69.99 delivery
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPITAL SPORTS Flow M Water Rowing Machine Rowing Bench -... | £590.99 | Buy on Amazon |
- Reviews: 5/ 5 with 2
- Available: In stock
- Resistance: Water
- Drive: Probably belt
- Foldable: It flips up into a vertical stance
Considerably more expensive but water rowers a more realistic rowing experience that is considerably quieter than air resistance. The resistance itself is set by the amount of water you put in the tank. The unusual raised seat should be good for people with joint issues.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
Last update on 2024-10-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
