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A Rowing machine is a great way for an effective Full-Body Workout for your home. Rowing machines can help you build muscles, improve endurance and burn calories at the same time. However, there are some points you should consider when buying a rowing machine. This article summarizes them for you.
Before you buy your rowing machine, you should be sure which type of rowing machine suits you best. There are many
1. The design
2. The braking system
3. The display
4. Is it suitable for my body type?
5. Quality and Price
The dynamic rowing machine might be the right choice for you if you are a professional rower and have a lot of space at home. The dynamic movement of the entire rowing machine makes the whole motion more dynamic, thus more closely resembling the rowing sensation, especially during the catch and the recovery. But beware: This is not for beginners, as the movement becomes significantly more complex. You also need a lot of space, as these devices are considerably larger than conventional ones. If you belong to this category, then take a look at the RP3, the Concept2 Dyno, and the Biorower.
For most athletes, we recommend the classic rowing machine with handles and a cord pull. The long travel of the handle allows you to perform the movement fully. There is indeed a slight spin when paddling on the water, but that is not your goal. You want to exercise healthily on the rowing machine. The movement sequence is quickly learned (with a little help), and depending on the braking system, rowing feels very realistic. We will discuss the braking system in more detail shortly.
If you do not want to spend too much money on a rowing machine, then a device with rotating handles might be the best choice. But beware: Don’t let marketing talk you into it. Just because it’s a circular motion, the dynamics of these devices have nothing to do with movement on the water. Furthermore, we recommend that you thoroughly examine the price-performance ratio before letting the low price influence you.
When rowing, a lot of energy is generated with each stroke. In most devices, this energy is transferred to a flywheel. For this to feel as realistic as possible, this braking mass must be realistically slowed down. Rowing machines can be divided into different braking systems: pneumatic, air, water, and magnetic.
Air-braked rowing machines became popular primarily in professional settings and gyms. The main advantage is a very consistent pull, which gives you the feeling of moving the rowing boat. Furthermore, these units are generally so robust that you only occasionally need to clean the braking units of dust to restore full resistance. The obvious disadvantage here is the noise. The droning of the “propeller” might motivate you in a rowing club, but in a gym, especially at home and in apartment buildings, it can be annoying, and you should coordinate with your neighbors beforehand.
Water brakes have been around for a long time and have become very popular in recent years. The unit is much quieter than the air-braked unit. The bass volume somewhat compromises the rowing sensation. This does not feel very natural, even though the simulation of rowing a boat on the water with the water resistance would actually suggest it. Additionally, the resistance cannot be adjusted at all (Waterrower) or only to a small extent. The tank must be maintained, as the water quickly “goes bad” and needs to be replaced regularly, or the chlorine balance must be adjusted with chlorine tablets.
Rowing machines with magnetic brakes are generally very quiet, making them recommended for unrestricted use at home. Unfortunately, they usually do not feel realistic at all. Either you miss the resistance at the beginning of the stroke, or the resistance is unusually high at the end of the stroke, making it difficult to get into the “flow.” These devices are usually very simply constructed and accordingly inexpensive to acquire.
Rowing machines with a regulated magnet utilize the advantages of magnetic rowing machines, meaning they are very quiet. However, they control the pulling resistance in milliseconds. Thus, they can (at least if well-programmed) simulate almost any desired pressure curve, coming closest to the feeling of rowing on water. The only disadvantage is probably the relatively high price of the devices, as the control system is quite complex.
Pneumatic rowing machines generate pressure via a pneumatic piston, which creates resistance. These are primarily rowing machines with rotating handles. Although the devices are often advertised with a “consistent pulling sensation,” this is also the problem: The pulling sensation is absolutely uniform, and no dynamism is generated. Over the course of a workout, you don’t feel like you’re pushing a rowing boat. It feels more like you forgot to push the boat into the water and you’re rowing on land. Thus, the boat comes to a complete stop after every strenuous stroke. Few people regularly sustain such a workout. It quickly becomes so boring and tedious that hardly anyone lasts longer than 10 minutes. But feel free to form your own opinion and try it out in a store before purchasing.
Compared to the braking system, the differences in a rowing machine’s display are simpler. Of course, you should consider what is important to you regarding the screen on your device. The displays of rowing machines on the market can be divided into 3 groups.
You should definitely consider beforehand whether the rowing machine is suitable for your body type. Unfortunately, this is not a given. Some devices are so compact that many athletes cannot perform a complete rowing movement. This may not bother you much at first, as you probably haven’t fully mastered the technique yet, but you will notice it after a few sessions. We recommend that you test the device on-site to ensure it fits. In the following overview, we have summarized all the important points you should consider:
Of course, it is tempting to opt for a very inexpensive device. However, we want to warn you about a trap: There are some comparison websites (some of which are well-positioned in Google searches) that exclusively compare extremely cheap devices. These sites earn their money through affiliate marketing and profit from every purchase on Amazon and similar platforms. This is not inherently wrong, but the problem is as follows: These sites primarily promote cheap rowing machines and sometimes even tout them as “test winners.” Naturally, one buys such a device much faster than a more expensive one. That is why these sites earn a lot of money. In the end, it seems as if you could actually buy a good rowing machine for under 500 Euros. However, that is unfortunately not the case. Few people last a week on a cheap device.
In YouTube rowing tutorials, you will find countless comments stating that the correct technique cannot even be performed on many devices (for example, because they are simply too short). In many cases, cheap devices quickly degenerate into a bulky and rather expensive clothes rack. Over time, a jacket or something else is draped over it, and it languishes in a corner. Here too, the rule applies: quality (and function) has its price. We recommend not spending less than 800 Euros, and even that would still be an extremely cheap device. Regarding quality, you will find significant differences even among devices over 800 Euros. Some predominantly use plastic, while others rely heavily on wood or stainless steel. Be sure to examine your device carefully and consider what is personally most important to you. Check whether you are offered a sufficient warranty and which parts may need to be replaced after some time, and whether these can still be easily purchased (e.g., in a spare parts shop) even after the warranty period expires. Although it is easier said than done, do not focus too much on the price initially. Find out which device convinces you the most. After all, it should be a good investment, and you surely want to use it long-term and with motivation, right? Only then should you check if the price-performance ratio is right for you or if you need to look for a more affordable alternative.
In conclusion, a rowing machine offers an effective way to perform a full-body workout at home. When purchasing, you should pay attention to quality, usability, space requirements, and warranty period. Furthermore, correct execution of rowing is essential to avoid injuries and ensure effective training. If your chosen rowing machine meets these points, you can be all the more confident in your purchase.
Are you interested in a direct comparison? Our Olympian Lars has created a video for you, in which he compares several different rowing machines and explains their advantages and disadvantages. You can find the video here.
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