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- With a rowing machine, you reap the benefits of a high-cardio, low-impact, muscle-strengthening, calorie-burning sport from the comfort of your home.
- Best of all, you don't have to go find an actual body of water, climb into a real boat, and get wet to get a good row workout in.
- The Concept2 Model D with PM5 Performance Monitor Indoor Rowing Machine is our top pick for its smooth operation, ergonomic design, solid construction, and admirable durability.
Almost 20 years ago, my husband bought a Concept2 rowing machine that I use every once in a while but should use more often.
Rowing machines offer a full-body workout that can burn anywhere from 210 to 377 calories - depending on your weight - in just 30 minutes. If 30 minutes seems too long at first, you can build up to it, gliding along while listening to a podcast or watching a video.
This low-impact, high-cardio exercise is suitable for people from high school and college competitors to retirees in their 60s, 70s, or 80s.
With many different kinds of rowing machines out there, it's important to examine each model to choose one that best serves your needs and keeps you motivated and injury-free. You'll want to consider features like:
- Resistance: Different types of resistance include magnetic (electromagnets slow the erg's metal flywheel), air (wind from the spinning flywheel creates drag), hydraulic (resistance is created by hydraulic fluid in a piston or two connected to the erg's handles), and water (the flywheel pushes against water in a tank).
- Size: The machine needs to be not only large enough for you to straighten your legs and maintain proper rowing form, but also small enough to fit into your workout space.
- Maximum user weight capacity: Models vary in how much they can support, but many can accommodate 220 to 265 pounds or more.
- Foldability: Some machines (usually magnetic and hydraulic resistance) fold up for easy storage but some others (often air and water resistance) don't.
- Monitor: A monitor or computer tracks information like distance, duration, speed, and/or calories burned, etc. while rowing.
- Seat: It should be contoured and large enough to keep your backside comfortable to maintain proper form and not make you want to hop off early.
We read much feedback about rowing technique and machines from fitness experts, rowing athletes, and people who've bought rowing machines to select these five excellent and very different models.
Here are the best rowing machines you can buy:
- Best rowing machine overall: Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine
- Best budget rowing machine: Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine
- Best water resistance rowing machine: WaterRower Natural Rowing Machine
- Best magnetic resistance rowing machine: Sunny Health & Fitness (SF-RW5515) Magnetic Rowing Machine
- Best hydraulic resistance rowing machine: Kettler Favorit Rowing Machine
Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.
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