Cardio Cardio Machines The 8 Best Rowing Machines of 2021 Row your way to better health with these picks By Lindsey Lanquist Lindsey Lanquist LinkedIn Lindsey Lanquist is a writer and editor specializing in fashion, lifestyle, and health content. Her work has appeared in SELF, StyleCaster, SheKnows, MyDomaine, and more. Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 30, 2021 Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Marley Hall Fact checked by Marley Hall LinkedIn Marley Hall is a writer and fact checker who is certified in clinical and translational research. Her work has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery, and she has received numerous awards for publication in education. Learn about our editorial process Print Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Verywell Fit / Sabrina Jiang Combining cardio and strength, rowing machines are great for total-body fitness. The device builds endurance, engages your core muscles, and maximizes your workouts without putting too much stress on your joints—making them great for people of all ages and fitness levels. Rowing machines can have multiple resistance mechanisms, including water, wind, hydraulic, or magnetic resistance. Traditional machines have a single handlebar, while others may offer two handlebars, similar to an elliptical. “The biggest thing is to determine what your goal is with the rowing machine. That's going to steer you towards which type of machine is best for you,” says Grace D'Souza, U.S. National Rowing Team member, U23. D’Souza says that, at the most basic level, you’ll want a device that displays essential metrics like time, meters traveled, strokes per minute, and pace. For more advanced rowers, D’Souza advises securing a rowing machine with a monitor, guided classes, and more. Here are the best rowing machines on the market. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Hydrow Rower Starter Package at Hydrow This immersive rower offers live and on-demand outdoor rowing classes that you can stream from the comfort of your home. Best Budget: Sunny Health & Fitness Full Motion Rowing Machine at Amazon While many rowing machines are built around a pulley, this one relies on two handlebars, putting the emphasis on your upper body. Best Quiet: Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower at Amazon If minimal noise is a priority, this pick offers exactly that while keeping your workouts sturdy and stable. Best for Total-Body Workouts: Stamina Orbital Rowing Machine at Amazon Since the machine gets its tension from hydraulic cylinder resistance, it mimics the feeling of rowing outdoors. Best Recumbent: Stamina Recumbent Exercise Bike and Rower at Amazon The comfortable full seat and recumbent design is particularly suited to beginners and seniors looking to keep fit. Best for Small Spaces: Sunny Health & Fitness Upright Rowing Machine at Amazon This pick's compact design is perfect for people with limited space, as it folds in half when not in use. Best Foldable: ECHANFIT Foldable Rowing Machine w/ LCD Monitor at Amazon Its durable frame will stay stable as you row, while its 16 magnetic resistance levels ensure you stay challenged. Best Design: Ergatta Rower at Ergatta.com Equipped with a variety of challenges and workouts, the sleek rower will consistently challenge you no matter your rowing level. Best Wind Resistance: Stamina ATS Air Rower at Amazon A solid option that will keep you balanced as you build strength, this rower is designed to increase resistance as you gain speed. In This Article Expand Our Picks What to Look for in a Rowing Machine FAQs Why Trust Verywell Fit? Best Overall: Hydrow Rower Starter Package 4 View On Hydrow 4 The Hydrow Rower Review Pros Most immersive rowing experience Top-of-the-line design Smooth and quiet strokes Cons Larger footprint than other options Heavy If you want your rowing workouts to feel like the real thing, the Hydrow Starter Package is worth the splurge. The rower uses electromagnetic and computer-controlled resistance to mimic the feel of real water, giving you workouts that are both dynamic and challenging. And if you really want to feel transported, you can take advantage of the rower’s large touchscreen and built-in speakers—both of which promise a truly immersive experience. The rowing machine was designed with performance in mind, and it doesn’t skimp on comfort. Its ergonomic seat offers all the cushion you need to make it through long workouts, and its industrial-grade glider keeps your strokes smooth and quiet. The Hydrow Starter Package ships with a rowing machine, a mat, a heart rate monitor, and a pair of wireless headphones, so you’ll have everything you need to start rowing. And since it tilts upright, it will be easy to store between uses. Resistance Style: Electromagnetic and computer-controlled resistance | Maximum Weight Capacity: 375 lbs | Dimensions: 86 x 25 x 47 in | Product Weight: 145 lbs What Our Testers Say "Throughout testing, I took a ton of classes—there are more than 2,383 on offer. Surprisingly, there were more than just rowing-specific workouts. Your Hydrow Rower also offers mobility, strength, yoga classes, and more. That is a definite bonus." —Rozalynn S. Frazier, certified personal trainer and Verywell product tester Best Budget: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5639 Full Motion Rowing Machine View On Amazon Pros Great for small spaces Quiet Easy to use Cons Changing resistance mid-workout isn't seamless The Sunny Health & Fitness Full Motion Rowing Machine is a budget-friendly trainer that will give you a great workout without taking up too much space. While many rowing machines are built around a pulley, this one relies on two large handlebars. This design puts the emphasis on your upper body—instead of using your legs primarily to glide forward and back, you use your arms, chest, and back. The machine relies on hydraulic cylinder resistance, which makes it incredibly small space-friendly and puts you in control of your workouts. Simply turn the built-in dial to kick the resistance up a notch, and scale it back whenever you need to recover. Resistance Style: Hydraulic cylinder | Maximum Weight Capacity: 350 lbs | Dimensions: 52.2 x 28.7 x 11.8 in | Product Weight: 35.8 lbs Best Quiet: Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower View On Amazon View On Walmart Pros Solid construction Easy to assemble Quiet enough to use in a common area Cons Too small for tall people Want a rower that won’t make too much noise? The Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower gets its tension from a magnetic resistance system, which keeps your workouts challenging and surprisingly quiet. Meanwhile, its durable aluminum frame keeps your workouts sturdy and stable. Its padded seat keeps you cushioned during your longest, most grueling rowing sessions. And the non-slip pedals keep your feet firmly in place as you row. What’s more, the machine folds up for convenient storage between uses, shrinking to half its size when you're done with your workout. Resistance Style: Magnetic resistance | Maximum Weight Capacity: 275 lbs | Dimensions: 81 x 21 x 25 in | Product Weight: 75 lbs The 8 Best Vertical Climbers of 2021 Best for Total-Body Workouts: Stamina 35-1215 Orbital Rowing Machine View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Academy.com Pros Full range of motion for arms Mimics rowing outdoors Very compact Cons Challenging to assemble Many rowing machines offer a total-body workout, but the Stamina Orbital Rowing Machine offers a particularly dynamic one. Because the rower boasts two large handlebars instead of a single handle on a pulley, it gives your arms a fuller range of motion as you row. This design helps you challenge more muscles in your upper body while strengthening your core and lower body the way any rowing machine would. The result: A killer workout from head to toe. Since the machine gets its tension from hydraulic cylinder resistance, it mimics the feeling of rowing outdoors. An adjustable tension dial helps you keep your workouts challenging while a thick, padded seat keeps you comfortable while you row. The machine is also surprisingly compact, making it a pretty easy addition to small spaces. Resistance Style: Hydraulic cylinder | Maximum Weight Capacity: 250 lbs | Dimensions: 49 x 14 x 7 in | Product Weight: 52 lbs The 8 Best Stair Climbers of 2021 Best Recumbent: Stamina Conversion II Recumbent Exercise Bike and Rower 3.5 View On Amazon View On Dick's View On QVC Pros Great for users who need additional support Convenient to fold and store Two-in-one design Cons Doesn't mimic a traditional rowing experience Stamina Conversion II Recumbent Exercise Bike/Rower Review If comfort is your priority, you may want to invest in a recumbent rowing machine like the Stamina Conversion II Recumbent Rower. While many rowing machines boast comfortable padded seats, very few of those seats come with backrests. This one offers a full seat for you to rest in while you work out, making it more comfortable and supportive than most. Even better, the design doubles as a recumbent bike. If you’re in the mood for a cycling workout, slide your seat toward the front of the machine, slip your feet into the front-most set of pedals, grip the sides of your seat, and start pedaling. To use the machine as a rower, slide your feet into the footholds that are closer to you, grip the built-in handle, and start rowing. You can use the same resistance dial to up the intensity for both workouts. Resistance Style: Magnetic resistance | Maximum Weight Capacity: 250 lbs | Dimensions: 75.5 x 20 x 27 in | Product Weight: 106 lbs What Our Testers Say “The Stamina Conversion rower marries a recumbent bike and rowing machine and takes up half the space of two separate machines but has double the value. It’s built to operate primarily as a rower and recumbent exercise bike, but it can also be used as a leg press or resistance strength machine for a full arm and shoulder workout.” — Deanna McCormack, Verywell writer and product tester Best for Small Spaces: Sunny Health & Fitness Upright Rowing Machine View On Amazon View On Walmart Pros Silent Very small footprint Secure design Cons Doesn't mimic a traditional rowing experience If you’re really low on space, you may not have room for a traditional rowing machine. But with the Sunny Health & Fitness Upright Rowing Machine, you can get a dynamic workout within a much smaller footprint. The machine boasts a unique upright design. Instead of sitting down and rowing back, you sit upright and row up. This format makes your rowing workouts more focused on the lower body, but you still get opportunities to challenge your upper body and core as well. In lieu of a more traditional resistance mechanism, this rower comes with three adjustable resistance bands. Attach these to your machine to increase the intensity of your workouts, reaching a maximum resistance level of 22 pounds. The rower’s textured pedals offer plenty of traction, and its non-slip handlebars are easy to grip. Adjust the height of the seat and the handlebars until the machine fits you just right, and take advantage of the fact that the machine folds in half for easy storage between uses. Resistance Style: Three adjustable resistance bands | Maximum Weight Capacity: 220 lbs | Dimensions: 36.5 x 19 x 37 in | Product Weight: 24.5 lbs The Best Home Gym Equipment of 2021 Best Foldable: ECHANFIT Foldable Rowing Machine w/ LCD Monitor View On Amazon Pros Very easy to move Sleek and sturdy design Quality resistance mechanism Cons Tracker needs improvement It’s rare to find a foldable workout machine that's also sturdy and durable, but the ECHANFIT Foldable Rowing Machine is just that. Climb on the rower for an intense workout, and fold it away when you're done to make room for other activities. The frame remains stable as you row, and the 16 magnetic resistance levels keep you challenged. Adjust the built-in handlebars, pedals, and console until you feel comfortable, and settle in for a solid workout. When you’re finished using the rowing machine, you can fold it in half. This design makes it easy to store against a wall, but you can also tilt it onto its transport wheels and roll it into another room. Resistance Style: Magnetic resistance | Maximum Weight Capacity: 265 lbs | Dimensions: 44.5 x 25.5 x 8.75 in | Product Weight: 61 lbs Best Design: Ergatta Rower 4.7 View On Ergatta.com 4.7 The 8 Best Rowing Machines of 2021 Pros Sleek, handcrafted design Easy to move and store Multiple features and workouts Bluetooth compatibility Cons Expensive Technology takes time to master Crafted with style in mind, The Ergatta Rower is handmade from American cherry wood and designed for the home—not the gym. The back wheels make it easy to store and move with minimal effort, and the rower can be placed upright, minimizing the space it occupies when not in use. Featuring a clear, fillable 3-pound tank, The Ergatta Rower relies on water resistance to scale naturally with your pull, meaning the harder you work the more resistance you'll receive from the rower. It also offers goal-based training plans—like races, open-row experiences, interval and endurance workouts, and challenges—that will help you reach your fitness objectives, even if you're a beginner. For those seeking foolproof training, the rower is equipped with a high-definition touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity to help you track your workouts over time. Resistance Style: Water tank | Maximum Weight Capacity: 500 lbs | Dimensions: 86 x 23 x 40 in | Product Weight: 76.5 lbs What Our Testers Say "I’ve been using the Ergatta for eight months and am fully converted to the rowing lifestyle. I love that I can work out on my own time—5-, 10-, and 20-minute workouts allow me to sneak in a sweat session during my lunch break—and I can still be part of the Ergatta community with group races and a very active Facebook group. The Ergatta isn’t some dusty old machine that you need to hide in your basement. With a little midcentury-modern flair, it’s good-looking enough to keep in your living room." — Ariel Kanter, Verywell writer and product tester Best Wind Resistance: Stamina ATS Air Rower View On Amazon Pros Resistance naturally changes based on your intensity Lightweight Comfortable Cons Louder than other options The Stamina ATS Air Rower is a solid rowing machine that will keep you balanced as you build strength. While many rowers get their tension from magnetic, hydraulic, or water-based resistance, this one draws on dynamic wind resistance. A wheel on the front of the bike spins every time you row, adding resistance as you gain speed. This design allows for your workouts to become more intense as you grow stronger. The faster you row, the harder your workouts get. The dynamic wind resistance design isn’t the only thing that makes this machine worth buying. Its cushioned seat, padded handlebars, and adjustable pedals keep your workouts comfortable, and the seat smoothly glides forward and back as you row. Since the machine’s frame folds up, it’s particularly easy to store between uses as well. Simply fold the rower, tilt it onto its built-in transport wheels, and roll it away. Resistance Style: Air fan | Maximum Weight Capacity: 250 lbs | Dimensions: 77 x 18 x 22 in | Product Weight: 54 lbs The 8 Best Treadmills of 2021 Final Verdict Quiet, comfortable, and plenty challenging, the Hydrow Rower (view at Hydrow) offers everything you’d want in a rowing machine. The feature-packed rower will keep your workouts challenging and engaging. Verywell Fit / Deana McCormack What to Look for in a Rowing Machine Durability If you choose rowing as your form of exercise multiple times a week, a durable machine is necessary. “A more affordable option might seem attractive at first, but you’ll get much more value from a machine that is a bit pricier and more durable since it lasts for a longer time,” says Kenny Rosenzweig, Co-founder, and CEO of Rowgatta. Resistance Mechanism All rowing machines offer some amount of resistance, but the source of this resistance can vary. Some rowers come equipped with water tanks that handle the tension for you. Others rely on internal resistance mechanisms like hydraulic or magnetic resistance. And some others come with built-in fans that provide wind resistance. “I highly recommend air resistance as it best replicated the feel of rowing on water,” says Rosenzweig. “In my opinion, it also generates the best workout.” He also says that the type of resistance is a personal preference and that you should choose one that feels most comfortable during use. Handle Design Classic rowing machines boast a single handle, which you grip with both hands to pull. But some rowers boast two handlebars, instead. These handlebars look a little like what you’d find on an elliptical, and you can use them to get a fuller range of motion in your upper body. “The best handlebar is one that will not tear your hands apart after a long session on the rower,” Rosenzweig explains. He says that finding a handlebar with traction and grip is also important, but warns that ones with too much texture can cause blisters over time. Find one that feels good from the first use. Storage and Portability Rowing machines can get large and heavy, which can make them hard to transport or store. But many rowers are designed with portability and convenience in mind. Some come with built-in transport wheels that make them easy to move from place to place, some are designed to be turned on their sides and propped up against your wall, and some even fold in half. Special Features Some rowing machines come with high-tech options like built-in workouts, games, or guidance from an instructor. The connected rowing machines can be more fun and motivating,” says Rosenzweig. He warns that these options can often be more expensive since many require a corresponding content subscription. But if you have the budget to splurge, it could be a good option for beginners in need of additional instruction, or advanced rowers trying to add a new dimension to their workouts. Verywell Fit / Deanna McCormack FAQs Is it safe to row every day? Depending on the intensity with which you row, you can enjoy this total-body workout safely every single day—and for hours, if you choose to do so. Just pay attention to what your body is telling you. If you're feeling particularly sore or stiff, consider a day of gentle stretches and rest to give your body a period of recovery. If you feel great, keep rowing! Verywell / Rozalynn S. Frazier Why Trust Verywell Fit? As a seasoned health and fitness writer, Lindsey Lanquist understands how vital quality product recommendations can be. She is careful to recommend products that are reliable, comfortable, and genuinely well-reviewed by those who’ve tried them. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get exercise tips to make your workouts less work and more fun. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 1 Source Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Kang SR, Yu CH, Han KS, Kwon TK. Comparative analysis of basal physical fitness and muscle function in relation to muscle balance pattern using rowing machines. Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering. 2014;24(6):2425-2435.