Best Rowing Machines

The resistance mechanism is the single biggest decision in a rowing machine, and it changes everything downstream: air rowers like the Concept2 RowErg deliver resistance that scales with your effort and remain the competition standard, water rowers offer a smoother catch and quieter whoosh that suits shared living spaces, and magnetic rowers are the quietest of all but can feel flat at high intensity. Most buyers fixate on the monitor and footplates when the flywheel type is what they will actually feel on every single stroke for years.

The market has shifted hard toward connected rowing since 2024. Hydrow and Ergatta built subscription ecosystems around dampened water-feel machines, Concept2 opened its PM5 monitor to third-party apps over Bluetooth FTMS, and even budget magnetic rowers now ship with app pairing. The mistake we see most often is paying $2,000+ for a screen-first machine, canceling the $38-44 monthly subscription within a year, and being left with hardware that loses half its function offline. Check what the machine does without a membership before you buy.

Build quality matters more in rowers than in most cardio equipment because the stroke loads the rail, seat rollers, and chain or strap thousands of times per session. A 300 lb user weight rating, an aluminum or steel monorail, and a nickel-plated chain or reinforced polyester strap are the durability markers worth checking. Machines under $400 routinely develop seat wobble and strap fray within 18 months of regular use.