When it comes to losing weight and staying fit, there are a ton of great products out there that deliver great results. With more or less dedication, you can easily find something to reach your goals, but if you were to ask me, I would say that the Rowers or Rowing Machines are some of the best options when it comes to fitness equipment to take at home because not only they are amazing when it comes to burning calories, but they also work out more muscles than most regular cardio type equipment, like bikes or steppers.
However, a rowing machine should be considered as a pretty much impressive investment as they are not extremely cheap, so you must make sure that when you spend your money it’s money well spent. We’re here to help you do that by sharing with you the best rowing machines to buy in 2018, after looking at tens of products available on market.
We have selected three excellent rowing machines for you to choose from, starting with a cheap option that still delivers great value and ending with what we consider the best rowing machine for home use, although a bit more expensive.
We did all the research, so that you don’t have to waste time doing so and still risk getting an unfit rowing machine (no pun intended!. But let’s not waste a single second and let’s check out below the best rowing machines for 2018.
Please note: We get commissions for purchases made through links in this article.
1. LifeSpan Fitness RW1000
We’re starting our recommendations with the cheapest product on the list. Despite its price, the LifeSpan Fitness RW1000 does a great job at keeping you fit, strengthening arms, legs, shoulders and back and, if needed, lose weight. It has a lot of features and functions that make it a really good choice for the rowing machine to use at home and it’s also an award winning piece of equipment, having won the 2008 Gear Awards Seal of Excellence. Yes, even after all these years, it still remains a solid choice for exercising at home and you will most likely love it!
It has a solid steel frame and an on-board computer (powered by a simply battery) showing you distance, calories, time, strokes, and strokes per minute. It has 5 levels of resistance, meaning that you can set the intensity of your workout session based on your fitness level.
Each new level increases the difficulty, in our opinion, by about 10% and even if that doesn’t seem much, you will see how difficult it gets the more time you spend rowing. It is also an extremely quiet product, surprisingly quiet actually, which is always a bonus.
It is relatively large, just like all rowing machines (90 x 18.5 x 23-inches) but it can easily be folded to 4 x 19 x 64-inches to save you some space. It is durable and helps you a lot, working out all the muscles and doing a great job at it.
The pull mechanism is made of fabric, so that seems like it’s not its strongest point, but then again nobody has complained of it breaking, so it’s just as durable as the rest of the components.
It is actually rated pretty highly on Amazon, with an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with one of the people who own it saying: “This machine undoubtedly gives the most concentrated workout of anything I’ve used”. It’s a perfect choice for a cheap rowing machine and at the moment of writing this article it has an amazing $200 discount, so make sure you check it out right away and take advantage of that discount while it lasts!
Click here to get the LifeSpan Fitness RW1000.
2. Concept2 Model E Rowing Machine
Concept2 is the manufacturer of some really solid rowing machines, and Model E is our favorite. Presented as the “luxury machine of the indoor rower world,” Concept2’s Model E really has all the Pros you can wish for in a rowing machine. 20-inch seat height, nickel-plated chain, adjustable footrests and ergonomic handle make it comfortable and extremely durable, while the Performance Monitor 5, which comes with an adjustable arm, offers accurate information regarding distance, speed, pace, calories burned, and watts, plus you can access the preset workouts from there for ultimate training sessions. It is smooth, it is comfortable and you will absolutely love it!
I loved what one of the people who used this product had to say about it: “Built like a tank, designed to last a lifetime.” This is basically what you should expect from the Model E rower, without the bad looks of the tanks! It has 10 adjustable intensity settings and it is extremely silent, which is always a bonus.
The high quality materials and the way they’re assembled make it a top choice right now, if you can accept a minor con: it is HUGE! Well, not a lot bigger than most rowing machines there, but big: it requires a footprint of 9 x 4 feet, but fortunately it can be split in two pieces for easier storage. It’s well worth the space, though as you will surely get amazing workouts with it and amazing quality.
To convince you that it’s indeed an amazing product, just consider the fact that on Amazon.com, the Concept2 Model E Rowing Machine has an outstanding rating of 4.8 stars out of 5. Reviewers have almost ran out of superlatives for this product, praising it for its high quality and durability. So here’s your new favorite:
Click here to check out the Concept2 Model E Rower
3. WaterRower Natural Rowing Machine
Even though we have shared with you two amazing product, my favorite remains the WaterRower simply because it brings you closer to the actual, real rowing experience than any other product thanks to the water. Plus, the sound made by the water when you work out is calming and works perfect to remove stress – at least in my case, so I might be a bit biased.
However, we are talking about an amazing product as well that I am sure you’d love just as much as I do: first of all, the design is absolutely amazing, with the wooden tones which also absorb noise, making it extremely silent as well!
It comes with a performance monitor that tracks workout intensity, stroke rate, heart rate, and more. It is durable and extremely comfortable, helping you stay fit or lose weight or both! It works 84 percent of your muscle mass, which is just as impressive as it sounds, while also being considered low impact (less pressure on joints and ankles) – and that’s what all rowing machines do.
But you will absolutely love the WaterFlywheel which makes the entire rowing experience seem as natural as possible and as close as possible to actually rowing in real water. That’s a great feeling and once you’ve tried it, you’ll fall in love with it, even though it doesn’t allow you for slightly easier storage like the other two rowers we’ve recommended!
And the same thing is said by people who own this amazing piece of equipment: one reviewer, for example, says he has used one for 10 years and it’s still working great, while another considers it “best rower on the market”. 124 people rated it and rewarded it with an impressive 4.6 stars out of 5 on Amazon, which is impressive.
The only big problem is, in my opinion, that it doesn’t offer an easy way to set the intensity of the training: you can completely fill the water receptacle for the most intense workout, or take out some to make it easier, but that’s not the best way to approach things. Of course, you will only have to do that once, but it still feels a bit odd.
But except for that, this is a piece of equipment you will love, and the water itself makes it even more amazing in my opinion, so we highly recommend this product too!
Click here to check out the WaterRower Rowing Machine on Amazon.
There you have it! Our three recommended indoor rowing machines and probably the best available for purchase right now. You have everything – from low price to stylish wooden designs and I am sure that if you will choose any of our recommended machines, you will not be disappointed. Just make sure to put them to good use and stay fit!