6 Best Home Rowing Machine under $1000

If you’ve ever looked at a rower, you’ve noticed how they are some of the fittest athletes on earth. Not only are they lean and muscular they have the endurance that even high level athletes can’t compete with.

There are many options for cardiovascular equipment but a rowing machine may be one of the best choices if you’re looking to get as fit, strong, and lean as possible.

A treadmill can be good but you’re limited by the size. If you don’t have a lot of space where you live it can be tough to fit a decent sized one in. And then if you have to go with a smaller option it can be tougher to run on it and you’re limited to walking. Also, if you experience any joint or knee pain, this might not be the best option for you because of the constant pounding of the exercise.

A stationary bike may be a great option as it will eliminate that aspect of force on the joints but you may not feel you’re getting a full-body workout with one.

This is where rowing may be the ultimate exercise tool for you. When using a rowing machine you are working every muscle in the body. The legs have to drive you backward and your upper body is pulling to complete the motion. It is one of the ultimate back exercises but you are also using your arms, shoulders and core along with muscles in your legs. You’re even working your forearms and wrists during the motion.

Rowing also perfectly combines cardiovascular endurance and muscular endurance. You will improve your heart health due to the high demands it puts on your cardiovascular system. Rowing will also boost your muscular endurance as your muscles will be constantly engaged and working. If you’ve ever rowed before you know what a good burn it is muscle wise.

One of the great things about a rowing machine is the ability to go at your own pace. You control the intensity depending on how hard, or softly, you row. This is great because you can always adjust your workout depending on how you felt that day.

So now that you see what a great exercise rowing is what are some top rowing machines you should consider?

Here is a review of 6 of the best you may be interested in to get fit and healthy:

2023 Top Picks: Best Rowing Machine under $1000

MODEL	RESISTANCE	STORAGE	RATINGS
WaterRower Natural (Best Water Rower)	Water	Upright	4.8
Concept 2 Model D (Best Overall)	Air	Upright/Foldable	4.9
Sunny Health & Fitness (Best Budget)	Water	Upright	4.5
Stamina Conversion II (Best Value)	Magnetic	Foldable	4.4
ECHANFIT Rowing Machine (Best Indoor)	Magnetic	Foldable	4.5
Stamina Avari Magnetic Rower (Best Magnetic Rower)	Magnetic	Foldable	4.4

1. WaterRower Natural Rowing Machine – (Best Water Rower)

This is like the Cadillac of rowing machines. The Water Rower is crafted by hand in solid ash wood and features a honey oak stain finished in Danish oil. But it isn’t just about looking good (which it does) this rower is a high-end machine.

You may wonder why they use wood and it’s because it is the perfect material for a rower like this. Wood can absorb sound and vibration and this enhances the smooth and quiet operation of the WaterRower.

A water rower like this one uses a patented Water flywheel technology, and this replicates the feel and resistance of actually rowing through the water.

It also contains the S4 Performance Monitor. This is a very user friendly control monitor that has an advanced functionality. The monitor will display things like time, distance, speed/intensity, stroke rate, and heart rate.

What’s great about the WaterRower is that you set the resistance for your own power, and the harder you row the harder your workouts feel. This gives you a sensation similar to paddling in a body of water as though you’re rowing a real boat.

So, if you’re looking for a high end rower, this is it.

Key Features

2. Concept 2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine – (Best Overall)

This is a great compact rower that should fit in any living situation. The flywheel they make it with helps contribute to a smooth and very quiet sound while exercising.

The Concept 2 has a great 14 inch seat height that should be able to accommodate most size people. They also make it with a nickel-plated chain for more durability and longer lasting life. It has adjustable foot rests to ensure proper stability along with an ergonomic handle for more comfort during exercise.

This is a great unit if you need to get it out of the way as it can be separated into two different pieces for easy storage. It is lightweight but still solid coming in at 25.9 kg.

On the tech side, the Concept 2 has the Performance Motor 5. This is great for giving you accurate data of your row so you can track your workouts. It will indicate distance, speed, watts, and calories burned during your workout.

This is one of the best selling indoor rowers in the world and is engineered to last a lifetime, and the good thing is it can hold up to 500-pound user with ease.

If you’re looking for a rower under $1000 – this should be your top preference.

Key Features

3. Sunny Health & Fitness Water Rowing Machine – (Best Budget)

The Sunny Health & Fitness Obsidian Surge 500 adopts a water resistance design. Particularly, the machine incorporates a flywheel and 16 fan blades. The blades mimic the dynamic movements of competitive rowing to provide cardio benefits and strengthen the muscles.

To customize the resistance and dynamic response caused by interaction with the water, you can alter the speed at which the blades spin. For instance, rowing fast results in higher resistance while slow rowing results in lower resistance.

Even though this machine mimics competitive rowing, it is still very comfortable with a padded seat which is designed higher up in order for you to get on and off it much easier.

Who wants to get a rowing machine that is not built to last? Absolutely no one.

For this reason, the Obsidian Surge 500 rowing machine is constructed of sturdy steel for durability and solid performance. Better, the rower integrates high-density hydro blades. These blades can endure vigorous rowing strokes and multiple levels of water resistance without breaking, rusting, and corroding.

The rowing machine integrates non-slip foot pads coupled with nylon straps. This means that you can strap your feet into the footpads and adjust the width of your feet for absolute comfort and stability. The floor stabilizers are another addition to the rower. The stabilizers give you a chance to level the machine for stability and safety without wobbling.

On the tech side you’ve got the R2 Fitness Meter, which gives you a very accurate tracking experience. You’ll have access to some great data including time, strokes per minute, total strokes, calories, heart rate, and even the temperature of the room. As a result, you can track your progress to remain focused on achieving your fitness goals.

Finally, the rowing machine is easy to move and store. It is equipped with non-marking rubber wheels. The wheels provide room for rolling the machine over a range of surfaces without the risk of damaging the floors. After use, you can store the rower in an upright position, which means that the machine doesn’t take up much space during storage.

This is a great unit that will meet all your fitness demands, which won’t break your bank – comes under $500.

Key Features

4. Stamina Conversion II Recumbent Exercise Bike/Rower – (Best Value)

Here we have a great hybrid machine that can give you two different forms of cardio in one. You get the benefits of biking but with an added rowing component mixed together.

This design also cuts down on size making it a great compact unit. You can also easily switch between biking and rowing to add variation to your workouts and change the cardiovascular stimulus. It is a very comfortable machine with a padded seat, pivoting footplates, and textured bike pedals to make you feel secure but comfortable.

Another great feature is the oversized aluminum rail which gives it a very smooth row and glides during your workout. This is a taller unit at 26 inches high but is also just 10 inches wide and 45.5 inches long.

The Stamina Conversion II has an adjustable resistance so you can always increase, or decrease, the intensity of your workouts. You can also track your workout with a multi-function monitor which will inform you of your speed, distance, time, calories burned, and also your pulse making this a great combination machine to reach your fitness goals.

Key Features

5. ECHANFIT Rowing Machine Foldable Indoor Rower – (Best for Small Space)

In terms of value for money, the Echanfit Rower is one of the best indoor rowing machines on the market. It offers 16 levels of magnetic resistance and by using the knob on the console, you can select different resistance levels.

Additionally, the rower generates a silent magnetic resistance. As a result, you do not have to worry about disturbing family members while exercising in the house.

This machine is ideal for homes or apartments with limited space. The rowing machine features front-mounted transport wheels. Using them, you can move the rower from one room to another. Best of all, the machine is easy to fold after the workout, a measure that ensures simple and compact storage.

Another plus of the machine is the handy computer. The monitor can display the rowing speed, time, strokes per minute, RPM, calories burnt, and stroke. Because of this, you can track your progress, a measure that keeps you focused on achieving your fitness goals.

Lastly, the Echanfit rowing machine responds to the need for a rower that provides a safe and comfortable workout.

In particular, the machine integrates pivoting pedals with a quick-release feature. This design allows you to secure the feet, assuring you of safe and stable performance. Better, the rower includes a molded and ergonomic seat. The seat provides you a comfortable sitting position to relieve stress, improve blood circulation, and keep you practicing longer without sacrificing comfort.

I would recommend it to anyone looking for a high-quality rowing machine for personal training at home.

Key Features

6. Stamina Avari Magnetic Exercise Rower – (Best Magnetic Rower)

Finishing our list is a great entry from Stamina Avari. This is a great option that is budget friendly but will still give you a great full-body workout. It has a compact design but still uses a longer rowing beam to create a very smooth rowing motion.

This tower is built for comfort with a padded seat and foam padded rowing handle to make your workout even more pleasurable. You’ll be kept securely in place with large foot plates allowing you to be fully engaged in your workout.

Size wise it has great dimensions at 53 inches high, 20 inches wide, and only 36 inches long. Tech wise you still get some great features on this magnetic exercise rower. It has a back-lit LCD screen for everything you need to track such as time, distance, strokes per minute, pulse, watts, and calories burned.

A great addition with this rower is that it comes with a chest strap heart rate monitor to let you easily track your target heart rate during workouts.

Last but not least this machine has 12 different workout programs to offer you varying workouts and different intensities. Some of these workouts include:

• Rolling hills mode
• Valley mode
• Fat burn mode
• Ramp mode
• Mountain mode
• Interval mode
• Target heart rate mode

This is a great rowing machine that will easily meet all your fitness needs and for an affordable price.

Key Features

Things to Consider Before Buying a Rowing Machine

You’ve seen this list of the top 5 best home rowing machines but it’s also important to be an informed consumer. When it comes to rowing machines, there are certain things you need to know to find the best machine for your needs. Here are a quick rowing machine buyers guide to help get your up to speed.

1. Figure Out Your Budget

This will be priority one for most people but you need to look at the money spent on equipment as an investment in your health. Before you shop around, you need to come up with a maximum amount you will be comfortable spending. This way you know what machines you can consider and which you need to just move past. If you think of other ways you can save money, including not paying for a gym membership, you may be able to increase your budget.

2. What Type Of Resistance Do You want?

Rowing machines take research because there are some various forms of resistance that will provide the intensity in each specific rower. Here’s a quick rundown on the different types of resistance:

Air/Fan resistance- This is a classic resistance in a rowing machine as it involves the use of a spinning fan flywheel. When you pull the handle on the rower it causes the flywheel to spin and create wind. This can be great as you can slow down, or speed up, your rowing pace while you’re working out without having to adjust any settings.

Water- we’ve covered this in the two reviews but when it comes to rowing machines water resistance will best replicate the sensation of rowing out on a lake or river.

Magnetic- These rowers use a magnetic break in the flywheel to generate the resistance. The magnets are built in and then you choose the resistance you are wanting on that workout. This makes for very smooth, and quiet, rowing.

Hydraulic- This is a more simple system and rowing machines that use this type of resistance are usually more affordable. They are also smaller and quieter. The resistance is achieved by pistons that are attached to the handles and you pull against the air, or fluid, that are inside the pistons. Some say this is the least effective form of rowing but it will still give you a good workout.

3. Rower, Seat, And Sliding Track

This will help you find the balance between comfort and performance. A higher end rower that provides great intensity might not be the most comfortable to use. The experience of real water rowing in a boat isn’t always the most comfortable, so it depends how close you want to replicate that.

You also have the option of padded seats and foam handles to make it a more luxurious experience. If you have back problems, you may want to opt for the more comfortable padded seat. If you want a more athletic rowing experience, you might opt for a standard style seat that stresses performance over comfort.

The sliding track length will be important for a full rowing range of motion and also will depend on your height. Most average sized people will be fine on standard rowers but if you are on the taller side, you will need a longer sliding track to accommodate the stride length of your rowing motion. And the bigger and wider the sliding track the more stable and comfortable the row will be.

4. Check Your Space

If you live in a large house with a lot of open space, you won’t need to worry about the size of your rower. But if space is at a premium you need to look for a smaller rower. You need to remember it’s not just the length and width of the rower but how much space you will take up when you consider your own width and how far back you will be rowing.

It’s important to leave space between the front, and back, of the rower and the surrounding walls. If you are in a tiny cramped room, you might have to go for a smaller hydraulic based rower to accommodate the size.

Summary

No matter what rowing machine you decide to go with you can feel safe knowing you will be getting one of the great forms of exercise there is. Rowing is not only great for building a lean muscular body but is one of the best exercises out there to improve your heart health and overall fitness.

This review should give you a good starting point on the best rowers that are out there. The rowing machine buying guide will also inform you on the features, and components, you need to know about in order to purchase the best rowing machine for your needs.