Power Your At-Home Fitness with the Best Home Rowing Machines
Our favorites will help you reach your stronger, faster, better goals right from your living room.
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At-home fitness doesn’t need to be an upstream battle. Rowing machines can offer quick, low-impact workouts that are easy to approach and downright fun to complete. Indoor rowing has seen a surge in popularity over the past few years, so it makes sense that a number of brands have begun to offer quality equipment to match athlete needs. Even a certain at-home fitness staple now offers a rowing machine, proving the discipline’s popularity as a go-to full-body workout.
We’ve been paying close attention to the indoor rowing scene for a while now and have gotten our strokes atop many of the industry’s best. Before we launch into our top home rowing machines, however, it can be beneficial to look at why indoor rowing is such a popular fitness routine.
The Benefits of Using a Rowing Machine
Much like the treadmill or indoor spin bike, the rowing machine has cemented itself as a must-have piece of home gym equipment. But how did these rigs go from perennial dust collectors at your local gym to the chic living room or pain cave additions of today? Well, it’s all due to the benefits that rowing brings to your training routine.
Rowing is a low-impact discipline.
Unlike other fitness disciplines, rowing doesn’t require a lot of strain on your body. You’re constantly in a seated position, meaning there’s less stress on your knees and back as you work through the resistance showcased through the machine’s system. To compare it to running, each stride features some impact and stress at the joints when you make contact with the ground.
Rowing employs multiple muscle groups at once for a full-body workout.
Rowing can target 85% of your body’s muscles in one properly-executed stroke. This means that instead of targeting your lower body while treadmill running or lifting weights, you’re taxing your frame across a wider landscape for a more efficient workout. This multifaceted profile can help increase your body strength as well as your cardiovascular capacity, effectively giving each training session a double dose of performance potential.
Rowing can provide an effective workout in less time.
Because you’re working so many muscles at once while doubling down with cardiovascular training, you’re able to accomplish an effective workout in less time atop a home rowing machine. This can keep your daily schedule as efficient as possible and offers some versatility depending on your training goals. Want to increase your aerobic capacity? Keep your strokes well-paced at a lower resistance level and pull for a longer period of time. Want to focus more so on strength training? Crank it up and pound through a high-intensity interval. There’s really no limitations when it comes to these effective workout vessels.
What to Consider When Buying a Rowing Machine
Size and Storage
While rowing machines can bring a ton of potential to your at-home fitness routine, you shouldn’t expect these rigs to be compact additions to your setup. Rowing machines are long, sleek structures that can quickly consume your space, so plan to leave about 32 square feet for your equipment. This can allow for the structure itself, as well as some open room to easily hop in and out of the seat.
Additionally, rowing machines are typically more lightweight than your average treadmill but are still by no means light pieces of equipment. A rower’s weight dimensions are very dependent on the resistance style used, so think about where you would like to store your unit in your home before purchase — unless you’re really wanting a rowing machine-sized skylight.
Lastly, some rowing machines can be stored upright for added convenience, but this style may require wall anchors to achieve this vertical profile. Make sure your walls are capable of housing the required equipment or plan to keep your rower horizontal and on the floor for the entirety of its use.
Noise
Rowing machines work by employing a resistance system to give each stroke the desired intensity. There are a number of different systems to choose from, including water, fanned or magnetic. Water-based and magnetic systems can be quieter than fanned rowers, so if you share a home with youngsters or work-from-home enthusiasts, these could be the better options.
Workout-Specific Features
A rowing machine can be an unbearable training tool if you’re not comfortable in the seat, so look for rigs that feature a well-cushioned saddle, as well as stable, secure foot placement. Additionally, many rowers feature large display screens that allow you to stream workouts or track your workout metrics. Ensure you’re able to view all your desired metrics as you work through your sessions. Also, if you like to mix in off-rower exercises as part of your regimen, it can help to look for rowing machines that feature an adjustable display if you’re following along with live or on-demand classes.
Extra Capabilities
Technology has made fitness a more connected experience than ever, and rowing can be the perfect discipline to take advantage of the day’s most innovative features. If you’re a fan of classes or battling for that top leaderboard position, make sure your rowing machine has access to live and on-demand workout programs.
Some rowers even offer streaming capabilities, allowing you to catch up on your favorite series while you get in a good sweat. Spotify or music integration is another popular add-on that can really take your training to the next level. While these aren’t necessarily must-haves for a quality rowing experience, they can make it more enticing to regularly hop on for your daily strokes.
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