The 6 Best Water Rowing Machines of 2023

Rowing machines are unique among cardio equipment in that while they’re great calorie burners, they also work just about every muscle in your entire body — something that can’t be said for most cardio machines. (1)(2) And while most rowers try to simulate the feel of rowing on a body of water, only water rowers really come close. 

Instead of using wind or magnetic resistance, water rowers create resistance via fan blades moving through a reservoir of actual water, coming as close as you can get to the feel of rowing on a lake or river. And while all water rowers share this feature, they do have their differences. Some have large HD displays, others fold down to save space when they’re not in use, and some even double as full home gym machines. We hit the water (kind of) and tried out a series of rowers to find the best water rowing machines on the market. 

The Best Water Rowing Machines

• Best Water Rowing Machine Overall: LIT Method Strength Machine
• Best Smart Water Rowing Machine: CITYROW Max Rower
• Best Budget Water Rowing Machine: Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Obsidian Surge 500 m Water Rowing Machine
• Best Interactive Water Rowing Machine: Ergatta
• Best Luxury Water Rowing Machine: LIT Method Strength Machine
• Best Foldable Water Rowing Machine: TRUNK Water Rowing Machine

How We Tested

The BarBend team is made up of competitive athletes, certified personal trainers, and lifelong fitness enthusiasts, and we’ve rowed countless miles on air, mag, and water rowers for both fitness and testing purposes. For this article, we tried different water rowing machines to evaluate their feel, effectiveness, and durability, among other things. 

Best Water Rowing Machine Overall: LIT Method Strength Machine

Specs

• Price: $1,549
• Display Type: None
• Dimensions: 84” L x 20” W x 20” H
• Weight Capacity: 450 pounds

Pros

• You can also use this rower for resistance band and mobility workouts. 
• If you aren’t interested in free weights, this functions as a full home gym.
• The LIT App offers thousands of on- and off-rower workouts.

Cons

• There’s no screen, so you’ll have to use your own device to follow along with workout programming. 
• The low seat may be difficult to get into and out of for some people. 

To make the top spot on this list, a rower has to go above and beyond when it comes to home fitness. The LIT Method Strength Machine does that by delivering an excellent rowing experience and also acting as a full home gym as well. 

In addition to using water resistance to provide that on-the-water feel and soothing swish sound, the LIT Strength Machine has resistance bands that attach to the rower’s front, middle or back sections. This allows you to do off-rower workouts using the bands for resistance. Plus, the anchored bands can also pair with the sliding seat for Pilates workouts, with the Strength Machine essentially doubling as a Pilates reformer. 

With your purchase, you’ll also get a 90-day free trial to the LIT app, which delivers over 2,500 on- and off-rower workouts that you can follow along with. One thing to note is that this machine doesn’t have an onboard screen. Instead, it has an integrated tablet holder, so you can attach your device to follow the LIT app’s workouts. “I actually liked that it didn’t have a screen,” our tester says. “Since you’re using your own device, you can display workouts from any app you want.” 

Read our full LIT Method Strength Machine Review. 

Best Smart Water Rowing Machine: CITYROW Max Rower

Specs

• Price: $2,195
• Display Type: 19.5-inch HD touchscreen
• Dimensions: 83.5” L x 22.25” W x 20” H
• Weight Capacity: 375 pounds

Pros

• It pairs with the Apple Watch and other fitness trackers to track your heart rate and calorie expenditure. 
• The CITYROW GO app offers trainer-led rowing workouts as well as yoga, HIIT, and strength training workouts. 
• The large HD touchscreen is bright and responsive. 

Cons

• You’re paying for all that tech — this rower starts at over $2,000. 
• The 375-pound weight limit is lower than you’ll find on other rowers. 

The CITYROW Max rower stands out from most other rowers because of the amount of tech that this machine comes with. The big 19.5-inch touchscreen is sweat-resistant and connects to Bluetooth headphones as well as heart rate monitors or fitness trackers (like the Apple Watch) for live workout tracking. 

It is also one of the only rowers that offers live and on-demand trainer-led classes. In addition to rowing classes, the CITYROW GO app offers strength training, yoga, HIIT, and other classes that you can follow along with. The first two weeks of CITYROW GO are free, but after that, it’ll cost $29 a month or $348 for a year-long membership. CITYROW is constantly updating the content, so if you’re looking for a program to follow, the cost may be worth it. 

Best Budget Water Rowing Machine: Sunny Health & Fitness Smart Obsidian Surge 500 m Water Rowing Machine

Specs

• Price: $500
• Display Type:  LCD screen
• Dimensions: 80” L x 22” W x 34” H
• Weight Capacity: 300 pounds

Pros

• At under $500, it’s one of the least expensive water rowers you’ll find. 
• The SunnyFit app offers on-demand workouts without an added subscription fee.
• This rower stores upright to save space when not in use. 

Cons

• The LCD screen may not satisfy rowers who want a more high-tech experience. 
• This rower’s weight capacity is only 300 pounds, which is lighter than you’ll see on other rowers on this list. 

If you want to try rowing for the first time to see if it’s for you, spending $2,000 may not be the best idea. Fortunately, you don’t have to shell out big bucks for a high-quality water rower. If you’re looking for a budget rower, the Smart Obsidian Surge 500 m Water Rowing Machine from Sunny Health & Fitness will only cost you $500, but it offers a 16-blade hydro-fan, a sturdy steel frame, and front-mounted wheels for easy moving and storage. 

It’s also got a big, cushy seat (great for long row sessions) and an LCD monitor that tracks time, distance, strokes per minute, calories, and more. While it doesn’t have a fancy HD touchscreen like more expensive rowers, it does have a smartphone/tablet holder, so you can stream workouts through any fitness app you like.

Speaking of online workout programming, this rower has a feature you don’t see on many other rowers — a completely free fitness app. Despite not costing a dime, this app has on-demand workouts, metric tracking, leaderboards, customized workout plans, and virtual scenic rides and rows. User reviews were big fans of this app, with one user saying, “The free app has outstanding trainer sessions which sync with the equipment.” 

Best Interactive Water Rowing Machine: Ergatta

Specs

• Price: $2,099
• Display Type: 17.3-inch HD touchscreen
• Dimensions: 86” L x 23” W x 40” H
• Weight Capacity: 500 pounds

Pros

• There are plenty of gamified workouts to add some competitive fun to your training. 
• The big 17.3-inch monitor is bright and responsive. 
• This rower’s attractive cherrywood frame makes it look like a high-end piece of home decor. 

Cons

• At $2,099, this is a pricey rower. 
• You’ll have to kick down more money for a subscription to access the games and workouts. 

For a lot of people, the problem with working out is that it feels more like PE class than recess. The people at Ergatta must agree because the main fitness platform of this rower is a series of games that push you to row faster and farther to achieve a high score. The workouts come in the form of virtual races, interval sprints, and various games that make it feel more like you’re playing a video game than burning off the cinnamon roll you ate for lunch. 

The standout game for our tester was Meteor, in which you control a ball that makes you row faster or harder to hit targets that appear. “I was trying so hard to rack up a good score that I didn’t even notice that I was sweating,” he says. “ I’d find myself going back to the rower a few hours later to try to hit the targets I missed in my morning workout.”

It’s on the pricier side, at $2,100, plus the membership, which costs $29 per month. In addition to the games, the membership offers scenic rows, live races, and thousands of on- and off-rower workouts. Between the games and the beautiful high-definition scenic rows, our tester was a big fan of this rower. If you’re looking for a way to actually have fun while you work out, this gaming rower might be your best bet. 

Read our full Ergatta Rower Review. 

Best Luxury Water Rowing Machine: LIT Method Strength Machine

Specs

• Price: $1,549
• Display Type: None
• Dimensions: 84” L x 20” W x 20” H
• Weight Capacity: 450 pounds

Pros

• This rower actually doubles as a home gym with resistance bands and a pilates reformer.
• The bands can be anchored anywhere, so you can do workouts outside the home. 
• Our tester (and other user reviews) praised the soft, cushy seat. 

Cons

• There’s no screen, so you’ll have to supply your own smartphone or tablet. 
• The seat is lower than on other rowers, so some people might have a hard time getting on and off the rower. 

If you’re going to spend a good chunk of money on a water rower, it helps if it brings more to the table than the competition. As a rower, the LIT Strength Machine offers a comfortable, smooth rowing experience thanks to its soft, supportive seat and wide, contoured handle. What makes the Strength Machine really stand out, however, is its ability to act as a full home gym, thanks to the included resistance bands. 

This rower comes with a set of 20-pound resistance bands that can be anchored to the front, middle, or rear of the rower, allowing users to perform full-body resistance workouts. They also work with the rower’s sliding seat to transform the machine into a Pilates reformer, turning your workout room into a Pilates studio. The bands can also be used off the rower, which our tester appreciated. “I took them down to the beach for a workout,” he said. “It’s great to be able to use it out of the house.”

The Strength Machine also comes with a free three-month trial of the LIT app, which offers over 2,500 workouts that take place both on and off the rower. While the Strength Machine doesn’t have a display to show these workouts, it does offer a smartphone/tablet holder, so you can use your own device to display the workouts. 

Best Foldable Water Rowing Machine: TRUNK Water Rowing Machine

Specs

• Price: $549 (Black), $599 (Contrast Color), $649 (Sepia)
• Display Type: LCD
• Dimensions: 84” L x 22” W x 20” H
• Weight Capacity: 330 pounds

Pros

• This rower folds in half and stores upright for easy storage. 
• It comes in three different color options. 
• At $549, it’s on the less expensive side for water rowers. 

Cons

• Tech lovers might not like the lack of an HD touchscreen here. 
• The 330-pound weight limit is lower than many other rowers on this list. 

Looking for a rower but tight on space? The Trunk Water Rowing Machine might be the perfect choice. A lot of rowers will stand vertically when not in use, but the Trunk rower also folds in half, cutting its length down from 84 inches to about 48 inches, which makes it easy to roll it away and out of sight when you’re not working out. 

Plus, it’s made with a great-looking hardwood frame that comes in three different color options — Black, Contrast Color, and Sepia. Unlike the other hardwood options on this list, the handle is made of classic oak, which feels smooth in hand and will develop a cool patina over time. Many of the user reviews mentioned the look of this rower, with one noting that it’s “very nice looking, feels solid, and folds down easily. 

At under $1,000, it won’t break the bank, but you won’t find any techy features like an HD touchscreen or online programming. What it does have is an LCD screen that displays time distance, 500m split time, and stroke rate. If you do want some in-row entertainment or workout programming, it does come with a phone holder, so you can set your device in there and start rowing. 

Benefits of Water Rowing Machines

Water rowing machines provide the same benefits that air and magnetic rowers do — a full-body workout, minimal impact on the joints, and a break from running or cycling. But there are also a few things that water rowers provide that others don’t, like a realistic on-the-water feel, a clean, classy look, and that pleasant swooshing sound. 

Realistic Feel

While air and magnetic rowers attempt to simulate the feel of rowing on water, nothing comes close to actual water. The varied resistance and heaviness of pulling a water rower’s fan blades through a reservoir of water feels as close to the real thing as you can get without getting out in a boat on a river. 

Aesthetic

While most cardio machines are hidden away in a garage or workout room, water rowers can look right at home in a living room or common area of the home.

This is because water rowing machines are often more visually appealing than air or mag rowers, thanks to their big clear water reservoirs and the wood frame that some rowers have. They give the machine more of an art deco vibe than steel-framed rowers.

The Swoosh

This is a more subjective point, but many people (BarBend’s testers included) love the “swoosh” sound that water rowers make. The swishing sound that the blades make when they pass through the water can be soothing, adding a meditative feel to a hard cardio workout. 

How To Use A Water Rowing Machine

Rowing machines aren’t as instinctive as a stationary bike or a treadmill, but the basics are easy to pick up with a little practice. When you get the details of an efficient stroke down, you may find it’s just as easy as hopping on a bike and pedaling. There are three main parts to an efficient rowing stroke: The drive, the lean, and the finish. 

Drive

Each stroke starts with you holding the handle with your arms straight, your legs bent, and your torso leaning with your back straight, and the handle sitting at about the middle of your shins (like the start to a deadlift). First, push with your legs, driving your heels into the pedals. 

Lean

When your legs are straight, lean back at the waist, keeping your arms extended until your body is leaning away from your feet at about a 45-degree angle. 

Finish

When you hit a comfortable lean, use your arms to pull the handle to your chest, finishing the stroke. Reverse the movements by straightening your arms, leaning forward, and bending your legs until you’ve returned to your starting position. Repeat. 

How We Chose The Best Water Rowing Machines

Most water rowing machines have all of the same basic features — a water reservoir, a handle, and a sliding seat on a rail system — so finding ones that stand out took some extra consideration. We looked for features that made a rower stand out, what kind of added tech there was, and how much it cost. 

Features

To really stand out, a good water rowing machine needs to have some unique or interesting features. Whether it’s the ability to fold up for easy storage, add-ons that allow you to do different kinds of workouts or even a particularly appealing look, we tried to find rowers that offer something that their competitors don’t. 

Tech

Some rowers offer interesting technical features, like the ability to pair with Bluetooth headphones or an Apple Watch, a big HD display, or an app that offers guided workouts and coaching. We gave preference to water rowers that offer unique technological features to add entertainment, fitness tracking, or guidance to the workout experience. 

Price

Like any large piece of workout equipment, a water rower is an investment. While the prices can go up in the thousands, we made it a point to seek out high-quality water rowing machines that could fit smaller budgets as well. 

How Much Do Water Rowing Machines Cost? 

Water rowing machines vary in price from around $500 to over $2,000, and that’s not including optional subscriptions, which can cost anywhere from $20 to $40 a month. If you’re searching for a rower with a lot of technological features like Bluetooth compatibility and an HD touchscreen, you can expect to spend $1,000 or more. If you’re looking for a more basic water rower without all of the technological bells and whistles, you can find ones for around $500. 

What to Consider Before Buying a Water Rowing Machine

Like any piece of cardio equipment, buying a water rowing machine is a big commitment, and a water rower comes with a bit more maintenance than an air or magnetic rower. A few things to consider are the size of the rower, what workout programs it comes with, the maintenance requirements, and how much a rower will cost you. 

Dimensions

It should come as no surprise that rowing machines take up a lot of space. If you’re considering a water rowing machine for your home, make sure it’ll fit where you intend to use it. We’ve listed the dimensions of each rower on this list, so double-check that the one you’re considering will fit in your home. Also, if you live in a smaller space, consider buying one that will fold up so you can stow it away easily when you’re not using it. 

Programming

At the very least, you’ll want a rower that will track metrics like your distance rowed, pace, stroke rate, and time rowed. If you’re looking for more guided workouts, scenic rows, or even games, do some research on what workout apps (if any) the rower offers.

If you have the budget for it, consider a higher-end model with an HD display. If money’s tight, rowers without these screens tend to be less expensive, but they often offer a tablet holder, so you can display workouts or entertainment on your own device.

Maintenance

Water rowers come with their own benefits, like a more realistic on-the-water feel and more natural aesthetics, but they also come with a bit more maintenance. To keep the water clear and clean, you’ll have to drop a chlorine tablet into the reservoir every six months or so. Companies will often send these out with the rower, but if they don’t, you can usually pick some up on Amazon for around $10. Just be sure not to use bleach to clean the water, as it might weaken the tank and make it more prone to cracks and leaks. 

Price

Of course, you’re going to want a rower that you can afford. While higher-tech rowers can cost $1,000 or more, if you’re willing to forgo some of the bells and whistles, you can easily find a good water rowing machine for around $500. 

Final Word

Water rowers can help you build endurance and strength without excess impact on your joints. But no matter how much you decide to spend, it’s still a big decision. We included rowers here with a wide range of features and various price ranges to help you narrow down your choices. 

When you’re looking for the right water rower for you, consider how you want to use it, what features you want, and how much you’re willing to spend. Once you’ve got an idea of what you’re looking for, you can use this list to help guide you to the perfect one.

FAQs

Resources

1. 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. Biomed Mater Eng. 2014;24(6):2425-35. doi: 10.3233/BME-141056. PMID: 25226943.
2. Yoshiga CC, Higuchi M. Heart rate is lower during ergometer rowing than during treadmill running. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2002 Jun;87(2):97-100. doi: 10.1007/s00421-002-0599-z. Epub 2002 Apr 5. PMID: 12070617.

The post The 6 Best Water Rowing Machines of 2023 appeared first on BarBend.