Best 5 Home Rowing Machines For Home Workout In 2022 Reviews

If you’re wondering which is the best home rowing machine, this article is here to answer your question!

Here I reviewed 5 best rowing machines for home use and write about their design and features. You can compare the rower models here and decide which is the best fit for you. I also mention everything you need to know about these exercise machines so you can make an informed purchase.

What You Need To Know Before Buying A Home Exercise Machine

Why Add A Rowing Machine To Your Home Gym?

A rowing machine gives you an excellent full-body workout and is a great tool in your home gym equipment. Rowing strengthens all the major muscle groups in your body, from quads to biceps and triceps. It also works your core and is a great machine for improving cardiovascular fitness.

Price Range Of Home Gym Rowing Machines

The exercise rowers mentioned in this article go from the lower to the higher end price-wise. The most expensive rower from this list is the Dynamic Fitness R1 Pro rowing machine. On the lower end, you have the Kettler Outrigger and the most affordable, Harvil Magnetic Rower.

Where Can You Buy Rowers For Home Use?

You can go to the official website of the rower you would like to buy where they are sold. The other option is online retail sites, like Amazon. I personally recommend the Amazon option since you can compare prices directly on there. They also offer discounts every so often.

How Much Room Does A Rowing Machine Take?

It’s important to know how much space you need for your rowing machine. Some take up a lot of space while in use but can be folded for very easy storage. Some take up little space to begin with in case you have very little room for the machine. Those can also be additionally folded for storage.

Four Major Resistance Types Of Home Rowers

Which rower will you buy greatly depends on which resistance type you prefer in a machine. Air and water resistance give you a strong and smooth stroke, but air resistance can create a lot of noise. Hydraulic and magnetic resistance is quiet and efficient but magnetic can be too easy for experienced rowers.

Best 5 Rowing Machines For Home Use

Best Home Water Rowing Machine

WaterRower A1 Home Rowing Machine

Water Resistance Exercise Rower

The resistance on water rowers is similar to air rowers in that it uses your effort to make it easier or harder. The WaterRower A1 home rower has paddles suspended in a water tank. If you want to create more resistance, there are no levels here. The levels increase when you start to row faster.

A1 Multi-Function Fitness Monitor

The A1 performance monitor is a powerful monitor packed with features but that also tracks your basic metrics. The monitor tracks intensity (or watts), strokes per minute, the time elapsed, distance rowed and 500m split. It has an easily readable display with several sub-sections.

Build Quality And Design

The WaterRower A1 Home is handcrafted from premium Ash hardwood which absorbs vibration and sound. It has a very stable and durable build and the wood is left unstained but covered in a coat of Danish Oil. It can support up to 275lbs and is one of the best rowing machines for home use.

Easy Upright Storage Of The Rower

Water rowers typically can’t be folded, and the A1 is no exception. But it can be turned vertically so it stands upright and takes the minimum amount of space, only height. The dimensions of this rowing machine while in use are 84’’ L x 21’’ W x 22’’ H.

Warranty Period Of The Waterrower A1

The warranty is only 1 year if you don’t complete a special registration form on the official website. When you do that, the structural frame has a 5-year warranty, while all the other parts and components have 3 years. This rower is a high-quality machine that will last you a long time.

Best Budget Home Rowing Machine

Harvil Magnetic Rowing Machine

Eight Magnetic Resistance levels

Harvil Magnetic rower has 8 resistance levels to choose from. You can set the resistance with the turn of a knob located underneath the monitor. When you set a higher resistance, the C-shaped magnet gets closer to the metallic flywheel. It slows it down and creates resistance with its eddy currents.

Easily Readable Performance Monitor

The performance monitor that comes with the Harvil home gym rower is pretty basic but easily readable. It shows you the most important metrics such as elapsed time, row counts, distance rowed and calories burned. It also has a scan mode that shows you each metric for a short period on the screen in a loop.

Construction Build And Specifications

The monorail is made out of lightweight but durable aluminum and is a sturdy budget-friendly rower. The maximum weight capacity is 264lbs and the rower is a great choice for your home gym. The seat is molded and padded and glides on rollers while the footpads can be pivoted.

Transportation Wheels For Easy Storage

You can easily store this home exercise rowing machine after use, but it’s also quite compact while in use. You can’t fold it but you can lift the rear end of the monorail and then use the built-in rollers to move it. It’s compact enough for a closet and its dimensions are 63’’ L x 20’’ W x 28’’ H.

Warranty Period Of The Harvil Rower

The warranty period of this budget-friendly rower is short, following its price range. You get a 180-day coverage for the entire rower and during that time, Dazadi will repair everything that needs to be repaired. If at any point you’re not satisfied with the product, you will get a full refund.

Best Folding Rowing Machine For The Home

Dynamic Fitness R1 Pro Magnetic Air Rower

Sixteen Levels Of Dual Resistance

This home gym rower uses both magnetic and air resistance for your workouts. It offers you a powerful but smooth rowing motion and 16 levels of resistance to challenge you. The fan flywheel section uses your rowing speed to increase resistance, while the magnets keep a constant resistance.

Performance Monitor For Tracking Data

You can track any metric you need with this user-friendly performance monitor. It monitors time, distance, watts, pulse, calories burned, 500m split time and so much more. It has 12 preset programs and 5 different user profiles, while it also has two different modes you can switch to.

Construction Quality And Comfort

The aluminum monorail is very durable and makes this rower sturdy and of good quality. It can support weights of up to 300lbs and is one of the best home gym rowing machines you can buy. The seat is large and comfortable and can accommodate many different users. The foot pedals are large with an adjustable strap.

Easily Foldable For Storage

There’s a pin you have to take out to quickly unlock the seat monorail so you can fold it. The flywheel part then rests on top of the seat rail part and you can use the built-in rollers to move it. The dimensions of this home rower while in use are 97’’ L x 17’’ W x 42’’ H.

Warranty Period Of The Dynamic R1

The warranty period for the entire rower is only 1 year which isn’t much considering the price. While the build quality is very good, the 1-year warranty seems like too short of a period for it. Other machines in the same price range have much better warranty periods.

Best Commercial Home Rowing Machine

Concept2 Model D Rowing Machine

Air Resistance Exercise Rower

Concept2 Model D is one of the best rowers for home gyms and uses air as resistance for rowing. The resistance varies according to your rowing speed and can be easily changed this way. If you row faster, the fan flywheel spins faster and creates more resistance, making your workout more challenging.

PM5 Performance Monitor

The performance monitor on this home gym rowing machine is state-of-the-art. It shows you basic functions like time, distance, calories burned and watts, but it has many more features. You can choose one of 5 preset workouts or you can customize your workout routine.

Build Quality And Specifications

With its sturdy and durable build and commercial-grade quality, it can support up to 500lbs. Since this is a commercial machine, it can be used in commercial gyms or your home gym. It’s a great choice if you want a home exercise rowing machine. The seat and footrests are also ergonomically designed.

Easy Storage And Transport

You can store this Concept2 home rower upright against a wall if you have tall enough ceilings. Otherwise, you can separate it into two parts that will make the rower much more compact for storage. You can use the rollers for transport and the dimensions of the rower while in use are 96’’ L x 24’’ W x 14’’ H.

Warranty Period Of The Model D

Concept2 offers a good warranty for its rowing machine and so the frame has a 5-year warranty. All the other parts and components are backed by a 2-year warranty. The good part is, the warranty can be transferred to the new owner if you ever decide to sell the machine.

Best Compact Home Rowing Machine

Kettler Kadett Outrigger Home Rower

Hydraulic-Piston Resistance Rowing Machine

The Kettler Kadett home rowing machine uses two hydraulic pistons to provide you with resistance. It gives you a great at-home rowing workout and up to 12 resistance levels so you can find the perfect one for you. It also mimics real rowing on the water and gives a quiet performance.

High-Resolution Fitness Monitor

The monitor gives you all the basic information you need to track your workouts and improve. It tracks time, distance rowed, calories burned, pulse rate and frequency. With this home rower, you get a pulse monitor in the form of an earlobe clip so you can track that metric too.

Build Quality And Specifications

This compact rower for home use is made out of high carbon steel that gives you stability and durability. It can support up to 285lbs and it’s a nice addition to any home gym. The padded seat makes your home rowing workouts more comfortable and the footplates are biomechanically correct.

Easy Storage And Compact Design

The Kadett Outrigger model has a compact design but the rowing arms can also be folded. When you do so, you can store the rowing machine underneath your bed or against a wall and it won’t take much space. It’s lightweight for transport and its dimensions are 59’’ L x 67’’ W x 18’’ H.

Warranty Period Of The Kadett Model

Kettler has a residential warranty for this rower because they want to make sure it’s not used in commercial settings. It’s backed by a lifetime frame warranty and a 3-year parts warranty. This is a quality machine that will last you for many years of workouts and is very resistant.

Conclusion: Which Two Best Home Gym Rower Models Should You Buy?

The WaterRower A1 Home and the Kettler Kadett Outrigger are in my opinion the best home rowing machines. The WaterRower A1 is a smooth and powerful home rower with strong features. The Kettler Kadett is a hydraulic rower for home gyms that will last you for a long time.

If you want to know more about fluid rowers, we have an article about the best water rowing machine models. We also wrote about best-rated rowing machine models. In case you want to know more about space-saving machines, we wrote about them in the compact rowing machines article.