Top 10 Best Indoor Rowers 2020

November 10, 2020

Buying a rower is a good way to maintain your body, burn calories and build muscle in a healthy way while preserving your joints. What is the best indoor rower?Discover our selection of the best rowers available on the market in 2020.

The best indoor rower sorted by price

Which rower to choose? In the category of rowers, there is a choice of a hundred models. There are cheap rowers and high end rowers. They range from 100 $ to more than 2000 $.

As you can imagine, by buying a price you are buying workout comfort and options. In this wide choice of rowers, there is something for everyone.

To help you out, we give you a list of the best rowers by price range. You can find in-depth descriptions for some models of rowing machines by clicking on the links.

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Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 Rowing Machine Rower w/ 12 Level Adjustable Resistance

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ShareVgo Smart Rower Folding Magnetic Rowing Machine with Free APP for Indoor Full Body Workout 

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Koreyosh Water Rowing Machine Indoor Water Rower Adjustable Resistance with LCD Monitor 

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Merax Folding Magnetic Rowing Machine with Performance Monitor, Indoor Rower Machine 

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Fitness Reality Dual Transmission Fan Rower Rowing Machine with MyCloudFitness App 

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SNODE Water Rowing Machine 331Lbs Weight Capacity Indoor Rower with Water Resistance LCD 

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Mr. Rudolf Water Rowing Machine with Bluetooth Monitor, Oak Wood Water Resistance Rower 

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BATTIFE Water Rowing Machine with Bluetooth Monitor for Home Gyms Fitness Indoor Use

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Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine with PM5 Performance Monitor

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First Degree Fitness Indoor Rower, Viking 3 AR – American Ash – Horizontal Series

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Top 10 best seller indoor rowers

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Which rower to choose? Functions to take into account

Over time indoor rowers have improved and are now suitable for home use.

Some apartment rowers are very well machined and we sometimes have to deal with professional rowers at public price.

Having a home rower is really motivating and allows you to practice comfortably at all times at home.

If you are looking for an apartment rower to install in your home, keep in mind that there are many different styles and that you will have to make a choice. A budget doesn’t mean you can’t find a good machine at the right price, and I have listed my favorite rowers below to help you find the best rower.

 Type of resistance

Although rowers all look more or less similar, they differ in their type of resistance. And this resistance makes all the difference. There are 4 types of resistance:

  • water

  • air

  • magnetic

  • hydraulic (piston)

Each type of rowing resistance has its own advantages and unique user experience. Be sure which type of rower you choose, for example between a central pull or 2 articulated arms such as Scandinavian rowers.

Comfort and fit

The best rowers have a comfortable seat, good foot supports, and the right height adjustment.

Rower noise

Some apartment rowers are much noisier than others. A silent machine is not for everyone, however, many users prefer to hear the noise of their efforts.

Rower Dimensions

Buying a rowing machine is a good investment, but remember that it takes up a lot of space so consider giving it space for both storage and exercise without worrying about banging your arms or head against furniture. A rower which does not take up space or which can be folded is recommended in an apartment. The length of the rowers varies from one model to another while the width varies little and is often not a problem. Take the measurements well before your purchase.

The price of rowers

As with any fitness device, prices vary widely from rower to rower. Expensive rowing machines are designed for regular, intense exercise and are made with materials to withstand stress and time. An inexpensive rower allows you to train immediately but is less comfortable, needs more maintenance, and parts need to be replaced faster.

Maximum user weight

Rowers are fitness equipment that can support very high weights. Future buyers don’t have to worry about standing there. while the majority of models accept a minimum user weight of 100 kg, the strongest accept weights up to 500 kg.

Foldable functions

Being able to store your rower is a huge advantage. Make sure it is collapsible and how. Some models fold in half while others split into two pieces for more storage in a specific closet or corner. For example, the Concept 2 Model D rower easily folds by simply pulling the rod located in the middle of the rower.

The screen / computer

The best rowers have a screen that is easy to read and offers a wealth of information. We can find the distance traveled, the time, the number of reps (movements performed), and the number of calories burned. In addition, higher-end rowers have the option of importing data to record your training history in a smartphone application or on the manufacturer’s website.

Ease of assembly

You will only have to assemble your rower once, but you don’t want to have a nightmare 7 hours on it! Make sure you buy a rower that is a sports device and not a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle! The list at the beginning of this article guarantees easy to assemble or at least correct rowers.

Warranty

The law protects you and the parts and labor warranty is mandatory. The cheapest rowers have guarantees of around 2 years for the frame and 6 months on the accessories while the best rowers (the most expensive) are often with guarantees of at least 5 years or even lifetime guarantees for the frame and 15 years for accessories. Repair labor is often guaranteed for 2 years although parts can be guaranteed for longer.

Rowing machine advantages

Rowing is good for the heart and strengthens the major parts of the muscles of the body. Exercising on a rowing machine helps reduce and delay joint pain. The rowing machine helps burn calories, maintain your physical figure and contributes to weight loss (fat) and better health.

Like any physical activity, it is important to perform the right exercises with the right movements on a rower. The large muscles, especially those of the legs, are the ones that have to “work” the most. Poor positioning of the body results in lower back pain. It is recommended that you keep your back at a 90 ° angle to the rower’s center pull. Using the legs instead of bending the torso forward reduces the risk of muscle strain or other injuries. Contact your doctor with any diet or exercise changes.

 Rowing and weight loss

Rowing not only improves your cardiovascular system and builds muscle, it also helps you slim down by burning fat. If your goal is to lose weight, buying a rowing machine is a great device to help you get there.

If you compare rowers to exercise bikes, rowing is superior in terms of calories burned. It is also important to specify that apartment bikes target the lower body only against the whole body for a rower. Therefore, if you have upper body problems, riding an exercise bike will be a much better choice. For a 55 kg person, pedaling 30 minutes at a speed of 20 km / h burns around 200 to 250 calories.

Lose weight with a rower

Intensity is the key to success, that’s the secret to losing weight with a rower. Think about it, a rower works all the muscles in the upper and lower body, the more intense the movements and the more calories the body will burn. Not only does the body burn calories during exercise but also after exercise for a period of time. This is the afterburn effect. For example, when you run, when you stop, your breathing remains strong for a few minutes and your body starts to sweat even more and continues to burn calories. This is because it takes time for the body to understand that the effort is over and that it can rest. It is important to remember that intensive training burns more calories during exercise and longer after stopping exercise.

A 55 kg person running on a treadmill for 30 minutes at average speed burns about 250 calories and does not benefit from the afterburn effect. It’s a little more than the exercise bike.The same person on a rower for 30 minutes at medium speed also burns 250 calories but has less impact on the joints and benefits from the afterburn effect to ultimately burn more calories. Rowing intensely burns around 800 calories / hour.

Interval training: the HIIT best-rowing program

Intense short-term sport is what is offered by professionals to lose weight. HIIT (High intensity interval training) is an interval training known to be effective during and after training, the goal being to benefit as much as possible from the afterburn to continue burning calories even during recovery.

HIIT is particularly suitable for the indoor rower. The goal is to do an intense but short workout (20-30 minutes) and benefit from the afterburn effect. It may sound too good, but it is true and it can make a difference to another type of fitness such as a treadmill.

If you want to lose weight, try the HIIT program with your rower. Remember to warm up at the start for 5 minutes and stretch afterwards.

HIIT rowing machine training

This HIIT workout of 5 intervals lasts 20 minutes (excluding warm-up and cool-down)

Interval n ° 1

30 intense seconds30 seconds of restrepeat 6 times

Interval n ° 2

20 intense seconds10 seconds of restrepeat 4 times

Interval n ° 3

15 intense seconds15 seconds of restrepeat 6 times

Interval n ° 4

20 intense seconds10 seconds of restrepeat 4 times

Interval n ° 5

30 intense seconds30 seconds of restrepeat 6 times

How to use a rower

Rowing is all about cardio. The heart rate increases and unlike jogging in a park, you will have muscle soreness the next day. Rowing requires that you use your legs first and foremost. The thighs (quadriceps), buttocks, calves and hamstrings are the largest and most powerful muscles in the body.

That’s not all, the rower has you pulling on your arms, shoulders, abs with your back for support. You don’t want to hurt your back so keep a 90 ° position.

Technical advice for using the rower

  • Maintaining good limb position during training provides comfort and prevents injury.

  • Sit down and hang the feet with the straps correctly on the supports

  • Keep your back straight with outstretched arms

  • Start each workout with a low resistance and then increase it as you go.

  • Push with the heels on the footrest, extend the legs by pulling the bar at chest level, shoulders back and wrists straight (no need to pull the rope to the end or bend the wrists)

  • Bend the legs and extend the arms to return to the initial position (this phase works the arms and abs and preserves the lower back)

 Other rowing aspects not to be overlooked

The best rowing shoes

You must not rower barefoot. This also applies to any exercise on a device. It is recommended to use sports shoes such as running shoes or sneakers. Do not rowers in sandals or heels. Use closed shoes with hanging soles.

Clothes

You should avoid loose clothing when training on a rowing machine lest the garment slip between the seat and the bar and tear. Of course, it’s not a disaster if that happens, but it can be embarrassing if your shorts get stuck in the middle of serious training. It is better to wear tight clothes.

Maintenance of the rower

Although the best rowers have a sweat-resistant metal frame, consider wiping it down after a strenuous session. Rowing machines are often made from other materials that are more easily corrosive on contact with salty sweat. Keep your rower clean and in good condition to lengthen its aesthetics and life.

Conclusion on rowers

Fitness experts and professional athletes alike agree that rowers are the best training equipment available. Training on a rowing machine targets the vast majority of the muscles in the body and puts them to work. The best rowers are equipped with full screens to see your statistics and know your progress.

As seen above, the big advantage of rowing machines is not only to do cardio but it is an effective device for building muscle and losing weight. Compared to treadmills, rowers work more muscles and have a lower negative impact on the joints. Bigger muscles need more energy to burn fat and contribute to healthy weight loss.

If you want to buy a rower, you are likely to be a bit confused by all this choice of rowers. At the beginning of the article, we shortlisted the rowers with the best scores in their price categories. Choosing from this selection guarantees user satisfaction.

We hope this guide has helped you choose your rower better and understand the benefits of using a rower. In conclusion, the most important thing is to get a rower to do the job. A good rower is above all one that fits your budget. Your heart and muscles will thank you.

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