The 9 Best Rowing Machines of 2023, Including the "Peloton of Rowing"

Korin Miller
·4 min read

Choose the best rowing machine for your needs.

Rowing machines have built up a reputation for their ability to help you get in a top-notch workout in a short period of time. Plus, they can increase your aerobic fitness and help you firm up. What's not to love?

These machines give you all the perks of rowing crew, minus the need for an early wakeup time. Basically, they're the next best thing to actually being on the water. Another perk? Rowing machines are usually pretty compact, so you can easily fit one in your house or apartment, whether you have a home gym or are limited on space. Interested in getting a rowing machine...but not sure where to start? Here are the best rowing machines out there.

Best Rowing Machines 

Fitness Reality 4000MR Magnetic Rower Rowing Machine, $585 on Amazon

This $585 machine features 10 preset workout programs and five customizable ones. The Fitness Reality 4000MR also features dual independent rowing handles with comfy grips, so you can do full arm, shoulder and chest exercises. Scroll through 16 levels of magnetic resistance to get the workout that feels right for you. An LCD display shows distance, time, count, calories burned, RPM, watts and tension levels. Fitness Reality 4000MR Magnetic Rower Rowing Machine, $585 on Amazon

Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine Rower, $176.90 on Amazon

Don't let the low sticker price fool you: This $177 machine has everything you need to get in a good workout. Work through eight levels of magnetic resistance to keep yourself challenged. An extra-long slide rail accommodates rowers of any size and non-slip foot pedals help you keep your grip. Transportation wheels make for easy stowing. Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine Rower, $176.90 on Amazon

JOROTO Magnetic Rower Rowing Machine, $389.99 on Amazon

Some rowing machines can get a little noisy. But Joroto's $390 apparatus is made to be quiet, thanks to its solid aluminum flywheel, aluminum slide rail and no-touch magnetic resistance. It also has 10 levels of adjustable magnetic resistance, so you can keep pushing yourself. A digital monitor allows you to track the time, count, total count, and calories burned. A handy feature: It has a phone holder, so you can watch movies or shows while you row. JOROTO Magnetic Rower Rowing Machine, $389.99 on Amazon

NordicTrack RW 900 Rower, $1,299.98 on Amazon

When you want to splash out, there's the NordicTrack RW 900 Rower. This $1,300 machine does everything but row for you. It has interactive personal training powered by iFit that streams live to your 22-inch HD interactive touchscreen display. The machine also features a whopping 26 digital resistance levels. And, get this, your iFit Trainer auto-adjusts your smart rower’s resistance for an optimized workout. NordicTrack RW 900 Rower, $1,299.98 on Amazon

Mr. Captain Rowing Machine, $599 on Amazon

This $600 rowing machine's wood structure and H2O resistance makes you feel like you're actually working out on water. It features an ergonomic seat, active recoil system and height adjustable footplates for the right fit. You adjust the resistance by changing the water level with the help of a USB rechargeable water pump. As you increase water usage, you gain. more resistance. Mr. Captain Rowing Machine, $599 on Amazon

Echelon Smart Rower, $999.99 on Amazon

Echelon's rower allows you to stream live and on-demand classes from the comfort of your machine. The $1,000 rower features resistance controls on the handlebars, so you can quickly and easily make things harder or easier (no judgement) in your workout. It all comes with 32 levels of magnetic resistance. Echelon Smart Rower, $999.99 on Amazon

Hydro Connected Rower, $2,244.99 at Best Buy

At $2,245, the Hydro Connected Rower is definitely a big investment. But it has a lot of amazing features that make it at least worth considering. The smart rower tries to create an on-the-water feel with live water rows, and it features on-demand streaming to help guide you throughout your workout. Hydro Connected Rower, $2,244.99 at Best Buy

Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 Rowing Machine, $99.99 on Amazon

For those with minimum space, this machine is perfect. It's small, but it features 12 levels of resistance. It's adjustable, comfortable and equipped with a digital monitor. It's the perfect low-cost rower. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 Rowing Machine, $99.99 on Amazon

Concept2 RowErg, $990 at Concept2

Concept2's RowErg is recognized by competitive rowers as the standard for indoor training. The $1,000 machine is made to last, and it can take daily heavy training. It has some bells and whistles, including a performance monitor that gives you a range of data, including pace, watts, stroke rate, calories and a spot to store your phone. When you're done rowing, it folds up for easy storage. Concept2 RowErg, $990 at Concept2

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