There are some top rowing machines on sale at the moment, with offerings from some great brands that our testers have loved. These big ticket items tend to have regular prices that make the eyes water, so a good discount can make all the difference when shopping around in the sales.
But why should opt for one of the best rowing machines over, say, a treadmill or exercise bike? While running machines and bikes focus on your cardio and lower body, rowers offer a full-body workout, with a study published in the Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (opens in new tab) journal finding each stroke could engage 86% of your muscles. Meanwhile, a 2015 study in the Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine (opens in new tab) concluded that visually-impaired subjects who took part in regular rowing sessions saw a positive impact on their body composition and physical fitness, while also enjoying a more accessible form of exercise.
So, we think turning to the best rowing machines to boost your fitness is something of a masterstroke. Below, we’ve rounded up our favorite deals, so you skip superficial savings and get straight to the offers worthy of your time.
- Best Buy (opens in new tab) has plenty of rowing machines deals
- Glide through Walmart (opens in new tab)‘s latest rowing machine deals
- Target (opens in new tab) also has a bunch of great rowing machines on sale
Rowing machine deals
Which rowing machine deal is right for you?
When researching rowing machines on sale, you’ll soon discover that there are three types of machine:
- Air resistance
- Water-based resistance
- Magnet-based resistance
The first type of rower is one with air resistance. These use a flywheel to power the workout. The drawback is they tend to be noisy, but serious rowers favor these models. Water-based rowing machines give a very smooth workout. They work by using water in an attached tank as resistance when you start rowing. These machines can often be a little more aesthetically pleasing than other models.
If you’re after an entry-level rowing machine, magnetic-based rowers are a good option, and quiet, too. Magnetic rowers allow you to increase the resistance of your workout, making it harder or easier. You might also want to consider how much space you have to house your rower, and if you want to pay a monthly subscription to access classes. Some rowers are foldable meaning you can store them under a sofa or in a cupboard.
Most rowing machines deals that have a monthly subscription, also have a touchscreen so you can be motivated by the online classes. It can be really useful, but bear in mind this often adds an extra cost to your workout routine.
Rowing machines on sale
Ergatta Rower deals
Handcrafted from American cherrywood, the Ergatta has a timeless old-school aesthetic but the brand’s approach to fitness is far from stuck in the past. Although there’s plenty of offer for those who want a more traditional workout including interval sessions with target speeds and stroke rates, it offers a selection of engaging games.
Accessed via its slim 17.3-inch Android-powered touchscreen they help to make fitness fun. Indeed, the games are great for anyone who struggles to get excited by a steady-state run or row and there’s an opportunity to chase a high score or beat other members of the growing Ergatta community, thereby providing an extra jolt of motivation to jump in the hot seat.
We found the races in particular awakened our thinly-veiled competitive spirit and kept us coming back for more. They pit you against other Ergatta-users in a straight race to the finish and they’re a heap of fun.
It does come at a price, though: a monthly subscription fee of $29/month or $319 for the first year. But we think this is worth it since the machine can motivate you to exercise multiple times each week. What’s more, the rower itself is cleverly designed, able to fold flat and be stored upright to take up minimal floor space. The rowing action is smooth and the seat, while quite small for larger bodied users, is also comfortable for longer sessions.
Hydrow Wave
Our fitness writer was thoroughly impressed with the original Hydrow thanks to its clever computer-controlled electromagnetic resistance system and expansive platform that offers thousands of immersive video workouts. Our only real criticisms were its considerable size and lofty asking price.
We’re pleased to report that the Hydrow Wave improves on both drawbacks, offering the same great Hydrow performance in a smaller package and (more importantly) at a cheaper price (made better when there’s a deal on!).
When we put it to the test, we found it was just as comfortable as the original and, despite its shrunken dimensions, our taller tester (standing at 6ft 2in) was still able to fully extend their legs at the top of each stroke.
The screen is slightly smaller (down from 22in to 16in) but we barely noticed this change when rowing. Instead, we were focused on the instructors, who provide an enjoyable blend of enthusiasm, expert knowledge and likability that helped motivate us through tough sessions.
Concept2 RowErg deals
The Concept2 RowErg deserves its reputation as one of the best rowing machines on the market. Solidly built and designed to last a lifetime, it’s backed up by a ready supply of spare parts and outstanding customer support that will enable you to carry on using it for years.
The PM5 monitor may not have sophisticated graphics, and it doesn’t come with fancy software or an online program, but it provides a huge amount of useful data, which syncs with the Concept2 logbook. New models feature a device holder so you can attach your phone or tablet, and it syncs with its own ErgData app.
The Concept2 RowErg is designed for function over form, so it’s not the prettiest rowing machine out there, but it’s easy to assemble and comes apart for easy storage. Compared with other air resistance models it’s relatively quiet, so you won’t get complaints from the neighbors.
WaterRower A1 Home Rowing Machine deals
If you want a machine with wow factor that looks fabulous in your living room, this is the one for you. The combination of the drum filled with water and the sleek wooden design means it’s a seriously good-looking machine (some of the more expensive, solid wood WaterRower models are even more chic).
WaterRower aims to recreate the experience of rowing on the water, and although serious rowers might challenge this, there’s no denying that it provides a comfortable, smooth row, and its fans rave about the signature whooshing sound it makes.
The downside of the water resistance is that you can’t adjust the resistance as you can with air and magnetic rowers. It also means the machine is heavy, which may be a factor for home use. The monitor is pretty basic, so if it’s whizzy graphics or serious data you’re after, this may not be the machine for you.
Hydrow deals
This is an ultra-modern, top-of-the-range machine. The first thing you’ll notice is the 22” touchscreen, which has a superb, high-definition display. This is the whole point of the Hydrow – it’s all about interactivity so you can participate in live classes as well as accessing hundreds of pre-recorded online sessions.
Hydrow is another to assert that the feel of its machine, with its computer-controlled electromagnetic resistance, is the closest you can get to rowing on the water. Again, not everyone agrees with this claim, but it does produce a smooth, gliding action and it’s one of the quietest rowing machines. One minor niggle is that to stand it up for storage, you need to purchase a storage kit separately.
The big downside is the price. Not only is the machine itself pricey, but to access all its features, you need to sign up for a membership subscription. If you love the idea of a community and get a kick out of the graphics, then it might be worth the investment, but you can get a good workout for less.
NordicTrack RW600 deals
As you might expect from a rowing machine made by a company that specializes in a range of fitness machines, the interactive program that comes with your membership subscription isn’t confined to rowing – you get access to everything from yoga to strength training in addition to indoor rowing sessions led by elite rowers. The machine itself is pretty good value but the membership subscription isn’t cheap unless you’re participating in several classes a week.
The unusual hybrid resistance system means that you can stick to the silent magnetic resistance if you need to keep the sound low, or add intensity with the air resistance. It can even be adjusted by the instructor during live sessions.
Although the machine is workmanlike in appearance (apart from the screen which is nicely designed) and is quite heavy, it does have the advantage of folding away for easy storage.
Sunny Health and Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine deals
If you just want a basic machine to give you a no-nonsense workout, this could be a smart buy. Because the resistance is magnetic, it’s also quiet. This feature plus the ability to fold the machine up for stowing away makes it a good choice for using at home. The action is smooth, though some users complain that the resistance doesn’t go high enough, despite having eight levels (adjustable by a dial).
If you like to track your data, you may be disappointed by the information on the performance monitor. Although it tracks stroke rate, time and calories, it doesn’t show the distance rowed, which many people regard as a basic piece of data. The monitor isn’t the easiest to read, either.
This machine doesn’t have any apps and doesn’t have a smartphone holder. It’s not particularly good-looking, either, and some users complain that it moves across the floor. However it’s cheap and provides a decent workout, so it should provide you with plenty of sweat for your buck.
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