A rowing machine is one of the best gym equipment that you can integrate to your home workout to rapidly improve your general fitness, build lean muscles and burn fat. Rowing machines are designed to offer better cardio workouts than biking or treadmill sessions. They can help you burn up to 400 calories in just 30 minutes when doing a full exercise.
However, the challenge sets in when it’s time to choose the best rowing machines for home workouts. Nonetheless, this doesn’t always have to be the case because we have put together a review of the some of the best home rowing machines in the UK, like the SportPlus Rowing Machine or the JTX Freedom Air Rower Machine. This review help you find what suits you best. Read on to learn more.
In this post we have reviewed the following row machines:
- SportPlus Rowing Machine.
- JLL® R200+ Home Rowing Machine.
- Concept 2 Model D Rower with PM5 Monitor.
- JLL® Ventus 2 Air Rower Machine.
- SportPlus Rower, Foldable Rowing Machine.
- XS Sports R310 Folding Rowing Machine.
- Tunturi Cardio Fit R20 Indoor Row Machine / Rower.
- MorNon Wooden Indoor Rowing Machine.
- Circuit Deluxe Foldable Magnetic Rowing Machine.
- Circuit 167 Hydro Rower.
Best Rowing Machines UK Review
SportPlus Rowing Machine
Best Overall
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- Features foldable, high-quality aluminium track.
- There is a silent magnetic system.
- Approximately 8kg flywheel mass.
- Maximum capacity of 150kg.
What stands out?
This is among the best rowing machines out there, with the ability to deliver impressive results when it comes to cardiovascular training. It is ideal for offering total exercise like no other gym equipment can. Furthermore, it combines strength, coordination, agility and endurance to ensure that over 80% of your musculature is worked. The most outstanding feature is the whisper-quiet brake system that ensures you get the best training resistance, which can be easily adjusted in 8 steps. There is also an inclination-adjustable training computer to ensure that you read from the LCD from any angle.
JLL® R200+ Home Rowing Machine
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Best Budget
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- 10 levels of magnetic resistance.
- Highly compact and foldable.
- Includes advanced belt driving system.
- LCD screen.
What stands out?
You don’t need to break your bank to empower your home fitness. With this machine, you can experience the best of total body workout at home but on a budget. It delivers amazing, smooth movement because of its sliding mechanism giving you a seamless rowing simulation. Moreover, the incredible magnetic resistance is a result of the magnet being positioned close to the flywheel. It can easily be adjusted using the easy to reach adjustment dial. Also, it highlights direct belt driven to ensure comfortable indoor experience.
Concept 2 Model D Rower with PM5 Monitor
Best Premium
Rating: 5.0/5.0
- Highlights the Performance Monitor 5.
- The flywheel design ensures minimal noise production.
- The monitor arm is adjustable.
- Easily separates into two pieces for easier storage.
What stands out?
The Concept 2 Model D Indoor Rower is the epitome of premium elegance, best machine for those who don’t mind spending more for their indoor workout equipment. Many health enthusiasts regard it as the standard for indoor training. Engineered to last a lifetime, the Concept 2 Model D is very effective for cardiovascular workouts, ensuring you keep your heart rate up. The most outstanding feature on this product is the Performance Monitor 5 that allows for tracking crucial health data like calories burned, speed, watts and pace. We found the menu particularly user-friendly.
JLL® Ventus 2 Air Resistance Rowers Machine
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- Has an LCD monitor.
- Includes 8 levels of magnetic resistance.
- Maximum capacity of 120kg.
- Highly compact, lightweight and foldable.
What stands out?
The indoor rower is designed for comfort while working out, made possible by the very ergonomic handlebar that is coated with sweat resistant, non-slip plastic. This ensures that you have an irritation free and comfortable workout. Furthermore, the seat is crafted from padded foam and the rollers under the seat are heavy-duty with a sturdy foot platform for a smooth rowing experience. You can also track your progress from the monitor.
SportPlus Rower, Foldable Rowing Machine
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- HIghlights a silent magnetic break system.
- 150kg maximum user weight.
- Foldable, high-quality aluminium track.
- PU material rowing seat.
What stands out?
The machine comes with a clear LCD display designed to ensure that you read the data on the screen from any angle. It also has a silent magnet brake system to ensure that you enjoy working out in a noise-free environment. Additionally, it ensures harmonious workout because of the ball-bearing sliding quietly over the heavy-duty aluminium rail
XS Sports R310 Folding Rowing Machine
Rating: 4.0/5.0
- Has advance and sleek belt drive.
- Offers 10 levels of magnet-based resistance.
- Highly durable.
- Safe and easy to use.
What stands out?
This is designed with cutting edge technology to ensure maximum strength and durability while delivering premium workout experience. The rowing machine’s construction is made of heavy-duty materials, designed to accommodate user weights of up to 100kg. It also allows for precise monitoring because of the advanced LCD display to ensure you get real time data about your workout. The 10 levels of magnetic resistance are ideal of helping you keep your heart rate up.
Tunturi Cardio Fit R20 Indoor Row Machine / Rower
Rating: 4.0/5.0
- It is battery powered.
- Highlights an easy-to-read LCD display.
- Comes with 4 resistance levels.
- Easily foldable.
What stands out?
You will have a lot of fun while working out from home because of this amazing indoor rower, one of the best rowing machine models. It is an efficient way to exercise indoors while enjoying the benefits of cardiovascular workouts. You can make use of the 4 magnetic resistance levels to vary the strain of your workouts depending on your level of expertise. Moreover, it enables you keep track of your fitness parameters because of the advanced LCD display showing calories burned, beats per minute, distance and speed.
MorNon Wooden Indoor Rowing Machine
Rating: 5.0/5.0
- It is noise optimised.
- Variable resistance.
- It is made of superior quality materials.
- Easy storage.
What stands out?
This is one of those gym equipment that feature functional designs that ensure that they fit in your home while blending in as part of the furniture. Since it noise optimised and has a compact design, it is perfect for indoor while giving you a chance to enjoy full-body workout. All thee wood plus every other material used to design this product are of superior quality to ensure that you only buy the best rowing machine.
Circuit Fitness Deluxe Foldable Magnetic Rowing Machine
Rating: 4.0/5.0
- Foldable design.
- Has a durable mould-injected seat.
- Adjustable foot straps.
- Comes with LCD display panel.
What stands out?
This is yet another impressive rowing machine designed to fit even in the smallest of spaces. Its foldable design makes it easy to set up anywhere at home quickly and still fold up for easy storage. It also features an advanced LCD display panel to help you monitor your workout parameters like date, temperature, time, RPM and calories. Burned. It also features a heart rate monitor and adjustable foot straps.
Circuit Fitness 167 Hydro Rower
Rating: 4.5/5.0
- Ergonomically moulded seat.
- Uses water resistance.
- Features safety loops and large pedals.
What stands out?
If you want to experience the incredible power of water resistance in indoor rowing, you should try the Circuit Fitness 167 Hydro Power. It’s an incredible way of working while amassed to the realistic water rowing experience. You can also monitor your experience via the LCD display, getting data on time, calories burned and distance among others.
Buying Guide
What to Consider when Buying
Display Functions
Almost all rower machines have come with display functions, showing you the strokes, rpm, calories, time and distance parameters as you work out. However, if you want to get the best from these display functions such as split, time, intensity and heart rate monitor, you should be ready to spend a little more.
Seat Comfort
Nobody wants to sit on a small seat and end up more tired from working out. Therefore, as you go out checking the available rowing machines, make sure that you find one that comes with a large and comfortable seat for an exciting workout experience. Furthermore, ensure that it is grooved to conform with your body shape to allow for plenty cushioning.
Resistance Type
There are different types of resistance rowing. There are those top rowing machines that use magnetic resistance, like most of those top reviewed in this post while there are those that use air resistance. If you can, it would be better to get an air rower like the JTX Freedom Air Rower since they replicate the experience of rowing on water better than magnetic resistance.
Folding Capacity and Size
If you plan to keep your machine stowed away, it would be best if you bought a foldable model. Therefore, the size should matter too because of the space savings you may want to achieve.
Preset Workouts
These rowing machines have the ability to mimic several types of rowing. Therefore, always go for machines that have more present workouts to give you different rowing types to ensure that your workouts have variety.
FAQ
Are magnetic or air rowers better?
Although top magnetic resistance based rowing machines are great for people who find noise to be an issue when working out, air rowers are built to deliver real-rowing fluid feel like water rowers. Furthermore, they are designed to more durable and are more complex to build than the magnetic based models.
Which is better air or water rower?
Inasmuch as air rowers offer greater resistance the faster you row, top water rowers closely replicate rowing on water; thus, offering smoother and better resistance.
What resistance should you row at?
The best resistance setting should be between 4.5 and 6.5. However, since these machines differ, you may have to calibrate the settings each time you want to work out.
Is rowing better than running?
Running is great way to exercise. However, it only focuses on the lower parts of the body like glutes, hamstrings and quads. On the other side, rowing targets both the lower and the upper parts of your body; thus, strengthening your back, biceps, abs, glutes, quads and hamstrings.
Is a rowing machine good for bad knees?
Yes, it is. Rowing is natural, low impact motion that puts less stress on your joints. Therefore, they are great for preventing injuries and strengthening and conditioning bad knees.
Conclusion
The SportPlus Rowing Machine is easily the best rowing machine in this review in terms of pricing and the features it packs. However, if you don’t mind spending a little more, you can go for the JTX Freedom Air Rower Machine for the best air resistance workout experience.
