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Rowing Machine Reviews & Buying Guides

Rowing machine reviews and buying advice for air, magnetic, water and foldable rowers, chosen for UK buyers.

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Echelon Row Review: A Good Rower Behind a Subscription
Rowing Machines

Echelon Row Review: A Good Rower Behind a Subscription

An honest Echelon Row review covering its 32 magnetic resistance levels, handlebar controls, folding frame, 136kg capacity and the app subscription you need to get the most from it.

Concept2 Model D Review: Still the Rower to Beat?
Rowing Machines

Concept2 Model D Review: Still the Rower to Beat?

An honest, in-depth Concept2 Model D (RowErg) review covering the air resistance, PM5 monitor, build quality, noise, who it's for and whether it's worth the money.

Where to start with our rowing machine reviews

Our rowing machine reviews pull together every rower we've put hands on, from the Concept2 that dominates gyms to budget magnetic models you can tuck behind a sofa. The grid above lets you sort the whole lot by resistance type, price and brand, so you can jump straight to the machines that fit your room and your budget.

Rowing is one of the few bits of home kit that trains your legs, back and arms in a single stroke, and it's low-impact, which matters if your knees have opinions. The catch is that rowers vary wildly in feel and footprint, and a glowing star rating won't tell you whether a machine will annoy your downstairs neighbours or fold flat enough to live in a one-bed flat.

That's what this hub is for. Below the picks you'll find how we test, the specs that actually change the experience day to day, and honest answers to the questions UK buyers ask us most.

How we test and score rowers

We judge a rower on the stroke first. A good machine catches smoothly and builds resistance as you pull harder, rather than feeling slack at the start and then slamming to a dead stop. We pay attention to the recovery too, because a jerky return is where cheaper rails and seat rollers give themselves away.

After feel comes the boring stuff that decides whether you keep using it: how stable the frame stays under a hard effort, whether the seat runs quietly, how legible the monitor is mid-session, and how the thing stores. We measure the footprint folded and unfolded, and we flag any rower that needs two people or a toolkit to shift it.

Scores lean towards machines we'd genuinely recommend at their price. A £150 rower is never going to row like a Concept2, so we rate it against its peers rather than the gym standard. Where a model's build quality or monitor lets it down, we say so plainly instead of rounding up.

The resistance types, and how they actually differ

Air rowers use a fan, so the harder you pull the more they push back; they feel the closest to being on real water, and they're what most commercial gyms buy. The trade-off is noise, that familiar whoosh carries through a house, and the fan cage eats floor space.

Magnetic rowers are near silent and compact, which makes them the obvious choice for flats and shared homes. Resistance is set by a dial rather than your own effort, so the stroke feels even but a little lifeless by comparison. Some models blend magnetic and air to land somewhere in between.

Water rowers swap the fan for a paddle spinning in a tank, giving a smooth pull and a soft swoosh that a lot of people fall for; they usually cost more and stand upright to store. Hydraulic rowers, with a piston on each arm, are the cheapest and smallest option going, but they can't match the others for a long, natural stroke, and the cylinders tend to fade under heavy use.

Matching a rower to your space and budget

Measure before you buy anything. Most full-size rowers need roughly two metres of clear floor in use, and the real question is where the machine lives between sessions. Magnetic and hydraulic models fold smallest, water rowers stand on end but are tall, and a Concept2 separates into two pieces that store neatly despite its length.

On budget, spend what the job needs and no more. If you're rowing a few times a week to stay fit, a solid magnetic rower from JLL, Dripex or Sunny Health & Fitness does the work without fuss. If you're training seriously or chasing numbers, the Concept2 holds its value and its PM5 monitor is the one most coaches and online classes expect to see.

Keep an eye on two specs in particular: the max user weight and the monitor. Lighter-built rowers often cap lower than you'd guess, and a vague display that only shows time and a made-up calorie figure makes it hard to pace yourself or track progress. Those two numbers tend to separate a machine you'll stick with from one that ends up gathering dust under the bed.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best type of rowing machine for a small flat?

Magnetic rowers are the safe pick for flats. They're quiet enough not to rattle the neighbours, and most fold down or stand upright in a cupboard gap. Hydraulic models are smaller and cheaper still if space is really tight, though the stroke is shorter and less satisfying. Give air rowers a miss unless you've got the floor space and don't mind the whoosh.

How much should I spend on a rowing machine?

For general fitness a few times a week, a dependable magnetic rower in the low-to-mid hundreds will do you proud, and brands like JLL and Dripex are fine at that level. If you're training hard or want a monitor that pairs with online classes, the Concept2 sits higher but earns it and barely loses value secondhand. Spending under £100 usually gets you a hydraulic rower that's okay for a while but rarely lasts.

Are cheap rowing machines any good?

They can be genuinely useful if your aim is light, regular exercise rather than performance. The weak spots are the monitor, the smoothness of the stroke and long-term durability, especially on hydraulic models whose cylinders fade with heavy use. Buy cheap with clear eyes: it'll get you moving, just don't expect it to feel like a gym machine or survive daily hour-long sessions.

Air or magnetic rower: which should I get?

Go for air if you want the most realistic, responsive stroke and you've got the room plus a tolerance for noise. Go magnetic if quiet and compact matter more, which for most UK home users they do. Still torn? An air-magnetic hybrid gives you a taste of both, though it costs more than a plain magnetic model.

Is a rowing machine good for losing weight?

Rowing works a lot of muscle at once and keeps your heart rate up, so it burns energy efficiently while staying kinder on your joints than running. Weight loss still comes down mostly to what you eat, but a rower you'll actually climb on several times a week is sound cardio kit. Consistency matters more than intensity here, so the best machine is the one that doesn't put you off using it.

Do I really need a water rower, or is it just for looks?

Water rowers feel lovely and the sound is calming, so plenty of people happily pay the premium. They aren't more effective than a good air or magnetic rower, though, and they're heavy and tall to store. Buy one because you like the stroke and the way it looks in the room, not because you expect it to train you harder.