WaterRower A1 Review: Beautiful Rower, Basic Monitor

The WaterRower A1 is the entry point into the well-known wooden water rower range, and it is aimed at people who want the genuine water rowing feel and the furniture-grade looks without paying for the dearer twin-rail models. It is a single-rail rower with a solid wood and aluminium frame, a water-filled flywheel for resistance, and a deliberately simple monitor. If you want a rower that rows beautifully, looks good enough to leave out in a living room and needs almost no maintenance, this is a strong pick. If you want screens, apps and heart rate programmes built in, this is not that machine.

The headline verdict: the A1 nails the two things people actually buy a WaterRower for, which are the smooth, natural stroke and the standout design. The compromise is the bare-bones A1 monitor and a price that sits well above magnetic rowers. For the right buyer that trade is worth it, and that is reflected in the consistently high owner sentiment.

What it is and who it is for

The A1 sits at the bottom of the WaterRower line-up, but it shares the core idea that made the brand popular. You row against a paddle spinning in a tank of water, so the resistance builds the harder you pull and eases as you slow, exactly like moving a boat. That self-regulating feel is the main reason people pick a water rower over a magnetic one.

It suits a home user who values the rowing experience and the look of the machine, and who is happy to track simple numbers. It is a poor match for anyone who wants on-demand classes, structured interval programmes on the console, or heart rate driven workouts straight out of the box.

Build and design

The A1 is handcrafted from a hybrid frame of solid wood (ash with an oak-style finish) and an aluminium monorail. It feels solid and sturdy, and the wood does a real job here beyond looks, as it helps damp vibration and noise. This is one of the few pieces of cardio kit that genuinely passes as furniture, which matters if it has to live in a shared room rather than a garage.

The honest caveat is the single rail. It is perfectly stable for normal rowing, but the twin-rail WaterRowers feel a touch more planted under a hard, explosive pull, and the A1's 125 kg user limit is lower than the rest of the range. For most people neither point will be an issue, but heavier or very powerful rowers should be aware of it.

The rowing feel

This is where the A1 earns its money. The stroke is smooth from catch to finish with no jerk or dead spot, and the resistance scales naturally with effort, so a gentle recovery session and a flat-out sprint both feel right without touching a setting. Reviewers and owners consistently describe it as the closest thing to real water rowing, and it is easy on the joints and lower back, which makes it forgiving for older users and anyone returning from injury.

It is a true full-body machine that works legs, back, core and arms, so it is an efficient way to build cardio fitness and a bit of strength at once. If you are still weighing rowing against other cardio, our rowing machine vs cross trainer comparison is a useful read.

Noise

Water resistance is one of the quietest options you can buy. Instead of the loud whoosh of an air rower's fan, you get a soft swoosh of water with each stroke, which many owners find genuinely relaxing and quiet enough to use while watching television. The only minor gripe that comes up is that the aluminium rail can be a little louder than expected as the seat travels, but this is a small point and not a deal-breaker for most.

The monitor: the main weakness

The A1 ships with the basic A1 performance monitor, and this is the honest sticking point. It covers the essentials, showing distance, time, 500m split, intensity and calories, embedded neatly in the footboard so it does not break your stroke. But that is roughly where it stops.

There is no heart rate support, no chest strap pairing, no structured interval programmes and no app connectivity, and the unit does not include a tablet or phone holder. WaterRower does sell upgrade paths, including the more capable S4 monitor and the SmartRow add-on, but those cost extra. If detailed data, classes or heart rate training are central to how you want to train, factor in the upgrade or look at a connected rower instead. For a buyer who just wants to see distance and split and get on with rowing, the simple monitor is fine.

Value

There is no getting around the fact that the A1 is expensive compared with a decent magnetic rower, which can cost a fraction of the price. What you are paying for is the water stroke, the build quality, the looks and a brand with a long track record for durability and easy maintenance. Owner reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and the few complaints tend to be minor (the occasional missing bolt sorted quickly by support, or the monitor not doing more).

If your budget is tighter, our best budget rowing machine UK guide covers cheaper options, and our best rowing machine UK roundup puts the A1 in context against air and magnetic rivals. To see where it ranks among water rowers specifically, see our best water rowing machine UK guide, and you can browse everything in the rowing machines hub.