Considerations When Buying a Rowing Machine

August 26th, 2009 by author

Rowing machines offer an excellent all round work out which is gentle on the joints but nevertheless gives a demanding, aerobic exercise that uses muscles in both the upper and lower body. They are high-priced however so it’s an advantage to do research on the different types before you purchase one to ensure the machine you end up with is the most fitting for your needs. The least expensive rowing machine you will doubtless find is around $500 and the costliest around $2500 so you really want to identify which type to obtain and which features you would need.

Some Considerations When Buying a Fitness Rowing Machine

Rowing machines do take up rather a lot of room so if you don’t have the space to leave one assembled continually you can buy a machine that can be folded up and put away. You will also require quite a large, well ventilated space to use your rowing machine in, preferably with space for a television as rowing can be quite tedious when done for long periods. Several machines do make quite a lot of noise so if is a concern you may perhaps want to look for a magnetic rowing machine as these are a great deal quieter. If you expect to use the machine on a daily basis we would propose a magnetic rowing machine that is designed for heavy use. For infrequent use a hydraulic machine is definitely more suitable as these also are more likely to be much smaller and easier to store away.

Some of the less expensive rowing machine do not have monitors for things like time,stroke rate and distance. Although not truly necessary these are excellent ways to keep an eye on your progress and to stop you being bored during your workout. They on occasion come as optional extras but we would advise buying them as they will make your exercising session much more helpful and fun.

Variable Resistance Machines

A good number of the rowing machines on the market have a variable resistance so test out the range as a few are quite restricted. A machine with a broad range is much more useful as you can easily alter the intensity of your training by increasing the resistance.

Extra Things to Check Before You Purchase

Make certain that the seat and foot plates are fully variable and that you fall inside the recommended weight limits of the machine.

Try Out Before You Buy

Machines vary a great deal in their motion and in how comfortable they are to use. if possible try out some different models at the gym. If you’re purchasing on line check that the supplier has a return policy so that if you find the rowing machine is not right for you it can be swapped for a different one.

The Types of Fitness Rowing Machines

Hydraulic Resistance Rowing Machines

These are typically the cheapest machines and also have a tendency to be smaller which makes storing them a good deal easier. They work on cylinders filled with oil to change the resistance. The action can be slightly jerky and they do have a tendency to leak after a few years use. We would not propose a hydraulic rowing machine for intense, daily use.

Air Rowing Machines

In these machines air flows over a fly wheel to to produce resistance. Although you can come across air rowing machines from around $200 we propose paying a little more to obtain a better quality machine at around $400. Resistance usually covers a broad range which really replicates the feeling of rowing in water and resistance increases as you row faster. On the other hand they do have the disadvantage of being very noisy specially at high speeds.

Water Rowing Machines

In water rowing machines, a cylinder filled with water provides the resistance. They are among the higher priced machines with prices starting from about $1200. They impart a very efficient motion which is very comparable to the feel of rowing in water and there is even the water moving past you as you row! They do involve some looking after however as you will have to to replace the water on a regular basis.

Magnetic Rowing Machine

Adjustable magnets are used for resistance in these sorts of rowing machines. They are fairly small machines which makes them easier to store than some other machines and they are extremely quiet. They don’t need any upkeep and offer a very even movement.

Final Thoughts

Purchasing a good quality fitness rowing machine is a reasonably substantial outlay so you need to ensure before you buy that you are sure to use it often. Preferably you will have used rowing machines at the gym so that you know that you like this type of exercise. A rowing machine is an example of a fitness exercise machine that is a good purchase as it will give you an exceptionally good all-round aerobic work out which works all of upper and lower body muscles in one exercise.

For more information see Choosing a Fitness Rowing Machine