Best Rowing Machines 2026: Five Ways to Train at Home
Quick answer
Choose Concept2 RowErg for repeatable training data and free app options. Hydrow Wave and NordicTrack RW900 center coached screen workouts; Echelon Row uses your own tablet; Sunny SF-RW5515 keeps controls simple. First measure the full stroke space and decide whether you want recurring classes or an independent training monitor.
Compare the options
| Model | Best use | Main tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Concept2 RowErg standard legs | Air rower with PM5 and open app platform | Fan noise rises with harder strokes |
| Hydrow Wave | Compact connected rower with built-in screen | Full coached experience carries continuing membership cost |
| NordicTrack RW900 | 24-inch iFIT touchscreen and magnetic resistance | iFIT access and changing membership terms add ongoing cost |
| Echelon Row | Bring-your-own-screen magnetic rower | Tablet is not included |
| Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 | Basic fold-up magnetic rower | LCD lacks the PM5’s detailed pace and power training metrics |
Our recommendation
The RowErg is our first recommendation for self-directed rowing because its PM5, free ErgData and widely comparable workouts offer a clear long-term training path. Hydrow Wave makes more sense when its on-water classes will actually be used, while RW900 suits an iFIT household that wants a large pivoting display. Echelon Row is a connected middle path if you own a tablet; Sunny is a simpler manual-magnetic start. None is a measured winner for comfort, sound or reliability here. Choose by space, fit, coaching preference and total ongoing cost.
Concept2 RowErg standard legs: Air rower with PM5 and open app platform
Best for: Training by comparable pace, watts and intervals without relying on a paid class subscription.
Pros
- PM5 monitor gives repeatable pace, watts and workout data
- Air resistance responds to effort, with damper to change feel
- Free ErgData app and broad third-party app compatibility
Cons and trade-offs
- Fan noise rises with harder strokes
- Long operating footprint needs room behind the rail
- No integrated video screen or built-in coaching classes
Our recommendation
Concept2’s standard-leg RowErg has a 14-inch seat height; the tall-leg version is a separate configuration with a 20-inch seat. Its PM5 tracks pace and workouts in a format widely used for rowing training, and ErgData is free. The damper adjusts air flow and the feel of the stroke; it is not a direct “difficulty level” that should simply be set to ten. This is the first choice for users who will follow their own plans, compare repeat sessions and keep a machine serviceable. We have no original accuracy or durability test results.
Choose another if: You need a built-in coached video screen or the quietest machine for a shared room.
Hydrow Wave: Compact connected rower with built-in screen
Best for: A household motivated by coached on-water workouts and willing to pay ongoing membership costs.
Pros
- Electromagnetic drag and integrated 16-inch display
- On-water and off-rower workout library with membership
- Smaller footprint than Hydrow Origin and optional upright storage
Cons and trade-offs
- Full coached experience carries continuing membership cost
- Upright storage requires Wave-specific anchor, sold separately
- Screen and ecosystem are less open than a basic PM5 rower
Our recommendation
Hydrow’s Wave offers a 16-inch fixed screen, electromagnetic drag and a smaller footprint than its Origin and Arc siblings. Its coached on-water workouts are the main reason to buy; factor in the membership rather than comparing hardware alone. The brand lists an optional Wave-specific vertical anchor, so do not assume you can stand it upright unrestrained. The machine’s display and library may help adherence, but we cannot claim that its rowing feel or training outcomes beat another machine without direct tests.
Choose another if: You want useful guided training without a continuing content subscription.
NordicTrack RW900: 24-inch iFIT touchscreen and magnetic resistance
Best for: A user committed to iFIT classes and automatic resistance changes on a large rotating display.
Pros
- 24-inch pivoting HD touchscreen
- 26 magnetic resistance levels with iFIT auto-adjustment
- On-screen guided rowing and cross-training content
Cons and trade-offs
- iFIT access and changing membership terms add ongoing cost
- Large screen and full rail need dedicated floor clearance
- Display-led design brings electronics and software dependence
Our recommendation
The current RW900 maker page lists a 24-inch pivoting display and 26 magnetic resistance levels. The legacy article’s 22-inch screen and “incline” claim do not describe this rowing machine: there is no rower incline feature established by NordicTrack’s current page. Its buying case is the iFIT session on the included screen and resistance that adjusts during supported workouts. Check membership access and basic-workout behavior before ordering; features and subscription terms can change.
Choose another if: You prefer subscription-free data training or need the smallest storage footprint.
Echelon Row: Bring-your-own-screen magnetic rower
Best for: A connected-class buyer who already owns a suitable tablet and wants resistance control on the handle.
Pros
- 32 electronic magnetic levels changed from handlebar controls
- Bluetooth connection to Echelon Fit app
- Folds upright and uses a swiveling tablet holder
Cons and trade-offs
- Tablet is not included
- Full class experience requires Echelon Premier membership
- 106.5-pound machine is not light to move even when folded
Our recommendation
Echelon’s current Row retains the legacy pick’s 32 resistance levels but uses a device holder rather than a built-in display. Its handlebar controller is useful during intervals because you need not reach to the tablet. A connected class setup therefore requires your own compatible screen and the applicable Echelon app plan. Do not confuse Row with the Row-S model, which has a built-in display and a different total cost. Check folded height and ceiling clearance before planning upright storage.
Choose another if: You want a display included in the hardware or no separate app membership.
Search Amazon US for Echelon Row (confirm exact model and configuration).
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515: Basic fold-up magnetic rower
Best for: Starting a home rowing routine with simple onboard time and count tracking.
Pros
- Eight manual magnetic resistance settings
- LCD displays time, count and total count
- Rail folds upright and unit rolls on transport wheels
Cons and trade-offs
- LCD lacks the PM5’s detailed pace and power training metrics
- 250-pound maker user-weight limit
- Folding rail still requires a floor and ceiling storage spot
Our recommendation
The exact SF-RW5515 is Sunny’s basic eight-level magnetic rower, with an LCD for time and stroke counts and a fold-up rail. The manual knob is uncomplicated, but its display does not make it an equivalent training-data tool to a RowErg PM5. Sunny lists a 250-pound user maximum and a long 81.8-inch operating length; measure the full stroke space as well as the folded footprint. Its quiet-magnetic design is a sensible start for self-directed exercise, without invented durability or “budget winner” claims.
Choose another if: You need comparable watts and split data, app coaching, or a user capacity above 250 pounds.
Search Amazon US for Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 (confirm exact model and configuration).
Buying guide
Decide between training data and coached video
A PM5 or other detailed monitor helps track stroke rate, splits and repeatable intervals. Connected screen machines emphasize instruction and scenery. Neither format guarantees better fitness; the one you will use consistently is more valuable. Check which features remain if you cancel a paid membership. Concept2’s free ErgData app gives one subscription-free route, while Hydrow, NordicTrack and Echelon make class libraries central to the purchase.
Measure the full stroke and the storage position
A rower needs more than its base dimensions: allow room at the front and rear for the handle and your body, plus a clear path to step off. Sunny’s maker lists an 81.8-inch operating length; Echelon Row lists 84 inches. Upright storage may require an anchor, especially for Hydrow Wave. Check ceiling height, children and pets, and whether the machine can be stabilized safely on the floor.
Understand resistance feel without equating levels
Air resistance responds to how hard you pull; the Concept2 damper changes flywheel air intake and stroke feel. Magnetic rowers set resistance electronically or manually, and Hydrow uses electromagnetic drag. A “level 8” on Sunny does not equal level 8 on another machine, and no setting substitutes for good rowing form. Try the footrests and handle position if possible, especially if your leg length is near a maker limit.
Budget for the full system
Include delivery, assembly, mat, storage anchor, tablet and membership in your decision. Echelon Row needs your own tablet for its app; Hydrow Wave and RW900 include screens. A bundled first month or promotional membership does not remove recurring costs. Check warranty terms for frame, parts and electronics separately and look for available replacement components.
Build technique and sustainable use
Begin with a light stroke and learn the legs–body–arms sequence, then reverse on recovery; avoid yanking the handle with a rounded back. Start with short consistent sessions and increase volume gradually. If you have a medical restriction, seek relevant professional advice. Pair rowing with walking, cycling or strength work according to your goals; our exercise bike and treadmill guides compare other low-impact and running options.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Concept2 RowErg a smart rower?
Its PM5 connects to free ErgData and other compatible apps, but it does not include an integrated video screen or require a class subscription.
Does NordicTrack RW900 have incline?
No rower incline is established on the current manufacturer page. RW900 has 26 magnetic resistance levels and iFIT automatic resistance changes in supported workouts.
Does Echelon Row include a tablet?
No. Echelon lists a swiveling tablet holder and Bluetooth connection; supply a compatible device for app-based classes.
Can Hydrow Wave stand upright without an accessory?
Hydrow lists a Wave-specific vertical anchor as an optional accessory. Follow its storage instructions rather than standing the machine unsupported.
Are magnetic rowers always silent?
They avoid the RowErg’s fan noise but still make seat, rail, handle and mechanical sounds. We did not measure noise in a common room.
What matters most for a beginner?
A comfortable fit, safe space, accessible resistance and feedback you understand. A simple rower can be enough, while coaching can help if it motivates regular use.
Can I compare resistance levels between brands?
Not directly. Resistance systems and level scales differ. Use each machine’s monitor and repeat the same workouts to track your own progress.
Research method and primary sources
We compared current primary manufacturer pages, exact models and practical use-case tradeoffs. We have no original hands-on or durability test records. Recommendations are editorial judgments, while product specifications remain manufacturer claims.
Primary sources: Concept2 RowErg standard legs manufacturer page; Hydrow Wave manufacturer page; NordicTrack RW900 manufacturer page; Echelon Row manufacturer page; Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 manufacturer page; Hydrow membership details; Concept2 ErgData overview. Our methodology.
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