Best rowing machine: 5 top rowers for home gyms

Looking at buying the best rowing machine? Whether you are creating your own home gym or want to buy your favourite piece of gym equipment for home use (should the gyms shut again), we're here to help ease the process of finding the best rower for you.

Rowing machines provide a great workout as they require your arms, your abdomen and your legs to work. That and they are relatively compact – some of them foldaway – and they can be used by the entire family. They can also help when it comes to toning, weight loss and endurance. And, they are relatively low impact for joint pain sufferers so as not to put any unnecessary strain where it isn't wanted.

When choosing the best rowing machines for home use, we considered everything from each one's performance to price – some of us are on a budget! – and what type of resistance each machine offers from air to magnetic, water or a cord. This is what you'll be pulling on. That and it's important to note how many levels a rowing machine has. Depending on how experienced you are, you may want to choose one that offers several options.

Interested in more gym recommendations? Find the best home gym equipment picks in our buyer's guide.

Best rowing machines

If you’re looking for a rower the whole family can use, consider this Concept2 model: the footrests are easy to adjust to each new user’s height, and after watching their metrics tick along on the LCD display, they can pop a USB stick into the port and upload their individual workout data to a computer. More than that, it’s easy to see how the world’s best-selling indoor rower has earned that accolade, offering a supremely smooth ride and a handle comfortable enough to hold through even the longest workouts. If you’re not seduced by the unusual looks of the Oxbridge (or are, but can’t quite stretch to it), this is a very worthy runner-up. 

Coming in at just under £200, the JLL R200 is a great budget model. It’s sturdier and considerably more solid than most machines at this end of the price range, but is still easy to fold down or move using the wheels at the base if space is too limited to have it out permanently, and the pedals and foam-filled padded seat are comfortable enough to use for long periods of time. The ten levels of magnetic resistance may not be enough for more experienced rowers — for that matter, if you are an experienced rower, you’ll wish to go for something with more frills — but if you’re just starting out or won’t be in your home gym all day every day, it’s a superb buy. The best rowing machine for beginners, we think.

The WaterRower Oxbridge indoor rower has a grand design to match its grand name. All sustainable solid cherry wood and matte black accents, it’s a very fine piece that looks surprisingly comfortable in the home – but it’s not just about the looks. It’s the only rower on our list which uses water for resistance, for the most authentic experience this side of the boating lake, and its adjustable footrests and non-slip handle make for a comfortable workout. On the off chance that you don’t want to show it off, it can be moved via the dolly wheels and stored upright until it’s next needed. For its sturdy and beautiful construction, and ease of use and storage, it takes our spot as the best rowing machine you can buy in 2020, if you want your home gym to look the part and play the part. And clearly there are several others who share our views, as it's currently out of stock.

If you’re worried about investing big on a rowing machine that you might grow tired of over time, then consider this marvellous multi-purpose machine otherwise known as the Skandika SF-1150 Regatta. You can use it as a regular rower or at two different angles while standing to work out your back or arms – great news if you prefer to focus on individual muscle groups on some days. While you work, the low-noise pulling system ensures you won’t disturb anyone, a good antidote to louder flywheel machines for small flats – and the compact foldable design helps, too. In our opinion, this is the best rowing machine you can buy if you're on a budget.

The JTX Freedom’s name is a big giveaway – it has a small footprint and a light, foldable frame, giving you the freedom to move around, and an impressive eight different training programmes for the freedom to own your own workout, no PT required. The display offers lots of options for tracking your exercise, including speed, stroke, revolutions, and even, thanks to the included chest strap, heart rate. Hundreds of pounds cheaper than the WaterRower Oxbridge or Concept2 Model D, it understandably doesn’t boast quite as much functionality as a higher-end rower, but for a great value, smooth and versatile machine, the Air Rower can’t be beat.

How to buy the best rowing machine

Resistance type
The main difference between machines that may not be immediately obvious (excluding things like size and weight which will be dependent on your own space) is the type of resistance they utilise. Air resistance rowing machines are the most common – they generate resistance using the onboard flywheel, and while they feel authentic and are good for all fitness levels, they can be noisier than other types; magnetic resistance gives a similar feel, but tends to be much quieter. There's also water resistance types and bungee cord.

For tight budgets and small spaces, we recommend a hydraulic machine that uses pistons for its resistance, as these tend to be more affordable and compact. Finally – and a bit of a wildcard – there’s water. While offering the most realistic rowing experience, these machines are noisy and usually very expensive, but by far the best for experienced rowers. 

Levels
The more resistance levels your new rowing machine has, the longer you'll be able to use it for. Beginners needn't worry about having a huge range, but if you are experienced, you may want to opt for something that can offer a variety of levels so you can switch it up every now and then.

What is the best rowing machine?

In our opinion, the best rowing machine you can buy is the Concept 2 Model D – it ticks all the boxes and more as it can be used by the whole family and it offers an incredibly smooth workout.

 Click to shop the Concept 2 Model D now, at the best price on the web.

More home gym buys:

• The best dumbbells for home use
• The best exercise bikes for home gyms