Rowing is a great way to gain strength and improve cardio health.
With the influx of equipment like the Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 Magnetic Rowing Machine, you don’t even need to leave your home to reap the benefits.
To learn more about whether this product is right for you, check out our review and buyer’s guide below.
Things to Consider before Buying a Rowing Machine
With a proper rowing machine, you have the opportunity to get into better shape and tackle numerous muscle groups without the equipment taking up too much space in your home.
Before you get into our thorough review on our top pick, let’s take a closer look at rowing machines so you can better understand them and what to look for while shopping.
Types of Rowing Machines
There are different types of rowing machines based on the kind of resistance they use.
You’ll notice four types: water resistance, hydraulic resistance, air resistance, and magnetic resistance.
Since our number one pick (and subsequent alternative picks we’ll get into later) use magnetic resistance, we’ll focus on that type.
Magnetic rowers are usually considered one of the best choices for home use due to how quiet they tend to be.
This is because they utilize friction-free resistance so there’s not much to hear as you would with the humming found in air rowers.
You can typically change the resistance level in a set amount of ways with some magnetic rowers offering around eight levels and others surpassing 10.
Console
Like with other modern fitness machines, a rower should allow you to keep track of your progress via a quality console.
Some feature a backlit design, while all of them typically highlight the important aspects of your workout such as calories, time, distance, SPM (stroke per minute), and the total amount of strokes.
Regardless of if it’s backlit or not, it should have a good readout so you don’t have to struggle to understand your numbers.
Durability and Warranty
For a rowing machine to survive frequent use, it should be made with a durable steel frame.
It further helps if the drive system is built to require minimum maintenance too since that usually gives the machine even more longevity.
Other than being made from quality materials, a good rule of thumb is to adhere to the weight capacity limit set on the machines.
Some have a high limit of 300lbs, while others are closer to 200lbs.
Even well-built machines can still benefit from having a good warranty in place. Some give you a set amount of days of protection, while others may extend to a year or more.
Ease of Use
Several factors play into how easy a rowing machine is to use.
For one thing, take a look at the resistance.
With magnetic rowers, they tend to offer a smooth rowing experience that resembles the real thing without being too difficult for newcomers to learn.
Additional components contribute to a user-friendly experience as well such as having the handles provide an ergonomic grip.
A quality rower also features a comfortable, typically padded seat.
It should be supportive too so that you don’t feel fatigued or otherwise in pain after lengthy workouts.
Check that the foot pedals feel right as well. They should offer enough space and a good grip surface so you’re secure the entire time.
A quality machine offers various ways to adjust it beyond changing the resistance levels.
You can usually adapt the straps on the foot pedals as well as the height on the seat so the machine can suit users of different sizes.
Introducing the Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 Magnetic Rowing Machine
To jump into one of our top picks, the Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 Magnetic Rowing Machine provides a total body workout in a compact design that’s comfortable and quiet to use.
It has a smooth belt drive to better stimulate the natural rowing feeling, it includes multiple resistance levels so you can adapt as you improve.
This intuitive machine helps you readily keep track of your progress via the console, and it even allows you to connect with the integrated Smartphone app to check out more features.
Thanks to its space-saving design, it stows away with ease when it’s not in use.
Pros
- Small footprint for better storage
- Stable design that doesn’t wobble while rowing
- Quality drive system provides a quiet rowing experience
Cons
- Assembly instructions can be somewhat difficult
- Can be a bit heavy to move around when folded
- Some issues with its Bluetooth connectivity function
Features & Benefits of the Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 Magnetic Rowing Machine
The Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 Magnetic Rowing Machine is backed by some great features that help you get an effective total-body cardio workout in your home.
Let’s take a look at these various components to see how they may benefit your fitness routine.
Quality Drive Belt System
With smooth magnetic resistance, the Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 Magnetic Rowing Machine offers the benefits of natural rowing motions from giving you a great cardio experience to helping you build muscle in your upper and lower body areas.
Much of this natural feel is helped thanks to the optimized 10° incline.
Such a smooth rowing experience also makes the machine nearly quiet to use, a useful aspect if you’re using this in a house filled with other people or in an apartment setting.
This also has wireless magnetic technology that provides eight levels of resistance, an ideal amount that will help you steadily increase the intensity as you improve your level of fitness.
The tension control system additionally allows for more natural braking while you exercise, which can help you maintain great rowing and recovery technique.
Ergonomic Handles and Comfortable Seat
The Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 Magnetic Rowing Machine features an extra-wide handle design to suit various users.
The handlebars are also foam-padded to offer you a secure and natural hold.
It’s non-slip too so you can maintain your hold even if things get a bit sweaty.
The seat is a good wide size to support a variety of users, and it features padded cushioning so cut down on potential fatigue you may feel during intensive, longer workout sessions.
In this seat, you can have a more secure glide as well.
Secure Foot Pedals
Each foot pedal on the Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 Magnetic Rowing Machine is bolted to the machine, and they are capable of fully tilting to better suit your needs as you row.
These foot pedals are a dynamic grid that makes them anti-slip so there’s a reduced risk of you losing your footing during a workout.
You can adjust the Velcro fastenings too so the straps fit your specific size.
Reliable Frame Construction
It’s touted that the Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 Magnetic Rowing Machine features commercial-grade materials that help it last a good deal of time.
Various components from the steel frame to the bolted foot pedals are built to last, and the machine is designed to support users who weigh up to 220lbs.
Multifunctional Console
The digital console features a backlit LCD so you can monitor your current progress at a glance. It tracks your speed, distance, time, SPM, and how many calories you’ve burned.
You can also connect to the machine via Bluetooth to sync with Kinomap, the integrated smartphone app.
This way, you can more thoroughly monitor your progress and create a personalized fitness plan.
It’s easy to keep watch of your progress through the app thanks to the media tray where you can setup your phone or tablet.
Compact Design
Ideal for home use, the Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 Magnetic Rowing Machine has a small footprint so it shouldn’t take up too much room while you use it.
When you’re finished, you can lift the rower track so that it folds, making it more compact.
There’s no worry about it falling either as it’s stabilized when upright by rotating it to the heavy-duty base.
It has cushioned pads when folded so that your floor remains protected.
For more space-saving features, the feet also fold too in case you need to tuck the machine somewhere out of the way.
Warranty
As long as the product is brand new, Bluefin provides a free 12-month general warranty.
This warranty does not cover water damage, general wear and tear, damage from improper use including electronic and chassis damage.
What Others are Saying About the Blade 2.0 Magnetic Rowing Machine
We hope our review gives you enough information about the Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 Magnetic Rowing Machine to see if it’s the right machine to help you meet your fitness goals.
It can still be helpful to see how others feel about the product though. So, we discovered a few reviews from users just like you to give you a better idea about the rower:
Review #1 – heather
This user felt the Bluefin Blade 2.0 was a good purchase price-wise, and they also praised how sturdy and stable it is. Additionally, they feel as though it’s easy to use.
Review #2 – TexasDem
This person also praised the budget-friendly aspect of the machine and that it has a small footprint as to not get in the way. They feel it’s constructed well, but they do believe the assembly instructions are poor. Also, when folded, they say it’s difficult to move as it doesn’t have any wheels.
Review #3 – Yana L
With this simple review, the user didn’t seem to have a hard time assembling it, and they enjoyed how little room it took up. They also touched on the quietness of the machine.
Alternatives to the Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 Magnetic Rowing Machine
If you want to keep your options open before you settle on a magnetic rowing machine, take a peek at three alternatives we feel are good substitutes for the Bluefin Blade 2.0.
XTERRA Fitness ERG160
The XTERRA Fitness ERG160 helps you reach your fitness goals using smooth resistance and quiet performance. It features large foot pedals with adjustable straps.
The seat is also spacious and features a molded foam design for comfort. When you’re finished, you can stand it up and roll it away on the transportation wheels.
XTERRA Fitness ERG160 vs. Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0
- 250lb weight capacity
- 8-level magnetic resistance
- Accessory tray and water bottle holder
- LED console w/ high-contrast display
- 90-day warranty
Lifespan RW1000 Indoor Rower
The Lifespan RW1000 Indoor Rower is a high-end magnetic rower that focuses on comfort on top of providing an effective workout.
It has an injected-foam seat, swivel foot pedals, and padded handles. The drive belt offers an experience that’s smooth and quiet, and your progress is tracked via the simplified console.
Lifespan RW1000 vs. Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0
- 300lb weight capacity
- Adjustable seat height
- Foldable design
- 5-level resistance
- 5-year frame warranty | 2-year parts | 1-year labor
Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 Magnetic Rowing Machine features a large LCD console to display all the information you need.
It has an extra-long slide rail to accommodate a variety of users, and for safety during the most vigorous of workouts, the machine is designed with textured foot pedals and quality foot straps.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 vs. Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0
- 250lb weight capacity
- Foldable design with transportation wheels
- Non-slip handlebars and foot pedals
- 8-level resistance
- Extra-long slide rail
Final Thoughts
Indeed we recommend you check out the three products mentioned in the previous section, but we feel as though the Bluefin Fitness Blade 2.0 Magnetic Rowing Machine is one of the best on the market today.
It has a reliable build from the steel frame to the quality drive system that helps you row with proper technique while maintaining a quiet environment.
The machine is well-stabilized too for safer rowing, and to keep track of everything, it’s easy to read the backlit console.
