Rowing machines offer you a full-body workout right at home, and if you’re in the market for one, consider the Hydrow Rower.
With more tech than standard rowers, the Hydrow offers a guided experience. Take a look at my review to learn more about the machine and whether it can benefit your exercise routine.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Rower
Before we dive into the review of the Hydrow rowing machine, let’s take a look at rowers themselves.
They’re a great way to intensify your home workouts without taking up too much space. But how do you know which rowing machine is right for you?
Thankfully, there are several features to keep in mind that can help you choose between rowers.
Types of Rowing Machines
When we speak of different types of rowing machines, we’re generally looking at the kind of resistance it has. There are four main resistant types:
- Water
- Air
- Hydraulic
- Magnetic
Water
A rowing machine with water resistance aims to give users a more realistic experience as you mainly hear the swishing of water when you use it.
For the resistance, water is dense, so it may be more challenging than some other rowing machines.
However, you still control the resistance on how fast you pull or how much water you decide to fill the basin up with.
Air
You may also get a realistic feel using an air rowing machine. Their resistance is based on fan flywheels, so the fan spins as you row, and you again control the amount of resistance depending on how fast or slow you move.
Hydraulic
Hydraulic rowing machines utilize pistons for resistance, and these pistons fire off when you pull back.
Unlike some other types of rowing machines, however, not all hydraulic ones have a sliding seat. In those cases, you’ll only receive an upper body workout rather than a full-body one.
Magnetic
If you want a quieter rowing experience, machines that use magnetic resistance are a good choice.
With electromagnets controlling the flywheels, the resistance in these types of rowers is separated by levels so you can adapt them according to your specific skills.
Monitor
Like with any exercise machine, you want to keep track of your progress. So, as you shop for a rower, check out the monitor that’s built into it.
Some monitors are simple, providing straightforward information about areas such as distance, time, the number of strokes, and your pulse.
Others may be more advanced, allowing you to workout using different modes or, like the Hydrow rowing machine, provide a guided, coaching experience to follow along.
No matter what type of display your machine of choice has, it should be easy to read at a glance so you don’t have to lose focus or pause your exercise to understand it.
Comfort and Safety
If you’re going to spend a good deal of time on a rowing machine, it helps if it’s comfortable to use. Consider rowers that offer an ergonomic design as this can make it more user-friendly.
Some machines have cushioned seats and padded handles as well.
Another area to look at is the footrests. For safety purposes, there should be quality straps to keep your feet in place at all times.
Also, it helps if they adjust easily to suit people of different sizes.
Also, when it comes to how safe a rower is, you should pay attention to the weight restrictions.
Some of them are around 200lbs, while others push a capacity higher than 300lbs. Adhering to the limit ensures your safety and the longevity of the machine.
Introducing the Hydrow Rower
The Hydrow Rower is an innovative, high-end rowing machine that uses electromagnetic resistance that’s computer-controlled.
It offers a multisensory approach to rowing exercise as it features a large screen and quality speakers to fully immerse you in the rowing experience as if you were outdoors on a river.
Pros
- Features interactive classes and an online community
- Design makes it easy to use
- Comfortable seat and handles
Cons
- Might require help initially assembling the machine
- Requires membership and online access to use
- Have to purchase a separate kit to store it vertically
Features & Benefits of the Hydrow Rower
The features offered by Hydrow’s design are what allows it to stand out amongst other rowing machines.
I broke down the main aspects of the rowing machine to help you learn more and decide if it’s a good investment to make for your home gym.
Sleek Design
At first glance, it’s obvious the Hydrow is built with a modern, sleek design. It utilizes commercial-grade materials using an aluminum frame to make it smooth in appearance as well as functional and durable for long-term use.
To focus more on its construction, once fully assembled, the Hydrow weighs about 145lbs.
So, you may need some assistance moving it, but it does have built-in wheels to help with that process.
As for what it can support, it’s built to hold up to 375lbs.
Online Interaction
One of the biggest selling points of the Hydrow is its technological slant. It perhaps features more technology than most major rowers.
For the monitor, the rower has a large, 22in. HD touchscreen that’s easy to view. It keeps track of everything such as your calories burned, your time, and distance.
There are also front-facing speakers to better hear what’s on the screen from instructions to music.
You can even hear every stroke and movement of water to make it seem as if you were rowing outdoors.
You can adjust the monitor 15-degrees for a better angle, and you may even pivot the screen 25-degrees to the left or the right. It even folds down flat for storage purposes.
Training Sessions
The other major point of the screen is the various exercises you can engage in. With your membership, you have 24-hour access to different training programs.
There are more than 1,000 pre-recorded sessions that are a mixture of studio-based and river-based. You can also opt to join in on any live-stream broadcasts.
These classes feature instructions from real athletes that will help you learn and improve your rowing skills.
You may even make use of classes off the machine such as stretches for a safer exercise experience.
You may also enjoy the online community as it can add a competitive edge to your training since you see the progress of other users.
Electromagnetic Resistance
Hydrow takes an interesting approach to magnetic resistance. It makes use of technology once more by using a computer-controlled, electromagnetic drag mechanism.
This drag mechanism is dynamic and responds well whether you want a lighter workout or a more intense one.
Quiet and Smooth Operation
Due in large part to the electromagnetic resistance setup, the Hydrow provides a generally quiet rowing workout.
This is further helped by the ergonomic design that lets you pull smoothly.
The strap is also webbed for frictionless strokes to create little to no noise.
You may operate this even easier due to the cushioned 10-roller seat system. The handles are also ergonomic so that you have a low-stress grip.
What Others Think about the Hydrow Rower
There is a good deal of praise as well as some concerns raised about Hydrow.
If you want more information from users just like yourself, I tracked down a handful of reviews so you can get a range of opinions.
These and my earlier review might help you decide whether the Hydrow is right for you.
- JP: This user generally favors the rower, complimenting how easy it is to use and the smoothness of the rowing mechanism. However, they do believe that it could benefit from having better integration with other fitness apps.
- Olivia W.: With this reviewer, they praised how well of a workout the machine offers. They also mentioned an appreciation of the variety offered based on skill level.
- Martin: Mainly, this reviewer focused on the difficulties of getting classes to load sometimes and having to reset frequently for the software to work.
- Eric: This user didn’t appear to use it long but did enjoy what they experienced so far. They praised how easy it was to set up, but they did mention that it’s heavy and requires two people.
- Phillyscooter: This positive review focused on how well the instructors are. They appreciate how easy it is for beginners to get started, how nice the scenery music is, and even how you don’t have to compete with others if you don’t want to.
Alternatives to the Hydrow Rower
From my breakdown of the Hydrow to testimonials from other fitness enthusiasts, perhaps you’ve decided that the rower simply isn’t for you.
If so, then take a look at three alternative products that may better suit your needs.
MaxKare Water Rowing Machine
The MaxKare Water Rowing Machine features a reliable steel frame and an ergonomic design for comfort and ease of use.
Further comfort is found in the cushioned seat, padded handles, and adjustable footplates.
You can track all your progress via the LCD monitor that you can move up and down. This keeps up with your SPM, distance, time, strokes, and calories burned.
There are even competition modes to cycle through if you want more of a challenge.
MaxKare vs. Hydrow
- Water resistance
- LCD monitor
- Lightweight steel frame with stabilizers for support
- Lower 264lb weight limit
- Integrated bottle holder
Merax Water Rowing Machine
With a sleek design, the Merax Water Rowing Machine uses an inclined water tank to offer stronger resistance.
The gliding is still smooth for quieter operation, and you’re kept comfortable thanks to the contoured seat and ergonomic handles.
It features a large LCD monitor that’s easy to read and allows you to track heart rate, distance, strokes, and calories.
You can jump straight into things with the quick start or you can dive into the challenging competitive race mode.
Merax vs. Hydrow
- Various exercise modes
- Water resistance
- 330lb weight capacity
- Large contoured seat and long handles
- Simple LCD monitor
Sunny Health & Fitness Water Rowing Machine
A budget-friendly option, the Sunny Health & Fitness Water Rowing Machine provides a steady, simple rowing experience.
It has a molded padded seat to help you feel more at ease while on the machine, and for the resistance, the hydro blades are designed reliable to keep up with various levels of water resistance.
With the R2 fitness meter, all your progress is easily tracked and read on the straightforward LCD screen.
This is even compatible with ANT+ heart rate technology for a more effective, personalized workout.
Sunny Health & Fitness vs. Hydrow
- Water resistance
- Non-slip footpads and molded seat
- Max user weight of 300lbs
- Upright storage option
- R2 fitness meter on an LCD monitor
Final Thoughts
The Hydrow Rower is a high-quality rowing machine that successfully uses electromagnetic, computer-controlled resistance for a realistic and challenging experience.
It is more costly compared to other rowing machines, but the value is seen in the technology offered.
There’s plenty of interaction via live-streamed exercises, pre-recorded videos, and an online community all available via membership.
This is also simple to use and boasts a quiet operation so you won’t disturb anyone else at home.
If you’re still curious about the Hydrow, feel free to take a look at the product to learn even more.
