XTERRA Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower Review

People are staying home more these days, so it makes sense that everyone’s on the hunt for the best home gym equipment.

Rowing machines are popular because you can get a full body workout in one machine.

There are a lot of great rowing machines out there and I’ve consistently found that Xterra Fitness produces some of the highest-quality home gym machines.

The XTERRA Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower is no exception. Here is a breakdown on why this rower would make a good addition to your home gym.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Home Rowing Machine

Before buying a rowing machine, the biggest consideration you should have is space.

Rowing machines aren’t the most compact machines.

Even the ones with smaller footprints are long. The good news is that they can usually be stored upright or folded so the long part stretches to the ceiling, freeing up valuable floor space.

Even with them being stored like this, you still need to make sure you have enough room to use the machine.

On average, you should be able to clear at least a 7 foot by 4-foot space minimum to use the rower.

That’s minimum.

Another big consideration is the frame. Most rowers are made from metal or wood.

No matter which material it’s made from, you need to make sure the frame is heavy-duty and sturdy.

Make sure it has nice, wide feet so that you won’t rock back and forth while you’re working out. This is a machine you’ll be using for years to come so you want to make sure it’s going to last.

Make sure that the maximum weight capacity can hold your weight. Don’t cut corners on this – it will just lead to equipment breakdown and a possible voided warranty.

Smaller parts that you should pay attention to include the handle, the seat, and the foot holders. These parts should be padded for comfort.

You’ll want to try to get an ergonomic handle or possibly a handle that can be switched out. It’s helpful if your seat is at least 12 inches wide.

Anything smaller could cause discomfort that may shorten your workout.

The height of the seat could possibly be important. Some people have trouble getting up from a low position.

The higher the seat from the ground, the better it will be, especially for people who may have leg, knee, and/or joint problems.

The average rowing machine usually has a seat that’s at least 12 inches from the ground. If possible, don’t get one that’s lower than that.

The Xterra Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower

Now that you generally know what you should be looking for in a rowing machine, I can properly introduce you to the Xterra Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower.

It’s a well-made, high-quality rowing machine that won’t break the bank.

The rower measures 72″ L x 19″ W x 33″ H and weighs about 79.4 pounds (36 kg).

With a weight capacity of 300 pounds, this rower is suitable for everyone from short people to tall people to overweight people.

Pros

• Made with a heavy-duty steel frame.
• Has a five-year warranty on the frame.
• Eight levels of air resistance.
• Folds for storage.
• Easy to assemble.

Cons

• Has a small LCD screen.
• Doesn’t have an ergonomic handle.
• No Bluetooth connectivity.

Features and Benefits of the Xterra Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower

There is a lot about the XTERRA Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower that makes it the perfect home rowing machine.

The first is the price. Home rowing machines can cost thousands of dollars, but it’s not necessary to spend that much to get a decent machine.

Those machines are meant for professional athletes.

For the non-athlete or for someone who doesn’t want to drop that much in one machine, the XTERRA Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower can provide you with a high-quality workout for only a few hundred dollars.

It’s very affordable for most people.

Air Turbine

There are four types of rowing machines. The air turbine, also known as a flywheel, is one of them.

The big advantage is that it gives you an authentic feeling of rowing outdoors.

The resistance is provided by the air, and generally if you want more resistance, you’d simply row faster.

The XTERRA Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower takes things a step further by allowing you to manually adjust between eight resistance levels.

This makes it easy to challenge yourself during your workouts.

Handle, Seat, and Foot Holders

The XTERRA Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower has padded everything to keep you as comfortable as possible while you row.

The seat is contoured and made from a high-density foam that provides support while cushioning your bottom.

Trust me, you need that padding if you’re planning to row for an extended period of time. You don’t want to feel like you’re sitting on a metal plate.

The handlebar is also padded. I think that the handlebar should be a bit wider – it’s just wide enough for average sized hands to grip but doesn’t really have a lot of wiggle room.

However, this is a small detail that can be overlooked by the thick padding that makes it comfortable to hold the handlebar.

The foot holders are flexible and are designed to accommodate a variety of foot sizes.

There is an adjustable Velcro strap on each foot holder that will keep your feet snugly in place as you row.

Overall, Xterra did an excellent job of making sure the small stuff is comfortable so you can focus on the big picture.

Display/Console

I’ll admit that the display for the XTERRA Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower isn’t anything impressive, but it is functional and that’s the most important part.

It’s a 2.5″ x 2.5″ monochrome LCD display that gives you seven bits of information at one time. This includes:

• Time
• Distance
• Strokes/min
• Count
• Calories
• Pulse
• A visual stroke display

That’s a lot of information to put on a 2.5-inch screen, but as long as your eyesight is good, you’ll be able to see it.

One of the best points about the display is that it runs by three AA batteries. This means it doesn’t need to be plugged up.

That’s great because the rowing machine is cordless so you can put it anywhere.

The Body of the ERG500 Air Turbine Rower

One of the best qualities about the XTERRA Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower is that it’s manufactured extremely well.

The body of the rower is made from a high-grade of steel and it features an extra support stand in the middle to prevent swaying or rocking while you’re working out.

When your done with your workout, it’s easy to store the rower.

Simply pull out the ball pin and the rower folds upward. Once you’ve done that, it takes up less than a 3-foot by 2-foot space so you can store it in any convenient corner of your home.

What Buyers are Saying About the Xterra Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower

Review #1 – Jonny Ditka

Great Beginner for the Price

“Cannot be more impressed. I bought this rower because of its 300-pound rating. As a 57 yr old 260-pound guy, I’ve lost over 30 pounds in three months using it about six hours a week. A couple small wear issues which they replaced immediately with no hassles. I could see using this machine in definitely. Highly recommend. As a fan rower it is a bit noisy, noise canceling earphones on the TV in a discreet room lets people sleep.”

Review #2 – Jeremy

Awesome rowing machine!!

“For the price it sure beats going to the gym early in the mornings. Total setup time took me about an hour by myself … instructions were clear, and all parts were available. I used the rower 3 times a week for 20 mins each set. You can adjust the tension for a quick workout or relaxed if you are planning on spending more time. Totally worth the price and it sure beats running outside in winter.”

Review #3 – Jeff E.

“A terrific purchase so far. Set up was much easier than I expected and so far it’s performing great! It was a bit more difficult to clean than I had hoped!”

Alternatives to the Xterra Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower

Everyone likes options and there is nothing wrong with that. I’ve included some comparable air rowing machines from other manufacturers so you can compare and contrast.

You might even like these better (but the XTERRA Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower is hard to beat).

Each one has the link listed so you can find more information about them.

Efitment Aero Air Fan Rowing Machine

If you want to save a few dollars, the Efitment Aero Air Fan Rowing Machine can be thought of as a budget version of the XTERRA Fitness ERG500.

The LCD display is even smaller, it’s a little lower to the ground, and it doesn’t support as much weight.

However, none of these are extreme deal breakers. If these options work for you, the Efitment is a decent rower for the price.

Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine

The Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine is one of the most popular rowers on the market.

It’s pretty expensive – on average it cost about twice as much as the ERG500 Air Turbine Rower.

However, there is no denying the quality and superiority of the machine. It’s used by elite athletes everywhere.

One of the most impressive points of this machine is that it supports up to 500 pounds. It also easily breaks down into two pieces for storage.

SereneLife Home Rowing Machine

The SereneLife Home Rowing Machine is almost like a bare-bones machine. It doesn’t have a lot of impressive features, but it does exactly what you need it to.

The frame isn’t as durable as the XTERRA Fitness ERG500 because it’s made from a steel alloy.

However, that’s the reason that it costs much less and has a lower weight capacity.

If you don’t mind rowing without all the bells and whistles, you may like the SereneLife Home Rowing Machine.

Final Thoughts

All the information I’ve given you in this guide sums up to one point: if you need a good home rowing machine, the Xterra Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower is a solid choice.

It’s a great investment, it’s affordable, and it will give you a great workout.

Investing in a rowing machine will give you all the benefits of a whole body workout. Build your upper body with strength training, while also strengthening your legs with low-impact resistance training.

Plus, since it easily folds it can fit in almost any space, even a studio apartment.

Happy rowing!