A rowing machine works most of the body at once and is easy on joints, which is why second-hand ones sell so well. The Concept2 below is the machine to get if the budget stretches that far. The other two are what we'd buy instead, at around $650 for a water rower and around $380 for a quiet compact one.
1. Best Overall: Concept2 RowErg
The RowErg is the machine rowing clubs, CrossFit boxes and gyms standardise on, and it's the same unit you can put in a garage. It used to be called the Model D, so if you're comparing old reviews, they're the same machine. The air resistance scales with effort, the PM5 monitor is accurate enough that people race on it over the internet, and parts remain available for machines decades old.
It costs around $1,700 from Concept2's Australian store, holds its resale value unusually well, and takes splits apart in seconds for storage. The catch is the noise, since air resistance produces a loud whoosh every stroke.
What We Like:
- The standard everyone trains on
- Accurate PM5 monitor
- Holds resale value
What We Don't Like:
- Loud air resistance
- Long footprint in use
2. Best Water Rower: JOROTO MR280PRO
Water rowers trade the RowErg's whoosh for a swish that most households find easier to live with, and the MR280PRO is the affordable way in. It has a solid oak frame, a folding design, a Bluetooth monitor that connects to training apps, and a 150kg weight rating. It averages 4.3 stars across more than 700 reviews at around $650, which undercuts traditional water rowers by well over a thousand dollars.
The water tank needs a purification tablet every few months, which is normal for the type. Delivery is by third-party sellers, so coverage varies by postcode.
What We Like:
- Real oak water rower under $700
- Bluetooth app connection
- Folds for storage
What We Don't Like:
- Tank needs occasional purification tablets
- Delivery varies by postcode
3. Best Budget: MERACH Compact Magnetic Rower
MERACH's compact rower uses 16 levels of magnetic resistance, which makes it close to silent, and it's built shorter than a standard rower to suit apartments and spare rooms. It averages 4.7 stars across more than 270 reviews at around $380.
Magnetic resistance feels smoother and gentler than air or water, and it doesn't scale with how hard you pull, so it suits steady cardio rather than flat-out interval work. Like most Amazon-only fitness gear, it ships from third-party sellers and delivery coverage varies by postcode.
What We Like:
- Near silent
- 16 resistance levels
- Compact and affordable
What We Don't Like:
- Resistance doesn't scale with effort
- Delivery varies by postcode
Other rowers worth a look
- WaterRower Natural — the original furniture-grade water rower, handmade in ash. It's the machine that made water rowing desirable, sold through specialist fitness stores.
- Technogym SkillRow — commercial-gym rowing hardware for home, with app-connected training. Priced accordingly. See it at Technogym.
- Screen rowers — the Hydrow style of machine streams classes on a built-in display and adds a subscription on top of the purchase price.
How to pick a rowing machine
Resistance type decides the experience. Air scales with effort and is loud. Water sounds pleasant and feels like rowing outdoors. Magnetic is near silent and gentle, and suits steady sessions rather than sprints.
Check the rail length against your height. Taller rowers need a longer slide, and compact machines quietly shorten it. If you're over about 185cm, check the specified inseam or rail length before buying.
Weight rating and footprint are in every listing. A full-size rower needs about 2.5 metres of clear floor in use, so measure first and check how it folds or stands for storage.
Form beats resistance. Legs push first, then the body swings, then the arms finish. Most soreness new rowers blame on the machine comes from pulling with the arms first.
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FAQs
Is a rowing machine enough on its own?
For general fitness, yes. Rowing works legs, core, back and arms in every stroke and raises heart rate quickly, which is why it's one of the few single machines people don't outgrow.
How long should a beginner row for?
Ten to fifteen minutes at an easy pace is plenty at the start. Rowing looks gentle and bites the next day, so building up over a few weeks beats starting with half-hour sessions.
