Popular Rowing Machine Comparison

When you make a rowing machine comparison you will find that different rowing machines come with their own pros and cons. Depending on your needs, your level of fitness and rowing experience, your budgeting constraints and other factors you will find that even highly rated models may not be correct for you. Use this rowing machine comparison as a starting point in your search for an in-home rowing machine.

The Concept 2 Rowing Machine (D Model)

The Concept 2 Rowing Machine is a sturdy, strong and capable machine. Using air resistance it will provide you with a realistic rowing experience and great workout that is completely dependent on the effort you put into it. The machine can be linked up with other machines to race each other and simulate a rowing team; making it a great choice for rowing clubs, groups and teams. At $1,000, the price can be prohibitive, especially for a person with no rowing experience and no need for intense rowing training.

The Bodycraft vr100 Rower

As a cheaper alternative to the Concept 2 Rowing Machine, the Bodycraft vr100 Rower will run about $700. This model of rowing machine offers a combination of air and magnetic resistance; air to begin with and as intensity is increased the magnetic resistance kicks in. The Bodycraft vr100 Rower accommodates people of all sizes and can also be easily folded for storage and space saving. Additionally, it has a heart monitor receiver which enables you to use any heart monitor you already own or to purchase any good, cheap variety and use it in conjunction with your rowing workout.

The Kettler Coach Rower

Our rowing machine comparison leads us to one of the best rowing machines on the market, the Kettler Coach Rowing Machine. Using magnetic resistance, there are many levels of workout intensity you can choose from. The display monitor offers many valuable readouts including a “fitness test” which tracks your heart rate recovery to put you into a fitness scale. Besides providing a great rowing experience, the design of the Kettler Coach allows you to perform an additional 16 strength exercises on the machine, providing for a great total body workout. You should be able to find the Kettler Coach Rower at or slightly under $1000.

The Lifecore Rower

The Lifecore Rower is another top level rowing machine that uses both air and magnetic resistance methods. The Lifecore Rower comes with many great features that make it stand out from similar models such as the Concept 2. It comes with 16 levels of resistance and many different workout programs and challenges; it can also store user data for up to 4 people. It can be folded for storage and can be used by a person weighing up to 600 pounds, proving its sturdy structure and all around capabilities. The Lifecore sells for approximately $1200.

As you can see from this brief rowing machine comparison, different models give you different benefits. While the Lifecore Rower comes with many features, the Concept 2 provides a more realistic rowing experience relying solely on air resistance. The Kettler Coach allows you to perform other exercises while the Bodycraft vr100 provides many great features for a relatively low cost. This rowing machine comparison reveals that you need to identify what is most important for you when purchasing your own rowing machine; there are numerous models that can suit your specific needs and desires.