The Best Rowing Machines on Amazon, According to Hyperenthusiastic Reviewers

“This rowing machine is the bee’s knees of home exercise equipment,” writes one reviewer. “I’ve been looking for a way to exercise that takes minimal effort (read: I don’t need to put on a sports bra for this) while getting maximum output (read: sweating like a sinner in church).” According to people who own this rower, one of the main reasons to opt for a magnetic rowing machine is noise reduction. One purchaser praises this machine’s low volume: “My cats hang out with me while I use it, and we all know how easily cats can be startled.” Another home exerciser is similarly struck: “One thing I noticed while in the middle of my short but effective workout was that I didn’t have to adjust the volume on the TV. This thing is very quiet! I also have an exercise bike and when I use it, I have to crank up the volume on the TV.”

Reviewers say this rowing machine is a great value, and many actually prefer it to more expensive options because it’s lightweight and compact. “Absolutely blown away by the construction and durability,” writes one home rower. “It was easy to put together and does everything the more expensive rowing machines do. I love the fact that it takes so little space to house and the results are great!” A couple chose this machine for working out in their bedroom for similar reasons: “We were looking for both a rowing device and an elliptical for our bedroom. We saw some in a department store that has plenty of them — they were all good and had a number of additional features such as fans, entertainment screens, etc., but they were all VERY bulky. This device, on the other hand, has just about half the dimensions of the rowers we saw, costs just a fraction, and works great.” As one reviewer puts it: “This is a great machine. Obviously not as robust as the Concept2, but it’s great if you want a lightweight rowing machine. Great to use while watching TV!”

If you have roommates, a sensitive baby, or a partner who needs complete silence to work, this is probably the rower for you, because nearly one-fifth of reviewers describe it as quiet. The reason for this lack of noise is the machine’s magnetic resistance, which, according to one shopper, is “much quieter than the fan-driven rowers.” According to others, those magnets also make the strokes smooth. “Magnetic resistance works great for smooth operation, seat glides nicely back and forth,” one writes. It’s very easy to adjust, and, according to one reviewer, “the resistance settings range from very easy to quite challenging. It folds easily and quickly and is easy to roll if you are on a tile or wood floor … not so easy on carpet.” Some are skeptical of the accuracy of the LCD screen, but one reviewer writes, “Whenever I count the reps, the digital counter is accurate, except that it seems to miss the first one. We are pleasantly surprised.”

Many reviewers of this rowing machine are either first-time rowers or new to working out in general, and they enjoy their experience with this model. “For a first time user, this machine works great,” one writes. “Very quiet machine. Very sturdy. Definitely getting the workout I was looking for.” Another says, “It may not be for someone who has been working out for years, but for us beginners it is fantastic.” What makes it friendly for beginners is the lack of heavy resistance, which frustrates a more experienced reviewer; another writes, “The strength adjuster doesn’t provide enough resistance for me, but it’s still adequate to provide a good aerobic workout.” Like the magnetic rower above, this one is very quiet, and more than one reviewer says it’s very easy to assemble. One user says theirs was “delivered at 1 today, assembled by a totally nonmechanical history teacher by 2:00, fantastic workout completed by 3!”

This rowing machine is very similar to the Sunny Health & Fitness model above. They’re both roughly the same size and magnetic with built-in LCD screens. One key difference is this rowing machine from Fitness Reality has Bluetooth functionality and an integrated smartphone app for tracking workouts. “The bluetooth connection and app is wonderful if you’re a gadget type of person who likes to track data and results,” writes one purchaser, and many others chime in to praise the app functionality as well. “Easy Bluetooth setup for tracking workouts,” says another, who calls the machine “quiet and reasonably priced.” Many also mention how “quiet” it is during operation — “quiet enough that I can watch videos while I’m on it,” according to one rower. And it gets high marks for being easy to fold and store away, which, as one five-star reviewer puts it, is “crucial for apartment living.”

Reviewers love this particular machine because of its enclosed water tank, which “has the sound and feel of being on the water.” One self-proclaimed gym rat who’s “used to solid commercial quality equipment” was pleased to find that this rowing machine “exceeds my expectations for a home quality water rowing machine.” And though it’s the most expensive product on the list, for a water-rowing machine, this one comes at a “great price” according to dozens of reviewers. The low cost “reflects the absence of nonsense bloatware and lack of bells and whistles (which is all crap that people who don’t actually exercise think matters IMHO),” one reviewer notes. “It’s not a reflection of cheap construction (a common blight of ostensibly good looking treadmills).” They go on to say this machine gives users a natural-feeling rowing experience: “You want to run? Go outside. You want to row? Buy this thing.”

“I was skeptical about the size and functionality of this thing, especially given the price,” begins one reviewer, but “from the moment I unboxed it I was pleased.” Plenty of others love this ProGear machine, too, because it’s able to do a range of workouts including curls, shoulder presses, pull downs, ab workouts, and more. “I needed something to make up for not going to the gym (COVID), and this is a nice little setup. It doesn’t take up much space at all and it’s pretty easy to use,” another reviewer writes — though they add, “I mainly got it for rowing and for that it’s excellent.” Others agree the rowing feature is the best part of the machine. One satisfied reviewer says the quality of the machine is “unbelievable” because “the rowing action is very smooth and when I pull the arms to the side as I row instead of straight back and forth, it honest to God feels like I am actually rowing in a lake. … This is one of the best purchases I have made.”