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Most people should buy the Concept2 RowErg: it is the standard air rower in gyms and clubs, it holds users up to 227 kg, and it splits in two for storage. Buy the WaterRower Original if you want a quiet wooden rower that stands upright, and a NordicTrack RW900 or RW700 if you want screen-led classes. None of the Australian picks folds, but the Concept2 splits in two and the WaterRower stands on its end.
Our picks
- 1Best overall
Concept2 RowErg
Air resistance you set with a damper, a 227 kg user rating, a PM5 monitor that works with ErgData and 40+ apps, and a frame that splits in two for storage.
- 2Best water rower
WaterRower Original
A solid-wood frame with a water tank flywheel, rated for users up to 150 kg. It stores upright in about the floor space of a dining chair.
- 3Best smart rower
NordicTrack RW900 Rower
26 magnetic levels and a 24-inch pivoting touchscreen for iFIT classes on and off the rower, with a 10-year frame warranty.
- 4Best value smart rower
NordicTrack RW700 Rower
The same 26-level magnetic resistance and 10-year frame warranty as the RW900, with a smaller 10-inch screen and a lower list price.
| Model | Concept2Concept2 RowErg | WaterRowerWaterRower Original | NordicTrackNordicTrack RW900 Rower | NordicTrackNordicTrack RW700 Rower |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resistance | Air (adjustable damper) | Water (WaterFlywheel) | Magnetic (Silent Magnetic Resistance) | Magnetic (Silent Magnetic Resistance) |
| Max user | 227 kg | 150 kg | 136 kg | 136 kg |
| Folds away | No | No | — | — |
| Length | 244 cm | 210 cm | 203.5 cm | 206.5 cm |
| App support | Bluetooth PM5 (ErgData and 40+ apps) | Bluetooth S4 monitor (WaterRower Connect) | iFIT, 24in pivoting touchscreen | iFIT, 10in tilting touchscreen |
| Warranty | 5 yrs | — | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
How to choose a home rowing machine
- Resistance type. Air (Concept2) gets harder the faster you pull and is loud at high effort. Water (WaterRower) also rises with effort but sounds like a sloshing tank. Magnetic (NordicTrack) is the quietest and lets you pick one of 26 fixed levels.
- Length. Rowers are long. The picks run from 203.5 cm (NordicTrack RW900) to 244 cm (Concept2). Measure the room with space to sit down and step off at both ends.
- User limit. This is a safety rating, not a suggestion. It ranges from 136 kg (NordicTrack RW900 and RW700) to 227 kg (Concept2, which gives 135 kg under the EN ISO 20957-7 test).
- Storage. None of the Australian picks folds. The Concept2 separates into two pieces without tools and the WaterRower stands upright.
- Screens and subscriptions. NordicTrack runs iFIT classes and says all 26 levels work without a paid plan. The Concept2 and WaterRower monitors connect to free and third-party apps over Bluetooth.
Concept2 RowErg: best overall
The RowErg is an air rower with a fan flywheel and a damper lever that changes how heavy each stroke feels. It is 244 cm long and 61 cm wide, weighs 26 kg with standard legs and separates into two parts for storage. The PM5 monitor records workouts and pairs with Concept2's ErgData app and more than 40 others. Concept2 sells it direct in the UK, US and Australia; in Canada it is sold through retailers such as Treadmill Factory.
Pros
- 227 kg user rating per Concept2's own testing
- Splits into two pieces without tools; has caster wheels
- PM5 monitor works with ErgData and 40+ apps
- 5-year frame warranty
Cons
- The longest pick at 244 cm
- Air fan is noisy at high effort
WaterRower Original: best water rower
The WaterRower Original uses paddles in a water tank, so resistance rises with how hard you pull. It is 210 cm long, weighs 30.5 kg and holds users up to 150 kg. The S4 monitor has Bluetooth for the WaterRower Connect app. The list price depends on the wood finish.
Pros
- Stores upright in a small footprint
- Solid wood frame in several finishes
- Bluetooth S4 monitor
- Australian site lists a 5-year frame and 3-year parts warranty
Cons
- 150 kg limit is lower than the Concept2
- No resistance dial: effort sets the load
- Tank needs occasional water treatment
NordicTrack RW900 and RW700: best smart rowers
Both use NordicTrack's Silent Magnetic Resistance with 26 levels, both hold users up to 136 kg and both carry a 10-year frame, 2-year parts warranty. The RW900 has a 24-inch touchscreen that pivots for floor workouts and is 203.5 cm long. The RW700 has a 10-inch tilting screen and is 206.5 cm long. iFIT can change resistance to follow the trainer, but that needs a paid membership.
Pros
- Sold by NordicTrack in all four markets
- Quiet magnetic resistance with 26 set levels
- 10-year frame warranty
Cons
- Auto-adjusting classes need a paid iFIT plan
- 136 kg user limit
- NordicTrack does not say either model folds
Which is better: an air, water or magnetic rowing machine?
Air and water rowers get harder the harder you pull, which suits interval training and matches club rowers. Magnetic rowers are quieter and let you lock a level, which suits apartments and early-morning sessions. All three give the same rowing movement.
Is a water rower worth it?
If you want a rower that looks like furniture and stores upright, yes. The WaterRower Original is rated for 150 kg, and WaterRower Australia sells it in oak. If you want the highest user limit or race-standard data, the Concept2 is the safer buy.
Is there a folding rowing machine in this guide for Australia?
Not yet. We have not been able to check the maker specs of a folding rower sold in Australia, so none is listed. The Concept2 splits in two for storage and the WaterRower stands upright, which saves most of the floor space.
How much space does a home rowing machine need?
The picks here are 203.5 cm to 244 cm long, and the Concept2 is 61 cm wide. Leave room to sit down at the back and step off at the side.
Do I need a subscription for a smart rower?
Not to row. NordicTrack says the RW900 and RW700 work at all 26 levels without a paid plan, but trainer-led auto-adjusting needs iFIT.
How we chose
We have not tested these rowers. We compared the makers' own specifications, user limits, warranties and list prices in each country, and kept only models the maker or a domestic retailer sells new in that market. Where a maker does not state a figure, such as a fold mechanism or a Canadian list price, we leave it out rather than guess.
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