The Best WaterRower Reviews 2022 (And Their Competitors)
One thing strikes you when you see a WaterRower; its beauty.
The ash/oak/cherry wood material gives it a naturally attractive look distinct from other rowing machines.
In fact, it looks closer to a rowboat than many other rowing machines on the market.
In case you're wondering, aesthetics is not all there is to WaterRower machines.
They are well-constructed and offer an all-round rowing experience.
You won't just get yourself into shape, thanks to the resistance generated in the water tub.
The whoosh sound of water as you row makes you feel like you're really rowing on a lake!
There are other amazing features too, and a few downsides.
In this WaterRower reviews, I'll take a deep look at three WaterRower machines and some WaterRower alternatives.
A word of caution; they aren't cheap.
If you're on a tight budget, you might want to consider the best budget rowing machines or the best rowing machines under 500.
And if you're looking for something more compact, you'll find a lot of options in this compact rowing machines article.
That said, let's get started with the WaterRower reviews (and their competitors)
Too busy to read to the end?
See the quick comparison table below!
Model | Dimensions | Item Weight | Material | Max Weight | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WaterRower Blanc Rowing Machine Best For Beginners | 83" L x 22" W x 21" H | 103 lb | Ash | 700 lb | 3 years parts, 5 years frame | |
WaterRower Vintage Oak Rowing Machine with S4 Best Overall | 82.28'' L x 22.44'' W x 20.08'' H | 108 lb | Ash Wood, Walnut, Oak | 1000 lb | 3 years parts, 5 years frame | |
WaterRower Natural Rowing Machine w/ S4 Monitor | 82.25'' L x 22.25'' W x 20'' H | 114 lb | Ash Wood, Oak | 700 lb | 3 years parts, 5 years frame | |
Foldable Wood Water Rowing Machine Best Budget | 79â L x 36â H x 20â W | 84 lb | Wood | 331 lb | 1 Year | |
Mr. Rudolf Water Rowing Machine | 84'' L x 20'' H x 22'' W | 59 lb | Oak | 320 lb | 180 days parts, 1 years frame | |
BATTIFE Water Resistance Rowing Machine | 84'' L x22'' W x21'' H | 63 lb | Oak | 280 lb | 5 years frame, 1 year part |
If you want the best overall, are on a budget, or just beginning, here are the best choices!
WaterRower Reviews (And Their Competitors)
Best overall
WaterRower Vintage Oak Rowing Machine with S4
Overall Rating: 4.8/5
Handcrafted, the WaterRower Vintage Oak has a sturdy Oak Hardwood frame with a lovely vintage design. Its smooth, quiet operation makes it very comfortable for use. It comes with wheels for easy transport and has 9 workout programs. Perfect for seniors and user with joint issues. Also has free 2 days shipping, 30-days money-back and an excellent warranty.
Pros
Cons
Best BUDGET
Foldable Wood Water Rowing Machine
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
With its 16-Fan water tank, this rowing machine provides enough consistent resistance. It has large ergonomic seat that are large and comfortable for users. The adjustable LCD monitor comes with Bluetooth connection. Like other WaterRower, it mimics rowing on a lake. This rowing machine is also one of the cheapest you can get on the market.
Pros
Cons
FOR BEGINNERS
WaterRower Blanc Rowing Machine.
Overall Rating: 4.4/5
Handcrafted in the USA, this WaterRower is a perfect mix of luxury and function. It provides users a unique rowing experience by mimicking rowing on a lake and working 84% of the muscle groups. It is solid and offers smooth action. It's not just easy to use, the soothing whoosh sound relaxes the mind while working out your body.
Pros
Cons
WaterRower Reviews (And Their Competitors)
When not in use, the WaterRower Blanc measures 82.25" L x 22.25" W x 20" H. Although it isn't the largest machine on the market, it requires a lot of room.
The ash wood frame has the advantage of weighing only 66.5 lb when the water tank is empty, making it easy to move around. Its weight capacity is impressive, with users weighing 700 lb and below able to use this rowing machine comfortably.
This WaterRower is an impressive workout machine. It targets about 84% of the muscle groups in the body and burns up to 1000 calories per hour!
The resistance levels will correspond to how hard you row. So as long as you can keep rowing and building momentum, the resistance will increase.
As the blades push against the water inside the tank, the patented WaterFlywheel provides excellent resistance for even the most avid rowers.
The WaterFlywheel's feel, as well as the sound, can leave you feeling like you're rowing an actual boat on open waters, and the hardwood frame does not hurt either!
Rowing on the WaterRower Blanc is as noiseless as it gets. There's minimal noise aside from the whooshing sound of the water.
The WaterRower Blanc rowing machine lacks some connected functionality, such as WiFi or Bluetooth connections.
It does, however, have the S4 performance monitor, which lets you quickly track information such as calories burnt per hour, meters per second, miles per hour, lifetime rowing distance and time, and heart rate.
When it comes to assembling the WaterRower Blanc, it appears that users have had variable results. If you are not a handy person, you should expect to spend a few minutes extra setting the machine together, but it should not take you more than an hour.
It also comes with an excellent warranty. It offers a 30-day money back guaranty and comes with 5 years warranty on frame and 3 years on parts.
The one major disadvantage of using a home water rower as your training equipment of choice is that the footprint generally surpasses seven feet, so you will need to set aside an extra room.
Pros
Cons
Takeaway
If you're searching for a powerful, visually stunning home water rowing machine, the WaterRower Blanc is an excellent choice. The device is made by hand from sustainable American ash and offers a high-quality, low-impact workout for the entire body. If you don't mind the lack of Bluetooth connectivity, you won't be disappointed with this machine.
The WaterRower Vintage Oak Rowing Machine with S4 Monitor is made of solid Oak Hardwood and brushed with Walnut Stain for color consistency.
It is hand-polished with Danish Oil, which gives the wood a rich sheen and warmth.
Wood was chosen for this equipment because of its fantastic engineering features, the most notable of which is its capacity to absorb sound and vibration, boosting the WaterRower's smooth and quiet operation.
With its solid construction, its no surprise that it supports a user weight of as high as 1000 lb.
While this machine is heavy, especially when filled with water, its transport wheels makes it easy to move around. Adjustable straps also prevents your feet from slipping while working out.
WaterRower Vintage Oak Rowing Machine comes with adjustable footrest that can suit different leg sizes.
The S4 Monitor has been developed with user-friendliness in mind, allowing for quick QuickStart of most operations; push the on button and row away.
There are additional advanced functionalities available for novice to elite users.
Its resistance is provided by a 4.5 gal capacity tank. Like other WaterRower, this machine doesn't have an adjustment system. You'll have to add or reduce the water in the tank to adjust the resistance according to the intensity you want.
This WaterRower Vintage Oak Rowing Machine's S4 Monitor indicates intensity in m/s (meters per second), mph (miles per hour), /500m (time per 500 meters), /2km (time per 2 kilometers), watts, and Kcalories per hour. It also features 9 advanced workout programs.
Stroke rate, Heartrate (with optional heart rate connection), Distance in meters, kilometers, and miles, and total strokes and duration are all displayed.
The water tank is pre-assembled and is fastened to the front of the frame. The remainder of the pieces, though, still need to be assembled.
Connect the two main rails, attach them to the front portion with the tank, and then add the seat, footrests, and console.
This should take no more than 30-40 minutes. A set of essential tools is required for the task, and the manual gives relatively simple assembly instructions.
Pros
Cons
Takeaway
The WaterRower Vintage Oak is a water resistance rower with a large capacity. It has a sturdy Oak Hardwood frame with a lovely Walnut design, an ergonomic seat, and the S4 programmable rowing controller. It's a machine for users of all levels of skill, from novice to expert, for home or business usage. It gives you a full-body exercise that works for practically every muscle group in your body. Finally, though it is not one of the most economical rowers, its quality, durability, and looks outweigh the price
The WaterRower Club Rowing Machine with HiRise is a stunning rower that has been constructed with solid Ash and stained to achieve its rich color.
For protection, each rowing machine is hand-polished with Danish Oil and urethane, ensuring that you'll use it for a long while.
A solid rowing machine, this WaterRower can accommodate users that weigh up to 700 lb, making it suitable for users of varying sizes.
Like other WaterRowers, its WaterFlywheel system mimics rowing on water, giving users the ultimate rowing experience without visiting a lake.
Its black rails have been designed to minimize scuffing, and its other wooden components are coated in a lovely rosewood stain that is more dirt-resistant than the natural type.
Of course, what distinguishes this version of the WaterRower Club Rowing Machine is the HiRise attachment, allowing users to climb on and off the machine easily.
Furthermore, WaterRower includes the S4 Performance Monitor with this rower.
This Monitor has all of the essential capabilities for tracking your performance and advanced features for analyzing your workout.
It measures intensity, distance and other workout parameters. With the S4 monitor, you get advanced features like program storage, heart rate prognostics, and even the settings of tank volume.
The S4 monitor is also compatible with PC, enabling you connect to various online programs.
Warranty is great too. The parts are backed by a 1-year manufacturer's warranty while the frame has a 5-years warranty. For a little extra, you can upgrade the warranty for parts to 3 years.
Pros
Cons
Takeaway
Another incredible rowing machine from a remarkable manufacturer is the WaterRower Club Rowing Machine with the HiRise attachment. You can't go wrong with this machine if you want a high-quality machine. Because of its HiRise design, this machine is also suitable for persons who have joint problems or have trouble getting on and off rowing machines. The one thing we wish WaterRower had included with the bundle is heart rate monitoring.
Due to its high water-generated resistance, the Foldable Wood Water Rowing Machine differs from most rowing machines on the market.
It varies not only in its resistance style but also in its design, made of wood. The Foldable Wood Water Rowing Machine appears to be a novelty rowing machine at first glance, but it is much more than that.
It gives a smooth rowing stroke and simulates the sensation of rowing in real life.
The Foldable Wood Water Rowing Machine is a lengthy machine, but despite its high-duty construction, it is not bulky; in fact, it has an exquisite appearance.
It can give even the fittest individuals a challenging exercise while being simple enough for novices to use.
The Foldable Wood Water Rowing Machine is one of the best in terms of dependability, and you could easily argue that it is one of the most trustworthy rower on the market.
Since the structure is strong and of good quality, nothing is likely to break.
The Foldable Wood Water Rowing Machine's resistance is generated by the water tank and with 16 fans, you're sure to get a high level of resistance.
Like other rowers in this WaterRower reviews, there's no knob that allows you to adjust the resistance. The faster you row, the more the resistance you generated.
Workout metrics such as time, strokes, Distance, and calories can be tracked with the adjustable LCD monitor. Since it supports Bluetooth connection, you'll be able to download workout training videos.
The Foldable Wood Water Rowing Machine is collapsible into two halves, making it very easy to store especially if you have a small space.
Pros
Cons
Takeaway
The product is more than simply a novelty rower that looks and sounds incredible. It is also a rower that can provide a challenging exercise for people of all fitness levels. Not only that, but it's also highly dependable, well-made, and long-lasting. You will not be disappointed using the Foldable Wood Water Rowing Machine.
Mr. Rudolf WaterRower, like many other water rowers, is meant to provide an authentic outdoor water rowing experience right in the warmth of your own home.
Mr. Rudolf WaterRower is made of solid oak wood and has a maximum user weight capacity of 320 lb/145 kg.
It can fit users of various heights and sizes, at least those with legs shorter than 120 cm/47.2".
The entire design of Mr. Rudolf WaterRower symbolizes a good indoor rowing machine that gives a full-body cardiovascular workout that successfully impacts around 84 percent of the body muscles.
Its water-resistance mechanism is dynamic and resembles open-water rowing. Mr. Rudolf WaterRower features a very dynamic water resistance technology that generates varying levels of resistance.
Because of the splash sound it makes during a training regimen. It is also said to imitate the outside rowing experience.
Mr. Rudolf WaterRower has an ergonomically curved seat connected to a wooden base that sits on two rails.
It also comes with oversized adjustable footplates with a significant heel border that prevents the feet from slipping. These footplates fit a variety of foot sizes and may be used with regular gym shoes.
Storing this rowing machine is simple and takes very little room. It is stored upright, with the front section underneath and the back section on top.
Users say assembling it is quite easy. This is unsurprising as the unit comes almost fully assembled.
The warranty isn't great though. Parts is only 6 months while frame is 1 year. The manufacturer could have done better.
Pros
Cons
Takeaway
Mr. Rudolf WaterRower is intended for use at home. It helps you lose weight and improve your overall physical fitness even without the usual aftereffects of using some indoor workout equipment.
The BATTIFE Water Rowing Machine is a sturdy wooden rower meant to give you a feel of what it's like to row in an open water boat.
It is designed similarly to Mr. Rudolf's rowing machine. It comprises authentic red walnut wood and has a maximum user weight capacity of 280 lb.
It does, like other rowing machines, need a tiny amount of room for exercise. It might, however, be placed vertically, considerably reducing the amount of storage space required.
It can fit people up to 6'5" tall and has an inseam of up to 38". However, if you are unsure whether it will fit you, double-check your inseam (the length of the thigh to the ankle).
The complete measurements are 84" long, 22" broad, and 21" tall. To put it another way, it necessitates an exercise space with dimensions of 7' length by 19' width, with additional clearance of 0.5' at the front/rear and at least 1' on each side for safety and convenience.
The BATTIFE Water Rowing Machine's seat is big, curved, cushioned, and comfortable.
It allows you to sit comfortably and securely for a more extended period. It has eight sturdy rollers that are coupled to twin rails for a smooth and near-silent gliding motion. The handlebars are upright and padded with anti-slip rubber foam.
The water resistance system of the BATTIFE Water Rowing Machine consists of a water tank, pulling nylon cable, handlebar, pulleys, and a recoil mechanism.
The BATTIFE Rowing Machine has a console with an LCD monitor and segmented display windows that show exercise information such as Time Spent, Strokes Per Minute, Distance Rowed, and Average Calories Burned per Hour with Distance measured in meters.
It has a very good warranty. 5 years on frame and 1-year on parts is as good as you can get for most quality product.
As previously stated, the item may be kept upright. It takes up much less storage space and includes front-mounted carriage wheels that make it simple to roll away.
Pros
Cons
Takeaway
The BATTIFE Water Rowing Machine is intended for use at home and utilized in a gym. It is a piece of low-impact cardio equipment that burns calories, tones muscle areas, and promotes the health of the heart and lungs.
Final Thoughts
That's that for the WaterRower reviews and their competitors.
Like I said, these machines are not cheap.
But you get a perfect combination of durability, functionality, quality, and aesthetics.
For me, that's exactly what value for money is.
While these machines are not exactly affordable, the Foldable Wood Water Rowing Machine is less expensive than the others.
The WaterRower Blanc Rowing Machine is comfortable and easy to use - very well-suited for beginners.
If you ask me, the best overall is the WaterRower Vintage Oak Rowing Machine with S4. Its higher weight capacity and overall features enable it to edge out others.
If you have anything to say about the WaterRower reviews, let me know in the comments section below.
