Best High-End Rowing Machines 2021

Everyone at the gym has their favourite exercise. You may prefer it because it tones or builds a specific muscle group you want to work on, or because you just find it fun or challenging. Covid and lockdowns have made it much harder, or even impossible, to get to the gym to workout though. To continue working on their fitness, many have turned to equipping a small home gym. Often this involves getting an exercise machine.

A rowing machine is an excellent choice of fitness equipment. Not only does it work a broad range of muscles, it is also a great way to burn calories fast, and it doesn’t involve the strain of impacts on your joints. If you know you’re a fan of rowing machines and know that you’re willing to spend more on a quality product that will last, you’ll likely be looking at the high-end rowing machines.

To help you find the best rower for you, we’ve drawn up a list of the best high-end rowing machines in 2021.

The Hydrow is a stunningly designed piece of kit that commands a similarly stunning price tag north of $2000. For that money, you get 300 levels of silent magnetic resistance, gorgeous aesthetics, and a large 22-inch FullHD screen. While you can get basic stats without subscribing, that’s all you can get, and even that needs a constant internet connection. The monitor itself can only be used for stats or content included in the $38 a month subscription service.

Bluetooth is supported to take data from a heart rate monitor or to play audio. There are wheels in the front legs to make it easy to move around, and it can be stored upright, though Hydrow recommends their wall bracket, which is sold separately, to keep it stable. While you can buy the machine on its own, Hydrow also offers a number of packs that include optional extras such as a machine mat and yoga equipment. While a rail length isn’t listed, it does claim to support users with up to a 38-inch inseam.

The LIT Strength Machine is a water resistance-based rowing machine that builds on the concept of rowing having a low impact on your joints. LIT, stands for Low Impact Training, and the Strength Machine comes with a set of resistance bands that can be used for other forms of strength training or even hooked around the handle to further increase the resistance. The sturdy construction can support users of up to 450lbs and can take the pull of up to 100lbs of combined power band resistance.

While it can’t be folded, it can be stored vertically to significantly reduce its footprint while not in use. Setup is simple, requiring just four screws and easily managed in less than 15 minutes. While it doesn’t feature any screen for even basic stats, the mobile app is free, and you get three months of free subscription included. If you’re not happy with it you can return it within 30 days.

The Ergatta Rower is a water resistance-based rower made from handcrafted, sustainably sourced Appalachian cherrywood. This means you have an infinite selection of resistance levels and end up with a beautifully crafted rowing machine. It features a 17.3-inch FullHD touchscreen that can display basic stats even without a subscription.

With a $29 a month subscription you get unlimited user profiles, and access to premium content, including scenic rowing videos, and video game-style races against other users of similar fitness levels. The product itself has a decent feature set but there are still some features and integrations on the roadmap that may make users want to wait. Unfortunately, this rowing machine is also not currently available outside of the US.

The Concept2 RowErg is possibly the most well recognised rowing machine brand for gym-goers as they are extremely common due to their reasonable price and excellent durability. It comes with a full and transferrable two-year warranty and a transferrable five-year frame warranty. There are two versions one with normal legs and one with raised legs that offers a higher seating position. The two models are functionally identical, the tall leg version purely raises the seating height.

A PM5 performance monitor is included, which is commonly regarded as the best non-smart monitor available. It features an array of stats and display layouts as well as a few games to keep your workout varied. While there is no smart monitor, a phone/tablet holder is included so you can watch your own content while you work out.

That was our round-up of the best high-end rowing machines in 2021. Have you recently bought a high-end rowing machine? What sold you on it and what has your experience been with it so far? Let us know down below.