Rowing Machines provide one of the most complete workouts possible: effectively working the upper body, midsection and lower body they give you an excellent low impact all-round workout that really tones your body and burns off plenty of calories.
There is a wide selection of rowing machines available, and it can sometimes be daunting to know the difference between various models and which will suit your needs the best.
It can also be difficult to know how much you need to spend to get a good, reliable and comfortable rowing machine that will last and you will enjoy using. While you don’t need to spend a fortune, it is wise to select the best model that you can reasonably afford.
So we will be taking a look at many of the different types – and brands – of rowing machine that you will find on the market today and at the advantages and disadvantages of each.
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Hydraulic Rowing Machines
This type of rower is found in the low budget category, and while you can still get a great workout from it the movements are not a strictly realistic comparison to real rowing. The main advantages of this type are price and ease of storage when not in use.
Magnetic Rowing Machines
A design with a much smoother feel in use than hydraulic models, they are the quietest of all rowers. All in all a better machine than the hydraulic type without breaking the bank they can be found in the mid-range to upper mid-range price category.
Air Rowers
A very good machine using wind fan resistance that gives a great workout but generates a lot of noise that may be unacceptable to some users. Probably not the best for casual users.
Water Rowers
These provide a very realistic rowing motion, and while it is possible to find quieter models these do tend to be fairly noisy though less so than Air Rowers. Due to their design, Water Rowers are heavy and best suited to a permanent location and not being moved.