The Best Rowing Machines Under $500, Selected by Our Editors
Merach Magnetic Rowing Machine

Execs
- Acquainted design for of us who recurrently
- Comes with a free fitness app for workouts
- Excessive weight ability of 350 pounds
- Easy assembly
Cons
- Doesn’t demonstrate stout workout stats
For $400, Merach provides a magnetic rower that’s aesthetically graceful, functions exactly as you quiz an erg to, and is light ample for a single person to take care of. It comes with Merach’s free app for so a lot of of workout potentialities and provides 16 assorted ranges of resistance.
Merach’s design is easy but purposeful. The spherical LED demonstrate presentations you the resistance stage you’re on and the distance you’ve lined. To amplify the problem, simply turn the dial that the demonstrate sits on to the good. The Q1S comes with a tablet holder, so that you simply may location up the Merach app on your instrument to stream lessons. Different issues we love: The rower comes “90 percent assembled,” Merach says, so a single person may well maybe well make it in about 10 minutes. It stores vertically to connect field, and the seat has butt cheek indents for extra consolation.
Just a few possible downsides are an absence of metrics on demonstrate. Merach’s app does music calories, distance, workouts, time, and extra, however the rower can’t demonstrate all of that knowledge in entrance of you (unless you’re the use of a tablet). Moreover, competitive rowers may well maybe additionally no longer love the feel of magnetic resistance compared to air, which is traditionally old in popular rowers love the Erg Concept2.
Read More: 12 Rowing Workout routines That Will Incinerate Burly
| Resistance Form | Magnetic |
|---|---|
| Product Weight | 40 lbs |
| Weight Skill | 350 lbs |
| Dimensions | 65″L x 19.3″W x 24.8″H |
Marcy Foldable Magnetic Rowing Machine

Execs
- Reviewers acknowledged this changed into a durable and sturdy machine
- Folds up to connect field
- Costs no longer up to $400
This boxy, grey rower may well maybe no longer be the prettiest machine obtainable, but what it lacks in appears it makes up for in efficiency and its ability to fold up without issues for storage. Whenever you sit down on the Marcy rower, you’ll be met with the take care of and a dial that helps you to alter the magnetic resistance through eight assorted resistance ranges.
There’s a unusual display that shows time, hotfoot, calories, and just a few other metrics. The rower’s case, seat, and pedals are constructed almost fully from plastic, though that’s about par for the direction. Whenever you happen to’re executed the use of it, the rail folds upwards on the pedals, condensing the length from 74.5 inches to 24 inches.
We are no longer basically the most handy ones who love this rower either, as many costumers gone online to affirm how significant they love this machine. Most particular opinions contact on the rate, make quality, and functionality. Every other time, the Marcy rower delivers just over make. If aesthetics aren’t a foremost field, we predict this is an right option for so a lot of informal rowers.
| Resistance Form | Magnetic |
|---|---|
| Product Weight | 64 lbs |
| Weight Skill | 300 lbs |
| Dimensions | 74.5″L x 20″W x 53.5″H |
Commercial – Proceed Studying Below
Stamina BodyTrac® Glider

Execs
- Basically the most compact and light rower on our list
- Comes with audio-coached workouts
- Stroke motion carefully mimics rowing
Cons
- Simplest helps 250 pounds
Ought to you’re having a peep for a old rowing ride, sustain scrolling. The Body Trac Glider isn’t a old erg with a take care of hooked up to a series that is resisted by air, water, or magnets. On the opposite hand, Stamina says the rowing stroke is intended to mimic proper-life rowing. Besides the appealing design, this machine is somewhat naked-bones (which isn’t a dig). It’s light, moderately dinky, and straightforward to use.
Each the pedals and seat transfer as you row the double-jointed handles up, back, and down. A in point of fact dinky LED display tells you your time, count, calories, and another stats. To amplify the problem, simply turn the knob on the hydraulic pump located below the rail. Whenever you happen to’re executed, that you simply may fold the arms and tilt the rower vertically.
The Body Trac Glider comes with the Muuv app, which grants you procure entry to to audio-coached workouts. Ought to you would favor contain visible coaching, you’re out of luck. There’s also no instrument stand, so you’ll want to plant this in entrance of the TV or hearken to a podcast/music for leisure.
| Resistance Form | Hydraulic |
|---|---|
| Product Weight | 39 lbs |
| Weight Skill | 250 lbs |
| Dimensions | 58.25”L x 42.5”W x 18.125”H |
ERG500 Air Rower

Execs
- Most of us are old to the feel of air rowers
- Comes with a five-one year frame warranty
- Shows relevant workout stats
Cons
- Doesn’t combine with any apps
The air rower is one of my accepted forms of resistance for a rower. This mannequin is (maybe) closest to the rowers you’ve old in industrial gyms. For $400, XTERRA provides a easy, durable rower with a successfully-organized demonstrate, so a lot of resistance, and a design relating to all users are conversant in.
The resistance comes from the fan located on the entrance of the rower, cased in plastic. Somewhat knob located between the pedals helps you to alter the resistance to eight assorted ranges whereas the LED demonstrate presentations you stats love time, count, calories, distance, strokes per minute, and pulse. XTERRA’s demonstrate is basically the most comprehensive of any rower on this list. It also comes with a five-one year frame warranty and a two-one year aspects warranty.
Basically the fundamental downside of this rower is that it doesn’t contain app integration or a instrument stand. Though there are assorted rowing modes, you’ll want to overview your workouts and present your leisure with this mannequin.
| Resistance Form | Air |
|---|---|
| Product Weight | 79.4 lbs |
| Weight Skill | 30 lbs |
| Dimensions | 72″L x 19″W x 33″H |
Commercial – Proceed Studying Below
Merach Water Rowing Machine

Execs
- Water rowers present resistance all the absolute best plan through each and each stroke
- Visually graceful design
- Good foot pedals
Cons
- The heaviest rower on our list
Water rowers contain gained popularity over the years on story of they’re a ways quitters than air rowers, leer swish, and the water present resistance through each and each stroke. Merach’s $460 water row has a beautifully crafted wood frame with a 12-blade turbine contained within the water tub for, they divulge, “double the resistance.”
Love the opposite Merach rower on this list, The R14 is acceptable with its fitness app for workouts and stat tracking. This mannequin doesn’t contain a table holder, but its demonstrate presentations you unusual stats (time, distance, calories, and many others.) As we teased, the make is aesthetically graceful, with a darkish wood operate, sunless accents, and a easy design. You’d store this rower, the heaviest on our list, vertically and wheel it out of storage if you happen to’re able to use it.
This rower is shorter than most on this list, so your stroke may well maybe additionally feel a microscopic off, particularly if you happen to’re a taller athlete. Moreover, it’s rate citing that water rowers enact require some upkeep. You’ll want to sustain water ranges contained within the tub and each and each so most ceaselessly purify the water (the use of tablets) to prevent mildew. And whereas Merach advertises rubber sealing to prevent leaks, you continuously hotfoot the chance of spillage out of your rower.
| Resistance Form | Water |
|---|---|
| Product Weight | 86 lbs |
| Weight Skill | 350 lbs |
| Dimensions | 68.5″L x 17″W x 30″H |








