All Reviews
Every guide we've published, newest first.
The Best Rowing Machines for Home Gyms, From Magnetic to Water
2026-09-28
A practical look at rowing machines for home use, from budget magnetic rowers to a foldable water rower, plus a beginner workout guide and one water-rower accessory.
The Best Home Rowing Machines for Small Spaces and Serious Training
2026-09-28
A coach's guide to home rowing machines: water, magnetic, and dual-resistance rowers compared by resistance feel, footprint, console, and stated capacity.
Best Oarwell Decision Guide 6: How to Choose the Oregon 20-inch Bar & Chain Combo
2026-09-28
A practical decision guide for evaluating the Oregon 20-inch Bar & Chain Combo, with a careful checklist for compatibility, use, purchasing, and follow-up verification.
Best Rowing Machines for Home: Water, Air, and Foldable Picks
2026-09-28
A practical look at the best rowing machines for home use, comparing water, air, hydraulic, and foldable rowers on resistance feel, monitor output, footprint, and upkeep.
Best Rowing Machines for Home: Water, Magnetic, and Screen-Led Picks
2026-09-28
The best rowing machines for home use come down to how the resistance feels and whether you will actually sit down on the machine. Here is how water, magnetic, and screen-led options compare.
Best Rowing Machines for Home: Air, Water, and Magnetic Picks
2026-09-28
The best rowing machines for home use come down to resistance type, monitor quality, and how much floor space you can spare. Here are six options worth comparing, from the Concept2 RowErg Model E to compact magnetic and water rowers.
Best Rowing Machines for Home: Air, Magnetic, and Hydraulic Rowers Compared
2026-09-28
A practical guide to home rowing machines, comparing air, magnetic, and hydraulic resistance, monitor feedback, footprint, and ongoing costs so you can match a rower to how you actually train.
Best Home Rowing Machines: Air, Water, and Hydraulic Picks
2026-09-28
A coach's comparison of home rowing machines by resistance type, monitor, storage, and fit, covering air, water, and hydraulic options for real workouts.
Best Home Rowing Machines: Water, Air, and Hydraulic Rowers Compared
2026-09-28
Looking for the best home rowing machine? This comparison covers water, air, and hydraulic rowers, plus the chain oil and cross-training gear that keep a home erg honest.
Air, Water, or Hydraulic? Picking a Home Rowing Machine in 2026
2026-09-18
A home rowing machine comparison from a coach who has taught more than 1,000 people to row: how the NordicTrack RW900, the JOROTO water rower, the Sunny hydraulic rower, and a Concept2 chain oil kit fit into a real training plan.
Air vs Magnetic Rowing Machines: What to Buy and What to Maintain
2026-09-08
Choosing between air vs magnetic rowing machines is only half the decision. Here is how a Concept2 RowErg, a budget magnetic rower, tank tablets, and a hose timer fit different home setups.
Air Rower or Hydraulic Rower? Picking a Home Rowing Machine
2026-09-08
A home rowing machine is only worth the space it takes up if the resistance type and the monitor match how you train. Here is how air and hydraulic rowers differ, and which of four options fits your room and your goals.
Air, Magnetic, Water, or Hydraulic: Picking a Home Rowing Machine
2026-09-08
The main home rowing machine types do not feel alike under load. Here is how air, magnetic, water, and hydraulic resistance compare before you spend.
Air Vs Magnetic Vs Water Rowing Machine Comparison
2026-09-04
Air vs magnetic vs water rowing machine comparison, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
Are Folding Rowing Machines Worth It
2026-09-01
Are folding rowing machines worth it, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
Best Magnetic Rowing Machines: Quiet Resistance, Tested
2026-08-29
You probably think you need to spend ~$1,000 on a rower to get a good workout. I did too, once. Then I spent a year testing budget magnetic rowers in my...
The 6 Best Rowing Machines of 2026, Coached On for 20-Minute Sessions
2026-08-28
I've spent the last three months running 20-minute steady-state sessions on six different rowers in my garage, with Mabel the lab mix serving as official...
Best Rowing Machine for Heavier Rowers: Weight Capacity Matters
2026-08-27
You probably think a heavier rower means you need to drop a grand on a Concept2. For most people in the 250 to 350 pound range, that's not true anymore....
Best Rowing Machine for Home: The One You'll Actually Use
2026-08-26
Well, the marketing says "the best rowing machine for home" should cost you over a grand, right? I spent two years living with a ~$200 magnetic rower in my...
Best Rowing Machine for Small Spaces: Folding Reality
2026-08-25
You probably think a rowing machine needs a garage, a dedicated room, or at least a corner you're willing to sacrifice to a hulking piece of metal. The...
Best Rowing Machine for Tall Rowers: The Fit Test
2026-08-24
I’m 6’0”, 190 pounds, and I rowed collegiately before coaching at a CrossFit box. I’ve spent the last year living with a ~$200 magnetic rower in my garage,...
Best Rowing Machine Under $1,000: The Serious Buyer's Range
2026-08-23
You probably think you need to spend ~$1,000 on a rower to get a real workout. You don’t. I’ve spent the last three years testing budget magnetic rowers...
Best Rowing Machine Under $500: The Budget Reality
2026-08-22
You probably think you need to drop a grand on a Concept2 to get a real workout at home. You don't. I've spent the last three years testing budget...
Best Water Rowing Machines: The Feel of the River
2026-08-21
You probably think you need to spend ~$1,000 on a rowing machine to get that smooth, water-like feel. You don't. I've spent the last three years testing...
Concept2 vs NordicTrack: The Erg Standard vs the Smart Screen
2026-08-20
You probably think you need to spend ~$1,000+ on a rowing machine to get a real workout. After a decade of coaching on Concept2s and months testing budget...
Concept2 vs WaterRower: Air vs Water, Decided
2026-08-19
I've been coaching on Concept2s for over a decade, and I've spent the last three years in my garage with a ~$200 magnetic rower. The debate between air and...
How Often Should You Use A Rowing Machine
2026-08-18
How-often-should-you-use-a-rowing-machine, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
How To Clean A Water Rowing Machine
2026-08-17
My garage has a Concept2 Model D in it, and I love that machine. But a couple of years ago, I started eyeing water rowers for the house, mostly because.
How To Lubricate A Rowing Machine Chain
2026-08-16
How-to-lubricate-a-rowing-machine-chain, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
How To Set Up A Rowing Machine
2026-08-15
How-to-set-up-a-rowing-machine, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
How to Use a Rowing Machine: The Stroke, Taught Properly
2026-08-14
How to Use a Rowing Machine: The Stroke, Taught Properly → → You probably think you need to spend ~$1,000 on a...
Hydrow vs Concept2: Subscription vs Standard
2026-08-13
You probably think you need to hand over ~$1,000-plus to get a serious rowing workout at home. I get it. That's what I thought too, back when I was...
Is Rowing Good for Weight Loss? The Honest Answer
2026-08-12
Well, is rowing good for weight loss? I've been answering that question from my garage for three years now, ever since I gave up my gym membership and...
Rowing Machine Benefits: The Full-Body Case
2026-08-11
Rowing Machine Benefits: The Full-Body Case → You probably think you need to spend ~$169.99 to get a good rowing workout. You don’t....
Rowing Machine Form Mistakes
2026-08-10
Rowing-machine-form-mistakes, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
Rowing Machine Handlebar Grip Technique
2026-08-09
Rowing-machine-handlebar-grip-technique, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
Rowing Machine Maintenance: The 10-Minute Monthly Habit
2026-08-08
I’ve spent years coaching on Concept2s that have survived CrossFit box abuse and watched ~$200 magnetic rowers wobble across gym floors. The one thing that...
Rowing Machine Monitor Settings Explained
2026-08-07
Rowing-machine-monitor-settings-explained, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
Rowing Machine Resistance Explained
2026-08-06
Rowing-machine-resistance-explained, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
Rowing Machine vs Elliptical: Which Workout Wins?
2026-08-05
Well, I get this question a lot. Usually from someone who has a corner of a spare room to fill and a vague sense that they should be doing cardio that...
Rowing Machine vs Exercise Bike: Full Body vs Legs
2026-08-04
You probably think you need to spend ~$1,000 to get a good workout at home. You don't. I've been testing rowing machines and exercise bikes from my garage...
Rowing Machine Vs Rower Which Term To Use
2026-08-03
Rowing-machine-vs-rower-which-term-to-use, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
Rowing Machine Vs Treadmill
2026-08-02
Rowing-machine-vs-treadmill, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.
Rowing Machine Workouts for Beginners: 20 Minutes That Count
2026-08-01
You probably think you need to spend ~$1,000 on a rowing machine to get a real workout. You don’t. I’ve spent the last three years testing budget magnetic...
Rowing Machine Workout Plan For Weight Loss
2026-07-31
Rowing-machine-workout-plan-for-weight-loss, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.