What To Look For
Indoor rowers are a great way to get a cardio and strength workout all in one. The right rowing machine for you should have an appropriate monorail length, seat height and monitor. There are two basic types of rowers: those with center oars and those with one oar-like arm on each side. Try out both to see which feels more comfortable.
Common Pitfalls
Although rowers often look the same, there are significant differences. Getting a rower that does not have the power to offer sufficient resistance can result in poor workouts, as can the failure to properly measure your available space. Rowers often require at least one foot more than their total length so your body can perform properly.
Where To Buy
The most popular rowers are from Concept2, the company that originally designed them, and they are available at the company's website. If you want to avoid shipping charges, Dick's Sporting Goods and Sports Authority offer plenty of indoor rowers at a wide variety of prices. Amazon has many user reviews, but with those it's typically buyer beware.
Cost
The cost of a rower can range anywhere from $170 all the way up to and past $1,000. High quality rowers are often either near or above the $1,000 mark. A one- to two-year warranty can cost less than $100, and some manufactures include it in the price.
Comparison Shopping
There are two basic types of rowers: swing oars/arms and center oars/arms. The benefit of two rowing arms is they permit arms to move to the side, but that movement can be harder to control. Center oars control the side-to-side movement, but the motion is more restricted. There are also two main choices for creating resistance: water and air. They work equally well, but water resistance requires more upkeep.
Member Comments