Review of Rowing Machines

Review of Rowing Machines
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What To Look For

Rowing machines are a fun and exciting way to get in your regular recommended daily amount of cardiovascular exercise. Regular sessions of cardiovascular exercise will help you to control your weight, have you looking and feeling better and help you ward off a number of potential health risks.

When considering a rowing machine for your home gym, you'll want to look for a unit that is sturdy, easy to use and that feels smooth through every level of resistance. Also look for a machine that has enough options and versatility to meet your fitness needs.

Common Pitfalls

A common mistake that people make when purchasing a rowing machine for home use has to do with focusing too much on price. Consider your rowing machine to be a serious investment in your health and look beyond just the budget models. That's not to say that you necessarily have to buy one of the most expensive units available, but if you want a rower that will last and that will continue to be a useful part of your home gym equipment, you might need to spend a little more money than the lowest end units cost.

Where To Buy

When it comes to where you are going to purchase your rowing machine, you've got a few options. There are several online equipment distributors that stock rowing machines from all of the top manufacturers, or you can choose to buy directly from a manufacturer. Major Brands like Cocept2, Kettler and WaterRower have easy-to-navigate websites with plenty of information available on each model of rower that they offer along with secure shopping carts that make for an easy shopping experience. You can't really go wrong if you do your shopping via a reputable source, so it does make sense to check both manufacturer websites and equipment distributors for the best overall price once you've narrowed the selection to the particular unit that you are most interested in.

Cost

You can get a serviceable rowing machine for around $200 to $300, but in all likelihood you'll either outgrow it pretty quickly or it will break down before you are ready to buy a new one. If you want a high quality rower that is completely functional and will last as long as you need it to, you should look to the top brands like Kettler and Concept2. Rowing machines manufactured by Concept2 and Kettler are of the highest quality and you can expect to pay anywhere from about $500 to $1,000 depending upon the particular unit you purchase. If you have an unlimited budget, you can expand the possibilities to include a WaterRower, but for a high end WaterRower you could pay anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500 or more.

References

Article reviewed by Contributing Writer Last updated on: Dec 7, 2010

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