Are you looking for a versatile cardio machine that provides a low-impact and full-body workout? Then an indoor rower may be a machine for you to consider! 

For over the last three decades, Akfit has been working closely with our clientele to provide fitness expertise, advice, and quality equipment to help them reach their fitness goals.

Among our large inventory of home and commercial cardio equipment, we sell a variety of indoor rowers.

Although rowing machines aren’t as common as treadmills, ellipticals, or exercise bikes, they do offer a great workout with many benefits. But is a rowing machine the right piece of cardio equipment for you? And if it is, which rowing machine should you choose?

In this article, we will review the top 5 rowing machines for sale at Akfit and break them down to help you identify a rower that is the fit for you.

In this article:

1)What is a Rowing Machine?

2)Benefits of Rowing Machines

3)Top 5 Selling Rowers at Akfit

• Sole SRW250 Water Rower
• XM Air Rower
•  Matrix Magnetic Rower
• Assault Air Rower
• Spirit CRW800 Light Commercial Rower

4)Purchasing Your Rower at Akfit

What is a Rowing Machine?

A rowing machine (also known as an indoor rower or ergometer) is a type of cardio fitness equipment that is designed to emulate the action of watercraft rowing while providing a low-impact and full-body cardiovascular workout.

Similar to spin bikes, most modern rowers feature a flywheel that provides resistance. The four main types of rowers that use the resistance mechanism are:

• Magnetic rowers
• Air rowers
• Water rowers
• Hydraulic rowers

There are few different ways you can exercise on your indoor rower but generally, the user sits on a mobile seat that moves forwards and backward while extending out their arms to the handles at the front of the machine and their feet placed near the front as well. This is designed to emulate the motion of each individual stroke.

Benefits of Using a Rowing Machine

Benefits of using your rowing machine can include:

• A low impact workout
• Rowing is a full body workout that targets your lower body while strengthening your upper body muscles
• Rowing can be meditative
• Rowing can increase your heart and lung health
• Rowing can build power and endurance
• Many rowers are foldable making them ideal for small  home gym setups

Top 5 Selling Rowers at Akfit

Purchasing a rower is an investment in your fitness and health. While owning a rower, any possibility of inclement weather preventing your workout is completely squashed. You can engage in a cardio workout without factoring in high winds, rain, or snow getting in the way of achieving your fitness goals.

Sounds pretty great right? But in order to feel ultimate satisfaction with the rowing machine you purchase, it is crucial to choose the right model for your budget, fitness goals, and other preferences. 

You may find what you are looking for among this list of the top 5 selling rowers at Akfit:

1. Sole SRW250 Water Rower

The SRW250 Water Rower from Sole Fitness is a uniquely designed rower constructed with a heavy steel frame and aluminum tracks. This rowing machine uses a water flywheel for resistance.

Water rowers, such as the SRW250, use paddles in a tank of water connected to the chain and handles. When the user pulls back on the handle, the paddles in the tank begin to spin. The harder you row, the more resistance you will start to feel. This is designed to emulate the feel of rowing on water with a constant feeling of resistance throughout an entire stroke.

The water tank of the SRW250 provides up to 6 levels of resistance and is relatively quiet in motion compared to other types of cardio equipment.

The large foot pedals, padded handles, and seat height of 15" is designed to provide one of the most comfortable and accessible experiences available for your workout.

The Sole SRW250 Water Rower also comes with an LCD console that provides the user with feedback on their workout which includes target time, target calories, target distance, target stroke, and target heart rate.

While no chest strap is included, this rower does offer heart rate monitoring via a built-in receiver but is also wireless compatible.

This particular model is also fairly compact compared to many other rowers on the market only weighing 76 lbs. With this being said, the Sole SRW250 still holds a weight capacity of 375 lbs making this piece of equipment a nice addition to a home gym environment.

At Akfit, we currently sell the Sole SRW250 Water Rower for $948 with financing options available. Further, it is important to note that the manufacturer’s warranty covers a lifetime protection on the frame, 3 years on parts, 3 years on electronics, and 1 year on labour.

2. XM Air Rower

Xtreme Monkey’s Air Rower is a higher-end rower that uses air resistance which is produced by air flowing over the flywheel. 

The flywheel is connected to the rowing handle via a chain. As you pull on the handles the flywheel begins to spin. The faster you row, the greater the resistance.

However, the XM Air Rower also features a spiral damper. This allows the user to control the airflow going to the flywheel providing the ability to change resistance levels. This mechanism is designed to emulate the feeling of rowing on a calm lake or battling intense rapids.

With this, the XM Air Rower provides a smooth movement for the user, but because it is an air rower you can expect it to make slightly more noise than a water rower.

Xtreme Monkey’s Air Rower also comes with a small console that tracks your progress like most other cardio equipment, while also providing Bluetooth compatibility as well as alternative workout programs.

This rower has also been designed with comfort in mind, with a low seat and foot pedals that are adjustable to your shoe size.

The XM Air Rower is also another fairly light piece of cardio equipment only weighing 75 lbs and can handle a weight capacity of up to 320 lbs.

At Akfit, we currently sell the XM Air Rower for $1198 and the manufacturer’s warranty provides a 5-year protection on the frame, and a 2-year protection on parts.

3. Matrix Magnetic Rower

The Matrix Magnetic Rower is a high-quality rower that features 10 levels of magnetic resistance. The resistance works by measuring the distance between the magnets and the flywheel attached to the handles by a chain. The brushed aluminum flywheel also provides this rower with a glossy, shiny look and the resistance levels can be adjusted by a resistance knob.

This rower is heavier than the previous two rowers mentioned above measuring in at 130 lbs and a weight capacity of 350 lbs. However, the Matrix Magnetic Rower is designed to be tilted upwards so it can be rolled away easily for storage purposes.

A significant detail of this Matrix product is how quiet it is. This rower has been described as virtually silent while providing the user with a very smooth motion making this product ideal if you live in an environment with other people.

This rower also comes with a console to help you track your progress. The console features an extra-large LCD backlight display and will track your time, distance, watts, strokes, strokes per minute, calories, and 500 meter split. There are also different workout programs to choose from such as manual, interval, and challenge.

The console itself is also powered by the rower. However, the console still has a backup battery for memory. 

Moreover, the Matrix Magnetic Rower also features long reinforced handles to provide a comfortable experience for both large and small users. Further, the heel cups are ideal for circuit training.

When it comes to quality, the Matrix Magnetic Rower is a very well built piece of cardio equipment with an aluminum seat rail, a strong cord, and a very durable poly-v belt drive system that is built for high-volume usage.

At Akfit, we currently sell the Matrix Magnetic Rower with the console included for $2198. The manufacturer’s warranty on this machine covers 3 years on parts and labour, and 2 years on wear items such as foot supports, the seat, and rope.

4. Assault Air Rower Elite

The Assault Air Rower Elite is designed for commercial quality built with a power-coated steel frame and corrosion resistant hardware. This machine is designed specifically for high-volume use.

Just like the XM Air Rower, the Assault Air Rower Elite machine uses an air resistance system produced by air flowing over the flywheel.

This machine also requires no electricity allowing you to reduce your carbon footprint. Moreover, without any cords or wire, the XM Air Rower can easily relocate in your home or workout space. 

The Assault Air Rower Elite is a heavy machine, it weighs 143 lbs but can handle a max user weight of 350 lbs. The weight of the machine makes it very sturdy while still offering   a very smooth motion.

When it comes to key features, the handles have a multi grip design and the seat is built to be sweat proof. So while durability is the prime advantage to this machine, it is still built to provide the user with a comfortable experience.

This rower also features a small LCD console with Bluetooth compatibility. The console can track the user's progress such as rate, distance, calories, pace, and time, while also featuring a few different workout programs.

At Akfit, we currently sell the Assault Air Rower Elite for $1698. The manufacturer’s warranty covers a 5-year protection on the frame, a 3-year protection on non-wear parts, and a 1-year coverage on labour.

5. Spirit CRW800 Light Commercial Rower

The Spirit CRW800 Magnetic/Air Light Commercial Rower is designed to provide the user with a long list of high-performance features and a reliable experience.

The combined air and magnetic resistance system provides the user with 16 different resistance levels. The resistance can be adjusted with controls that are placed on the handlebars.

Moreover, the Spirit CRW800 is built with a heavy-duty steel frame meant to withstand the wear and tear of a high-volume commercial environment.

This machine is a moderate weight of 102 lbs but can handle a significant weight capacity of 450 lbs It also features a fold up design that is easy to move around for storage purposes. No tools are required to fold this rower.

This commercial quality rower also features a stainless steel flywheel cover that protects the air/magnetic fan to help deliver a smooth experience. 

Further, this rower is accessible to users of all sizes with adjustable footrests and a seat with a long design that rests at a height of 20”. 

Similar to the Assault Air Rower Elite, this rower  features its own built-in generator eliminating the need for cords or wires. 

The console featured on this model is an LCD console with an adjustable angle and arm that will track your progress just like other rowers. However this console offers a wide range of workout programs compared to most of their competitors.

The Spirit CRW800 Light Commercial Rower is great for those looking to add a rower to their commercial gym, or for those who really want to invest in strong and durable equipment for their own personal workout space.

At Akfit, we currently sell the Spirit CRW800 Light Commercial Rower for $1798.The manufacturer’s warranty covers a lifetime protection on the frame, 5-years protection on parts, and a 2-year coverage on labour.

Purchasing Your Rower at Akfit

Now that we reviewed our top 5 rowers for sale at Akfit, we hope that you now have the knowledge you need to go forward with finding the perfect rower for you.

If you’re still unsure about which rowing machine is best for your fitness needs, we at Akfit can help you narrow down your decision.

As a Canadian specialty fitness store, we are passionate about sharing our fitness expertise and helping clients find their ideal fitness equipment.

We encourage you to reach out to us or book a virtual meeting so we can help find a product that is the right fit. You can even visit in-store at our Sudbury location.