Is The Hydrow Rowing Machine Worth Buying? [A Review]

The Hydrow was the first rower to offer live streaming and on-demand workouts using a large, built-in HD touchscreen monitor.

Other companies (first Peloton, but many now) have applied the same principle to spin cycles, treadmills, and even home gyms.

It makes sense that a company would eventually apply this idea to rowing (and I’m a little surprised Peloton hasn’t come out with one yet).

But looking at the Hydrow (great name by the way), I don’t get the impression they rushed into getting this thing on the market.

I mean it’s elegant, hi-tech, and loaded with commercial grade components.

In other words- it truly is the Peloton of rowing.

But, just like Peloton, it comes with a hefty price tag – is it really worth the cost?

Well, that’s what I’m hoping to help you answer.

In this review, I’ll go over everything this rowing machine has to offer, so you’ll have a good idea as to what to expect.

After reading, you should know whether or not the Hydrow is really worth investing in.

Off we go.

The Hydrow Rowing Machine

The age of on-demand workouts is among us.

This is good news for folks looking to get the experience of a boutique gym from the comfort of home. Especially in the times of COVID-19, it’s nice not having to leave home to get a great workout in.

I hate to keep bringing Peloton up, but it’s just such an obvious comparison. Especially since Hydrow took so many pages directly out of their playbook.

Which isn’t a bad thing, quite the contrary.

Peloton was a complete game changer in the world of home fitness.

When other companies realized people are willing to pay monthly subscriptions for streaming home workouts, they quickly followed suite.

And not all companies offering streaming equipment are equal – some are certainly higher-end and more luxurious than others.

Hydrow, to the best of my knowledge, was the first company to apply the streaming process to a rowing machine.

Although others, like Echelon and their Smart Rower, are following Hydro’s lead.

But just like Peloton still remains (in my opinion) the best streaming cycle, Hydrow is still the best streaming rower.

It’s high-end and luxurious from top to bottom, but I’m getting a little ahead of myself.

Pros

• Interactive workouts from home
• Heavy-duty, single piece frame
• 375 lb weight capacity
• Advanced, computer-controlled magnetic resistance system
• Adjustable drag
• 22″ HD touchscreen monitor
• Access to thousands of live and on-demand workouts
• Access to 1:1 personal coaching
• Smooth gliding seat/rail system
• Easily adjustable foot pedals
• Easy assembly
• Good warranty
• Donations made to water.org

Cons

• Vertical storage kit not included
• Expensive

Resistance

Rowing machines can usually be divided into 4 categories based on what type of resistance system they use: hydraulic, magnetic, air, or water.

Some magnetic rowers are actually hybrid machines that use a combination of magnetic and air systems, but this classification is usually the easiest way to think about rowing machine resistance.

Each has their advantages and disadvantages, but that’s a little outside of the scope for this review (for more info on this, check out my rowing machine guide).

What’s interesting about the Hydrow is that it seems they’ve developed their own resistance system.

They describe it as a “computer-controlled, electromagnetic resistance system”.

What this sounds like to me, is that it’s designed to mimic the feel of rowing in water, but electronically.

I would put this in the magnetic category we described above, but unlike traditional magnetic rowers that keep a constant tension regardless of how fast your row, rowing the Hydrow because easier or harder based on your speed.

Just like an air or water rower – or rowing a real boat on a real lake.

In a boat, the faster your row, the more resistance you get from the water. It’s a physics thing. Air and water rowers use fan blades that mimic this feel, but they make more noise.

The Hydrow combines the benefits of magnetic and air/water rowers by giving us a silent rower that still adjusts the resistance based on the speed of our strokes.

Genius.

Unlike traditional magnetic rowers, there are no “resistance levels” to adjust during your workouts. Instead, you can control the drag using the touchscreen.

This is similar to setting the drag on an air rower by adjusting the vents.

The Hydrow’s drag settings can be adjusted on a scale from 0-300, although a setting of 104 is recommended and considered a good starting point.

Something to consider- increasing the drag doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a better workout.

Rowing at a lower drag and higher speed can be significantly more challenging.

One of the Hydrow trainers puts it like this- think about doing bicep curls in the gym: if you’re lifting at a pace of 30 curls/min, you’re going to need less weight than if you were lifting at 12 curls/min.

I paraphrased him big time there, but I think the point remains.

The drag is basically how “heavy” each stroke feels, but rowing at faster speeds also makes the resistance go up. Rowing at slower speeds reduces the resistance, making it easier.

Overall, the computer-guided resistance system is sophisticated and unique. Utilizing a magnetic system, it runs quietly and smoothly and can offer enough resistance to challenge even the most talented rowers.

Frame

Frame integrity is an important thing to consider when looking at any type of fitness equipment because nobody wants to buy something that’s going to feel cheap and flimsy.

And most importantly, we need to ensure the piece of equipment is strong enough to hold our body weight safely without failing.

At first glance, the Hydrow looks elegant and modern in design, but more importantly, the frame looks thick and solid.

Closer inspection shows that the frame and rail are all a single piece.

This means the Hydrow can’t fold, but it’s going to feel rock solid during use.

More specifically, this rower is made out of high-end steel and aluminum and is strong enough to hold users weighing up to 375 lb.

For the sake of comparison, most home rowers top out with weight capacities around 300 lb.

Fully assembled, this rower weighs 145 lb, giving it a robust feel. You shouldn’t have to worry about any unwanted wobbling or shaking during strenuous use.

The seat is contoured for comfort and slides smoothly over the rail with its 10-roller system.

The handles are also contoured and attached to the flywheel via a high-end, polyester strap.

Straps (or belts) are quiet and low maintenance, making them good choices for rowing machines.

Although this frame doesn’t fold, it can be stored vertically, but you have to purchase the storage kit separately (for $70).

Given the price of this rower, I think Hydrow should include this kit with purchase.

Overall though, the frame on this rowing machine is high-end and heavy-duty. It has a massive weight limit, indicative of frame integrity and overall durability.

Monitor

Most rowing machines come with simple LCD screens as monitors- not this one though.

After all, the monitor is kind of a big deal when it comes to streaming workouts.

The Hydrow comes with a 22″ HD touchscreen display. It’s basically like having a huge iPad sitting in front of you- all selections and adjustments are made by touching the sweat/dust resistant screen.

Very cool.

The monitor is gorgeous and comes with built-in forward facing speakers, giving you a more interactive feel with the instructors.

It’s also compatible with bluetooth, wi-fi, and ethernet connections.

Speaking of the instructors, they’re all professional trainers who make a living providing fun and motivating workouts.

To make sure we’re all on the same page- you have to pay a monthly subscription to get access to all the live and on-demand workouts (there are thousands with new ones being filmed every day).

There’s really no getting around the monthly fee, which I believe is $44/month now. You have to sign up for it to use your Hydrow.

Which makes sense, because there wouldn’t be any reason to get this machine if you weren’t in it for the streaming workouts- that’s the point of the Hydrow.

So, there are thousands of workouts you get to choose from, both live and previously recorded on-demand.

What I think is really cool is that the workouts are filmed on the water- the trainers are actually rowing on scenic waterways, how cool is that?

You get to see and hear water during your workouts. And by scenic, we’re talking pretty rivers with sunsets and all that jazz.

There are workouts to fit every experience and fitness level out there. There’s even plenty of informational info to ensure beginners are rowing correctly to begin with.

And Hydrow now offers one-on-one personal training too.

You can sign up for single or multiple sessions with a trainer, allowing you to work on form and technique to become a more competent rower.

This is a great feature, but you do have to pay extra for each 1:1 session, it’s not included with your membership (last time I checked, a single session was going for $79; 3 for $199).

Overall, the Hydrow comes with a very advanced monitor. It’s perfect for viewing all the streaming material available through Hydrow’s streaming service.

Assembly

Getting the Hydrow unpacked and running is a very easy process. The folks behind this rower have done an amazing job of making this model simple to assemble.

Considering the majority of the rower comes preassembled, there’s not much you have to do.

You basically just have to attach the front legs, attach the monitor, and plug it in.

Yeah, it’s that easy, should only take a few minutes.

I’m always a fan when companies think of the small things to make our lives easier. Hydrow did this by including a cardboard square cutout thingy for us to prop the rower on while attaching the front feet.

This makes it a lot easier to position the feet and get them bolted correctly.

Assembling the Hydrow is an easy job, but considering its substantial weight, still might be a good idea to have a second set of hands available.

Warranty

The Hydrow comes with the following warranty:

• Frame: 5 years
• Screen and electronics: 12 months
• Wear items: 12 months
• Labor: 12 months

I’ve got to say, I’m pleasantly surprised by the generous warranty being offered here.

True, fives years isn’t very long when compared to other types of fitness machines, but it’s actually pretty good for a rower (the amazing Concept2 Model E only offers 5 years on their frame too).

A year on electronics and wear items is also pretty decent (although when Hydrow first came out it offered 2 years, not sure why they reduced it).

FYI- wear items include the handle, seat, and strap.

12 months on labor is standard, as most companies offer 12 months in this department (if they offer any labor warranty at all that is).

Overall, a pretty good warranty on this rowing machine.

Final Thoughts

There’s no question the Hydrow is a nice rowing machine. Every aspect of this rower is designed with both form and function in mind.

I love that the frame consists of a single piece and that it comes with such a high weight capacity.

I’m also impressed with the computer controlled magnetic resistance system that combines all the benefits of air and magnetic rowers.

The monitor is huge and technologically advanced and this machine is even backed by a solid warranty.

So, is the Hydrow awesome?

Yes.

But is it 2 grand awesome?

That’s a little harder to answer, because it’s so subjective, but, if we look at the comps, it can give us a better idea.

Based on the price of the Peloton, I would say yes, the price of roughly $2000 is appropriate, considering a 22″ HD display is included.

The closest rower for comparison is probably NordicTrack’s RW900, which is about $500 cheaper, but isn’t quite as high-end and luxurious.

There’s also the Ergatta of course, which is quite a bit different than the Hydrow, what with it being a water rower and using more of a game based software, but still a decent comp.

The Ergatta is going for around $2200 at the time of writing this, so again, I think the Hydrow’s price is certainly in the right ballpark considering what you’re getting.

Overall, the Hydrow is pricey, but it’s also the highest-end, most technologically advanced rower on the market (and easily the best magnetic rower around).

So if that’s what you’re looking for, then this rower is definitely worth the money. Highly recommended.

And don’t forget, you can save an extra $100 by using the promo code “THEHOMEGYM100”