The best rowing machines to keep fit in 2025

Rowing is one of the best low impact cardiovascular exercises for people of all fitness levels. But sitting on a freezing cold river at 6am in the morning is, understandably, not for everyone. This is where rowing machines come into play.

The best rowing machines these days, from brands including Concept2 and Hydrow, can take your heart rate, monitor your progress and have you Boat Race ready in no time… maybe.

Ex-Team GB athlete Mike Dostal explains: “Not only does rowing engage up to 86 per cent of your body’s muscle groups, it is also incredibly low impact. It’s gentle on the joints – unlike high impact forms of exercise like running and cycling. It’s also a time effective workout, making it one of the best pieces of home gym equipment you can invest in.

We’ve tried air, water and magnetic rowers and, with the help of our experts, compiled a guide to the best at-home rowing machines on the market today. Here’s a quick look at our top five:

The best rowing machines: At a glance

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How to choose the best rowing machines

We spoke to ex-professional rowers, rowing coaches and fitness instructors about the rowing machines they use themselves, which they rate the most highly and how they choose which machines to train themselves or others on.

One of the most important factors is size. Too big and unwieldy and it will have to be stored away, which might reduce motivation if you have to heft it out to work out.

Whether you’re using a rowing machine for a goal, or just to get fitter, our experts recommended looking for smart connectivity. This way you can connect a heart rate monitor, check how many calories you’re burning and your speed, and compare how that changes over time.

Finally, consider what type of rowing machine you want, whether that be a water rower, air rower, magnetic rower or hydraulic rower, which changes the amount of resistance. Air rowers are the most popular, which use wind to create resistance. More on that in the FAQs section below.

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