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Buying guide

Best water rowing machines

Chosen from what the Amazon listings state, not tested by us. How we pick

Note: This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more

Top picks at a glance

Compare them all

  • Best overall

    WaterRower Original Vintage: oak stain, S4 monitor

    The listing describes it as the official water rowing machine of British Rowing.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Best value

    Dripex RW625: 14 L tank, folding frame

    One of the few water rowers that folds, with four transport wheels.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

  • Most features

    WaterRower Original Performance: PowerPulley, app links

    Pairs the WaterRower Connect app with CITYROW, EXR and Peloton.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

A water rower uses paddles spinning in a sealed tank. The harder you pull, the more the water pushes back, so there are no levels to set and the sound is a soft swoosh rather than a fan roar. Water rowers also tend to be made of wood and stand on end for storage, which is why many end up in living rooms. The choices that matter are the frame (solid hardwood, a wood and aluminium hybrid, or a lighter budget build), the monitor and whether it talks to apps, the max user weight and the length you need on the floor. This guide compares five water rowers on those points using what the listings state. WaterRower takes four of the five places because its range covers several frames and monitors; the fifth is a lower-priced folding alternative.

All products compared

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

The products in detail

No. 1 · WaterRower

WaterRower Original Vintage: oak stain, S4 monitor

300 kg

The Original WaterRower in a vintage oak stained hardwood frame with the S4 Performance Monitor. It suits a household that wants a rower on show in a living room and a water feel.

In its favour

  • The listing describes it as the official water rowing machine of British Rowing.
  • The S4 Performance Monitor has Bluetooth and shows stroke rate, distance and time.
  • A 300 kg weight limit gives plenty of headroom for every adult in the house.

Good to know

  • At 209 cm long it needs a clear run of floor, so measure the room before ordering.
  • The listing quotes the frame and parts warranty terms in two different ways, so check before buying.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: WaterRower Original Series Rowing Machine with S4 Monitor

No. 2 · WaterRower

WaterRower Oxbridge in cherry: S4 monitor

250 kg

The cherry wood WaterRower with the S4 Performance Monitor and Bluetooth link to the WaterRower Connect app. It suits buyers who want the classic look with a dedicated monitor.

In its favour

  • The S4 monitor syncs with the WaterRower Connect app for virtual workouts and tracking.
  • A solid cherry wood frame that stands on end for storage.
  • The listing states it is handmade in the USA, with a 250 kg weight limit.

Good to know

  • Bullets and specs give different warranty splits, so confirm terms with the seller.
  • The listed 172 cm length is shorter than other WaterRower models, so check it.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: WaterRower Original Series Rowing Machine with S4 Monitor

No. 3 · WaterRower

WaterRower Original Performance: PowerPulley, app links

318 kg · folds

A wooden water rower whose PowerPulley sends data to your device, with a folding tablet arm. It suits people who already use a class app and want a water feel.

In its favour

  • Pairs the WaterRower Connect app with CITYROW, EXR and Peloton.
  • PowerPulley technology transmits data by Bluetooth to iOS or Android.
  • Stores upright in about the space of a dining chair.

Good to know

  • No built-in screen, so a tablet is needed for classes.
  • The listing does not say whether the partner apps need their own subscriptions.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: WaterRower Original Performance

No. 4 · WaterRower

WaterRower Hybrid in oak: wood and aluminium

150 kg · folds

The Hybrid combines a solid hardwood frame with aluminium and adds a backlit CR Bluetooth monitor. It suits a home that wants a WaterRower without the top-tier price.

In its favour

  • The backlit CR monitor has Bluetooth for tracking workouts.
  • Stored upright it takes no more space than a dining chair, according to WaterRower.
  • Hardwood and aluminium frame with the patented WaterFlywheel.

Good to know

  • The 150 kg user limit is lower than WaterRower's all-wood models.
  • At 216 cm it is the longest machine in this guide.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: WaterRower Hybrid

No. 5 · Dripex

Dripex RW625: 14 L tank, folding frame

150 kg · folds

A water rower with a 14 L tank and a rail that folds for vertical storage. It suits buyers who want water resistance and still need to put the machine away.

In its favour

  • One of the few water rowers that folds, with four transport wheels.
  • 14 L tank and 12-blade impeller for water resistance.
  • Bluetooth and a tablet holder for app workouts.

Good to know

  • At 25.2 kg plus the water it is heavier to tip and move than magnetic rowers.
  • The stored footprint is not stated in the listing.
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Listing title: Dripex 14L Water Rowing Machine 12-Blade 150kg Wooden Bluetooth Foldab...

Read before you buy

More buying guides: Water rowers

Row and Spin chooses every product independently, based on what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission on purchases made through the affiliate links above. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.