If you are reading this, chances are that you have been seriously considering is it worth buying a rowing machine for your home gym or wondering should I get a rowing machine?
That’s not surprising. Ever since Kevin Spacey used a water rower in the series House of Cards, it seems as though everyone has just “discovered” rowing!
The problem is that you can practically get “lost” reading about all the hundreds of different rowing machines available (however check out Oprah’s Favorite Rower – Yes she loves rowing as well!)
This can cause some people to just throw up their hands and say, “Forget it,” or they pick the cheapest rower they see. Or the most expensive. Or the one they see at their local gym.
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None of the above might be the best choice depending on your situation.
In today’s article, I want to tell you about the reasons why you should own an indoor rowing machine and which one is the best for you. This is important because no one wants to spend their hard-earned money on a piece of exercise equipment that turns into nothing more than a giant clothes rack.
Are you picturing your treadmill that is currently in the garage and covered with a sheet and several patio chairs? Yeah, that’s what I mean.
Let’s avoid the clothes rack scenario and talk about the benefits of buying your own rowing machine and which one will be the best for you.
Is a Rowing Machine Really Worth It?
A rowing machine is a full-body exercise equipment that benefits most people in different age groups and fitness levels, so there’s no doubt that it’s worth having.
However, before you buy an indoor rowing machine, you should first ask yourself this important question: Will you use it?
Buying a Thighmaster (remember those?) that you used a half dozen times, then tucked away in the closet, and later gave it away to Goodwill is one thing. You were out about $20, and it took up no more space than a pair of boots.
Buying a rowing machine is another thing. You might spend a few grand for it, and even the ones that fold or are stored upright can take up quite a bit of space.
If you have any doubts about whether or not you will actually use the machine, you might want to hold off on buying one for a bit. Not that it’s not worth it but because it doesn’t make sense spending on something that you’re not going to use.
On the other hand, if you have used one at your local gym and really liked it, or you’ve used one at a friend’s house and wished you had one yourself, then you, my friend, are going to get your money’s full worth and then some!
I think I’ve mentioned before that while I love my rowing machine, I am not a big fan of gyms. It always seemed like such a pain in the behind to drive there, look for parking, hope it’s safe parking, change my clothes, use whatever machine I was looking for (let’s not even go into non-working machines or waiting in line) then change clothes, shower once I got home (because I am not using those public showers), and change clothes yet again.
Why do all that when I can jump on my Hydrow and row anytime I like for as long as I like. None of those “30-minute limit” rules a lot of gyms have due to overcrowding.
If you enjoy rowing and love the idea of rowing whenever you want and however long you want to, then you’re going to really enjoy this piece of exercise equipment and use it to it’s full worth.
What Are the Disadvantages of a Rowing Machine?
To be honest, the only disadvantage(s) that I can think of would be the size and the noise.
Nearly all rowing machines take up between 84″ and 94″ of floor space. Rowing machines are long, but they aren’t wide. This means that you will need to find some space to use it and room to store it.
For some people, this can be a bit tricky, but I honestly can’t say I’ve ever heard anyone say that they didn’t buy a rowing machine because of space issues.
The other issue would be noise.
Some indoor rowing machines use air as their means of resistance, similar to stationary bikes that are known as spin bikes or assault bikes.
If you’ve ever heard an assault bike or air resistance rowing machine, then you know just how loud those can be! If you live in an apartment or you live with others, they may not like all that noise.
Fortunately, you can still get a good quiet rowing workout if you choose a rowing machine that uses magnets or water as resistance. Magnetic rowing machines and water rowers offer efficient workouts that are much, much quieter than the traditional air rowers.
Do Rowing Machines Get Boring?
I suppose sometimes they do, and this appears to be a common concern, but mostly I think the boring part of any exercise machine is the repetitive movements and the absence of something to entertain the mind.
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