Some Tips for Choosing a Fitness Rowing Machine
November 28, 2009 by AMA
Filed under Fitness Equipment
Fitness rowing machines offer an outstanding all round training which is gentle on the joints but still gives a energetic, aerobic exercise that uses muscles in both the upper and lower body. They are costly though so it is an advantage to do research on the different types before you pay money for one to ensure the machine you finish up with is the most fitting for your needs. The cheapest rowing machine you will almost certainly find is approximately $500 and the costliest around $2500 so you really want to understand which type to buy and which features you would need.
Some Considerations When Purchasing a Fitness Rowing Machine
Rowing machines do need quite a lot of space so if you don’t have the space to leave one set up all the time you could get a rowing machine that can be folded and put away. You will additionally want quite a large, well ventilated space to use your rowing machine in, if possible with room for a TV as exercising can be quite boring when done for long periods. Several machines do make quite a lot of noise so if is a concern you possibly will want to look for a magnetic rowing machine as these are a great deal quieter. If you will be using the machine daily we would recommend a magnetic rowing machine that is designed for intense use. For occasional use a hydraulic machine is definitely more suitable as these also are more likely to be much smaller and a good deal easier to store away.
Several of the cheaper machines don’t have computers for things like stroke rate, distance and time. Though not exactly essential these are excellent ways to monitor your progress and to stop you being fed up during training. They sometimes come as optional extras but we would recommend buying them as they will make your training session much more helpful and enjoyable.
Variable Resistance Machines
Most of the rowing machines you can buy have an adjustable resistance so test out the range as several are quite restricted. A machine with a wide range is much more functional as you can easily vary the intensity of your exercising by increasing the resistance.
Other Things to Check Before You Purchase
Make sure that the seat and the foot rests are completely variable and that you fall within the set weight limits of the machine.
Try Out Before You Buy
Machines differ a great deal in their motion and in how easy they are to use. try out some different models at your local gym if possible. If you’re buying on the internet make certain that the seller has a return policy so that if you find the rowing machine is not suitable for you it can be swapped for a different one.
The Some Different Types of Rowing Machines
Hydraulic Rowing Machines
These are as a rule the lowest-priced machines and also are likely to be smaller which makes storing in a cupboard a good deal easier. They use cylinders full of oil to change the resistance. The action can be to some extent jerky and they do have a tendency to leak after a couple of years use. We would not suggest a hydraulic rowing machine for intense, daily use.
Air Resistance Rowing Machines
In an air rowing machine air is directed over a flywheel to generate resistance. Although you can find air rowing machines from around $200 we advise paying a little more to acquire a better class machine at about $400. Resistance usually covers a wide range which effectively replicates the sensation of rowing in water and resistance increases as you row faster. However they do have the difficulty of being very noisy mainly at high speeds.
Water Rowing Machines
In these rowing machines, water in a cylinder provides the resistance. They are among the higher priced machines with prices starting from approximately 00. They give a very smooth action which is very similar to the feel of rowing in water and there is even the sounds of running water as you row! They do need some upkeep however as you will need to replace the water regularly.
Magnetic Rowing Machine
A magnet that is adjustable provides the resistance in these sorts of rowing machines. They are reasonably small machines which makes storage much easier than some of the others and they are extremely quiet. They do not need any looking after and offer a very smooth action.
In Conclusion
Buying a good quality fitness rowing machine is a rather substantial outlay so you need to make sure before you buy that you are going to use it regularly. If possible you are used to using a rowing machine at the gym so that you know that you like this type of exercise. A rowing machine is an example of a fitness exercise machine that is an excellent purchase as it will give you an exceptionally good all-round aerobic work out which strengthens every one of upper and lower body muscles at the same time.


