Hydrow Rower Review (2024): A Beautiful Rowing Experience

The Hydrow Rower is one of the most impressive pieces of smart gym equipment I’ve tested.

It’s easy to label it the ‘Peloton of rowing,’ but I think it’s actually more than that.

Not only is rowing a more effective full-body workout than cycling, but Hydrow’s real-world training environments create a more immersive experience.

Instead of being locked into a studio space, you can travel to over 30 locations and row 1-on-1 with an instructor on open water.

I just rowed through Chicago – one of my favorite cities – and it was a blast.

The Hydrow uses adjustable magnetic resistance instead of air or water to create a fluid rowing action with minimal noise.

And with a sleek, modern design, it stands out among the rest.

In this review, we’ll take a close look at the Hydrow Rower. I’ll share the pros and cons and compare it to other popular options, including the Hydrow Wave and Ergatta Rower.

Let’s dig in.

Hydrow Rower Review

Hydrow was an early adopter of the magnetic resistance rowing experience.

Air and water rowers have been around for ages, but digital resistance is a newer concept.

As indoor rowing machines have evolved, so has the technology behind them. The most notable trend is the movement to subscription-based models that use instructor-led or gamified workouts.

Hydrow is one of the leading smart rowing companies on the market. Now with two rowing machines, including the Original Hydrow and the Hydrow Wave, the company continues to push the envelope in this space.

Let’s look at the specs, and then we’ll get into the review.

Build Quality

Frame

The Hydrow is one of the most well-made rowing machines you’ll find. The frame is built with steel and aluminum, creating a durable rower capable of handling up to 375lbs of body weight. However, given this rower sits higher than most, it has a lower weight capacity than Concept II and some others (500lbs).

The rear support base is narrow, mimicking a fishtail, while the front support is much wider to help increase stability. Regardless of your effort level, you’ll find the Hydrow never wobbles – something I’ve experienced on a few other machines.

Under the feet are rubber caps that help protect your flooring while generating friction to keep the rower even more stable. While you can use the Hydrow on any surface in your home, including hardwoods, I recommend picking up the Hydrow mat (Essentials Package). This will ensure your floors remain in perfect condition. If you’re using the rower on a rubber gym floor, there’s no need to pick up a mat.

Additionally, the front support base has two wheels for portability. By lifting from the back of the rower (~32″ off the ground), you can move the rower to an open area or storage spot. Considering the Hydrow weighs 145lbs, this is essential unless you have a permanent place for it. Even still, this rower is harder to move around than others.

You can also store the Hydrow vertically to reduce its footprint. To do this, you’ll fold the monitor inward using a button on the side and raise the rower until it rests on the front rubber nodule. For added security, you can purchase a tethered strap to avoid accidental tipping (good idea if you have young kids!). Hydrow sells one for $80, but you can easily DIY this using pad eye hooks for cheaper.

Seat

The Hydrow’s seat is comfortable and smooth. Measuring 11.5″ W x 9.5″ D, it provides a good surface area. The molded foam is dense, but forgiving enough for longer rides. I also like the contoured design, especially in the front. It reminds me of the Concept II seat.

The seat glides via several wheels within a recessed channel. Most rowing machines use a top-mounted gliding system, which is perfectly acceptable, but I like this design by Hydrow. It’s more stable than the Ergatta and extremely smooth overall.

Footrests

Foot position is important when setting up to row because most of your power is created through the legs. The Hydrow uses two footrests that sit outside the rail, each with its own adjustments. Depending on your foot size, you can select from a setting of 1-8. With a raised heel, grooved surface, and nylon strap, your feet are very secure.

Handle

The Hydrow handle is 19″ long, giving you extra grip room compared to some other rowers that use ~15″ handles (Ergatta, CityRow, etc.). It also has a slight ergonomic bend that feels better than the straight handles on some other rowing machines. Again, this handle reminds me of the Concept II handle.

One of my favorite features about this handle is the slightly recessed area toward the center. Depending on your grip width, it creates a comfortable position for your index finger and helps ensure an even hand position.

Magnetic Resistance

One of the most unique features of the Hydrow is its magnetic resistance, which differs from the more common water and air resistance mechanisms. While magnetic resistance has grown in other sectors, like exercise bikes, there aren’t as many rowers using it.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first tried the Hydrow because I had never experienced a magnetic rowing machine. Would it be smooth? Is it challenging enough? How easy is it to adjust the resistance?

After using the Hydrow on numerous workouts, I’ve become a big fan of the magnetic resistance. The first thing that stood out to me was how quiet it was. Compared to an air rower, it’s noticeably less noisy, making this a great option if you’re rowing in your home early in the morning or late at night. It’s also quieter than water rowers, but you don’t get the ‘WHOOSH WHOOSH’ that some people love.

The second thing that stood out was how fluid the movement felt. I was expecting the machine to produce a ‘jerky’ feeling at the beginning and end ranges, but it’s surprisingly smooth throughout. This was my biggest concern going into the Hydrow experience, but my mind was put to ease after only a few strokes.

In general, one of the biggest benefits of magnetic resistance is that you can adjust the resistance. In rowing terms, this is known as drag. The default drag setting on the Hydrow is 104, which best simulates the feeling of water. However, you can adjust the drag from 50-300, depending on your goals and rowing abilities. Increasing the drag value increases the amount of resistance.

However, it’s important to know that increasing drag alone won’t enhance your workout or make it more challenging. You influence intensity and effort by pushing harder out of the catch and pulling harder through the drive phase.

Much of rowing is matching a strokes-per-minute cadence. If you increase the drag so much that you’re missing your cadence goals, you’re making your workout less effective. Once you master proper rowing form and have the capacity to hit your cadence, modest increases are perfectly fine. However, most users are best served by sticking with the 104 default – you’ll get an amazing workout.

The Monitor

The Hydrow monitor is excellent. This 22″ Full HD monitor has a crystal clear touch-screen display and two front-facing speakers. The interface is easy to navigate and set up with six main screens:

You can adjust the viewing angle of the monitor up and down by 15 degrees depending on your height, window glare, etc. You can also adjust the monitor side to side by 25 degrees when you’re performing mat workouts.

Aside from the beautiful display, I was impressed with the sound. It’s not incredible, but it’s better than the rear-facing speakers on the Ergatta and some others. You can also easily pair your Apple AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones.

Lastly, you can adjust the sound profile for any workout. I keep mine on ‘original mix,’ which is the default setting that balances the instructor with the music. You can also choose more music, more instructor, or just the instructor (no music).

Working Out with the Hydrow Rower

Hydrow has over 4,400 workouts and counting. In addition to rowing workouts, Hydrow offers Yoga, Pilates, Strength, and Stretch. I only use it for rowing, but my wife also likes to use it for mat workouts.

The great thing is that you can create multiple profiles under one subscription. If several people in your household use the Hydrow, you can tailor your experience to your needs and keep your stats separate.

We’ve already looked at the workout selection interface, but let’s take a closer look at an actual workout because I think this is where Hydrow really shines.

Once your workout is loaded, you’re teleported to a live water scene with the instructor right in front of you. There are currently 33 locations to travel to, including Boston, New York, Lake Tahoe, Spain, and even Charleston, in my beautiful home State of South Carolina.

My favorite part of the Hydrow experience is that it’s not a studio production. Sure, it’s high production quality, but I appreciate that it’s on open water in real-world environments. It’s also very easy to match the instructor’s cadence, helping you get the most out of the workout without having to stare at your metrics.

The downside to this type of environment is that things happen, including boat wakes, paddle boarders, etc. Although rare, these events can throw the instructor off their cadence, so if you’re focused on matching them, it could also throw you off. They get back on track quickly, but you may need to shift your eyes to the strokes-per-minute metric temporarily.

Speaking of metrics, the Hydrow workout interface is cleanly laid out and easy to digest. Starting on the left and moving counter-clockwise, here is everything you’ll see on the screen:

I’ve really enjoyed rowing on the Hydrow. The magnetic resistance is smooth, the instructors are engaging, and the leaderboard provides extra motivation. I also prefer the connected rower experience over user-led rowers.

Shipping & Assembly

When you purchase the Hydrow, you can choose from standard or professional delivery. With Standard Delivery (free), your Hydrow will arrive at your home during a scheduled time between you and the delivery company.

Assembly will be your responsibility, but it’s a straightforward process. The frame of the rower ships fully assembled. You’ll just need to attach the support feet and the monitor using bolts and an Allen key (all provided). The biggest obstacle may be the 198lb shipping weight. Having a friend help you bring it in is probably a good idea.

Unboxing Your New Hydrow

If you choose professional delivery ($250), a Hydrow partner will deliver your machine and assemble it for you, including removing all boxes and trash. However, they won’t connect the rower to the internet or power, and they won’t install accessories.

Thankfully, that part is painless. Simply plug the rower into the wall, flip the power switch above the front support base, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Warranty

The Hydrow warranty is fairly standard for a connected rower:

• Structural frame: 5 years
• Monitor: 1 year
• Labor: 1 year

The Ergatta, CityRow, and ProForm 750R have similar warranties. However, the Aviron Tough Series Rower and NordicTrack RW900 have 10-year structural warranties.

Although the build quality is excellent, I’d like to see a longer frame warranty on the Hydrow, especially at the price.

Hydrow Packages & Membership

The Hydrow is available in three packages ranging in price and accessories.

Each package comes with free standard shipping or the option for premium delivery with assembly.

In my opinion, the Essentials package is the best option for most people. Unless you’re rowing on a rubber gym floor, the Hydrow mat is a good investment to protect your flooring. It will also create more friction than smoother surfaces like hardwoods or tile.

In addition to the purchase price of the rower, you’ll need to subscribe to the Hydrow app to take advantage of its workouts.

I highly recommend purchasing the subscription with the Hydrow machine. The monthly subscription is currently $38/month. Otherwise, there’s virtually no point in investing in the Hydrow at all. Yes, you can still row without the membership, but it’s limited to the ‘Just Row’ setting. You get basic stats, but you don’t get video, leaderboards, the ability to track workouts, etc.

The Original Hydrow Rower vs. the Hydrow Wave

The Hydrow Wave was created as a lighter, more compact, and less expensive version of the Original Hydrow Rower. At 102lbs, the Wave is 30% lighter than the Original, making it easier to move around. It’s also shorter and narrower, making it more suitable for tight spaces like an apartment or spare bedroom.

One of the biggest differences between these two models is that the Wave’s frame is built with heavy-duty plastic instead of steel and aluminum. Even still, the Wave offers the same 375lb weight rating and warranty.

Like the Original, the Hydrow Wave uses magnetic resistance. With access to the same workouts, the rowing experience is largely the same between the two. However, the Original Hydrow has a larger monitor (22″ vs. 16″), which many will prefer. The Wave monitor also doesn’t pivot in any direction, which is a downside compared to the multi-axis monitor on the Original.

Aesthetically, I think the Original rower looks much more refined and sleek – it’s a statement piece.

In terms of price, the Wave starts at $1,695, an $800 savings compared to the Original. It’s available in the same three packages, with the Works Package priced at $2,095 – still a $400 savings compared to the Hydrow Original (rower only).

Ultimately, the Hydrow Wave is a great option for someone in a small space or on a budget. Otherwise, the Original Hydrow is the better choice.

The Original Hydrow Rower vs. the Ergatta Rower

If you’re researching connected rowers, you may have come across the Ergatta. This is another high-end rowing machine with some unique features. While the Ergatta and Hydrow are technically in the same class of “smart rowers,” they’re very different.

Firstly, the Ergatta is a water rower, which provides a different sensation than the computer-driven Hydrow resistance. This ultimately comes down to preference. I favor the Hydrow’s resistance to the Ergatta, which has a sort of jerky feeling coming out of the catch position.

Secondly, the Ergatta uses a completely different connected experience. Where the Hydrow is instructor-led, the Ergatta is a gamified system. Therefore, you don’t see any instructors at all. Instead, you play a variety of video games to help you progress, including intervals, push programs, and community racing.

Given this different approach, the Ergatta has a unique interface. Quite frankly, it’s beautiful. I love the colors and data visualization, and I appreciate the engaging style.

The Ergatta sits lower to the ground than the Hydrow. As such, it has a higher weight capacity (500lbs vs. 375lbs). To me, the Ergatta feels more cramped, especially with the footrests. I also like the longer, slightly angled Hydrow handle more than the short and straight handle from Ergatta.

Aesthetically, these rowing machines are also very different. While the Hydrow is sleek and modern, the Ergatta is classic and rustic. It looks like a piece of furniture.

The monitors on both machines are nice, but the Hydrow is larger by 5″ and has much better audio. That said, since the Ergatta isn’t instructor-led, you can pick the music you want to listen to directly in the app. Both monitors can also pair with external headphones.

If you’re trying to decide between the two, I would first ask yourself if you want an instructor-led or gamified experience. Both are great, depending on your preferred style. I’d also ask yourself if you want a water or magnetic rower. These should help steer you in the right direction since pricing is similar.

User Reviews

The Hydrow receives very positive feedback overall. With an average rating of 4.7 from nearly 10,000 reviews at TrustPilot and 4.8 from hundreds of reviews at Best Buy, users love the engagement, build quality, and feeling of the magnetic resistance. Most negative reviews have been related to Customer Service.

Pros and Cons

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a connected rower, the Hydrow is one of the best options. The open-water experience is immersive and refreshing, and the smooth magnetic resistance is very quiet. The modern design is eye-catching and unique compared to other rowers.

Ultimately, the Hydrow is an investment. Like most smart rowers, it comes with a steeper purchase price. The subscription service is another expense to consider, and at $38/month, it’s one of the higher ones.

If you have the budget to support it, I recommend the Hydrow – it’s an impressive rower.