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Recently my wife and I talked about what a rowing machine costs. That conversation led to this article.
I compared water rowers (German) and in the end chose the elegant WaterRower Performance Ergometer (German). A price of almost 1,700 € looks like a lot of money for your own fitness.
There are certainly cheaper ways to stay fit, so it makes sense to put the cost in relation to the obvious alternative: the gym.
Some friends and acquaintances have a gym membership (and use it), and a Clever Fit opened right on my running route not long ago. I have also done a trial session at Kieser. So I know the offers, and here I want to compare them with a rowing machine at home.
Contents
Many gyms in Germany have ergometers and strength machines. Well-equipped ones also have rowers, usually the Concept2 (German).
What a Gym Costs in Comparison
The calculation is simple: a gym charges a monthly fee, typically between 20 € and 50 €. Extras can often be booked on top.
If a home rower costs, say, 1,700 € and the gym fee is 30 € a month, it takes 4 years and 7 months (30 € × 12 months = 360 € a year, 1,700 € ÷ 360 €) until the rower has paid for itself compared with a gym membership.
You also still own the rower after that break-even point, and it keeps a resale value if you stop using it. With a gym the money is gone, and hopefully you have a fitter body to show for it.
With the WaterRower I was surprised how high the prices of used machines (German) still are, so I bought a new one with a warranty.
Doesn’t a Gym Offer More Than Rowing?
McFit, Injoy, FitX, Easyfitness.club, Fitness First, Clever Fit or Kieser: all well-known gyms where you can train strength and endurance, and also use extras like the sauna, book a massage or join a Zumba class. You also get coaching on strength exercises, at least if you are lucky (German) 😉
The monthly fee that is debited automatically can also be a strong motivator to keep training over a longer period. In theory you could get the same effect by buying a rower in instalments, but consumer credit usually comes with high interest rates. I would not buy a rower on credit; I would rather save up for longer.
For myself I decided that I don’t need the extras a gym offers. The initial investment for a rower is far higher than a gym fee, but the time saved and the flexibility belong in the calculation too: I don’t have to check opening hours, I can fit training into my day (into my routine, German) and I save the trip to the gym.
For families there is one more aspect: childcare. Either my wife or I train, and someone always has to look after the kids. With a rower at home that can be coordinated perfectly.
The only thing you lose with a home gym is the personal exchange with other athletes. I use Facebook for that. The SmartRow community is very active, and there are also Kinomap (German) and Strava groups.
Ideal Rowing Machines for Home
When I was deciding which rower was right for me, the Concept2 (German) was originally on my shortlist. Another idea was to use a Wahoo Kickr Snap trainer for my mountain bike.
In the end it became the WaterRower for several reasons (German). One was certainly the wooden design: it doubles as a piece of furniture when it isn’t in use. I don’t have a pain cave in the basement, so the rower is not hidden away. The sound of the water resistance (German) also played a part, although that is a matter of taste.
I picked four rowers that, in my view, suit training at home:
1. Concept2 RowErg
A world-class machine for serious rowing training. The Concept2 RowErg is built for efficiency and lasts a lifetime. Price at the time of writing: 1,189.99 € incl. shipping (Amazon).
Since it was on my shortlist, I want to list it here too. For around 1,200 € you get one of the best rowing machines on the market.
Two things bothered me, though depending on your situation they may not bother you:
- The noise of the air resistance (German)
- The look: it simply looks like a gym 🙂
You can compare air rowers in my air rower comparison (German).
2. WaterRower Performance Ergometer
What sets the legendary WaterRower apart from other machines? What should you look at before buying a rower? You can compare water rowers in my water rower comparison (German).
I don’t need to write much more about my dream rower (German); I have published plenty of articles and comparisons on it. In my view the best points are:
- SmartRow gives the best connectivity and precise measurement, plus a great community
- Timeless: the look of the original simply convinces 🙂
3. Skandika Styrke II
My comparison of WaterRower and Skandika (German) already covers the strengths of each machine in detail.
In my view the Styrke II makes sense if your budget is a bit smaller than for the WaterRower but you still want the wooden look. A plus: the Bluetooth module delivers data for third-party apps.
Learn more about the Skandika Styrke II
4. Augletics Eight
Straightforward design without making a fuss: the Augletics Eight stands out with a modern industrial look and a touch display.
| Where to buy | Price |
|---|---|
| Augletics directly | 2,790 € incl. shipping (coupon, German page) |
| Decathlon | 2,999 € incl. shipping |
| Hammer | 2,799 € incl. shipping |
At almost 2,800 €, the Augletics Eight is clearly more expensive than the other three and is the premium option in this selection. For that you get a touch display, a virtual coach and dedicated strength workouts. If you really want to use a rower at home as a replacement for the gym, you will find more training variety here than with the classic machines. I describe all the details, including the weaknesses, in my Augletics Eight test (German).