Best buys · The home gym

The best rowing machine worth buying

Our pick is the Concept2 RowErg. Below: why, what actually matters when buying one, what to get for less, the step up, and whether today's price is a good one.

The rower

Concept2 RowErg

The rower in almost every serious gym, because it is close to indestructible and its numbers are comparable with anyone else's. It splits in two to store against a wall.

Buy it for
Full-body cardio that is easy on the knees.
Skip it if
You have no room to leave it assembled and will not set it up each time.

What actually matters when buying a rowing machine

  1. Air or magnetic resistance that feels like a real stroke.
  2. A monitor with trustworthy, comparable numbers.
  3. Storage: whether it folds, splits or stands on end.

Either side of the pick