The Best Foldable Rowing Machines To Power Your Workouts Without Taking Up All Your Space
If you love to row but are tight on space, a foldable rowing machine may just be calling your name. Training at home is very ideal if you're the type of person who doesn't like to rush to and from the gym to work and everywhere else in between, but you've got to get your makeshift home gym set up first. One way to convert your space into your personal fitness sanctuary is with equipment like dumbbells, kettlebells, and a rowing machine.
Best foldable rowing machines at a glance
- Best air-resistance: Echelon Row Connected Rowing Machine ($1,000)
- Best lightweight: Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine with PM5 Performance Monitor ($1,420)
- Best magnetic: Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine Rower with LCD Monitor ($210)
- Best splurge: Hydrow Rower ($1,995)
- Best budget: Stamina BodyTrac Glider ($169)
- Best smart rower: NordicTrack RW 900 Rower ($1,066)
- Best basic: Echanfit Magnetic Rowing Machine ($259)
- Best water: Sunny Health & Fitness Phantom Hydro Water Rowing Machine ($509)
- Best hydraulic: Lanos Hydraulic Rowing Machine ($160)
- Best wood: Ergatta Rower ($2,249)
What are the benefits of rowing?
Believe it or not, rowing is a full-body workout that engages 86 percent of your muscles, in addition to the cardio benefits you'll be getting as you put in work (this this rowing guide on how to row with correct form and how to avoid common rowing machine mistakes). It's also a great option on the days when you want a quick, challenging workout (since you can control the amount of resistance used), a low impact cardio alternative to running, or for the days when you need to sweat your sorrows away with a long, steady rowing session. Just throw on some rowing shoes and get moving in the comfort of your own home.
If a space limit has kept you from adding a row machine to your home gym, we've got news for you: Foldable rowing machines exist. Ahead, we've rounded up the best foldable rowing machines that will power you through your workouts—without taking up much room.
Shop the best foldable rowing machines
With an ergonomic seat and resistance controls directly on the handlebars to adjust the 32 different levels, this rowing machine will make it easy for you to row comfortably. There’s a foldable console with 90° swivel to hold your smart devices, like your phone or tablet, so you can stream live or on-demand classes from the Echelon app (membership required), or put on your favorite TV show or movie as you work out. rounded exercise routine.
Pros:
- Handle bar resistance controls
- Live and on-demand classes available through app
- Bluetooth connectivity
Cons
- No built-in screen
Type: Air-resistant flywheel | Resistance levels: 32 | Dimensions in use: 84″ x 21″ x 45″ | Dimensions folded: 40″ x 21″ x 60″ | Weight: 106.5 lbs | Weight capacity: 300 lbs
The Concept2 rowing machine can be found in most major gyms, and is one of the best rowers on the market. You’ll get real-time data as you row, thanks to the backlit performance monitor, and once you’re done, you can separate it into two pieces or fold it upright to store it. It only takes eight screws to assemble, and releases quickly thanks to a framelock mechanism. It has WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities, so you can connect to other fitness apps or your mobile devices.
Pros:
- Built-in monitor tracks real time data
- WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity
- Easy to assemble, separates into two pieces for storage
Cons
- Two D batteries required
Type: Air-resistant flywheel | Resistance levels: 10 | Dimensions in use: 96″ x 24″ X 14” | Dimensions folded: 25″ x 33″ x 54″ | Weight: 57.32 lbs | Weight capacity: 500 lbs
On a budget and looking for a quality foldable rowing machine? It’s possible. Check out the Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine that has over 13,000 reviews on Amazon. It features a digital monitor that displays your time, calories burned, and total count so you can track your progress. There’s also a dial to control the eight levels of magnetic resistance, and the handlebars and pedals are anti-slip to help you maintain your grip no matter how sweaty you get.
Pros:
- Digital monitor tracks real time data
- Floor stabilizers
- Quiet
Cons
- No Bluetooth or WiFI
- Monitor is small
Type: Magnetic-resistant flywheel | Resistance levels: 8 | Dimensions in use: 89″ x 18.9″ X 23.6” | Dimensions folded: 43.3″ x 18.9″ x 52.4″ | Weight: 60.9 lbs | Weight capacity: 250 lbs
If you tend to get bored on cardio machines, you’ll enjoy the Hydrow Rower. It’s a sleek rowing machine, and the membership lets you take thousands of on-demand or live classes streamed from waterways around the world, solo or with the Hydrow community. This rower features a 22-inch touchscreen display with speakers, a drag mechanism that makes you feel as if you’re rowing on water, and a webbed strap that makes every stroke silent. And when you’re done with your workout, you can fold this rower and store it upright.
Pros:
- Large touchscreen display
- Sleek design
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Smooth and quiet
Cons
- Expensive
- Need to buy upright storage kit to store vertically
Type: Electromagnetic drag | Resistance levels: N/A | Dimensions in use: 86″ x 25″ X 47” | Dimensions folded: 25″ x 33″ x 86″ | Weight: 145 lbs | Weight capacity: 375 lbs
With adjustable resistance levels, a multi-functional LCD screen, and a comfortable handle and seat, you’re never going to want to stop rowing on this affordable machine. It uses hydraulic resistance to help you customize your session to your fitness level. It has foldable arms and a foldable frame so you can tuck it away when not in use.
Pros:
- LCD screen
- Molded seat
- Compact and easy to move
Cons
- Monitor is small
- No Bluetooth
Type: Hydraulic cylinder | Resistance levels: Not listed | Dimensions in use: 58.25″ x 42.5″ X 18.13” | Dimensions folded: NOt listed | Weight: 38 lbs | Weight capacity: 250 lbs
If you love a rowing machine with a view that’s also comfortable, this rower is for you. It has a 22-inch HD display that’s adjustable so you can see the screen both on and off the machine, and 26 digital resistance levels. It comes with a 30-day iFit membership, which allows you to stream on-demand and live workouts let by an iFit trainer who automatically adjusts your resistance in each workout. You can also manually adjust the air resistance or connect your headphones via Bluetooth headphone connectivity. Translation: All you have to do is focus on your rowing technique.
Pros:
- 22″ rotating touchscreen display
- Sound system
- 26 digital resistance levels
- Oversized, pivoting pedals
Cons
- Heavy
- No on/off switch, have to unplug the machine
- No general Bluetooth connectivity
Type: Magnetic and air-resistant flywheel | Resistance levels: 26 | Dimensions in use: 86.5″ x 22″ X 50.4” | Dimensions folded: 37.4″ x 19.7″ x 42.3″ | Weight: 130.6 lbs | Weight capacity: 250 lbs
If you’re on the hunt for a rowing machine that gets the basics done, the Echanfit rowing machine delivers. It has a mobile device holder and an adjustable-angle LCD screen that displays time, distance, calories, count, total count, and RPM. The dial controls 16 levels of resistance, an ergonomic seat, and large pedals. The foldable design is easy to use—a quick-release pin locks and unlocks the frame so you can store it upright.
Pros:
- LCD monitor
- Floor stabilizers
- Easy to fold and move
Cons
- Two AAA batteries required
- Monitor is small
- No Bluetooth
Type: Magnetic flywheel | Resistance levels: 16 | Dimensions in use: 74.8″ x 19.29″ X 34.06” | Dimensions folded: N/A | Weight: 56.55 lbs | Weight capacity: 350 lbs
If you like the idea of rowing on water, this rowing machine may be the next best thing. With 16 hydro blades and a 60° angle water tank, you’ll get the satisfaction of pulling against water (and seeing and hearing it swirl in front of you). The machine has device holder and a swivel monitor that displays time, distance, strokes, total strokes, SPM, time/500m, calories, calendar, and more. There’s a wide padded seat and bottle holder, and the machine has an upright foldable design for easy storage.
Pros:
- LCD monitor
- Sturdy frame
- Quiet and smooth
Cons
- Two AAA batteries required
- Need to add or subtract water to adjust resistance
- No Bluetooth
Type: Water resistance | Resistance levels: 7 | Dimensions in use: 81.5″ x 21.25″ X 39.5” | Dimensions folded: 43″ x 21.25″ x 51″ | Weight: 88.2 lbs | Weight capacity: 300 lbs
This rower has a super compact frame, thanks to a hydraulic system where the resistance is via pistons attached to the handles instead of having a bulkier, attached flywheel. It has an ergonomic seat that glides back and forth, pivoting pedals, a sturdy steel frame, and 12 levels of resistance (controlled manually via a knob). It also has a budget-friendly price if you want to try out rowing without putting in a significant investment.
Pros:
- LCD monitor
- Adjustable resistance
- Compact
- Affordable
Cons
- Fewer features
- Resistance levels are manual
Type: Hydraulic | Resistance levels: 12 | Dimensions in use: 50″ x 36.22″ X 20” | Dimensions folded: 49″ x 23″ x 20″ | Weight: 88.2 lbs | Weight capacity: 250 lbs
The Ergatta rower is s stylish enough that you’ll want to leave it out in plain sight, but you can fold down the screen and store it up right if needed. It has a sustainably-sourced, cherrywood frame and a water flywheel that never needs to be filled. The best part of the rower is the workout themselves: they’re game-based so you’ll almost forget you’re working out. You can race others, do push programs, set goals, and see all your analytics via the large, 17.2″ touchscreen, and the workouts adapt to you over time.
Pros:
- Attractive frame
- Connected, Game-based workouts
- HD touchscreen
- High weight capacity
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires membership
- Resistance levels are manual
Type: Water | Resistance levels: Not listed | Dimensions in use: 86″ x 23″ X 40” | Dimensions folded: 86″ x 23″ x 22.5″ | Weight: 106 lbs | Weight capacity: 500 lbs
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