Rowing Machine Buyers Guide Arguably one of the most efficient pieces of gym equipment that you can own, a rowing machine has been shown to produce gains in endurance and strength without impacting knees or joints. Unlike ellipticals and treadmills, rowing machines are relatively easy to set up and use - users can simply sit down, adjust the foot straps and literally row themselves to much better health with hardly any risk of injuries. They are perfect for any individual suffering from joint or lower back pains as they provide an easy but effective workout which engages most of the major muscle groups in the body. More importantly, a rowing machine can burn anything between 300 to 800 calories in an hour, depending of course, on the resistance type as well as the user’s age, weight, gender, fitness capacity. There are dozens of rowing machine options which are designed to suit all budgets and health levels. Such a wide variety of choice can certainly be confusing to inexperienced athletes. This buying guide will help you identify the right machine for you. Analyze Your Needs The first thing you need to do before embarking on a search for the perfect rowing machine is to understand your fitness goal. Users should ask themselves whether they want to purchase a machine to lose weight or to occasionally work out. It’s also important to consider how many people are going to use the machine in your household: some rowers have a low user weight threshold and are not designed to sustain heavy-duty use. Along with your needs, be sure to analyze your budget as well: to avoid impulse purchases, it’s recommended to plan your budget beforehand and stick firmly to it, no matter how tempted you are by other models. To help you choose the best rower within your budget range we prepared the next listing with our top choices by price. Budget Range Our Choice
$50-200
$200-400
$400-600
$600-800
$800-1000
$1000+
Sunny SFRW1205
Stamina 1215 Orbital
LifeSpan Fitness RW1000
Avari Programmable Rower
Concept2 Model D
Concept2 Model E
Durability Another important factor to consider is the number of years that you intend on using the machine. An all-too-common scenario is to get hyped up at the thought of working out, consequently invest in an expensive rower, use it for a few months and then stow it in a corner where it will gather dust and rust for decades to come. So, users who are looking for a quick and temporary fix to the holiday pounds, for example, can certainly invest in a lower quality albeit much more affordable machine. On the other