With unbearable summer heat and hazardous air quality from wildfires, you may be trying to limit your time outdoors this summer. Of course, if you’re looking to stay active or be more intentional about movement, you may wonder what you can do while staying near your AC and air purifier. Deemed the “best $100 dollars I’ve spent on my health” and an “easy and fun way to strengthen your whole body,” reviewers are loving this ultra-compact home rowing machine as a solution for moving and grooving safely indoors. Weighing just over 22 pounds, it folds up, stows away neatly, and is sure to move those muscles smoothly during a low-impact exercise.
This is what one user says is a “good low-impact activity to build strength” — which means it’s a classified form of movement that’s easier on the joints.
Per the American Sport and Fitness Association, “low-impact exercise” means movements that don’t have forceful landings or cause “shock absorption” in your joints — like running and jumping do. Generally, these movements include having one foot on the ground at all times, making them a great option for older folks and people with mobility limitations, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Of course, something like indoor rowing (i.e., rowing on a rowing machine), an entirely seated exercise, lets you fluidly move and groove without lifting your feet at all. When you use a rowing machine, you engage your legs, arms and core, without putting vertical weight or extra stress on your body.
In fact, a government study looking at the effects of indoor rowing on visually impaired people called it a “safe whole-body exercise,” noting that the stability of being seated and repetitive continuous motion of indoor rowing made it a great option for those with visual impairments or who struggle with balance.
So, why is this rowing machine special?
In short: it’s compact, lightweight, easy to assemble, works out your whole body without wearing you out and comes with a great app. Plus, it’s a lot cheaper than similar models. Weighing around 22 pounds, it’s easy to stow away and reviewers really love using it while watching TV and streaming movies.
The machine is designed with a sliding seat and strapped foot pedals to stabilize your feet. It has 12 levels of hydraulic resistance let you engage different muscle groups with the turn of a knob, and a digital monitor that tracks speed, time and calories burned. So many say it’s also surprisingly quiet.
People desiring more exercise as they age, dealing with chronic pain or recovering from major surgeries swear by this machine.
One reviewer raves that it’s a “good low impact [exercise] for bad knees” and that it’s “better than a treadmill or elliptical.”
Meanwhile, another says: “Perfect for me… at 75 years old, it exercises every part I need exercised! Upper arms, core, legs, back… a really good deal!”
This rowing machine is under $100, and it’s been helping so many people stay active while they’re indoors. Check out what other people have to say about it below.
“I love my rowing machine. It has resistance settings and it glides beautifully. I have no issues whatsoever with this unit. I am a 60 something female and put it together. I needed something to maintain the strength in my legs. I have a problematic knee and this does not irritate it.” — KSOL31069
“I bought this rowing machine a few weeks ago, and already I’m seeing great results. I’m elderly so this exercise rower has helped me with my mobility and balance. My upper body, abs and legs are gaining strength.” — Edee
“You can spend 20 times as much and get a rowing machine that’s got a video screen and a lot of other bells and whistles, or you can buy this one and get pretty much the same exercise. Your choice. If you wanted to watch something on video while you row, you could just set this machine in front of the TV.
Assembly takes about 20 minutes. They say in the product description that you can do it in 5 minutes. I think you would need a speedway pit crew to get it together that quickly. But the instructions are clear and well-illustrated, and all needed tools are included. When I first got on it and tried it out, I was astonished at how quiet it is. I’ve had a couple of these rowing machines with hydraulic cylinders in the past and they were a lot noisier. […]
I don’t think you can beat this machine for the price. It does what it’s supposed to do and seems like it will hold up. I mentioned earlier having had other rowing machines in the past, and yes, something ultimately broke on them. In one case it was a plastic part that held the handle on, and on the other one a metal part bent. Will this machine one day suffer the same fate? I don’t know, but looking at the trouble spots of those other machines I had years ago, it doesn’t seem like this one could fail in the same way those did. It’s a simple and robust design. If you’re looking for an inexpensive and convenient way to row, I don’t think you can go wrong with this.” — Ken_Ind (This review has been edited for length. Read the full review.)
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