Rowing machine advice please

[Ikeameatballlunch]

I need a home rower which doesn't take up too much space and could perhaps stand upright. I'm small and lightweight. It would be beginner level for now.

I've been diagnosed with hormone positive breast cancer and this seems like one of the things that will be good for cardio and joints. I'm not a big gym goer but have always liked rowing when I do go.

In an ideal world I'd get a beautiful water rower but a bit too pricey and perhaps too big, though the a1 series looked good.

Which suggests this one: www.argos.co.uk/product/6214151 not a water rower but that doesn't really matter. Exercise is the priority!

Are there any other suggestions or points to note?

Just showed my DH who has a very fancy rowing machine and used to row for his college. It has a slider so the slider is good as he said some machines are marketed as rowing machines without a slider and they are not good.

Just be aware of the weight limit and he reckons do not bother with the extra insurance. He was quite delighted I asked his opinion for something on MN as I have been on here many years and don’t think I have ever asked before.

He doesn’t have a water rower but did spend a lot on his quite a few years ago and it’s a full size could go in a professional gym. Water rowers have the best resistance and is similar to putting an oar in actual water apparently. There was merry hell to pay when DS chipped it last year in case it disrupted the sliding mechanics. We have the rower and a gym bench in our conservatory so it’s basically a gym.

Good luck

Thank you so much. Pleased it pleased your dh!

Ideally I'd prefer a water rower - I can row and do use a paddle board with a double oar. I do love the feel and sound of water.

Which would he suggest between the A1 water rower and the original? A1 appears to be for mass gym instruction but looks a bit slimmer and perhaps lighter weight.

There's an original on eBay near me!

Though may just have to get the Argos one.

Will look out for a slider and perhaps read the which advice more fully.

I used a concept on at a gym last year and did very well with it

He said obviously the water rower has a feel that is the closet to being on actual water. But then wondered how much of a faff changing the water would be and how often it should be done. That puts him off the water machines.

I actually hate his rowing machine as it takes up so much room and one of the reasons we never moved was because any house needed to have room for it. :)

Ahhh ok!

It does also seem to indicate you need to tighten joints etc occasionally

The Concept 2 is the best of the rowing machines out there. It is used by every major rowing club that I have seen. You can break it down into two pieces for storage, but it is pricy. Rowing is a great exercise, just make sure you watch some you tube videos for tips on your form, and good luck with your cancer journey

I don't think anything beats the Concept 2 rowing machine. As the previous poster says, it can be pulled up in half (take a look not the website) for a smaller storage footprint. And as the previous poster says - you need to work out the correct 'form' to make sure you are getting the right technique (not difficult but amazing how many people do the strangest things!) - really focus on when your hands pass your knees.

Better than the water rower?

I'm just not sure we can afford it. At the same time if it keeps me in work, we can.

I have luckily been taught correct form. Thinking concept 2 might be the better plan.

There a few on Facebook marketplace place around here.

We have a very early water rower and think maybe we have changed the water once the whole time. You just add purifying tablets occasionally.

Concept 2 every time for overall low maintenance home and gym use. I got mine second hand from a school I was teaching in and it’s been fantastic from the get go.
I’ve got the two piece one but don’t take it apart very often if at all.

@Spareincoming do you mean it folds or it physically comes apart? Folding might be easier for us but need to investigate

I have the water rower A1. Love that it stands upright easily and looks aesthetically pleasing. The whole family still use it regularly 2 years on, it's a good workout. Things you should know maybe

• they supply a hand pump thing to get the water in and out it's a bit fiddly but works ok
• I bought extra grips for the handles as I found them a bit uncomfortable but rest of family didn't mind
• the water if uncovered can go green even with fairly regular purification tablets (and this meant needing to get it practically all out which was near impossible - they recommend a treatment to use. You can't use the blue colouring for the water and the purification tablets iirc
• the plastic can need resealing, mainly if you use non recommended products
• mine sprung a leak from a place where it connects to the wood, but this only occurs when it's max full so we just have it on a lower level of fullness. I think this was my fault and not the design.
• I noticed its feet are rubbing the surface off our floor tiles, due to my excellently vigorous workouts, so placing it on a non slip mat would be ideal.

This is just a full disclosure, but I still love it and would replace it in a heartbeat. And dfil still uses his at 76, he's had his a lot longer than us.

Thank you for honest review @Parisj

Here is the page on storing the Concept 2

https://www.concept2.com/news/5-tips-moving-or-storing-your-machines

@Ikeameatballlunch I can physically take it apart. I’m not sure if there’s a folding version now.

Ah I see, thank you.

It may come down to the space we have to store it which isn't much. Very small house! Waterrower against wall may actually work better.

Which seems to say the Nordic track brand comes out on top

A concept 2 is used by most gyms. They are well built bits of kit. Can you try and find a second hand one?

Another recommendation for the Concept 2, we have one and it's brilliant. I use it 3/4 times a week. When we bought ours Argos had the best price.

Concept2 here as well.

The Concept 2 is fantastic but it's huge despite the fact that it can be pulled apart. If you're anything like me, to be consistent with using it I needed it there and ready to use at all times. It's much to big for my flat but you may have more room.

Cover, yes that's what I need.

@Parisj sorry to ask more questions. Do you use the main rail to do any work out on as it seems to demonstrate in a video advertising it?

Size wise there's not much difference tbh