Which Rower Should I Buy

The Nordictrack New RW900 vs. Hydrow Pro Rower. To help you make that maybeyesno decision, we compare two bestselling connected-fitness rowing machines each powered by their own rowing-fitness content and app. iFIT for NordicTrack vs. the Hydrow Membership App.

Read on to determine which rowing machine is the better fit for you as we break down key areas covering: The Experience, Equipment, Trainers, Price, and Our Take, and end with a detailed Summary Comparison Chart at the end of this article.

But first, we quickly recap why to include rowing in your fitness routine, by adding an indoor rower to your home gym.

Rowing is an Excellent Full Body Workout

Indoor Rowers have rapidly become a popular choice of exercise equipment to work out at home on. And for good reasons, there are so many benefits to rowing — in a nutshell, it provides one of the best full-body motions engaging over 85% of your body’s muscles — almost double the amount used in cycling, including your core, and it is a low impact exercise, so it’s kinder on your joints. Rowing definitely is one of the best-kept secrets in fitness. Discover more reading Learning to Row – My 20-minute a day 1-year Rowing Journey.

For those fitness enthusiasts who prefer running or a spin class as their favorite go-to exercise, rowing provides terrific cross-training to change it up both mentally, and for your body and muscles.

For cardio fitness rowing will get your heart pumping, it’s an excellent cardiovascular and endurance workout without putting too much pressure on your knees, hips, or other joints like the ankles. In just a 20–25-minute session, you can burn over 400 calories with an indoor rower depending on the workout intensity.

Trust Our Reviews of Fitness Equipment

When testing and evaluating the NordicTrack RW900 Rower, we compared it to comparable models like in reviews of the Hydrow and Hydrow Wave, Proform R10, Peloton Row, Concept2 RowErg, CityRow’s GO Max Rower, Aviron and others.

Our maybeyesno review team knows what makes good fitness equipment – including treadmills, exercise bikes, strength equipment, and rowers. If it’s good, it’s good — if it’s bad, then it’s bad — we will tell you. We have tested and published exercise equipment reviews over ten years.

We get hands-on with gear to discuss overall design, tech, and function, including the feel, price, drilling down components such as the handle, resistance mechanism, flywheel, screen display (if applicable), ease of use, subscription content, adjustment features, noise levels, warranty, and durability.

Based on extensive use and testing, we discuss, summarize, and compare equipment to help you determine which rower is the one for you.

NORDICTRACK RW900 or HYDROW PRO ROWER

1. TRAINING EXPERIENCE

A key component of your purchase with both these indoor rowers is the rowing experience, a large aspect of which, is shaped by the training content and workout sessions streamed to both machines’ wide, Full-HD touchscreen displays. One notable difference, however, is that the latest Nordictrack RW900 display is now 24 inches wide vs. 22-inches on the Hydrow Pro Rower. Both the Hydrow and the NordicTrack RW900 have skilled instructors — former Olympians and best-in-class coaches.

Both rowers provide on-the-water workouts that let you row individually or as part of a crew (team).Hydrow has a leaderboard, with real-time metrics for those who like to compete against others or for individuals who prefer to achieve personal best workouts and gauge how they are progressing.

But the difference in training content, approach, and style of each brands’ trainers and the resistance mechanism is where these two indoor connected-fitness rowers essentially separate out.

NORDICTRACK iFIT TRAINERS

The experience on a NordicTrack Rower with its iFIT app is a little more immersive and engaging one — from a large variety of studio settings, rowing challenges, to a much broader range of destinations rowing sessions. Row on spectacular rivers, lakes, and waterways across the globe with iFIT Trainer-led rowing workouts or select various progressive-series challenges either in the studio and on the water.

Currently, there are no Live on-the-water iFIT rowing classes as with Hydrow which you may prefer. Another difference, for those who prefer a studio environment, Hydrow does not have Studio Rowing a studio setting which iFIT provides but Hydrow has begun to introduce Cross-Training classes similar to Peloton Row and Nordictrack which are off-the-rowing machine and also good.

Some of the iFIT challenge workouts span a number of weeks, like the rowing workouts in The Zambia Beginner Series with iFIT Trainer, James Stephenson. Row through the heart of Africa as you complete rows helping to build stamina and endurance. Another terrific iFIT rowing series is led by Kevin Scott and takes place throughout the South Pacific islands of French Polynesia and Tahiti. The pristine, crystal-clear blue water and marine life are amazing. This is one series you can repeat over and over again.

Your iFIT rowing instructor gently coaches you through a rowing workout, setting the pace, motivating and encouraging you to maintain a tempo (stroke rate), and help you to focus on every stroke so you can work toward reducing your spit-time (Time per 500 meters). They also teach correct form, all while pointing out rowing technique tips, explaining the metrics, together with landmarks, history, and whatever they spot along the way. iFIT uses a 1-take film production technique when filming so you never know who or what you may encounter. 

This unrehearsed approach makes iFIT destination workouts more spontaneous and fun to train with over Hydrow and other connected-fitness rowing machines content, but again a matter of preference.

For instance, while rowing in Africa, you see plenty of surprises along the riverbanks as remarkable animals, people, and incredible views display to your HD touchscreen. Besides being filmed at spectacular locations, iFIT rows are entertaining, the trainers knowledgeable, and super personable. They dish out lots of cool technique tips, as well as tidbits of information about the surroundings and personal stories. These trainers have extensive expertise with a personal-coaching background with their own businesses training celebrities, pro athletes, and people who want to get fit.  See our Full RW900 Review to learn more about this bestselling, connected-fitness rowing machine.

HYDROW INSTRUCTORS

Hydrow trainers are also technically skilled rowers but at the beginning were not as comfortable in personal training roles as iFIT trainers. Most on-demand class sessions are broadcast live and recorded in Florida or Massachusetts rivers and estuaries, with some rows in London and Scotland. Recently Hydrow has expanded row locations to Alaska and New Zealand, South America and more European waterways.

Trainers constantly converse with you throughout while they row to keep the pace going. They are learning and have got considerably better as they spent more time doing workouts and relating to beginners and experts but, occasionally it is awkward, somewhat repetitive with a lower energy level when compared to the iFIT rowing workouts on the RW900.

While Hydrow states they were the first to stream rowing classes, NordicTrack has been streaming outside trainer-led on-the-water and studio rowing workouts longer than even Peloton's bike classes, and as a result have become extremely good at it. But again, it will come down to preference and what style of training you prefer.

2. ROWING MACHINES

Similar to Peloton, the cool-looking Hydrow entered the at-home fitness market in 2018 with a single product but now introduced the Hydrow Wave- see comparison review. However, with fitness enthusiasts restricted to working out at home during the coronavirus pandemic, sales of its indoor rower have seen a four-fold increase. Led by its founder and CEO, a former coach of the U.S. rowing team, and a group of elite instructors, they have the depth of background and understanding of rowing — Read our Full Hydrow Pro Rower Review.

The Hydrow is designed as a solid piece, aluminum and steel frame and is heavier and wider, accommodating users who weigh up to 375 lbs., which is great for heavier exercisers who want to use a rowing machine.

The Latest RW900 also has a stand-up design for convenient storage to save space when not in use, but this sturdy platform will only support a maximum user weight of 300 lbs. The RW900 does have small front wheels which are useful when moving this rower but is designed for a little lighter-weight users than a Hydrow.

The Hydrow is also designed to be stand upright which gives it a slightly smaller footprint when stored, but you will have to purchase the upright storage kit separately ($69) which has to be wall installed. (Similar to the Peloton Row)

The touchscreens displays are similar on both rowing machines and have convenient one-touch access, The Hydrow Pro is 2 inches smaller at 22-inches in width with crisp, sharp viewing of imagery and rowing metrics. The New RW900 console was expanded to 24 inches and can swivel 360 degrees making off-the-rower-workouts very convenient and easier to view and follow along from nearly any angle in a room. The Hydrow does swivel about 50 degrees left and right, but it is not nearly as flexible as the Nordictrack RW900 series in this area.

Both rowers use electromagnetic resistance, making them super quiet and smooth to row on — quieter in fact than water rowers. The resistance on the Hydrow rower is digitally controlled, designed to adjust based upon how hard you (pull) row. Hydrow Pro has also incorporated a digital drag mechanism, also computer-controlled set by default to a level of 104. Once you select the desired level it remains at the same whether you row fast or slow. You do not have to change it, but as you progress and get fitter, this can be adjusted, interestingly many of Hydrow's training classes are curated at the 104 level.

On the RW900 rowing machine, you get 26 digital levels of magnetic resistance. This resistance emulates closer the experience when rowing on water with a smooth, strong stroke. iFIT has taken its level of integration with the RW900 and workout sessions to another level — with Live Resistance Control and the just-released, SmartAdjust feature.

With Trainer Live Control (AutoAdjust) we loved rowing on the water with the ability of iFit trainers, in real-time, to be able to dynamically change our stroke resistance during segments of a rowing workout. This applies to in-studio classes as well, so you can just focus without having to worry about making any changes.

Trainers will give a heads-up to what’s coming, as they talk you through the segments, the time quickly passes as they keep you thoroughly engaged. iFit has recently taken Live Trainer Control (AutoAdjust) a step further with the addition of the SmartAdjust option.

With SmartAdjust, if you’re finding a segment of a workout difficult or too easy, you can make your own resistance adjustments. iFit will then apply this change across the entire session while remembering the percentage change for future training sessions. As you become stronger and fitter, iFit SmartAdjust will start to take this into account and over time introduce an increase in resistance or intensity — you always have the option to disable SmartAdjust or Live Control anytime.

After 5 minutes of inactivity, Hydrow's screen will dim and then turn off automatically. Hydrow will then proceed to go into sleep mode until you wake it up by touching the screen or pulling the handle.

The RW900 also has a sleep mode similar to Hydrow. With the New RW900 when you can turn off both the rower and Screen with one on-off switch. It is recommended to be turned off and unplugged when not in use. However, it restarts quickly when you plug it back in. One popular suggestion is to use an APC Smart Plug Wi-Fi Power Strip which you can find at Amazon. Or the Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip HS300, Surge Protector works well with Alexa and provides good surge protection. “Alexa turn off my RW900 rower” or “Alexa I’m ready to Row.”

The convenience factor on this goes without saying to Hydrow.

Hydrow has a leaderboard that provide real-time motivation, for those who like competition with others or just with themselves. If you do not wish to see the leaderboard, you can, with a simple swipe easily remove it. Regardless, metrics displayed, include split time (how long it takes you to row 500 meters), estimated calories burned, the time elapsed, strokes per minute, and distance, etc. Nordictrack removed its leaderboard functionality pending a redesign based upon a legal dispute with Peloton.

A useful feature is that you can pause your iFIT workout on the RW900 rower. Furthermore, your pause time will be reflected (taken into account) with respect to your leaderboard stats and standings. Hydrow has now released a similar pause feature which we reported on below.

The swivel of the touchscreen console on the RW900 rower scores high marks, particularly for studio sessions that involve a mix of exercise on and off-the-rower. You alternate between weights or planks on the mat and then rowing. Another nod to the New RW900 is if you are using this rower in a confined space. NordicTrack designed this rowing machine to give a lighter feel and a feel of being less bulky when occupying a tight space.

The resistance system on an RW900 rower can be digitally and manually adjusted, providing a lot more flexibility over Hydrow. The 26 coach-controlled digital resistance levels, along with AutoAdjust and SmartAdjust features, are designed to integrate with the massive selection of iFIT rowing workouts, vies the RW900 the edge over the Hydrow.

The Hydrow Pro supports users with a weight over 375 lbs. — the max limit for the New RW900 is now 300 lbs. Heavier exercisers who want to benefit from rowing by making it part of their workout routine, should look to the Hydrow or maybe a Concept2 rower which supports user weight up to 500 lbs.

Both rowing machines are an investment. The Hydrow Pro is more expensive than the NordicTrack RW900 by over $200 when comparing the initial purchase price. The monthly membership fees are similar at $44 per month for Hydrow and $39 per month for iFIT on the RW900 rower.

Both companies have lower priced models to fit a budget with most of the same features included. The Hydrow Wave is $1,695 and the NordicTrack RW700 is $1,499. Both required workout memberships, iFit does not now include the first 30 days free for you to get a good feel of the trainers and workouts.

PRICE OPTIONS

• Hydrow Pro  $2,195 free standard shipping

• New RW900 $1,999 free standard shipping

The NordicTrack New RW900 is over $200 less (promotions depending). Additionally, the warranty on the NordicTrack Rowers is stronger with 10-years on the frame vs. 5-years for the Hydrow.

CANADA, UK, & AUSTRALIA: NORDICTRACK RW900 AVAILABILITY

The RW900 can be purchased directly from NordicTrack Canada, Nordictrack UK, and NordicTrack Australia.

IN THE END ─ Final thoughts

This new category of connected-fitness rowing machines with interactive touchscreens and trainer-led workouts truly captures the essence of rowing on the water and the boutique feel of a rowing fitness studio.

Hydrow makes a striking visual for your home gym. More importantly, the Hydrow rower performs as good as it looks especially for those looking to lose weight or get fit. Important for some fitness enthusiasts, Hydrow also supports much heavier user weights. See the Comparison table below for more detailed specs.

With Hydrow, trainers used to broadcast sessions live, twice daily from the water, then archived to be streamed on-demand. As with other connected fitness companies this has been reduced to 3 days, once per month. With a NordicTrack New RW900, you can row stroke by stroke with some of the world’s elite rowers and train with accomplished personal trainers at interesting and colorful locales.

Rowing classes are not live, but you have access to a much more extensive range of rowing workouts to experience, filmed at a wider variety of incredible locations across the globe — from the UK, Africa, and Europe to North and South America, including the South Pacific. iFIT provides a much larger selection of cross-training sessions as well.

You cannot go wrong with either rowing machine, but iFIT workouts on the New RW900 offer more variation and types of rowing classes to select from at a lower monthly cost. This also applies to off-the-rower cross-training, where you can master classes like yoga, kickboxing, strength training, and meditation, as the RW900 rower has an improved design to enable better viewing angles of these on-the-mat classes with its 360° rotating and tilting touchscreen compared to Hydrow.

If you plan to expand your home gym or already own other iFIT enabled exercise equipment from NordicTrack, Proform or FreeMotion like a treadmill, spin bike, or ellipticals; an iFIT Pro membership will cover all these individual pieces of equipment under the same subscription cost — which is great when it comes to saving money on subscriptions.

When it comes to cost, you can be comfortable making your decision based on the price. We liked the Hydrow. Both Hydrow rower machines in general are easy — easy to assemble, easy to setup, and easy to use.

The NordicTrack New RW900 is of the same high quality, and cool looking but less expensive. The cost of the New RW900 is $1,999 — over $200 less on just the rower itself. However, Hydrow added a lower priced rower model to its lineup named the Hydrow Wave that comes in six color choices. You can Read the full Hydrow Pro vs. Hydrow Wave Comparison here.

Note: NordicTrack has other Rowing machine models available with touchscreens sized from 7 to 10-inches. Follow link below to learn more.

Whereas Hydrow has added a lower priced rower model to its lineup called the Hydrow Wave. To discover more Read the Wave Full Review and how it compares with the Original Hydrow model.