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Best Rowing Machines Under $500 Reviewed
Now that you have decided 2021 is the year you are going to be fitter, the odds are that you have already begun your workout routines.
Regardless of whether it is at home or in the gym, good cardio workout will help protect your health and enable you to keep training for an extended period of time, and at the same time make you more fit.
We’ve found that the best rowing machines under $500 are a highly useful cardio machine for building upper body muscle, jacking up your heart rate very quickly, and incorporates a dynamic range of motion to your workout routine.
With the many cardio machines in the market, it can be challenging to pick one that will be best for you. Cardio machines like treadmills and ellipticals might have their pros.
However, there are many disadvantages associated with using these traditional cardio machines. For instance, using a treadmill increases the risks of injuries like knee injuries, shin splints, and stress fractures. Besides, treadmill workout focuses on a few muscle groups.
On the other hand, using an elliptical can be even harder; there is a learning curve. For beginners, it might take time to get used to using an elliptical and it can feel uncomfortable and unusual.
As much as elliptical is a good option for low-impact aerobic workouts, there is less muscle development. Therefore, if you are looking for a cardio machine that will help you gain more muscle strength, try using quality rowing machines under 500.
You don’t need to be an excellent rower to enjoy the advantages of rowing. Rowing machines, which are also known as ergometers, target up to 86 percent of your muscles. This later helps strengthen and tone your muscles.
Rowing has numerous purposes, including high-intensity race intervals, low-intensity strength development, low-impact workouts, core training, heart health, posture control, and full-body power training. The greatest part of using a quality rowing machine is the reduced chances of injuries.
Have you ever heard of the phrase “you get what you pay for”? It literally applies to everything. However, this can’t be any truer. This is because highly-priced products usually have the highest quality, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that there are no good quality rowing machines with lower-to-mid price ranges.
There are many rowing machines that are over 500 available in the market today. But, not everyone needs all the features offered by the rowing machines. A rowing machine under 500 is a good option for people looking for a full-body workout machine which is better than a treadmill and elliptical.
Check Out Our Favorite Rowing Machine Under $500
Top Rowing Machines Under $500 Comparison Chart










Best Rowing Machine Under $500
1. Sunny Health & Fitness Obsidian Surge 500 Water Rowing Machine
Sunny Health & Fitness Obsidian Surge 500 Water Rowing Machine is a very affordable cardio machine option for people looking to get the advantages of water rowers without having to break the bank.
A water rowing machine can be quite expensive; however, the Obsidian Surge is half the price of many and is astonishingly proficient and best for beginners.
The Obsidian Surge 500 Water Rowing Machine will keep your exercise stimulating and engaging.
The Obsidian Surge 500 will give you the chance to row on water at the luxury of your own home. And with every single stroke, the water helps establish a firm and smooth rowing experience. The flywheel, together with the 16 fan vanes creates an instant resistance; the quicker the fan blades rotate, the more complex the resistance and energetic reaction.
The Obsidian Surge 500 is made with lightweight durable steel that enhances its performance and durability. The 16 fan blades simulate the energetic movements usually seen in competitive rowing. This rowing machine also comes with a non-slip handle which is sweat resistant and wide enough for any width.
The water paddling machine is made with high compactness water-blades that operate to generate resistance when rowing. The paddles spin and thrust against the water and can withstand rust and damage. These hydro vanes are made to withstand active rowing strokes and can sustain many stages of water resistance.
The foot pedals are designed to keep your feet comfortable and secure. The footpads hinge to give you more liberty of the feet as well as the ankle to guarantee optimum rowing procedure.
This wide padded seat supports the hips and bench back to guarantee accurate posture and enhance comfort when working out.
The Obsidian Surge 500 comes with an R2 Fitness Meter that is tailored to correctly track the significant workout metrics. This meter enables the users to personalize workouts or even use the build pre-programmable features.
The Obsidian Surge 500 doesn’t take too much space and has rubber wheels that ease transportation. The recommended position to store the rowing machine when not being used is straight beside the wall.
2. Bluefin Fitness Rowing Machine
The Blue Fitness Rowing Machine will give you the chance to gain strength and improve your cardiovascular health.
This is a magnetic rowing machine that offers a full-body workout on a compact design and ease of use.
The two-foot pedals on the Blue Fitness Rower Machine are screwed onto the machine, and they can fully slope to suit the user’s needs as they row. The foot pedals are anti-slip and lower the risks of foot injuries during the rowing workout.
The smooth belt drive mimics the natural rowing movement and allows you to exercise the abdomen and reap the health benefits of rowing on water without a splash.
The Bluefin Fitness Rowing Machine has eight levels of tension control for all the grades of individual workout. You can pick the level that suits you and gradually increase the tension while you progress with rowing.
This display is at an eye level and is easy to read. The display shows fitness metrics like distance, speed, weather, approximated calories, total strokes, and oar strokes per minute.
You can connect any application, for instance, an e-health console through Bluetooth.
This magnetic rowing machine comes with a wider handle designed to fit any hand size. These handlebars are also padded to give the rower a secure and regular hold. It is also non-slip and perfect for people with sweaty arms.
The seat is cushioned to offer utmost support for the user as it eliminates the risk of fatigue usually felt due to the long duration of intensive workouts.
3. Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine
The Sunny Health and Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine give you the chance to burn calories without going to the gym or even leaving your house.
This machine has an enhanced and noiseless magnetic tension system and 8 levels of tension control.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine is made for suitability and to enhance the challenging feel of the normal rowing on water.
It is made of a heavy-duty steel mainframe created to endure time and is suitable for any rowers regardless of the skill levels and size.
This feature allows the user to monitor and track their workout progress with ease. When using this rowing machine to workout, the display will show some fitness metrics like count and time to help you stay motivated in achieving your fitness goals.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine has 8 levels of modifiable tension controls that can enable you to increase or reduce the resistance to make your rowing exercise more stimulating and effective as you progress. Using the 8 level adjustable tension controls allows the rower to take part in various and distinct routines during every workout to stimulate the muscles in different ways and create a range of new workouts.
This magnetic rowing machine features non-slip foot pedals that can accommodate all feet sizes and foot straps to help secure the feet while working out.
The extra padding in the seat helps relieve pressure in the tailbone that results from prolonged sitting hence improving circulation.
For people who sweat a lot during workouts, this magnetic rowing machine features a non-slip handlebar that offers extra safety and ease of use.
4. HouseFit Water Rower Rowing Machine
The HouseFit Water Rower Rowing Machine is a high-end cardio fitness machine that features water resistance and an LCD monitor for home use.
It also features six levels of tension control which is perfect for any beginner. The 330Lbs weight capacity provides this rowing machine with a strong foundation.
This rowing machine features a large cushioned seat that offers ergonomic support for the hip and back to make you feel comfortable even on longer rowing sessions.
There is an instant resistance with the flywheel and 16 double blade fans which are all rust-resistant. The faster the blade fans spin the higher resistance and dynamic reaction by the boundless contact with the water.
The smart LCD display shows some features like the approximated calories burned, time exercised, and total count.
This is not one of the best foldable rowing machines; however, it can be stood up against a wall and will take less space.
The floor stabilizers allow you to adjust effortlessly to any floor level making the grip robust and eliminating any wobbling during the rowing sessions.
5. FITNESS REALITY 1000 PLUS Magnetic Rowing Machine
The Fitness Reality 1000 Plus Rowing Machine is one of the best magnetic rowing machines that has embraced the new technology, Bluetooth.
This rowing machine takes a minimum of thirty minutes to assemble and features an online application that can help you track your workout progress.
This magnetic rower doesn’t produce any noise, which means you won’t have to worry about the noise if you live in an apartment.
The rowing machine also features an LCD screen that allows you to track your progress, for instance, the number of strokes you are getting for every minute.
There is an instant resistance offered by the 14 level double transmission magnetic tensions. This allows for an easy or challenging workout. The rower also comes with a floor stabilizer that eliminates any chances of wobbling during the rowing sessions.
Top Advantages To Consider Rowing Machines Under $500
You don’t need to be a professional rower to reap all the benefits of using a rowing machine. A rowing machine can either be a water rowing machine, a fan rowing machine, or a magnetic rowing machine.
Rowing offers a lot of benefits like it is a great warm-up; a good warm-up is the key to having a successful workout. It helps prepare the joints, muscles, heart, and mind for the tougher efforts to come.
The main benefit of using a quality rowing machine is that it offers a full-body and low-impact workout. Unlike most stationary workouts, rowing provides you with a real upper-body workout.
Additionally, when you sit on a rowing machine, some major muscles will be worked on, for instance, your back, shoulders, and the pulling muscles located in your arms, the glutes, thighs, and even the calves.
Rowing also helps improve your lungs and heart health. Rowing is an aerobic exercise since there is a repetition of muscle movement for a long period of time.
Aerobic exercise offers many proven benefits from reducing the risk of getting cardiovascular illnesses, including high blood pressure, obesity, Type-2 diabetes to boosting your immunity.
It can be hard to spend money on high-end rowing machines; however, you can find some good and affordable rowing machines without breaking the bank.
You don’t necessarily even need to sacrifice the quality and the features since many affordable rowing machines have numerous features that can help you save money in the long run.
Rowing is fun. Are you one of those people that dread working out? It can be harder to inspire yourself, but you need to keep in mind that the key to success is making a fitness plan that you will actually enjoy.
Rowing works out the whole body, so it is simpler to stay focused while doing it. Plus, you get the chance to challenge yourself by increasing the resistance levels.