Best Budget Rowing Machines In Canada 2021 – The Ultimate Guide
Get Fit Without Spending Too Much With These Great Affordable Home Rowers!
In Canada, especially during those brutal winters, it is nice to take the opportunity to find new ventures at home. One of the healthiest is finding a new way to workout. At home, a great way to get into this exercise routine is to invest in a rowing machine and proper exercise clothing for a more comfortable workout including rowing shoes. With the top rowers in Canada, you will exercise just about every muscle in the body without needing to leave the home.
But so many rowing machines can cost an arm that you’d be rowing with, which takes away a good portion of its value. What about the cheaper ones that still get the job done? That’s exactly what we’re here to look at. Using a set of criteria that we’ll go over in our buyer’s guide near the end of the article, we’re going to see which of the affordable rowing machines in Canada can top the rest. Then we’ll answer some frequently asked questions and give our final thoughts. Now with all of that out of the way, let’s not be sorry about hopping right into our list of the best budget rowing machines in Canada!
Best Budget Rowing Machines In Canada
Generies YQJ-901 Bluetooth Budget Water Rower
Up first we have the Generies Bluetooth Water Rower. This rower has the rather unique advantage of using Bluetooth technology to integrate virtual reality (VR) games into the rower. Row against AI competition to bring yourself to the next level of fitness. It uses a water resistance system in order to simulate the sort of feeling you’d get if you were actually rowing.
The solid oak wood design of the rower is one of the smoothest we’ve seen, and being one of the best rowing machines in Canada under 1000, it is pretty rare to see in this price range. There isn’t a ton of noise generated by the rower thanks to its water-resistance system. The fact that the rower comes fully assembled is also something that we’re rather grateful for. Nobody wants to spend hours putting together one of these machines. Especially not one made of wood. That surely couldn’t go poorly at all.
Additional Information
This rower weighs 72 lbs (32 kg) and has a max user weight of 440 lbs (200 kg). Its dimensions are 82.7 inches (210 cm) long, 22 inches (56 cm) wide and 20 inches (51 cm) tall. It has an unspecified warranty.
The Pros
It offers Bluetooth capabilities, which is rare in this sort of budget price range. The oak wood look that makes up the rower only compliments the quiet water resistance system.
The Cons
The fact that the warranty doesn’t actually contain any information, but rather “There is one” is rather unfortunate. We’d rather know what that warranty includes.
Xterra Fitness ERG600W Water Rower
In second place we have the Xterra Fitness ERG600 Water Rower. This rower is a pretty solid addition to the ever-growing list of budget rowing machines. The resistance in this rower is provided by the water in the tank. As you pull back, the blades in the tank spin against the water, creating that fight and workout. To control this resistance, you have the option of raising or lowering the water level in the tank. There are 6 different levels to accommodate this. The seating is in a good position for these workouts, not stressing your joints or feeling uncomfortable.
The console that comes with the ERG600W isn’t mind blowing or fantastic, though there rarely is one in this price range. It is 5.5 inches and can easily be read. You can race against the computer in addition to having stats like distance, calories or strokes displayed. For a $700 rower, this is a pretty good monitor.
Additional Information
The ERG600W can support up to 300 lbs (136 kg) of weight, while it weighs 82.7 lbs (37 kg). Its dimensions are 80.7 inches (205 cm) long, 22 inches (56 cm) wide and 33 inches (84 cm) tall. It has a 5-year warranty on the frame, 2-year warranty on the parts and 90-day warranty on the at-home labour.
The Pros
A comfortable water rowing machine that can hold up to 300 lbs. It will provide a solid workout while also showing you exactly what sort of work you are putting in. The good warranty and bonus features like racing against the computer are definitely pros.
The Cons
Changing the resistance manually can be a tad annoying sometimes. The seat can be a bit noisy on the rail sometimes, but it won’t cause anyone to go deaf.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5713 Rowing Machine
In third place, we have the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5713. Fortunately, the bike is significantly less annoying than the name. It uses a combination of water and air resistance to create a challenging and dynamic workout. It has a flywheel and steel blades included in the water tank, giving it a smooth workout that will make sure any exercise done on it will be smooth, yet rewarding.
This combination actually makes it really fun to row, as it has the dynamic resistance of water tanks, yet the controlled motion of fan resistance rowers. The seat of the SF-RW5713 is also positioned high enough that anyone with hip, back or knee problems will find little to no problems compared to rowers with lower seats.
The monitor of the SF-RW5713 is… fine. It’ll show the total time, 500m time, strokes per minute, total strokes, calories burned, ambient temperature and time. It will do the job but isn’t exactly the top of the line. Heart rate can be monitored through a chest strap, but it does not come with such a device. Admittedly, for a price of about $500, the technology is par for the course.
Additional Information
The SF-RW5713 weighs 81.6 lbs (37 kg) and has a max user weight of 300 lbs (136 kg). Its dimensions are 80 inches (203 cm) long, 22 inches (56 cm) wide and 34 inches (86.4 cm) tall. It has a 3-year warranty on the frame and a 90-day warranty on the parts.
The Pros
The combination of water and air resistance is definitely the highlight. It makes for an enjoyable workout every time you sit down. The seat that you sit on is also comfortable for these workouts. For the price, the monitor also does the job well enough.
The Cons
The transport wheels are not exactly great. Considering how heavy the actual rower is, it would be nice to have some help moving it around.
Stamina DT 397 Affordable Rowing Machine
The Stamina DT 397 is up next. In a similar manner to the SF-RW5713, the DT in this name stands for “Dual Technology”. You can select one of 8 resistance levels using a knob on the rower. It combines magnetic and air resistance methods in order to replicate the feeling of rowing on the water. It does this job well, making significantly less noise than that of an air-only resistance rower. The seat on the 397 is comfortable enough. This inexpensive air rowing exercise machine will hold you in place, even at higher intensities. Similarly, the footrests are far enough apart to be comfortable and give you straps to keep your feet in place.
The monitor on the DT 397 is basic. It tracks the time, count, distance, and calories. A nice little feature is that you get access to 2 online workouts that can be streamed to your device. This allows you to follow along with experts on their own rowers. For those who like to stay hydrated, there is the nice little bonus of having a spot to hold a water bottle. A price of $350 is a pretty good proposal for this rower in terms of the value you get from it.
Additional Information
The DT 397 weighs 50 lbs (22.6 kg) and has a max user weight of 250 lbs (113 kg). Its dimensions are 66 inches (165.6 cm) long, 22 inches (56 cm) wide and 34.5 inches (87.6 cm) tall. It has a 3-year warranty on the frame and a 90-day warranty on the parts.
The Pros
The DT 397 offers good value for money alongside its solid workout capabilities. Thanks to the magnetic resistance combination, the noise coming from the machine is significantly less than normal air rowers. Little additions like the water bottle holder are also a bonus.
The Cons
The monitor is pretty basic, though that’s not necessarily surprising for this level of rower. This machine is also pretty light, which might lead to the machine actually moving on the most intense routines. Not a regular occurrence, but it should be kept in mind.
Fitness Reality 1000 Plus Bluetooth Magnetic Rower
The Fitness Reality 1000 Plus Bluetooth Magnetic Rower might have one of the more awkward names (besides those of Sunny Health & Fitness), but it still makes for a solid piece of exercise equipment. It uses a magnetic resistance system that has 14 different resistance levels. The model can be folded up and stored. Combined with the quiet nature from it’s magnetic resistance, this makes for a great rower in apartments.
The monitor that comes with the rower is extremely basic. It displays distance rowed, time of workout, total count of strokes, calories burned, and strokes per minute. It doesn’t really do anything else. This would be a negative if not for the ability to connect to iOS or Android devices and display such stats through the MyCloudFitness app.
Additional Information
This rower weighs 63.6 lbs (28.9 kg) while having a max user weight of 250 lbs (113 kg). Its dimensions are 88.5 inches (225 cm) long, 21.5 inches (55 cm) wide and 21.5 inches (55 cm) tall when fully assembled. When folded, its dimensions are 39.5 inches (100 cm) long, 21.5 inches (55 cm) wide and 53.5 inches (136 cm) tall. There is a 1-year limited warranty with this rower.
The Pros
A price of about $300 makes this a competitive option. It offers a solid workout while being foldable and quiet. The Bluetooth nature of the rower is most definitely a plus.
The Cons
The monitor is almost useless outside of its statistic display. The Bluetooth function also doesn’t do much more than connect to the phone and display stats there.
SereneLife SLRWMC50 Air and Magnetic Rowing Machine
Now we have the SereneLife SLRWMC50 Air and Magnetic Rowing Machine on deck. Another combination rower, this one takes air and magnetic resistance and combines them together. There are 10 distinct levels of resistance, giving a decent variety to anyone who chooses to row on it. The actual build of the bike is comfortable, with the seat, footrests and handle all being impressively designed to fit just about anyone.
The SLRWMC50 can’t be folded, which is a tad unfortunate for those who live in smaller spaces. It can be stored vertically. The console on the rower does nothing more than measure the standard range of statistics. It can detect and measure heart rate, though it needs a separately bought chest strap to do so. It also needs 4 AAA batteries to actually work, which might also be an annoyance for some.
Additional Information
The SLRWMC50 has a max user weight of 250 lbs (113 kg), while it weighs 73 lbs (33 kg). Its dimensions are 83.5 inches (212 cm) long, 19.3 inches (49 cm) wide and 34.8 inches (88 cm) tall. It comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
The Pros
A sturdy construction, stable ride and comfortable design are all definite pros of the SLRWMC50. It doesn’t require much maintenance or assembly
The Cons
The fact that the console requires 4 AAA batteries to not deliver that much more than simple statistics displays is not great. There is also no chest strap included for those who do want more.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5624 Magnetic Rower
Another entry from Sunny Health & Fitness, this time we have the SF-RW5624. A slightly odd-looking rower, the SF-RW5624 still does the job well enough. It uses a magnetic resistance system with 8 different levels of resistance. Not a great amount, but it can still deliver a challenge at the upper levels. An interesting part about the SF-RW5624 is its arms. Because it has two different arms (as opposed to the stand 1 handle), you can choose asymmetric workouts. Why someone would do this as opposed to simply using both isn’t exactly clear to us, but it most certainly is a new option that you don’t see in many other places. This design also offers a full-body workout to the user.
Otherwise, there isn’t a whole lot to differentiate the SF-RW5624 from other rowers. It has a standard display unit that will show the time, stroke count, calories and total count of strokes. Yet, you’ll notice there’s no distance in there. A strange and disappointing omission.
Additional Information
The SF-RW5624 weighs 92 lbs (41.7 kg) and has a max user weight of 300 lbs (136 kg). Its dimensions are 76.5 inches (194 cm) long, 30 inches (76 cm) wide and 25.3 inches (64 cm) tall when fully assembled. When folded, its dimensions are 38 inches (96.5 cm) long, 30 inches (76 cm) wide and 65.5 inches (166 cm) tall. It has a 3-year warranty on the frame and a 180-day warranty on the other parts.
The Pros
The full-motion oar-handlebars are definitely the highlight. It gives plenty of potential variety in the workouts. It delivers a good value of workouts and features for its price of $400.
The Cons
The fact that the console doesn’t show the distance measurement is strange and disappointing. The console otherwise isn’t that impressive. Even when folded, the rower is bulky.
Marcy Ns-40503Rw Cheap Folding Magnetic Rowing Machine
As we near the end of our list, we now have the Marcy Foldable 8 Level Magnetic Resistance Rowing Machine, one of the best home rowers under 500 in Canada. The name really spells out what the main features of this rower are, but we’ll go over them anyway. This rower is foldable and can be stored quite nicely in a small area. Meanwhile, its magnetic resistance and 8 level of resistance means that it offers a smooth and quiet workout while giving options on just how tough those workouts are. The seat on this Marcy rower sits somewhat higher off the ground, making it nice for those who usually feel uncomfortable on those that are extremely close to the ground.
There is a monitor that comes along with this Marcy rower, but it doesn’t do anything particularly spectacular. It tracks count, total count, calories, and time. Admittedly, there is a nice little spot to put your smart device on the front of the rower to keep you entertained while you exercise. The question does come at the cost. For $477, there doesn’t seem to be too many features. It does the job well and not too complex of a rower, yet that seems a bit much for this deal.
Additional Information
This Marcy rower weighs around 60 lbs (27 kg) and has a max user weight of 300 lbs (136 kg). Its dimensions are 53 inches (134.6 cm) long, 24 inches (61 cm) wide and 64 inches (162.6 cm) tall. When folded, its dimensions are 37 inches (94 cm) long, 24 inches (61 cm) wide and 46 inches (117 cm) tall. It comes with a 2-year warranty on the frame.
The Pros
This Marcy rower offers a solid and straightforward workout deal. You have an OK amount of resistance levels, a comfortable design and the ability to fold up into a smaller one. Not a bad package, except for…
The Cons
The price. It simply seems that nearly $500 is a tad much for this simple of a rower. The console doesn’t do anything other than show the statistics.
Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Cheap Rower
The Stamina Trac Glider 1050 is up next. Another machine with a unique look, it uses a hydraulic cylinder for resistance. This should be fine for those who only intend on using it lightly, but there have been reports of the piston stopping any resistance after 15 minutes of heavy use. The footrests are also an issue, as they appear to have issues actually keeping people’s feet strapped in. Considering this a necessary component of rowing, this is a big no-no.
It’s not all bad news. The seat is surprisingly comfortable for a rower in this price range. The twelve resistance levels should also allow for many users to get a good workout in, but the fact that it can disappear after a while is an issue. The console is basic enough. It’ll show you the time you workout, stroke count, calories burnt and total strokes accumulated.
Additional Information
The Trac Glider 1050 weighs 39 lbs (17.7 kg) and has a max user weight of 250 lbs (113 kg). Its dimensions are 58.25 inches (148 cm) long, 18 inches (46 cm) wide and 42.5 inches (108 cm) tall. It has a 1-year warranty on the frame and 3 months on the parts.
The Pros
The Trac Glider 1050 is extremely cheap, coming in at only $230. It’s quieter than an air-resistance rower and is good for the occasional workout.
The Cons
For anything other than the occasional workout, you might want to look elsewhere. The footrests aren’t stable and the resistance can drop on longer workouts. The two key elements of rowing just aren’t here.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5720 Inexpensive Rower
Rounding out our list is another rower from Sunny Health & Fitness. The SF-RW5720 is a barebones rower that will still help you get in the occasional workout. It is compact in size and can easily be moved around just about any location imaginable. It really isn’t a rower in the traditional sense, as you start higher up and do a much more varied series of workouts with the SF-RW5720. For a price of $250, this isn’t a bad deal.
The biggest issues you’ll find here is that this really isn’t like a rowing machine. It’s more akin to traditional weight lifting machines that you would find in a public gym. There are 5 levels of incline possible on this rower, which is fine. But it can’t really compare to traditional rowing methods and machines.
Additional Information
The SF-RW5720 weighs 39 lbs (17.7 kg) and has a max user weight of 350 lbs (159 kg). Its dimensions are 55 inches (140 cm) long, 22 inches (56 cm) wide and 18-49.5 inches (45.7-125.7 cm) tall. It has the standard SH&F warranty of 3 years on the frame and 180 days on the other parts.
The Pros
It’s a smaller, cheaper and different way for people to get a full-body workout in. For those who just want a method akin to rowing on the cheap, this is the option.
The Cons
It really isn’t a rower in the traditional sense. If you want the sensation of pulling against water, or even the motion of pulling oars, this really isn’t the place to look.
Best Affordable Home Rowing Machines In Canada – A Buyer’s Guide
That wraps up our guide to the best budget rowing machines in Canada. Now we’re going to look at some of the factors that led us to our rankings and that you should look out for when hunting for your own rower.
- The type of resistance. Whether it’s water, air, hydraulic or some combination of them, the type of resistance that rowers have can make a huge difference in the feel and the cost. Typically, air is the noisiest, while water requires the most maintenance. Magnetic rowing machines are quiet, but some prefer the dynamic feel of other types.
- The console. Considering these are budget rowers, many will have basic consoles and monitors. However, those that offer pre-programmed workouts or have some Bluetooth connection are a notch above.
- The seat, handlebar and footrests. Considering these are the elements that you’d be spending the most time with while on the rower, it is important to make sure that they are comfortable, both in the short and long term. You can also invest in a good pair of rowing gloves and in a rowing machine mat for more comfort and safety.
- The price and warranty. These are all relatively cheap rowers, though it’s still important to check their price and what sort of guarantee they have. You don’t want to bring it home and have it immediately break.
FAQ
- Q: Does rowing help lose weight?
- A: It most certainly does. Rowing is one of the most effective exercise routines that help us lose weight.
- Q: What muscles does using one of these low-cost home exercise rowing machines in Canada actually work out?
- A: If we tried to list all of them, we’d almost never be done. Rowing generally is credited with exercising up to 84% of our muscles at once and can burn up to 1,000 calories an hour.
- Q: What sort of entertainment do these budget rowing machines for home use in Canada offer?
- A: Considering many of these have basic consoles, there isn’t a whole lot of room for entertainment while exercising. However, those with tablet holders can allow you to watch shows or read while you exercise.
There you have it. Our list of the best affordable rowing machines in Canada. As always, do some of your own research so that you can really get what rower best fits your situation. Now get out there and get rowing!