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15 best rowing machines to buy for your home gym, from less than £100
Expert tested for the best home workouts
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Stuck in an exercise rut and want to mix up your fitness regime? Perhaps you’re bored of pounding the pavement on your early morning runs, or maybe you’re struggling to stick to a regular gym schedule and fancy working out from the comfort of your own home. Whatever the reason, our pick of the best rowing machines is here to spice things up a little.
Traditionally overlooked in favour of the treadmill or exercise bike, the rowing machine is having a moment, and it’s not hard to see why – it’s arguably *the* most effective piece of equipment for a home workout.
'Indoor rowing is so effective because it's a full body movement that engages 85% of your muscles,' explains Pelé Zachariah, head of performance at ROWBOTS. 'It allows you to build a seriously impressive aerobic base and cardiovascular system as well as full body structural strength.
'Whether you're a runner, weightlifter or yogi, it will help you build strength and power that are transferable to your activity of choice, and, if endurance is your goal, rowing is hard to beat.'
But with so many options and price points out there, it can be tricky finding the right rower for you. That’s why our team got busy testing a range of top models that cater to every need and budget.
Looking for the best budget buy? Our top-rated Decathlon rower is only to £299.99 and you can pick up our Editor's best hydraulic rowing machine from Sunny for just over £100. Got a bit more cash to splash, but looking for value for money? Check out this ProForm rower, which is currently reduced by £400.
The best rowing machines 2024
The best rowing machines for 2023
How we test rowing machines
Our team tested a variety of rowing machines to suit all price points, from budget-friendly to bougie, before selecting their top picks.
The rowers featured below impressed with their ease of use, functionality and performance. Bonus points were awarded for clever design features such as foldability, which makes them easier to stash away after a sweaty session.
Priyankaa is our senior health and wellness writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. From walking boots to running machines, Priyankaa has written about hundreds of products and is passionate about providing in-depth, unbiased reviews. Plus, as an avid runner and gymgoer, she knows exactly what to look for when finding the right gymwear, fitness tracker or earphones.
Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges.
She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more.
Outside of work, Priyankaa can usually be found trying out a new gym class, seeking out London's best eats or watching a Spanish TV show in a bid to keep up her language skills.
Bridie is Fitness Editor at Women's Health UK. She spends her days sweating over new workouts, fitness launches and the best home gym kit so you have all that you need to get fit done. Her work has been published in Stylist, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and more. She’s also a part-time yoga teacher with a habit of nodding off mid savasana (not when she’s teaching, promise).
Yanar has spent 15 years as a health and wellness editor and writer for national titles such as Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Runner’s World. Yanar is a 580-hour yoga therapist, 200-hour yoga teacher and level 3 personal trainer at Yanar Mind & Movement. After years of running races and marathons, she discovered CrossFit and Olympic lifting in her mid-30s and fell in love with training and competing. She now advocates strength training for women to build a stronger body for life and the benefits of nervous system regulation for better physical and mental health. When not training, teaching or writing, she can be found experimenting in the kitchen.
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