The Best Air Rowing Machines Under $500
Get That Full Body Workout You Desire With The Best Air Rowers Under $500 Our Team has Tested and Reviewed for You
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- Reviewed and Compared By BEMH Indoor Rowing Team • Updated: January 2023
When people think of the activity of rowing, the first element that usually comes to mind is water. However, due to a combination of geography and weather conditions, not everyone can go rowing outside. Some also prefer not to have to maintain a water resistance indoor rower.
This is where another element comes into play: air. Air resistance rowing machines are those that use large fans in order to create resistance for those using them. Some of the top tier rowers can cost an absolute fortune. This is where we come in. We have sifted and sorted through the many air resistance rowers out there in order to come up with the best ones that fall under a certain price range. Today, that price range is under $500.
We did this by looking through a variety of factors that we will cover in our buyer’s guide at the end of the article. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, as there are plenty of rowing machines in the US that are quality and might fit your home better. But these are generally what we have found to have the most features and do the best job for the price range we looked at. Now let’s fly straight into our list of the best air rowing machines for under $500!
Top Air Rowing Machines Under $500 Compared
| NAME | FEEDBACK | WEIGHT | FOLDING | RESISTANCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mutisol Rowing Machine With Fan Resistance | Backlit, watt, strokes, time, scan, calories | 250 Lbs | Yes, this air rower folds up | 5 Levels air-mag resistance system |
| Marcy Foldable Turbine Rowing Machine NS-6050RE | No-backlit, speed, distance, time, calories burned, and SPM | 300 Lbs | Yes, this air rower folds up | 8 Levels air resistance system |
| Stamina ATS 1403 Air Resistance Rowing Machine | No-backlit, speed, distance, time and calories | 250 Lbs | Yes, this air rower folds up | Dynamic Air Resistance |
| XTERRA Fitness ERG500 Home Air Turbine Rower | No-backlit, time, distance, strokes, calories | 300 Lbs | Yes, this air rower folds up | 8 Levels air resistance system |
| Stamina 35-1405 ATS Air Rower Rowing Machine | No-backlit, time, distance, calories | 250 Lbs | Yes, this air rower folds up | Dynamic Air Resistance |
| Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5940 Air Rower | No-backlit, time, time, strokes, calories | 300 Lbs | Yes, this air rower folds up | 8 Levels air-mag resistance system |
| Vichicy Dual-Belt Dynamic Air Rowing Machine | No-Backlit, scan, count, time, total count, calories | 264 Lbs | Yes, this air rower folds up | Dynamic Air Resistance |
Best Overall Air Rowing Machine Under 500
Our indoor rowing team at BEMH has already picked the air resistance rowing machines for home under 500 in 2022 and reviewed them down below. This part is where I search the market every month and pick the newest and best rowing machine with air resistance under $500.
My choice for the best fan resistance rowing machine under $500 in 2022 is the foldable Marcy compact air rower. This air rowing machine is affordable, made of solid materials, and has a compact folding frame, making it perfect for everyday training.
In addition to its beautiful look, this indoor rower with air resistance under 500 boasts a relatively good monitor that displays time, distance, strokes per minute, and calories per hour to keep you motivated to reach your fitness goals.
To provide a comfortable workout and allow you to make the most out of your air rowing machine workouts, the 550R affordable air rowing machine comes with an ergonomic seat, active recoil system, and height-adjustable footplates with straps.
On top of all the features, I mentioned above, this folding air rowing machine under $500 is equipped with transport wheels for easy movement and can be stored folded. You can simply lift this air rower on its end and store it out of the way against your wall or closet when not in use.
Thanks to its adjustable air resistance and drive mechanism, this rowing exercise machine has less noise compared to many other indoor air resistance rowers under $500. Receiving 5-star from most consumers, Marcy is my pick for the best home rowing machine with air resistance under $500 in 2022.
Our Top 7 Air Rower Picks Under $500:
Murtisol Rowing Machine With Fan Resistance
Firs in the list is the Murtisol. Like all of the air resistance rowers on this list, it does tend to be noisier than rowers with magnetic or water resistance systems. The LCD monitor is easy to read while working out and displays the usual information from these rowers.
Calories burned, time, distance, and strokes per minute are all on display. A nice feature of the Murtisol’s monitor is that it has the ability to set a goal such as how many calories you want to burn, or distance you want to row, and then watch your progress towards achieving it.
For a rower in this price range it is a pretty good monitor. The resistance mechanism is air which means it will be noisier than some other types of rowers when attempting more intense workouts.
It isn’t too loud though, so you shouldn’t worry too much about the noise unless you have got some extremely sensitive neighbours in an apartment nearby. Meanwhile the handle is well designed and protects against hand blisters. The seat is comfortable enough and the footrests will firmly hold you in place for those more intense workouts.
It can be folded, which is a handy feature for those with smaller living conditions. For just under $500, this is a very solid rower that will most certainly help those looking to get some intense workouts going.
More Useful Information That You Will Need
The 550R has a max user weight of 300 lbs (120 kg) and weighs 40 lbs. The dimensions are 84.5 inches (215 cm) long, 22 inches (56 cm) wide and 25.5 (65 cm) inches tall. It has a nice 1 year warranty on the frame and parts.
- The Pros:
- No risk of hand blisters on this rower.
- A monitor that does more than just keep track of the basic stats is nice as well.
- Combined with a nice warranty on the frame and foldability, you have a solid rower.
- The Cons:
- It will do what you ask of it and not much more.
- The warranty isn’t all that generous either, so if it does break, it had a better break quickly.
Marcy Foldable Turbine Rowing Machine NS-6050RE
Second coming in the list of the best air resistance rowers under $500 is the Marcy Foldable Rowing Machine NS-6050RE. The resistance system that it comes with consists of eight levels of resistance that allow users to customize their workout from easy to intense. Thanks to its adjustable air resistance mechanism, you can decide how much air hits the flywheel/fan.
It allows for the customizable resistance levels while still providing the dynamic feel of any other air resistance rower. It provides just such an excellent feel to the workouts. The design of this rower is really sleek, with everything designed in such a way as to make it superbly comfortable.
The footrests’ length is adjustable, and can accommodate sports footwear of all sizes. The seat is quite a bit wider than for other models. It’s padded and contoured, which reduces the stress on the users’ lower back. The only real weakness of the NS-6050RE is the monitor that it comes with.
It will display the stats like time, calories burned, speed and distance, but won’t do much more. The unit cannot track pulse, therefore if you want to monitor your heart rate, you will have to use your own device. Also, it does not have any built-in workout programs, such as the monitors supplied with commercial rowers.
Admittedly, this is a common feature of rowers in this price range. A handy little feature of this indoor rowing machine with air resistance under $500 is that it can fold up, which means that it is good for small apartments and houses. All in all, for just under $400, you are getting an extremely solid rowing machine.
More Useful Information That You Will Need
The rower has a max user weight of 300 lbs (136 kg) and weighs 87 lbs (39 kg). Its dimensions are 55 inches (140 cm) long, 12 inches (30.5 cm) wide and 24 inches (61 cm) tall. Its folded dimensions are 44.5 inches (113 cm) long, 20.5 inches (52 cm) wide and 58.75 inches (150 cm) tall. The warranty is only 30 days.
- The Pros:
- Really solid quality for the price. Solid frame, comfortable seating, and smooth and quiet design for only $400.
- The excellent combination of dynamic and adjustable air resistance is really one of the things that set this rower apart from many others out there.
- The Cons:
- The monitor doesn’t give you much outside of the regular statistics.
- The warranty is also pretty terrible since it only allows for any refund or exchange within 30 days.
Stamina ATS 1403 Air Resistance Rowing Machine
Seen on almost every air rowing machine reviews for home use under $500, the Stamina ATS 1403 is a rowing machine that will hold up under a variety of workouts. It is a really great entry level rower for those looking for such a rower. It has a multifunction monitor that tracks speed, distance, time and calories burned when rowing.
For around $300, this is a handy little feature that isn’t found on many other rowers. The level of resistance is totally up to how fast/hard or slow you pull the handle and as you change your rowing speed. The seat is also surprisingly comfortable for a rower this cheap.
Usually, rowing seat cushions are recommended for these, but not here. The ATS 1403 is also foldable, which is convenient in smaller apartments. The machine is also very well built. The durable design will allow you to get many years of use out of this machine, so long as you take care of it.
The pulley strap is one inch wide strong nylon that glides smoothly and feels durable. The assembly is very easy, and so long as you are following the instructions, it shouldn’t take more than 20-30 minutes to get it fully assembled.
While it doesn’t come with many of the bells and whistles that you might expect to find at a nearby gym, for rowers in this price range, those are generally hard to come by. Overall a very solid rower for such a cheap price.
More Useful Information That You Will Need
The Stamina 1403 has a 250 lb.(113 kg) maximum user weight capacity and weighs 54 lbs (24 kg). Its dimensions are 77 inches (196 cm) long 18 inches (46 cm) wide and 22 inches (56 cm) tall when fully assembled. When folded, it measures at 48 inches (122 cm) long, 18 inches (46 cm) wide and 28 inches (71 cm) tall. It comes with a 3 year frame warranty and a 1 year parts warranty.
- The Pros:
- The price makes this a great rower for beginners.
- The comfortable seat and durable design are both great additions.
- The foldable design also makes it good for those tight on space.
- The Cons:
- There are some plastic parts that come with the rower.
- Users have reported that these are the parts that frequently break when the rower does have issues.
- Its monitor also isn’t incredible.
XTERRA Fitness ERG500 Home Air Turbine Rower
An extremely well designed machine, the XTERRA Fitness ERG500 Air Turbine Rower is designed to give trainees the feel of real rowing. The air turbine offers eight levels of lever-adjusted resistance and four preset programs for various goals, allowing food a variety of really productive workouts.
These levels of resistance come from another combination of air resistance and magnetic resistance. Admittedly, 8 isn’t a ton of levels, so you really can’t finetune it to exactly how you want. People with advanced rowing experience might find that the maximum resistance isn’t enough challenge.
The ERG500 does have an extremely durable frame design to limit frame flex. It also has dual aluminum slide rails for smooth action. It does have an extremely quality monitor for this price range. This monitor features an adjustable angle and clearly displays time, distance, strokes/min, count, calories, pulse, and a visual stroke display graphic.
It can even monitor the heart rate if you purchase a heart rate monitor strap separately. The folding capability of this rower (like the others that have this ability) make it very nice for easy storage. The preset programs that come with the monitor are nice, but with only 4 of them available, then it is a bit limited.
As for comfort, there isn’t exactly anything special about the ERG500. The footstraps, handle and seat are all comfortable enough, but won’t exactly make your body want to stay connected with them all day.
More Useful Information That You Will Need
The ERG500 has a max user weight of 300 lbs (136 kg) and weighs 59.5 lbs (27 kg). Its dimensions when fully assembled are 72 inches (183 cm) long, 19 inches (48 cm) wide and 33 inches (84 cm) tall. When folded, its dimensions are 45 inches (114 cm) long, 20 inches (50 cm) wide and 57 (144 cm) inches tall. It comes with a 5 year warranty on the frame, 2 year warranty on the parts and a 90 days warranty on the labour.
- The Pros:
- A quality monitor for rowers in this price range.
- It also has a very slick and durable design.
- The foldability and the extremely generous warranty are also bonuses.
- The Cons:
- The resistance levels don’t offer too much customization, and the preset programs can leave a bit to be desired.
Stamina 35-1405 ATS Air Rower Rowing Machine
The Stamina 35-1405 ATS Air Rower Rowing Machine might have one of the more confusing names on this list simply because of all the numbers and the seemingly arbitrary reason as to why they are there. However, one should not judge an entire rower by its name.
It is actually quite a solid rowing machine when it works well. The comfort level of the 35-1405 is actually surprisingly high for the price of just around $400. The molded seat supports well, with the angled rail allowing for smooth transitions between positions.
The foot pedals are also very adjustable and should fit almost any size. If you have limited living space, this model folds up into a compact size for convenience. The monitor on the rower is pretty basic.
It displays the usual air rowing machine workout data such as time, distance and stroke rate. However, it is somewhat small and only displays one of these at a time. The major issue with this rower is the chain that attaches to the handle.
It has a history of the chain getting caught in the midst of the workout, which can drag the entire thing to a halt. It’s not so common that it happens to everyone, but it should be mentioned.
More Useful Information That You Will Need
The 35-1405 has a max user weight of 250 lbs (113 kg) and weighs 73 lbs (33 kg). Its dimensions when fully assembled are 78 inches (198 cm) long, 20 inches (50 cm) wide and 32 inches (81.3 cm) tall. When folded, its dimensions are 46 inches (117 cm) long, 18 inches (45.7 cm) wide and 28 inches (71 cm) tall. It comes with a 3 year warranty on the frame and a 3 month warranty on the parts.
- The Pros:
- Surprisingly comfortable for a rower in this price range.
- The frame is also stable for a bunch of different sizes of people.
- The Cons:
- The monitor is small and not extremely detailed.
- The biggest issue with this rower is the fact that it does tend to break.
- This is somewhat helped by the warranty, but should still be noted.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5940 Air Rower
Another mouthful (what is the deal with companies throwing in numbers into their exercise equipment names?) of a rowing machine, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5940. This rower uses a combination of magnetic and air resistance in order to provide the challenge.
It comes with 16 levels of magnetic resistance, but also uses a fan in order to make it have that sort of dynamic air resistance that these rowers commonly have. The assembly of this rower is pretty direct and shouldn’t take more than 40-50 minutes. As with many of these cheaper machines, the monitor is not much to focus on.
It shows time, count, calories, total count of strokes. However, it does come with the neat little feature of allowing you to keep a record of your workouts so you can see where you’ve improved over time. As for the comfort of actually using the rower, there isn’t much to say that is outstanding one way or another in that department either.
It uses a generic seat that will do its job though after a while it can start to get a tad uncomfortable. The handlebars will prevent blisters and the foot rests will keep your feet in place. However, the location of the footrests directly beneath the handle means it bumps back into the housing at the end of the stroke.
If you’re short in the arm this may not be an issue for you, but otherwise it might become an issue. Certainly not the best rower out there, but by all means a very valid option.
More Useful Information That You Will Need
The SF-RW5623 has a max user weight of 300 lbs (136 kg) and weighs 70 lbs (32 kg) itself. Its dimensions are 86 inches (218 cm) long, 19 inches (48 cm) wide and 28 inches (71 cm) tall. It comes with a mediocre 3 month warranty on both the frame and parts.
- The Pros:
- The combination of air and magnetic resistance makes for a really dynamic and challenging feel to the workout.
- For a budget machine, the motion is quite smooth and the rower is sturdily built.
- For a price of just under $500, you get a solid amount of value for the money.
- The Cons:
- The monitor is extremely basic. Expected, but still a con.
- The position of the footrest is also a questionable design choice.
- The warranty on the rower is also not very generous, though it is typical of Sunny Health & Fitness.
Vichicy Dual-Belt Dynamic Air Rowing Machine
Rounding out our list of the top indoor air rowing machines is the Vichicy Air Rowing Machine. It is one of the new paddling machines discharged in 2021, and while it isn’t good enough to make it into the upper tiers of rowers, it is good enough (and cheap enough) to make it onto this list.
While it isn not quite as big as other business air rowers, it might be a bit large for those who have smaller apartments or other living spaces. The fact that it can be folded does help with that, but it doesn’t mean that it becomes tiny. This size (and general design) does help with the sturdiness of the model.
With a weight limit of 300 lbs and a rail that should support users up to 6’2”, you really won’t feel it rock around even during the most intense workouts. As its name suggests, the MaxKare Air Fan Rower is equipped with an air resistance system. The fan does generate some noise, however, the level of noise is far from being loud or disturbing.
The monitor on this rower is nothing outside the ordinary, but does the job well. It tracks time, separation, number of strokes, and calories burned. A neat little point about the monitor is that it comes with a spot to put a tablet for some entertainment while the exercise is ongoing. In terms of comfort, the seat is firm (but not hard) in order to reduce sway on the more intense exercises.
The machine’s rail is slightly uneven. This prompts a quicker recuperation movement and a marginally better exercise for the legs during the push stage. All of these features for a sub-$300 rowing machine (at the time of writing) is an extremely good deal.
More Useful Information That You Will Need
The Vichicy Air Rowing Machine has a max user weight of 264 lbs. Its dimensions are 71 inches (181 cm) long, 20 inches (51 cm) wide and 14 inches (36 cm) tall when fully assembled. When folded, its dimensions are 40 inches (100 cm) long, 20 inches (50 cm) wide and 42 inches (126 cm) tall. It comes with a 1 year limited warranty.
- The Pros:
- A very sturdy rower that allows for a wide variety of users to get some solid exercise in.
- The tablet holder that comes with the monitor allows for some entertainment while you row.
- The Cons:
- The monitor isn’t anything special outside of the tablet holder. It provides some stats, but that’s it.
- The size of the rower, even with the foldability, means that those with smaller apartments or living spaces might consider it a con.
Buyer’s Guide to Help You Find the Best Air Rowing Machine Under $500:
With the conclusion of our list, we’re now going to look at some of the factors we took into account while compiling this list of best air rowing machine reviews under $500. We realise that we can’t be right all the time and that these rowers might not be best for everyone, everywhere. Therefore it is important to look at some of the features of a rowing machine that you are looking at that isn’t on this list.
1: The frame. When buying budget rowing machines, the frame is important in deciding how the machine handles under intense workouts. The frame also helps determine whether or not the rower is foldable.
2: The seat, handlebar and footrest. Many of the indoor fan rowing machines under 500 USD that are on this list have no problems with the handlebars or footrests. There are some with less-than-luxury-style seating, though that can usually be handled by putting some cushions on top of the regular seat.
3: The console. Many of the more advanced consoles and monitors that you will find on rowing machines come on those that are significantly more expensive than $500. However, there are certainly some home rowing machines with air resistance under $500 on this list that do more than others, and this should be kept in mind.
5: The warranty and weight capacity. A good warranty is always good to have. Nobody wants to pay for a whole new rower once theirs breaks. The weight capacity is also important to determine how solid the ride is and how many users can safely use the air rower. Another note is to look at what sort of height the rowing machines can handle. Most rowers under $1000 can handle people in between about 5” and 6’3”, though there are exceptions.
6: The assembly and maintenance. Most of the assembly of these portable air rowing machines under $500 is pretty simple, and shouldn’t take more than 30-45 minutes. The maintenance is also generally pretty low. Usually the maintenance is limited to changing out the batteries on the rowers with monitors. Making sure that the rails are clear of rust is also one of the steps to maintaining a clean rowing machine.
FAQs When Buying Air Rowers Under 500:
Q: Does rowing help lose weight?
A: Absolutely. Rowing is one of the most complete workouts out there and provides an excellent way to lose weight. It just takes consistent workout routines to achieve that weight goal. So, no matter you buy one of the top rowers under $2000 or a budget rowing machine under $200, you will be able to lose weight.
Q: What muscles does a rower workout?
A: Some estimates state a rowing machine can burn up to 1,000 calories an hour and can work out 84% of your muscle mass! Note: Depending on the resistance (magnetic rowers under $500 as well as air and water rowers under $500), the number of calories you burn might vary.
Q: Do air rowing machines make a lot of noise?
A: Air resistance rowers tend to make the most noise of the various types of rowing machines. However, the noise that is made usually still is not above what is deemed acceptable. Most of them make little enough noise that you can still hear the TV at a medium volume level over it. The trade-off for this noise is the dynamic abilities of resistance that come with these types of air and water rowers.
Our Final Verdict!
There you have it. Our list of the top air rowing machines for under $500. Remember to take into account the variables that might play a part in what rower would suit your circumstances. Rowing exercise can really benefit those who decide to get invested in it or even those who are looking for a solid way to workout at home. Now get out there and get rowing!
Sayed Hamed Hosseiny
Hi, my name is Sayed Hamed Hosseiny. I am a professional health and fitness trainer with nearly 20 years of experience using ellipticals, rowing machines, and spin bikes. I also have my own EU-based Rock Fitness Pro fitness brand where I design, import and sell exercise equipment such as rowing machines and spin bikes. I and writers on my team also often receive fitness equipment to review and evaluate their functionalities and performance from tens of different exercise machines manufacturers. Fitness equipment tips, guides, reviews, and comparisons on this website are my opinion (and opinions of my fitness expert colleagues) based on tens of criteria. I never accept payment to write reviews of products or say positive things about fitness equipment products. If brands are interested to have me review their rowers, ellipticals, or spin bikes, they can get in touch with me via email provided on the contact page and send a sample of their product.
