HouseFit Wooden Water Rowing Machine Review
Are you looking to get back in shape and feel better about your overall health? It might be time to consider a home water rowing machine to help melt away those calories and get into a home workout routine! The HouseFit wooden water rower makes for an excellent addition to any home gym and the best part is it comes in a very affordable price range. Initially, you may be skeptical at the wooden frame, but trust us when we say that water rowers with wooden frames are the closest thing you will get to being out on the open water in a real boat. The frame is constructed from real European beech, and is moisture and corrosion resistant, as well as strong enough to withstand a maximum user weight capacity of 350 lbs. This places the HouseFit wooden water rower above most of its peers with a higher weight capacity than the Koreyosh foldable water rower (330 lbs), the Marcy Pro NS-6023RW water rower (300 lbs), and the Harison water rower (300 lbs). One of the best features of the HouseFit wooden water rower is that the frame is foldable, so you do not have to worry about storing the machine vertically against the wall which can be dangerous if you have kids in the house. This may not seem like a big deal, but for those living in smaller spaces, it can be a deal-breaker. In my opinion, foldable frames are a great feature to have and even if you have a big house, folding the machine away makes everything look tidier and gives you more room, especially when you have guests at home.
One thing that is difficult to get away from with indoor rowing machines is the amount of space they end up taking in your home. In this respect, the HouseFit water rower is no different, even though it has a foldable frame. When in use, the dimensions are 84” L x 19.5” W x 19.5” H, making it one of the longer units in the home water rower market. If space is at a premium for you, I would recommend looking at a machine like the Marcy Pro NS-6023RW or the MaxKare home water rower, both of which are half a foot shorter than the HouseFit wooden water rower. A benefit of the beech wooden frame is that the HouseFit indoor water rower is lighter than its steel-framed counterparts. At 81.6 lbs out of the box, users do need to keep in mind that once the water tank is filled, it should add an extra 10-15 lbs to the machine weight. If you aren’t completely committed to the water resistance rower, but would like a smaller-sized machine, check out the HouseFit magnetic rower, which is only 65” in length and weighs only 61 lbs.
Like with most water resistance rowers, the HouseFit wooden water rower features a water tank with built-in propellers that create tension when they move through the water. As the user rows harder, the blades will push through the water, creating a resistance that is similar to the sensation of rowing an actual boat. The water tank is created with a strong, polycarbonate plastic, and inside the tank are 16 different blades that work in harmony to create resistance for the user. This system is what is known as a variable resistance system, meaning that the resistance is created by the effort of the user. This also means that there is no manual resistance adjustment aside from adding or removing water from the tank. Personally, although I love the feel of the water resistance, I also prefer to have control over the difficulty of my workout. If you want total control over the resistance levels, you may want to opt for the HouseFit magnetic indoor rower instead. As for sound, the only real noise comes from the sloshing of the water inside the tank and the sliding of the seat along the rail. Maintenance is low key as with most water rowing machines, as the only upkeep that is needed is keeping the water tank clean with the occasional cleaning tablet, as well as changing the water every so often.
As with most indoor rowing machines in this price range, the HouseFit wooden water rower does not come equipped with any connected technology. HouseFit does provide a basic digital LED monitor that can be used to keep track of time, speed, scan, calories, and distance. One thing that the HouseFit wooden water rower does include is a tablet holder where you can connect your tablet or smartphone to keep yourself entertained during a workout. Unfortunately, there is no Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity, so your connected device cannot be integrated with the digital monitor or any other part of the machine. As someone who loves technology and gadgets, I can appreciate that HouseFit includes the tablet holder, but I do wish there was some more connected integration with this model. If you are looking for something slightly more connected, I would suggest either the Women’s Health/Men’s Health Bluetooth magnetic rower or the Mr. Captain Bluetooth indoor water rower.
Assembly is definitely one of the strong points for the HouseFit home wooden water rower, as the company advertises that it is 80% assembly free out of the box. There are very clear instructions included and really only a couple of parts need to be attached before you can get on with your first workout! In all, assembly shouldn’t take one person more than about 30-45 minutes. HouseFit is yet another brand that sells almost exclusively on Amazon, so more likely than not, this is where you will be making your purchase. I do like that HouseFit offers 24 hour customer service to its users, which can be a concern when dealing with a third party seller on Amazon.
If you still aren’t completely sold on the HouseFit home wooden water rower, then the price tag may be what pushes you over the edge. At just over $550, the HouseFit wooden water rower provides an excellent value for anyone who is casually trying to get into a home workout routine. You aren’t going to get the latest connected technology, but HouseFit is targeting the market of customers who simply do not need the top of the line machine with all of the extra features. I mentioned HouseFit’s 24 hour customer support, but I will also mention that they offer unconditional replacement within the first month, and replacement parts for the first year. It’s not the best warranty on the market, but it is better than some of the other third party sellers on Amazon for sure.
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.
