Home > Rowing Machine Reviews > Best Magnetic Resistance Rowing Machines in the UK
Reviewed and Compared By BEMH Indoor Rowing Team • Updated: January 24, 2023
Some days, you just want to break a sweat, without working too hard. You just want to get in shape—ideally, while watching your favorite TV show. For these moments, there is no better equipment than indoor rowing machines with magnetic resistance that make way less noise compared to air rowers in the Uk.
We know how hard it is to find the best home magnetic rowers in the UK, so we have gathered all rowing machine reviews in the UK and compared each piece of equipment objectively to find out what’s the best affordable rowing machine in the UK.
The lockdown is back, and for most Brits, going to the gym is not an option right now. But, if you have a solid piece of equipment at home, you can still get a good workout in. Indoor rowing exercise benefits you more than other cardio machines. A rowing machine for home offers a complete full-body workout. A rowing session can work your back, core, shoulders, quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, chest, biceps, triceps, and forearms.
Now you’re probably thinking: “Ok, sign me in!” But, before you jump on the rowing wagon, you need to choose the best fit for you among the best magnetic rowing machines in the UK. Although the benefits of rowing machines are countless, the only downside is that some of the best magnetic rowing machines for home use in the UK can be quite expensive. That’s why we narrowed down our search to the best and most affordable magnetic exercise rowers in the UK. So, let’s dive in!
Best Magnetic Rowers in the UK Comparison
| Name | Verdict | Monitor | Collapsible | Resistance | Connectivity | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportstech RSX500 Rower | Best Value | With backlit, time, stroke count, distance, caloric consumption, heart rate, program intensity | Yes | Electronic Magnetic | Bluetooth | 120 kg |
| Dripex Magnetic Rower | Best Value | No-backlit, time, distance, Calories | No | Manual Magnetic | None | 120 kg |
| Snode Fitness Rower | Best Value | No-backlit, time, total count, distance, RPM, calorie count | Yes | Manual Magnetic | None | 136 kg |
| Sportstech RSX400 Rower | Good Value | No-backlit, streaming function, calories burned, time, distance, speed. | Yes | Manual Magnetic | Bluetooth | 100 kg |
| Merax Magnetic Rower | Good Value | No-backlit, time, speed, stroke, distance, calories counter. | Yes | Manual Magnetic | None | 120 kg |
| XS Sports R310 Home Rower | Good Value | No-backlit, burnt calories, time, row count per minute, row count. | Yes | Manual Magnetic | None | 100 kg |
| SportPlus Magnetic Rower | Good Value | No-backlit, training time, distance, strokes/min, total strokes, calories. | Yes | Manual Magnetic | None | 150 kg |
| JLL R200 Rowing Machine | Good Value | No-backlit, total count, calorie count, distance, scan, time. | Yes | Manual Magnetic | None | 100 kg |
| We R Sports Premium Rower | Not Recommended | No-backlit, time, distance and speed settings. | Yes | Elastic Friction | None | 100 kg |
Best Magnetic Rowing Machines in the UK
Sportstech RSX500 Rowing Machine
First on the list is our top-rated home rowing in the UK, the Sportstech RSX500 Rowing Machine. This rower comes with a 5.5-inch user-friendly display that allows you to easily set all functions. It offers 12 programmes to vary your training from beginner to competition mode.
The Sportstech RSX500 includes a heart rate belt and allows you to train with e-health or MyRowing app, you just have to connect it to your smartphone to train more efficiently. Besides, it’s built a premium quality magnetic brake, 16 computer-controlled resistance levels and a heavy 7 kg flywheel which offers a smooth and quiet workout. This makes training easier, while you can easily enjoy watching your favourite series, listening to music, and even chatting without annoying noises.
If you’re worried about whether you can fit it in at home, or you’re lacking space, don’t worry! This rower provides a smart folding system. So, don’t let lack of space stand between you and your fitness! Finally, this rower comes with non-slip pedals, and it’s ergonomically designed to support your feet and crafted to adapt to the rowing movement.
Dripex Magnetic Rowing Machine
The Dripex Magnetic Rowing Machine is one of the best magnetic rowing machine in the UK, and it stands for its 15 levels of adjustable magnetic resistance, which is much more than you other rowers offer. It allows you to smash a cardio session and even a strength training session.
The display doesn’t offer much, but it tracks scan, doc, count, time, calories burned, and distance. Besides, it is great for saving space and store, as it folds away. The seat is very comfortable, which allows you to comfortably complete a full workout.
We can safely say that this is one of the best home magnetic resistance rower in the UK. This rower comes with a shock absorber, which improves comfort and mobility of each stroke. The non-slip bar provides consistent use and increased endurance and comfort.
Snode Fitness Folding Magnetic Rowing Machine
Snode Fitness offers a pretty good deal for the price, as compared to other models. Offering a comfortable and good rowing position, the footrests are wide enough to hold anyone’s feet nice and stable. The handle has a good grip, making it easy for the rowing movement. And it can support large users, up to 136 kg or 299 lbs.
The magnetic 8-level resistance mechanism offers a smooth and quiet workout, allowing you to watch TV without distractions. The heavy flywheel also helps achieve a smooth ride. This machine is quite long, at 91 inches, however, it is foldable, so storage shouldn’t be a problem.
The display LCD screen is easy to read and user-friendly, offering relevant data, such as distance, time, stroke rate, and estimated burned calories, and it’s compatible with a chest strap. And although unusual, but helpful, it comes with a thermometer and a clock.
For its price, you get quite a lot of features, therefore, we believe that this is a good magnetic resistance rowing machine in the UK. The rower is extremely stable, ergonomic and comfortable. With a quiet and smooth motion, ideal for anyone who wants to smash a home workout without making too much noise.
Sportstech RSX400 Rowing Machine
This rowing machine with magnetic resistance in the UK is easy to use, and it comes with user-friendly monitors with pulse belt compatibility. App-compatible console and 8-level adjustable resistance to make the most of your workouts and reap its benefits.
Since this machine is easy to fold, you can fit it in a small house, and still get the benefits of a full-body workout. Ultimately, the design ensures a quiet and smooth ride, allowing you to finish a workout without making any annoying noises.
The seat slides quietly and steady, allowing the movement to flow easily over light-weight aluminium rails. While this rowing machine is not heavy-duty, it can still support a maximum weight capacity of 100 kg.
Finally, it can be moved easily thanks to its built-in transport wheels in just a few steps. The design is stable and safe, to train steadily without annoying noises.
Merax Magnetic Folding Rowing Machine
Introducing an excellent option for an exercise rowing machine with magnetic tension. This model comes with 8 resistance levels, perfect for turning a sweaty cardio session into a strength training workout. The Daverose rower features a sleek but powerful build that will allow you to row fast and steadily.
Thanks to its design and build, this machine offers a smooth and noiseless ride, allowing you to row without disturbing other people. The wide heavy-duty pedals can accommodate all feet sizes, with an ergonomic design, providing comfort for your feet.
Needless to mention, the LCD screen allows you to monitor real-time distance, time spent, calories burned, and heart rate to get the most out of your workout. Its design makes it easy to fold and stow away when needed, and it can be easily transported due to its rolling wheels.
Finally, with a slide rail of 109 cm, it is suitable for petite people. Also, this machine is designed to last. Providing top-quality materials and a compact build, this rowing machine will perfect for those looking into a long-lasting machine to get fit.
XS Sports R310 Folding Rowing Machine
Looking for the top magnetic rowers in the UK? Look no further! The XS Sports R310 Folding Rowing Machine offers a high-end system that allows you to smash a rowing session in the comfort of your home, thanks to its small size and simplicity of the design for an accessible price.
This rowing machine has more to offer than you would expect for its price… For example, numerous built-in programs and training options, a wide range of resistance featuring 10 levels, a 4 kg flywheel, assuring a smooth and quiet ride.
But that is not all, this machine is strongly built, so it’s perfect for long-lasting at-home equipment that will ensure a solid workout and an active life, even during lockdown! The folding mechanism lets you store the machine easily.
Users are happy with this rower machine, only some small drawbacks were mentioned. Among those, is the padding on the seat, which users claim becomes a little uncomfortable after a while. There are also comments about the length of the cord in the case of taller users.
SportPlus Indoor Foldable Rowing Machine
After going through hundreds of magnetic resistance rowing machine reviews in the UK, you learn that the SportPlus Indoor rowing machine is definitely among the top. Stylish and built with great aluminium material, this rower won’t throw off your house decorations, as its sleek design and build quality make it worth it.
The best thing about this machine is you can row fast and heavily without any sort of issues, and your ride will be stable all the way. Easy to assemble, in a little more than an hour, you’ll be ready to start rowing into a fitter you!
You can select from a total of 8 resistance levels. And, no matter the resistance and speed, the machine will be quiet as a kitty! So you can rest assured, you’ll be able to train without annoying other family members. With velcro foot straps, you’ll be able to place your feet and avoid slipping or disrupting your pace. The seat is ergonomically designed to ensure a comfortable ride.
The tracking monitor features an LCD fully adjustable to different positions screen that displays time, distance, strokes per minute, total strokes per session, and estimate calories burned. However, you’ll need to get a chest strap (sold separately) to obtain the data.
JLL R200+ Home Rowing Machine
Featuring 10 levels of magnetic resistance, a large LCD, transport wheels, and a foldable design. This ergonomic magnetic rowing machine in the UK comes at a reasonable price in comparison to other machines.
Ideal for home users, its foldable design allows it to be easily stored, and it offers a quiet magnetic resistance. Besides, its dimensions are 124 cm long, 52 cm wide, 58 cm tall, and it offers a full 1-year warranty. Weighing only 23 kg, this rower can support a maximum weight capacity of 100 kg.
This rower includes 10 different levels of magnetic resistance you can choose from, ranging from very light resistance to a moderate to strong resistance. Thanks to this feature, you can completely transform your workout from cardio to resistance training in the comfort of your home!
It also includes a belt-driven system for a smooth rowing motion. Thanks to the belt drive, the resistance is smoother than with other types of resistance, keeping a constant smooth resistance. This makes it appealing to home users because it also assures a quiet drive.
We R Sports Premium Rowing Machine
We R Sports offers a top-notch rowing machine. Different to most home rowers with elastic resistance, which often rattle as you row, this rower offers a steady and smooth drive, combining a solid rowing machine with elastic band resistance.
This rowing machine offers a quiet ride for a great price! Featuring 168 cm long, 35.5 cm wide and 54 cm tall, it comes with steady bars and includes a good grip to row. Additionally, the seat is comfortably padded, allowing for a long and pain-free rowing session.
Besides, this machine uses elastic resistance, and when you shorten the band, it becomes harder, allowing you to reach 4 levels of resistance, all the way from light to heavy. Of course, the resistance is not much as compared to other rower machines, so if you’re looking to get a heavier feel, this is not the best option. However, if you want this machine for cardio, it is perfect for just that.
The monitor displays basic data, such as an estimate calorie count, distance, stroke count and time. And after reading several reviews, users of different sizes seem to enjoy this rowing machine.
Buyer’s Guide – 4 key factors every good rower must have
So, now that you’ve seen our top 9 picks of foldable magnetic rower machines in the UK, as per price and quality, let’s see what you need to bear in mind when it comes to choosing the best rower for your home. Next, you are going to learn the key factors that make a good rowing machine worth your time and money.
Frame
If you want any rowing machine to last you long enough to make your money worth it, it needs a solid frame. This is probably the most important part and a total dealbreaker. The frame quality will not only decide how long your machine will be good to use, but how hard you can train. If you want to smash an intense workout, you need a good and solid frame. Preferably any type of strong material, such as steel is just perfect and ideal!
The comfort
Unfortunately, there are dozens of uncomfortable rowers in the market. However, in our list we0’ve only picked comfortable models, so you can choose any of our top picks knowing that you’ll be comfortable throughout your workout no matter how long it takes.
The features
Features include the display monitor and important data to track our level of activity. There are dozens of good-quality rowers that don’t offer much data. Try to aim at those that, at least, include time, speed, distance, and estimate calories burned.
Price and maintenance
Make each pound worth it! Pricey doesn’t always equal premium quality and the best product ever. Now, when it comes to the price, you need to compare it with the quality too, as well as the warranty.
Final Verdict
We hope our top 9 picks are helpful and guides you to make the right choice when searching for the best magnetic rowing machines in the UK. Of course, you have the last word here, but if you had to ask us, we would place the first rower in our list: Sportstech RSX500 Rowing Machine as our top pick. Yet, the other 8 that made it into our list are also great options! Remember that there are excellent water rowing machines in the UK that you can consider if you can spend more and don’t mind a bit of water noise. Do your research before making a decision and start smashing your home workouts, even during lockdown!
