Mr. Rudolf Water Rowing Machine Review
Mr. Rudolf Rower Overview
For fitness machines and equipment like indoor water rowers, two of the most important factors are price and performance. What if we told you that there is a home water rowing machine that is well-built, has Bluetooth connectivity, and provides you with an amazing workout experience all for a more than reasonable price? Enter the Mr. Rudolf water rowing machine, which checks off all of these boxes and more! The frame is made from solid oak, which you can see right away as Mr Rudolf has decided not to paint the wood at all, leaving a clean and elegant look that appeals to those with minimalist home decor.. But the wooden frame isn’t just for looks or making the user feel like they are rowing in a real boat! It provides a stable base that can support up to a maximum suggested user weight capacity of 320 lbs. The frame is not foldable though, so users will need to find some space to store the machine vertically if needed, although luckily, Mr Rudolf did build in some transport wheels to help make moving the machine around the house, a much easier task.
As can be expected with a home water rower, the Mr. Rudolf will take up over seven feet when in use, so you will need to make a decent sized space for it. The exact dimensions for the Mr. Rudolf home water rowing machine is 82” L x 22” W x 20” H, which is about average for the water rower industry. It is also another reason as to why home rowing machines are not very practical for people who live in smaller living spaces, as both vertical and horizontal storage can be awkward to accommodate. As far as weight goes, the lack of steel in the frame actually makes the Mr. Rudolf home water rower lighter than its peers, weighing in at only 58.5 lbs with an empty water tank. Once the tank is filled with water, users can obviously expect the machine to be heavier, so keep that in mind before moving the machine around. Speaking of filling the tank with water, Mr. Rudolf includes a very convenient motorized water pump that makes filling and emptying the water tank much less labor-intensive.
The water tank itself is actually constructed from an aviation grade polycarbonate plastic, which is clear so it has high light transmission that actually keeps the water fresh and clean. Mr. Rudolf has created an innovative resistance system with its WaterFlyWheel technology that re-creates an authentic feel of being on the open waters. Although it produces a smooth and quiet rowing experience, one thing to note with the Mr. Rudolf home water rower is that users cannot adjust the resistance levels manually, which means the only way to do so is to add or remove water from the tank. Despite the motorized water pump it is still an onerous task and definitely caps the challenge level of the workout that users can experience. With the only sound being the rhythmic paddling of the flywheel in the water tank, the Mr. Rudolf home water rower certainly will not be keeping your neighbors up from the noise!
You may notice that the Mr. Rudolf home water rowing machine comes with Bluetooth connectivity with its LCD monitor. While this is true, be warned that the only integration is between the results of your workout in the monitor and the downloadable FitShow app for smartphones and tablets. This LCD monitor is strictly for tracking your performance so don’t expect to be streaming movies or listening to music through it. Instead, the LCD monitor will provide users with the usual readouts including the time, distance, calories burned, strokes per minute, and pulse. The Mr. Rudolf home water rower monitor does come with three pre-set programs that users can toggle between: Manual, Interval Custom, and Target.
As with most home water rowers, the Mr. Rudolf’s assembly is fairly simple, and should take the average person about an hour to build. Mr. Rudolf includes the tools and instructions for users, and if needed there are some helpful videos available online to assist. Mr. Rudolf does ship the home water rowing machine in two separate boxes: one for the frame and one for the tank. One nice bonus that Mr. Rudolf throws in is a convenient rowing machine cover, so that users can protect the wooden frame from UV rays, dirt, and potential pet or animal scratches. Maintenance for the Mr. Rudolf home water rower consists of dropping a cleaning tablet into the tank every so often to kill any bacteria that may be growing, and of course to empty the tank every few months to add fresh, distilled water. Mr. Rudolf does not have its own stand alone site, so the easiest way for users to purchase the home water rower is through Amazon.
The price is probably the first thing that caught your eye as you were looking at different home rowing machines. At just $699.00, the Mr. Rudolf water rower is priced like an entry-level machine, but looks and feels like a premium model. Since there is no Mr. Rudolf site shipping will depend on wherever you order the machine from, but generally, sites like Amazon are free and offer fast delivery that you can fully track. The warranty is a bit of a disappointment though as Mr. Rudolf only provides a 1-year warranty on the frame and 180 days for parts and labor.
Mr Rudolf Water Rowing Machine Pros:
- Excellent price tag for a high-quality home water rower
- The solid oak frame is esthetically pleasing and structurally strong
- The water tank is hygienic and made from aviation-grade polycarbonate plastic
- The 3D ergonomic seat cushion is comfortable and stable
- Track your workout data through Bluetooth connection on the LCD monitor
- Non-slip and fully adjustable foot pedals
- Sturdy track rail for a durable workout
- Bonus cover and motorized water pump add convenience for users
- Easy assembly and minimal maintenance
Mr Rudolf Water Rowing Machine Cons:
- LCD monitor is nice but minimal
- Poor warranty for the home rower industry
- No official website so customer support could be difficult to contact
- No manual resistance adjustment
- Frame is not foldable so storage needs to be vertical
Final Verdict on Mr Rudolf Rower
Like its similarly named cousins the Mr. Captain and the Mr. Right, the Mr. Rudolf home water rowing machine provides a nice quality product at a price that seems like a bargain. With a solid oak frame that is minimalistic, yet charming and a quality dynamic resistance system that simulates rowing in a real boat, it is no surprise that these machines are so popular. As long as you can overlook the lack of a manual resistance adjustment and minimal technology integration, the Mr. Rudolf should provide everything you need in a home water rower. At this point, the affordable price of $699 is just icing on the cake, so if you are in the market for a home water rowing machine without all of the bells and whistles, the Mr. Rudolf rower may be for you!
