NordicTrack RW200 Rower Review, Plus Pros and Cons
Are you in the market for a high-tech addition to your home gym to burn off those extra calories? Look no further than the entry-level model from NordicTrack, one of the most well-respected brands in the home fitness industry. The NordicTrack RW200 magnetic rowing machine is the perfect upgrade to your workout routine with cutting edge technology and a very reasonable price tag that is easy on the wallet. Upon initially seeing the NordicTrack RW200, the appearance is sleek, with a space-saving design that redefines what indoor rowing machines look like. The RW200 is a full steel frame combined with the oversized seat rail that provides more than enough support for users of all shapes and sizes. With a maximum suggested user capacity weight of 250 lbs, the RW200 lags some of its competitors, like the HouseFit magnetic rower which has a capacity of 300 lbs. One of the best features of the RW indoor rower series? The frames are foldable allowing for easy storage when the RW200 rowing machine is not in use.
The NordicTrack RW200 has a similar footprint to its siblings, the RW500 and the RW900 indoor rowers. The exact dimensions measure out to be 85” L x 22” W x 43” H, which ranks the RW200 among some of the longer rowing machines on the market. If space is an issue, I recommend taking a look at the Women’s Health/Men’s Health Bluetooth magnetic rower, which comes with similar technology but will save you about half a foot in space. The NordicTrack RW200 is a heavier machine compared to its peers, as it tips the scales at 105 lbs, which can make it tricky to move around the house, even though there are convenient transport wheels built in. Compared to the Sunny Health and Fitness SF-RW5515 Magnetic Rower which only weighs about 61 lbs, the RW200 is hefty, but you will also find that the added weight contributes to the overall stability of the machine.
The RW200 utilizes the same dual-resistance system that the RW500 and RW900 use. The machine is equipped with a SMR or Silent Magnetic Resistance flywheel that provides a smooth transition between 26 levels of digital resistance. The RW200 also comes with a user-controlled manual air resistance turbine, which can be fully adjusted before or even during a workout. Unlike water resistance rowing machines which are variable resistance systems, magnetic rowers give users the ability to fully customize the difficulty of their workout, with the added feature of lowering or raising the resistance level mid-workout.
What is the main difference that separates the NordicTrack RW200 from the higher end models? The RW200 lacks the massive 22” Smart HD touchscreen monitor that comes with the RW900, and does not come with the 1-year free iFit subscription that the RW500 comes with. The RW200 does include a touchscreen, adjustable monitor that still connects to the iFit app if you subscribe to it. The monitor also comes with HDMI output, if you would like to add a second monitor, or follow along on your own smartphone or tablet. Like any other rowing machine, the monitor still keeps track of your vital stats like distance, speed, strokes per minute, and time. The NordicTrack RW series of indoor rowers are meant to be used alongside the iFit online fitness trainer app, which allows you to follow along with real iFit trainers through countless workout classes and training modules. The RW200 does not come with a free subscription though, so additional charges will apply. If you are looking at the RW200, this may be a reason to pay up for the RW500, especially if you plan on using the iFit service.
As for assembly, the NordicTrack RW200 will take the average person about an hour or so to construct. When the RW200 arrives in the box, it will weigh about 131 lbs, so it definitely helps to have a second person to help build and move the machine around. Orders are processed for shipping within 1-3 business days from the NordicTrack website, or you can just purchase it directly from Amazon in which case a Prime membership will get you free shipping, as well as the ability to track the package with ease.
The price is what will make or break the case for buying the machine, and the NordicTrack RW200 will run about $1,300 on Amazon. This may be out of some people’s price range so if you order from the NordicTrack site you can finance the machine at a monthly rate instead of paying for everything up front. NordicTrack is a well established brand and provides an excellent warranty to its customers. For the RW200, NordicTrack offers a 5-year warranty on the frame and an additional 1-year warranty on the parts and labor.
NordicTrack RW200 Rower Pros
- Sleek, innovative design
- Sturdy full steel frame with cushioned seat
- Touchscreen monitor is easy to use during workout
- Foldable frame makes for easy storage
- Fast and easy shipping from Amazon or NordicTrack website
- Compatible with iFit fitness subscription
- Great warranty
- Easy assembly
- Full control with the dual resistance system
NordicTrack RW200 Rower Cons
- Relatively low maximum weight capacity
- No iFit subscription included means extra costs
- High price tag compared to peers
- A large footprint makes it difficult for small living spaces
- The machine is heavy compared to other models
NordicTrack RW200 Rower Final Verdict
The NordicTrack RW series is an incredible line of indoor magnetic rowing machines that provides a world class workout in the comfort of your own home. The RW200 is the entry-level model and compared to the RW500 and RW900 rower, it understandably lacks some of the premium features. While it does not come equipped with the 22” Smart HD touchscreen that the RW900 model comes with, it still has a touchscreen monitor that can be used with the iFit subscription. The bad news? Unlike the RW500 rower, the RW200 does not come with a free 1-year subscription. For just a few dollars more, I suggest splurging for the NordicTrack RW500, to secure a 1-year iFit subscription that the whole family can use!
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.
