Sayed Hamed Hosseiny - Home > Rowing Machine Reviews > Best Water Resistance Rowing Machines in Canada
- Reviewed and Compared By BEMH Indoor Rowing Team • Updated: January 27, 2023
As the pandemic haunts the world and shut down businesses everywhere, fitness enthusiasts focus on building up their home gyms and investing in machinery and equipment. The most underrated equipment in the gym has always been the rowing machine. They are the ultimate full-body workout–you only need one device to target your upper and lower body and core.
If you were trying to decide between rowing machines in Canada and overwhelmed by the market varieties, look no further! We can help find the best home water rowers in Canada that suit all of your needs within a reasonable price range.
Sayed’s Two Indoor Water Rower Picks in Canada
You have already seen the list of best water rowing machines in Canada that our professional rowing team were able to try and review. In this particular part of this article I pick the two water resistance rowing machines in Canada that I like the most.
The following two rowing machines are from two price point categories, one is the best budget water rower in Canada while the other one is the best high-end water rower in Canada. Rest assure that both of these water rowing machines are good value and sturdy. You can read more about them in the single reviews we have written about them.
Best Water Resistance Rowers in Canada:
First Degree Apollo Pro V Indoor Water Rower
The Apollo Pro rowing machine offers a great experience in a gorgeous American ash wood grain. The ergonomic seat is designed for ultimate comfort and has a textured finish to prevent any slipping. The seat rail has wheel brushes that sweep away dirt and grime as it moves, prolonging cleanliness and lifespan. The handle is also modeled with an ergonomic shape to prevent strain when you grip. The footplates are adjustable by height.
The rower has an attachment so you can safely mount your phone while you workout above its Bluetooth Auto-adjust Monitor (BAM). This monitor automatically calculates the tank’s resistance to display how much power you’re pulling in watts. With this monitor, you can track everything–time, calories, strokes per minute (SPM), distance, level, and time. It can show you the power curve of every repetition and your overall performance. It also displays a heart rate monitor, although you need to purchase the chest strap separately.
They use a nylon strap for a smoother and quieter rowing experience on a sculpted steel frame to ensure stability and balance. First Degree Fitness uses their patented twin tank with 5 adjustable fluid resistance levels, which makes it feel like you’re actually out on the water. It has 15% greater resistance than other horizontal models. Casual rowers to professional athletes can enjoy this water resistance machine in Canada with its varying levels of catch and consistent resistance.
The rubber transportation wheels on the front make it easy to maneuver around your space. It requires very little vertical storage space. The Apollo Pro V measures 213 x 54cm (83 x 21”) horizontal and 52 x 56cm (20 x 22”) vertically, however, it needs an active area of 245 x 115 cm (96 x 45”). The machine can handle a maximum weight of 150kg (300lbs) and comes with a 5-year warranty for the tank, an amazing 10 years for the frame, and 2 years for other components.
First Degree Viking II Indoor Rowing Machine
Another rowing machine from First Degree Fitness, their Viking II rower, similarly features a minimal, narrow design with their beautiful hand-lacquered ash wood and alloy steel. The ergonomic handle prevents twisting and straining of your wrists and forearms. The seat is contoured for comfortable rest and textured to avoid slipping. The adjustable footplates have a heel capture and straps to keep you in place.
The multi-level exercise monitor utilizes Bluetooth auto-adjust technology and offers a USB-port. You can connect your smartphone via their FluidWorkout app to see your progress and complete their challenges. The display shows you your level, time, spm, calories, distance, heart rate, 500m time, and power in watts.
The steel frame is sturdy and prevents shaking during your workout. The water tank has two triple-bladed impellers for a smoother resistance. It feels more natural as if you’re actually out on the water. The durable nylon belt keeps the ride consistently even. First Degree Fitness’ twin tank is quiet, double-sealed to be stored upright, and requires virtually zero maintenance.
This water resistance rower in Canada has rubber wheels for easy transport over all surfaces. It weighs about 30kg (70lbs) and can hold a maximum weight of 150kg (300lbs). The machine’s active area requires 245 x 115 cm (96 x 45”). The product itself measures 54 x 213 cm (21 x 83”) when laid out and 55 x 54cm (21 x 21”) when stored upright. It hardly takes any space when vertical. The manufacturer offers a 5 year warranty on the frame, 5 years on the tank, 2 years on non-wearing mechanical parts, and 1 year for everything else.
Mr. Rudolf Water Rowing Machine
Mr. Rudolf prides itself on its rower’s durable design and gorgeous red walnut wood quality. The contoured seat provides extra comfort and sits on an aluminum guide rail, ensuring a quiet ride. The footplates are adjustable, and the handlebar uses foam for a comfortable grip, although a more ergonomic design would have been preferred.
The display shows your heart rate, time, distance traveled, power in watts, calories burned, total strokes, and spm. It has multiple modes that you can program and intervals to assist your training sessions. This monitor has bluetooth, so you can link your phone to track your progress.
The water tank uses a turbo pullback system, which improves the overall experience of water rowing. The aviation-grade polycarbonate water tank can hold 30L for more impact resistance. The tank is corrosion and high-temperature resistant, ensuring the water lasts for a long time. The 16 blades rarely reach over 65dB of noise, allowing you to work out at any time.
This Premium Water Rower is not foldable, but the manufacturer recommends storing it vertically because it takes up less space that way. The standard dimensions are 49 x 211 x 51cm (19 x 83 x 20”). It weighs 35kg (77lbs), lighter than most models, and can hold 150kg (300lbs). When folded it measures 76 x 51 x 110cm (29 x 20 x 43”).
Sunny Health and Fitness Phantom Rower
Sunny Health & Fitness built a decent rowing machine with a steel frame and plastic tank. It has a wide seat but not that great of a cushion. The plastic footplates have a unique 2-way adjust and are larger than some other rowing machines, which users either love or hate. The non-slip handlebar is mostly plastic with a slight foam padding for comfort. This water rowing machine in Canada is the only one to include a water bottle holder.
The LCD performance monitor has a swivel feature so you can move out of your way and a phone attachment. It shows your track time, distance, strokes, total strokes, spm, time per 500m, calories, pulse, calendar, room temperature, and the clock. It does not have bluetooth or ANT+ heart rate technology.
The water tank is held at a 60 degree incline and has red hydro blades for a pop of color. The 16 hydro blades offer good resistance and a smooth pull. The nylon strap is a little thin and might be difficult to balance. The tank has a 15L capacity, and the company provides a funnel and water tablets.
The machine utilizes floor stabilizers and plastic wheels for easy transport. The normal dimensions are 205 x 53 x 99cm (81 x 21 x 39”) but can be folded up to measure 109 x 129 x 53cm (43 x 51 x 21”). It weighs 40kg (88 lbs) and can hold a maximum weight of 136kg (300lbs), although the manufacturer recommends you stay below that. They offer a 30-day money-back guarantee and a warranty of 3 years for the frame and 180 days for other parts.
Xterra Fitness ERG600W Water Rower
The XTerra’s water rower uses a simple black steel frame and blue water tank optimized for usability. The contoured seat is raised 34cm (13.5”) from the ground on a dual aluminum rail system to make mounting and dismounting effortless. The footplates are adjustable with straps and heel backing but are made of brittle plastic. The handlebar uses more basic foam than quality padding and can be challenging to grip during a sweaty workout.
The Fitness ERG600W uses a 13cm (5.5”) LCD console screen placed high for eye-level viewing. It offers 5 different programmable modes: race against computer, time countdown, distance countdown, strokes countdown, and calories countdown. The display shows time, spm, distance, strokes, calories, time in 500m, pulse, and room temperature. There are no bluetooth capabilities, heart rate monitor, or power in watts display.
The blue water tank uses multi-bladed impellers to activate motion. It has 6 different levels for resistance and can be used by all athletes. The resistance is determined by the amount of water, which is clearly labeled on the tank. The rower uses a nylon strap to pull the blades.
You can’t fold this rower, so store it upright when not in use. The assembled dimensions measure 204 x 55 x 83cm (80 x 22 x 33”) while standing is 83 x 55 x 204 (33 x 22 x 80”).The machine weighs just under 40kg (87lbs) and can hold a maximum weight of 150kg (300lbs). XTerra offers a 60-day money-back guarantee as well as a 5 year warranty for the frame, 2 years for parts, and 90 days for in-home labor.
BATTIFE Water Resistance Rowing Machine
The BATTIFE water rowing machine is made with gorgeous red walnut wood, sturdy and low to the ground to avoid shaking or balance issues. It might be difficult to get up at the end, though. It uses a padded handlebar for better grip and comfort and is slightly thicker than others, making it harder for women to hold. The large seat is contoured and padded but has no texture to prevent slippage. The adjustable footplates use a simple nylon strap and a cheap flimsy plastic heel backing.
This water rower in Canada features an LCD monitor display that shows your time, distance, spm, total strokes, and calories burned. It can be adjusted to different positions to improve your visibility while working out. It also has a bluetooth connection with a FitShow app to track your progress. There is no phone holder or backlight, so it will be difficult to see at times.
The resistance is changed based on water level in the tank, which has a 15L capacity. BATTIFE includes an electric water pump with this purchase, too. The machine is quiet and stays typically below 65dB.
The machine weighs 27kg (60lbs) without water, can withstand 145kg (320lbs), and takes less than 20 minutes to assemble. It measures 213 x 55 x 53cm (84 x 22 x 21”) and can be stored vertically to reduce storage space. The standard warranty is only one year, although you can purchase an upgrade of 3 years on all components and 5 years on the structural frame.
Allkpoper Indoor Water Rowing Machine
This water home rower is built with a steel alloy frame that is very low for better stability. It is easy to mount, but the seat is terrible. It is hard plastic with no extra madding or texture to comfort your while working out. The foam handle is more comfortable than the chair but does not provide extra grip. The plastic foot pedals have a nylon strap to hold your foot in place and are non-adjustable.
The LCD is a simple one that only shows the total duration, calories burned, distance, RPM, and heart rate. There is no bluetooth connection or phone attachment. It is a small, unobtrusive monitor set off to the side. It has no backlight, making it difficult to see in low light settings.
The water resistance level depends on how much water you fill it with. It uses a nylon strap to power the flywheel and fan blades, although some users report it being weak and flimsy. The machine is not loud and provides soothing water sounds, so you can use it any time of day without bothering the neighbors.
The front wheels are made of plastic and will have trouble rolling on some surfaces. The machine weighs 42kg (93lbs), making it one of the heaviest on this list. It measures 207 x 52 x 50cm (81 x 20 x 20”) but can also fold up to reduce storage size, measuring 87 x 52 x 144cm (34 x 20 x 56”). It has a maximum weight capacity of 99kg (200lbs). There is no specific manufacturers’ warranty, although it might have one purchased through a seller like Amazon.
Sole Fitness SRW250 Water Rowing Machine
The Sole SRW250 rower provides a basic steel alloy frame in a minimal design. It has a wide molded seat with texture to prevent slipping and offer sufficient comfort for a long ride. The plastic footplates are adjustable with a heel catch and velcro strap, which seems to be good quality and not easy to break. The rowing handle is padded and textured to improve your grip even while sweating. It is easy to mount the machine, and it also has leveling end caps for stability, although those are made of plastic.
This water resistance rowing machine in Canada offers a multi-function cleat to read LCD monitor that displays your time, distance, calories burned, strokes per minute, and pulse. It might comes with and included chest strap so you can monitor your heart rate. If it doesn’t, you can purchase any 5KHz strap to use with this rower.
The water tank is a lovely light blue clear plastic that offers a nice pop of color. The company states that there are infinite levels of resistance since your speed, power, and water level affect it. It includes a siphon for filling and removing the water from the tank.
This machine weighs about 36kg (80lbs) and can withstand a maximum weight of 150kg (350lbs). The overall machine measures 216 x 51 x 83cm (85.35 x 20.25 x 32.75”) which is pretty big and unfortunetly it can’t be folded for easier storage. It has plastic wheels to move it around the room, although they won’t roll that well over certain surfaces. The company has free shipping and hassle-free returns but only has a warranty of 3 years for the frame and 1 year for its parts.
Buying Guide to Find the Best Water Rower in Canada
- Noise Level
Many buyers avoid workout machines because of the noise complaints, especially if they live in an apartment. Water rowers in Canada are ideal because they rarely reach over 65dB of noise and provide a soothing and relaxing sound. You won’t disrupt your neighbors, which means you can use it morning or night. With that said, if you prefer the minimum noise during exercise, I suggest you buy one of the best magnetic resistance rowing machines in Canada we have picked for this year in a separate article.
- Storage Ability
Water rowing machines don’t take up that much space and have different storage options. You need to have enough usable area for the length of the device. Figure out how much space you need and check the measurements on different rowers. Although foldable designs are unique and useful, storing them upright saves you more space.
- Features
An essential decision you need to make when purchasing a water rower is to determine which features are necessary for your workout. If you are a casual rower, an elaborate display might not be a priority. You’ll probably prefer a comfortable padded seat instead. Women and men will look for different aspects, too, like a smaller handle or footplates.
- Affordability
The average water and air rowing machines in Canada will cost you anywhere from $750-$1000CDN ($600-$800USD). That can be a lot to spend as a beginner. If you have never tried a rowing machine before, test it out at your local gym first. Once you’ve decided to invest, remember that the more expensive water rowing machines in Canada are usually better quality. The price will determine the material uses, type of technology, and even your warranty.
Final Verdict
The top water rower in Canada is easily the First Degree Fitness Apollo Pro V. Its streamlined design, high-quality display and tracker, and the patented twin tank with 5 adjustable fluid resistance levels are unbeatable. It is quite expensive, though. At $2000CDN ($1500USD), this is an investment for those committed to using the machine regularly. The price quickly becomes moot when you recognize the superior quality and craftsmanship and the 5-10 year warranty that comes with it.
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.
