Enjoy an Authentic Indoor Rowing Exercise with the Best Water Rowing Machines Under $1000 That We have Evaluated, Compared, and Reviewed for 2023
Home > Rowing Machine Reviews > Best Water Rowing Machines Under $1000
Fact-Checked By BEMH Indoor Rowing Team • Updated: January 1, 2023
Rowing as a tactic of transportation goes back thousands of years to the Ancient Greeks and before. It was how people got around, with those rowers of massive ships being some of the strongest people. In modern-day we have somewhat more advanced methods for getting around, but that has not reduced the ability of rowers to create some strong muscles.
The feeling of rowing on water is one of the most natural and relaxing out there. However, since not everyone has a river, lake, or other natural feature of water to go rowing in around them (and that the weather can be uncooperative at times) we have had to adapt to those conditions.
So enters the indoor water rowing machines. These pieces of exercise equipment simulate the outdoor workout without needing to leave the home to brave the elements. There are an absolute boatload of rowing machines with water resistance under $1000 out there, so we have decided to save you most of the trouble of sorting through them by ranking the top-of-the-line water resistance rowing machines under $1000.
We also know that not everybody has three grand to drop on one of these babies, so we have set the price limit at $1000. We will go over some of the factors that we used to rank these water indoor rowing machine under $1000 at the end of the article. Now, with that out of the way, let’s get into our list of the best water rowing machines for under $1000!
Best Overall Choice Under $1000
My expert colleagues have already searched the market, picked, and reviewed the 10 best home water rowing machines under 1000 for 2023. However, due to the fact that new water resistance rowing machines under $1000 become available on a regular basis, I decided to create the Editor’s Choice.
It’s where I search the market on a weekly basis to pick the latest top value exercise water rowing machine under $1000. And for this week, WaterRower A1 home rowing machine is my pick for the best water rowing machine under 1000.
It is made of real Ash wood giving the rower a great look, includes a rowing machine cover, and has a 660-lb weight capacity. But even more importantly, this fluid rowing machine under 1000 comes with an impressive warranty from the US-Based WaterRower brand. Monitor is not as good as the S4 monitor that you would get with WaterRower Club but it records all the rowing workouts including the watt, HR, and 500M.
WaterRower A1 Water Resistance Rower
Snode Water Resistance Rower
Best Indoor Water Rowers Under 1000 Compared:
| ROWER | STATISTICS | CAPACITY | FOLDABLE | RESISTANCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr. Rudolf Natural Water Rower | Bluetooth, watt, 500m, distance, time, stroke count, calories, & heart rate | 320 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance |
| Mr Captain Vintage Oak Water Rower | Bluetooth, distance, time, stroke count, calories, & heart rate | 320 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance |
| E-Riding Wood Rowing Machine | Watt, distance, time, stroke count, & calories | 1000 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance |
| GOROWINGO Water Rowing Machine | Watt, distance, time, stroke count, pulse, & calories | 265 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance |
| BATTIFE Water Rowing Machine | Watt, 500m, distance, time, stroke count, & calories | 280 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance |
| Marcy Pro Water Resistance Rower | Recovery, distance, time, stroke count, pulse, & calories | 300 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance |
| Circuit Fitness Water Rowing Machine | Distance, time, stroke count, calories, heart rate | 300 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance |
| Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5713 Obsidian | Distance, 500m, time, stroke count, calories, & heart rate | 300 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance |
| HouseFit At-Home Water Rowing Machine | Distance, time, stroke count, calories, & heart rate | 330 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance |
| Echanfit Water Resistance Rowing Machine | Distance, time, stroke count, calories | 300 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance |
1. Water Rower A1 Natural Wood Water Rower
Made in the United States with real wood (not compressed wood), the Water-Rower A1 is the first rowing machine up on our list. Thanks to the handcrafted REAL wooden structure, it’s also one of the most durable water rowers under 1000 Dollars and its impressive warranty proves just that. The WaterRower’s patented WaterFlywheel has been specifically designed to emulate the dynamics of a boat moving through water, and does that job very well.
It allows for the user to choose the desired level of intensity for their workout. As for the monitor on the Natural, it comes with the best monitor among all the water rowers in this list.
It’s easy to see and tracks an impressive amount of statistics including workout intensity, stroke rate, heart rate, zone bar, duration, and distance. Unfortunately, there is no Bluetooth to connect the machine with indoor rowing applications. But you if don’t care about synching the rower with an application to save your workouts, you can subscribe to any indoor rowing applications that you like and access workout programs that will help kick off your fitness journey if you don’t know where to begin.
The ergonomic seat and dual rails on the rower will also provide really smooth and comfortable water rowing machine workouts, no matter the intensity. Overall, a fantastic rowing machine and definitely the best home rowing machine with water resistance under 1000 dollars.
Additional Information:
WaterRower A1 Natural Wooden water rowing machine has a max user weight of 650 lbs and weighs 75-pound itself. Its dimensions are 82 inches (213 cm) long, 20 inches (53 cm) wide and 22 inches (55 cm) tall. It comes with an extremely generous 5-year warranty on the frame and 3-years on parts.
The Pros:
- Does everything a good rower should.
- Good monitor with preset workout programs, it has comfortable seating and feels great to workout on.
- Toss in a generous warranty and you’ve got a rower to last.
The Cons:
- It is at the upper edge of the price limit, just around one thousand.
2. Mr Captain Vintage Oak Water Rower
Second on our list of the top indoor water rower is the Mr Captain Vintage Oak Rowing Machine. Another wooden design in order to mimic the feeling of a real boat, this water resistance rowing machine under 1000 does that very well.
There are 3 modes available on this machine; “Manual, Interval Custom and Target”. These let you manage your time and achieve your goals faster. The Bluetooth compatible monitor that comes with the rower tracks stats like the calories burned, distance traveled, time exercised, rowing strokes and stroke rate per minute.
It comes with an ergonomic seat, the footplates with straps that are adjustable for height, deluxe ergonomic handle and the active recoil system for comfortable rowing sessions. Because of the flywheel inside the water tank, you get a quiet and smooth workout with plenty of resistance.
The oak construction absorbs the potential vibrations and the sounds efficiently and the rower will stay firm without any vibrations. It is quite an impressive design in total, one that uses every trick in the book to stay smooth, quiet and durable. Toss in the Bluetooth compatible monitor that you don’t find on too many machines and a price of around $700 and you have got a very fine rowing machine here.
Additional Information:
This rower has a max user weight of 320 lbs (145 kg) and weighs 58.5 lbs (26.5 kg) itself. Its dimensions are 82 inches (208 cm) long, 22 inches (55 cm) wide and 20 inches (51 cm) tall. It comes with a warranty of 2 years.
The Pros:
- A smooth ride, Bluetooth compatible monitor and a variety of modes to change up the workouts make this a splendid rower.
The Cons:
- A minor complaint is that the foot pedals do not adjust without removing the entire assembly with a screwdriver.
- The straps might also be too small for those with extra-large feet.
3. Mobi Fitness Bluetooth Wood Rowing Machine
The Mobi Fitness Wood Rowing Machine is another wood-based water resistance rower with Bluetooth monitor. It can be made of either black walnut wood or oak wood, both of which are premium hardwood for wonderful durability and dimensional stability.
The flywheel that comes with it provides a dynamic and self-regulating rowing experience. One of the more satisfying aspects of this affordable water rowing machine under 1000 is the relaxing sounds of rushing water with every stroke.
The monitor that comes with this rower displays time, calories burned per hour, distance, and the total time of workouts. One of the handy little things about this rower is that it can be conveniently stored on end under the bed, inside storage rooms or closets.
It might be long, but due to its low height and width, it doesn’t take up too much space. As for the comfort of the rower, it is good, but nothing spectacular. A contoured seat means that you won’t get very uncomfortable unless you are rowing for a marathon.
Additional Information:
This rowing machine with water tank under $1000 has a max user weight of 300 lbs which is somewhat normal for the price point. It weighs 60 lbs itself. Its dimensions are 83 inches (211 cm) long, 20 inches (51 cm) wide and 22 inches (55 cm) tall. It comes with a limited one year warranty on the parts.
The Pros:
- A slick design and well made monitor makes this a very solid rower for those looking for a wooden rower.
- Bluetooth to connect the machine with the Mobi Fitness app and record rowing workouts.
The Cons:
- Not foldable and the material is solid wood not real wood.
4. Trunk Foldable Wooden Water Rowing Machine
As the legendary DJ Khaled says: another one. The Trunk Water Rowing Machine is a wooden rower that does its job very well. Aside from its foldable frame, one of the first things noticeable about this rowing exercise machine under 1000 when you first sit down on it is the comfort of the seat.
It is an ergonomic seat cushion, that has a tail recess that fits your tail vertebrae and helps with an impact-resistant and comfy experience. The monitor that comes along with this machine shows the actual mileage and target mileage on the left-hand side and the calories burned, tempo, time/500M and time on the right-hand side.
A very solid monitor, but not one that goes above and beyond the normal. The tank (water, not military) that comes with the rower is made of high-grade materials. The water inside stays fresh and you should only change the water once every 4-6 months or so if you don’t use water purification pills.
This rower can also be stored folded which is much safer and easier than a vertical position and so it doesn’t take up so much space. For a price of around $600, it is an extremely solid rower that has a nice wooden aesthetic.
Additional Information:
The max user weight on this rower is listed as 300 lbs, while it weighs 55 lbs itself. Its dimensions are 77 inches long, 19 inches wide and 19 inches tall. Other than the 1-month by Amazon, we were unable to find any information about a warranty which is major downside to any machine that costs this much.
The Pros:
- The exercise on the Tunk rower is extremely comfortable and smooth.
- It really simulates rowing a boat.
- The frame folds away and takes little space when not being used.
The Cons:
- The lack of any information on a warranty might be concerning for some.
- The monitor, while being solid, doesn’t do anything new or special.
5. BATTIFE Water Rowing Machine
This is a rower that thrives on its elegant design. You can spend an embarrassing amount of time just staring at the red walnut finish of the BATTIFE Water Rowing Machine. One might not think that with the wood design, it would be fairly hard to assemble.
Fortunately, that is not the case, and it can be assembled quickly and easily. As the name suggests, it comes with a water resistance system, which brings with it the natural feeling of rowing.
The monitor keeps track of important statistics during your workout like strokes per minute (SPM), time spent, distance rowed, and average calories burned per hour. Admittedly, it doesn do much more than keep track of those stats, which is a downside.
A nice little feature is that this rower can be stored in an upward fashion without having to remove the water. Because it is a decently large rower, this storage function makes it somewhat more compatible with smaller apartments. The price is decent at $750, though you still might expect some more from the monitor.
Additional Information:
The rower comes with a max user weight of 280 lbs (127 kg) and weighs about 100 lbs (45 kg). Its dimensions are 82.7 inches (210 cm) long, 22.4 inches (57 cm) wide and 20 inches (51 cm) tall. We were unable to find any information about a warranty.
The Pros:
- An extremely beautiful design and a solid workout ability are the two biggest pros for this rower.
- Easy storage makes it more adaptable to smaller apartments as well.
- Easy assembly is also a bonus.
The Cons:
- The monitor is still pretty simple for a rower in this price range.
- Some people might also not have a taste for the wooden aesthetic that can vary a bit in colour.
6. Marcy Pro Water Resistance Rower
We come to a machine that drops the wooden design in favour of a more modern and sleek look. The frame combines both aluminum and steel in order to give a really stable base. It comes with a pretty good monitor for the value.
It has a multi-window display in order to show as many workout metrics as possible at once. It indicates time, time/500m, strokes per minute, strokes per workout, total strokes, calories, pulse, drag force, and watts.
For a rower that falls below the $500 range, this is an extraordinary amount of information on the monitor. It also comes with a bunch of modes that allow for interval workouts and the like.
Overall a fantastic monitor. The seat and footrests are solid, though nothing to really write home about. They’ll keep you comfortable for all but the longest of workouts. . One of the only annoying features of the NS-6023RW is that it doesn’t come with chlorine pills in order to clean out the water in the tank.
Additional Information:
The Marcy NS-6023RW has a max user weight of 300 lbs (136 kg).
Its dimensions are 77 inches (196 cm) long, 19 inches (48 cm) wide and 36 inches (91 cm) tall.
It has a 2 year limited warranty.
The Pros:
- A sturdy frame, comfortable seating and footrests and a brilliant monitor make this an extremely good rower for this price range.
- Add in a solid warranty and you will be very happy with this purchase.
The Cons:
- No chlorine pills for the maintenance of the water is possibly the only con that this rowing machine has.
7. Snode Water Resistance Rowing Machine
The Snode Water Rowing Machine is most definitely one of the top budget rowers on the market. This doesn’t detract from the rower itself, however. The monitor on the rower is pretty simple, displaying information that includes 500 meter split times, strokes per minute and calories you’ve burned (all which are estimated).
Additionally, this monitor has Bluetooth or wireless connectivity and can connect to Snode Fitness rowing application to save workout stats and to watch free available rowing classes. The most interesting part about this monitor is that it offers a man versus machine race mode in an effort to make the workouts more exciting (the current model).
As for the actual build of the rower, it has a steel frame that is pretty easy to assemble. The water resistance system acts as they all do, allowing you to customize the resistance based on how much water you put into it. Then the harder you pull, the more the water resists you.
Turning to the comfort side of things, there is only one real standout issue with the rower. The seat is rather basic and can get somewhat uncomfortable during the longer workouts. Otherwise, the footrests are large and have sturdy straps, and the fully foam-padded handles are comfortable. Overall not a bad package for under $1000.
Additional Information:
The rower has a max user weight of 330 lbs and weighs 80 lbs (36 kg). Its dimensions are 79 inches (200 cm) long, 22 inches (59 cm) wide and 34 inches (86 cm) tall. It has a rather okay 1-year warranty on the frame and parts.
The Pros:
- Good rower for not very much cash.
- You get a basic monitor but with Bluetooth technology.
- The ability to be stored vertically without removal of the water is definitely a bonus.
The Cons:
- The seat can be rather uncomfortable after a while.
- It doesn’t fold away and not practical to lift and store it standing after every use.
8. Circuit Fitness Water Rowing Machine
Next up is the Circuit Fitness AMZ-167RW Water Rowing Machine. As is the case with all water resistance rowers, this one has a dynamic resistance system. The harder you pull, the more resistance you will feel from the machine.
You can keep track of your workouts by using the LCD screen that measures SPM (strokes per minute), distance, total strokes, calories and pulse.
This monitor also comes with the option of a race mode, countdown mode (which will countdown a value during your workout like time or distance) and recovery mode.
For a water rower that falls under $500, this is an extremely good amount of content for the monitor. Even the more intense and lengthy workouts actually feel really good due to the comfortable build of the seat, handlebar and footrests. For the price of this rower, you get an extremely solid amount of features with it.
Additional Information:
The weight capacity of the AMZ-167RW is 300 lbs (136 kg). Its dimensions are 78 inches (198 cm) long, 22 inches (56 cm) wide and 42 inches (107 cm) tall. We were unable to find any information on a warranty.
The Pros:
- A natural feel to the rowing along with comfortable seating makes this a good workout rower.
- Toss in the advanced monitor and cheap price and you’ve got yourself a steal.
The Cons:
- The rower does only support rowers up to the height of 6’2”.
- The footrests can also be a bit too small for those with larger feet.
9. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5713 Obsidian
Try saying this next rower’s name three times as fast as you can. The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5713 Obsidian Surge 500 is a solid rowing machine, especially for the price. The monitor displays what you’d expect; total time of your workout, 500 meter split times, strokes per minute and calories burned.
Nothing outside the ordinary here. The LCD screen is nice and visible while working out, which is better than some fluid resistance rowers for home under 1000 out there. The tank on the rower holds a maximum of 3 gallons and is easier enough to fill.
You can change the resistance level by adding or removing water to the tank. The seat is decently comfortable, though if you plan on going for an hour-long workout, this might start to get a little less comfy. The biggest issue that comes from the SF-RW5713 are the footrests.
They are swiveling footrests that are supposed to allow you to flex your ankles as you workout. Yet these seem to break quite often. It might be a design flaw or something else, but this is most certainly the biggest problem with the SF-RW5713. But for just under $500, it is most certainly still a solid rower.
Additional Information:
The SF-RW5713 has a max user weight of 300 lbs (125 kg) and weighs 82 lbs (37 kg). Its dimensions are 79 inches (201 cm) long, 22 inches (56 cm) wide and 34 inches (84 cm) tall. It comes with a 3-month warranty on the frame and parts.
The Pros:
- A good rower for the price.
- It has a sturdy frame and comfortable seat.
- The monitor is also pretty good for this price range.
The Cons:
- The rower can be fairly difficult to assemble.
- The footrests are also prone to breaking, which is a major problem with that 3 month warranty.
10. HouseFit At-Home Water Rowing Machine
The HouseFit Water Rowing Machine is a new product from this brand. Many people are familiar with their magnetic resistance rower, but this new water resistance rower certainly does the job just as well. Like most of these water resistance rowers, this one has a dynamic system of resistance.
The harder you pull, the more resistance you get.The LCD monitor that comes with this rowing machine isn’t anything special, but it certainly gets the job done. It displays the time, SPM (Strokers per minute), distance, strokes and calories burned.
The monitor does have neat little competitive mode for some racing. It has a steel main frame that allows for very sturdy rides, even on the most intense workouts. The Echanfit fluid rowing machine under $1000 also comes with a phone/tablet holder for those looking for some entertainment while they workout.
On the comfort side, the rower comes with a large padded seat and adjustable footplates. Again, these aren’t groundbreaking pieces of technology, but they will get the job done. For a price of just under $400, this is a solid water rowing machine.
Additional Information:
The ECHANIFIT rower has a max user weight of 330 lbs (130 kg) and weighs about 84 lbs (38 kg). We were unable to find any information about its dimensions or warranties.
The Pros:
- A very solid rowing machine for under $400.
- A large LCD screen and comfortable ride are both certainly pros for it.
The Cons:
- Outside of the large screen and tablet holder, it doesn’t really do anything particularly special.
- No advanced technology or super good workouts available here.
Important Notes For Home Water Rower Buyers:
- Always use distilled water to fill the tank of your water rower;
- Depending on the size of the tank and preferred resistance, you need 10 to 18 liters of distilled water;
- Use chlorine tablets to purify and disinfect the water and prevent germs from bunching up;
- Change the water accordingly (when you notice it’s starting to get murky), preferably at least once a year;
- Most water rowers have a minimum and a maximum line, initially only fill the tank to reach the minimum line. If the resistance is not sufficient, then add water to reach the maximum line;
- Never add water to the tank below the minimum and beyond the maximum line because it will leak or ruin the blades;
- All the water rowers in this review can be stored standing but if you have kids or babies, don’t store them standing;
- If the seat doesn’t comfortably support your pelvic bones, purchase a rower seat cushion;
- To prevent chafing and for maximum efficiency wear tight-fitting short and flat sole rowing shoes;
- If you can’t bend your knees too deep, pick a water rower that has a more elevated frame, they are easier to get on and off the seat;
Follow Our Tips to Make an Informed Decision When Buying the Best Rowing Machine with Water Resistance Under $1000:
There you have it. Our list of the top water rowing machines for under $1000. Now that we’ve gone over our list of the top water resistance rowers, we’re going to look at some of the factors that we considered when making this list. These are factors that anyone looking to buy one of these rowing machines should take into account when looking for just the right one.
1: The frame. If you are buying rowing machines in the US, a solid frame is important in deciding how the machine handles under intense workouts. The frame also helps determine whether or not the rower is foldable.
2: The seat, handlebar and footrest. Many of the best indoor rowers in Canada, UK, and US have no problems with the handlebars or footrests. There are some low-cost rowers under $500 with some rather uncomfortable seats, though that can usually be handled by putting some cushions on top of the regular seat.
3: The console. Many of the more advanced consoles and monitors that you will find on rowing machines come on those that are significantly more expensive than $1000 and often available in rowing machines under $2000. However, there are certainly some on this list that have quite a bit more than the usual statistics display. Then there are some others that have the bare minimum and that is all.
4: The warranty and weight capacity. A good warranty is always good to have. Nobody wants to pay for a whole new rower once theirs breaks. The weight capacity is also important to determine how solid the ride is and how many users can safely use the rower. For some of these rowers we couldn’t find the warranty, which might be concerning for some.
5: The assembly and maintenance. Most of the assembly of these exercise water rowers under 1000 is pretty simple, and shouldn’t take more than 30-45 minutes. The maintenance is also generally pretty low. This also generally depends on the resistance system of the rower.
FAQ
Q: Is a rowing machine good for building muscle and cardio?
A: Absolutely. It builds lean muscle, so it won’t make you bulky like those hardcore lifters at the local gym. This is due to the high amount of reps that help with cardiovascular workouts as well.
Q: Which rowing machine is the best value?
A: That depends on what sort of machine you are looking for. If you want the bare minimum that simply acts as a workout machine and nothing more, then look at the cheapest ones possible that have no special features. Meanwhile, the ones that come with all the technological toys might be worthwhile for those who want more.
Q: Do these water resistance rowers make a lot of noise?
A: While the water-resistance systems in these rowing machines make more noise than the ones in magnetic resistance rowers, they still make less noise than those in air resistance rowers. So they aren’t completely silent, but will not create large amounts of noise.
Conclusion
There you have it. Our list of the best water rowing machines that cost less than $1000. As always, keep in mind what sort of aspects you want in one of these machines and read rowing machine reviews under 1000 to really make sure it matches with what you expect and the resistance type suits your needs. Additionally, if you think there is a rower that should be listed in our best water rowing machine reviews under $1000, please leave your comment below with the suggested models. We will check it out and if it has the criteria, we will add it to our list of best water rowing machines under 1000. Now go get rowing friends!
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.
