Best Water Rowing Machines Under $500 Reviewed
Get a Full-Body Workout At-Home with the Best Water Rowers Under $500 that Our Indoor Rowing Team has Seen and Reviewed
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- Reviews and Comparison By BEMH Indoor Rowing Team • Updated For 2023
Are you looking for a good full-body workout that can help anyone? Both those who are trying to lose weight and those who train for more athletic endeavors can accomplish a lot with the workout machines that we’ve got in mind. Rowing, (both outdoors and indoors) is really one of the best workouts you can have.
However, it isn’t always possible to go rowing outside. This can be because of the weather or the fact that not everyone has a river or lake near them suitable for rowing. Fortunately, thanks to modern technology, there’s a way around these holdups. That way is the water indoor rowing machine.
These machines can provide all the benefits of rowing outside while allowing you the luxury of never even leaving home. The downside is that some of these rowing machines in the US can get pretty expensive. That’s why we have gone looking for some of the cheaper rowers. However, we didn’t want to lose that feeling of natural rowing.
Therefore, we have narrowed down our options to machines that only have water resistance systems. We’ve based this list on a variety of factors that we will go over at the end in our buyer’s guide. Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at our list of the best water resistance rowing machines for under $500.
Best Water Rowing Machine Under $500 Comparison Table
| ROWER | MONITOR | CAPACITY | FOLDABLE | RESISTANCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit Fitness AMZ-167RW Water Rowing Machine | No-backlit, time, stroke count, distance, SPM, calorie burnt and heart rate | 300 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance system |
| Sunny SF-RW5713 Obsidian Surge 500 Water Rower | No-backlit, watt, time, 500m, SPM, Calories, & HR | 250 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance system |
| Snode Indoor Water Rowing Machine | No-backlit, time, calories, rowing frequency, stroke count, distance | 300 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance system |
| HouseFit Home Water Resistance Rower | No-backlit, time, stroke count, distance, SPM, calorie burnt and heart rate | 330 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance system |
| Merax Home Use Water Rowing Machine | No-backlit, time, stroke count, distance, SPM, calorie burnt and heart rate | 300 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance system |
| Koreyosh Affordable Water Rowing Machine | No-backlit, time, strokes, distance, SPM, & calorie burnt | 330 Lbs | Yes, this water rower folds away | Dynamic water resistance system |
| Echanfit Home Budget Water Rowing Machine | No-backlit, watt, time, 500m, SPM, Calories, & Pulse | 300 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance system |
| Harison Low-Cost Water Rowing Machine | No-backlit, time, SPM, distance | 300 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance system |
| SNODE Water Resistance Rowing Machine | No-backlit, time, SPM, distance | 330 Lbs | No, this water rower doesn't fold away | Dynamic water resistance system |
| Sunny Water Resistance Rowing Machine | No-backlit, time, SPM, distance | 300 Lbs | Yes, this water rower folds away | Dynamic water resistance system |
Best Overall Water Rowing Machine Choice Under $500
Our team at BEMH has already picked the best rowing machine with water resistance under $500 in 2023 and reviewed them down below. This part is where I search the market every month and pick the newest and top-rated water rowing machine under $500.
My choice for the best fluid rowing machine under $500 in February 2023 is the Sunny Obsidian water rowing machine. This water resistance rowing machine is affordable, made of solid materials, and has a compact frame, making it perfect for everyday training.
In addition to its beautiful look, this fluid rowing machine under 500 boasts a good tilt-adjustable monitor that displays time, distance, strokes per minute, calories per hour, and pulse to keep you motivated to reach your fitness goals.
To provide a comfortable workout and allow you to make the most out of your water rowing machine workouts, this affordable water rowing machine comes with an ergonomic seat, active recoil system, and height-adjustable footplates with straps.
On top of all the features, I mentioned above, this rowing machine with water resistance under $500 is equipped with transport wheels for easy movement and can be stored standing. You can simply lift this water rower on its end and store it out of the way against your wall or closet when not in use.
Thanks to its dynamic water resistance and drive mechanism, this rowing workout machine has less noise compared to many other indoor water rowing machines under $500. Receiving 5-star from consumers, Sunny Fitness is my pick for the best home rowing machine with water resistance under $500 in 2023.
Top Water Rowers Under $500 Table of Content:
Circuit Fitness AMZ-167RW Water Rowing Machine
First up on our list is the Circuit Fitness AMZ-167RW Water Rowing Machine. This rower takes the incredible power of water resistance from the lake right to your home. 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. These intense workouts actually feel really good due to the comfortable build of the seat, handlebar and footrests.
You can keep track of these workouts by using the LCD screen that measures SPM (strokes per minute), distance, total strokes, calories, and pulse. It’s also compatible with the 5.3 kHz chest strap heart rate monitor but this accessory is not included.
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. All pretty advanced features for a monitor on an exercise water rowing machine under $500.
Unfortunately the AMZ-167RW does not fold up. However, it can be stored upright for those tight on space. Overall, for the amount of features that come with this rower, you get great value for it at about $460.
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.
Sunny SF-RW5713 Obsidian Surge 500 Water Rower
The Sunny SF-RW5713 Obsidian Surge is an absolute pain to say, but certainly not a pain to use. The tank 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 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 rowers out there. 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 rowing exercise machine under $500.
Additional Information:
The SF-RW5713 has a max user weight of 250 lbs (113 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.
Snode Indoor Water Rowing Machine
Listed on many rowing machine reviews under $500, the Snode WR100 water rowing machine is a very good machine for the price. It comes with a 22.5 inch water tank, which allows for a large variety of resistance levels depending on how much water is put in.
The stainless steel structure of the rower also makes sure that it is stable even during the high-end workouts. The monitor that it comes with is a LCD-backlit smart display, giving you access to information like calories burned, distance, time and speed.
This display is adjustable so that users of all different heights can put it to where it is most visible during the workout. During those longer and more intense workouts, you will find that the seat is actually one of the best out there.
It is ergonomically designed to closely fit your hip curve, and does that job spectacularly. Adding in the fact that the rower is surprisingly portable and you have a really good machine for the home. All of these for a price of $499 is quite the deal.
Additional Information:
The max user weight is 300 lbs (136 kg) and it weighs 92 lbs (42 kg). Unfortunately, we were not able to find the dimensions or warranties anywhere.
The Pros:
- An adjustable monitor for everyone’s height;
- Comfortable seating;
- A large water tank and a sturdy frame all for under $500 make this a very good water rower.
The Cons:
- The monitor also doesn’t come with any preset workouts, so you’ll have to come up with your own or find some on the internet.
- It can also be a bit of a pain to assemble.
HouseFit Home Water Resistance Rower
Also featured in our best water rowing machines roundup, the HouseFit rower is a very solid option for this price range. The frame combines both aluminum and steel in order to give a really stable base. While it isn’t the largest machine out there, it does still take up a fair amount of space.
Fortunately, it can be stored vertically. However, due to its size, it might not be the best for small apartments. 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. This is a heck of a lot of information for any rower’s monitor, much less one in this price range.
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 HouseFit is that it doesn’t come with chlorine pills in order to clean out the water in the tank.
Additional Information:
The HouseFit has a max user weight of 330 lbs (140 kg). Its dimensions are 77 inches (196 cm) long, 19 inches (48 cm) wide and 36 inches (91 cm) tall. It has a 1 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.
Merax Home Use Water Rowing Machine
The Merax Water Rowing Machine is a very solid rower, especially for the price of $450. The water resistance system on this machine isn’t as dynamic as some of the others.
You can add or remove water to increase/ decrease the intensity of your workout, and there are 6 different levels of workouts. This is a solid variation, but not as wide as others.
The monitor that comes with the affordable water rowing machine under $500 is similar to many of the others, displaying stats like time, distance, speed and so on.
However, the more unique feature of this monitor is that it has a race program where you set a stroke-rate and compete against the computer. A fun little feature that breaks up the monotony of regular workouts.
One should keep in mind that this is designed as a compact folding rower to suit smaller spaces. Therefore, it has a short beam – this means it’s not that great for users over 6’4″ tall.
Additional Information:
The rower holds a max user weight of 400 lbs (170 kg) and weighs 59 lbs (23 kg). Its dimensions are 78 inches (198 cm) long, 20 inches (51 cm) wide and 25.5 inches (65 cm) tall. It has a 6 month warranty on the frame and other parts.
The Pros:
- The race feature on the monitor helps break up the regular system of workouts.
- The frame folds away to take less space when not in use.
- Good monitor and tablet holder.
The Cons:
- The price is a bit high compared to what other rowers in this price range are offering.
- The fact that the rower is not really suitable for those over 6.4″ tall is also another strike against it. It also has a pretty poor warranty.
Harison Affordable Water Rowing Machine
The Harison Water Rowing Machine is a new product from this brand. Most people are familiar with their indoor cycling bikes, but this new budget water resistance rower certainly does the job just as well.
It has a steel mainframe that allows for very sturdy rides, even on the most intense workouts. 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 a neat little competitive mode for some racing. The rower does come with a phone/tablet holder for those looking for some entertainment while they workout so they don’t need to purchase a tablet holder separately.
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 resistance rowing machine.
Additional Information:
The Harison rower has a max user weight of 300 lbs (130 kg) and weighs about 65 lbs. The item dimensions are 40 x 20 x 15 inches. It als comes with a 30 day money back and 1-year parts replacement 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:
- No advanced technology or super good workouts available here.
- It. is not foldable so it takes quite some space even when not being used.
Echanfit Home Budget Water Rowing Machine
The Echanfit Water Rowing Machine is most definitely one of the cheaper 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).
Unfortunately, this monitor does not have any sort of Bluetooth or wireless connectivity capability. 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.
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 $400.
Additional Information:
The rower has a max user weight of 300 lbs (120 kg) 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 poor 3 month warranty on the frame and parts (check the product they might change/improve the terms).
The Pros:
- Good rower for not very much cash.
- You get a basic monitor and a unique racing mode with it.
- 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.
- The warranty on the rower is also pretty terrible.
Koreyosh Low-Cost Water Rowing Machine
The Koreyosh Water Rowing Machine is a very smooth-looking rower. Whether ordered in wood or steel, the rower has a certain flow to it. This flow is reflected in the resistance of the rower, with its dynamic style allowing for some variation in the workouts.
The ergonomic design of the rower is easy to operate for many different people of all shapes and sizes. Meanwhile the U-shaped seat and comfortable foot pedals really makes it a pleasant experience to use this rower.
It comes with an LCD monitor that tracks your count per minute, time, total count, calories and distance. The monitor isn’t anything special and it can seem somewhat small and hard to read at some points, but it does the job.
The assembly can also be a bit challenging due to some less than perfect instructions. Finally, it has wheels and can be stored vertically for those with more limited space.
Additional Information:
The Koreyosh water rower has a max user weight of 265 lbs (120 kg). Its dimensions are 71 inches (180 cm) long, 18 inches (46 cm) wide and 20 inches (51 cm) tall. We were unable to find any sort of warranty on this rowing machine.
The Pros:
- A very fluid design that leads to some pleasant workouts.
- It can be stored vertically and easily.
The Cons:
- There have been reports of it arriving with the wrong instructions or pieces missing.
- The assembly process can also be somewhat frustrating.
- The price point is also just under $500, so there are other options where you get more for that money.
Snode Water Resistance Rowing Machine
The Snode Water Rowing Machine is a very solid indoor rowing machine and comes with an angle-adjustable large tablet holder. As with all of these, the resistance is controlled by changing the amount of water in the tank.
Unlike the really expensive water rowers, you have to do this manually rather than it changing automatically. The LCD monitor that it comes with has indicators like the distance traveled, current speed, calories burned, time exercised, paddle frequency, SPM, and even the pulse rate.
This is a fairly extensive list of stats and not common on rowers in this price range (or at least it wasn’t common until long ago). The seat is large and ergonomically designed so that your comfort while working out really doesn decrease.
The large seat moves smoothly and safely on the double slide rails. Possibly the only real downside is that it does take up a lot of space, even when stored upright. Otherwise this is an extremely good water resistance rowing machine for what you are paying.
Additional Information:
This budget water rower has a max user weight of 330 lbs (149 kg) and weighs 66 lbs (30 kg). Its dimensions are 73 inches (185 cm) long, 12 inches (30.5 cm) wide and 24.5 inches (62 cm) tall. This fluid resistance indoor rower also includes a 1-Year warranty which is not bad considering under $500 price range for a water rower.
The Pros:
- Extensive stats are displayed on the monitor.
- It has a very smooth and comfortable seat while you workout.
- The wheels allow you to transport it more easily as well.
- Large adjustable tablet holder to keep your device at the right angle for you.
The Cons:
- It takes up a fair amount of space even when stored upright.
- The Monitor is not backlit and difficult to see in dark.
Sunny SF-RW5910 Water Resistance Rowing Machine
Rounding out our list of the best water resistance indoor rowers for under $500 is the Sunny SF-RW5910 Water Rowing Machine. Possibly with the most unique design of all these rowers, this machine combines folding elements from magnetic rowers and fluid resistance from the best water rowers to create a very interesting ride.
One of the most interesting parts about this rower is that it is foldable, which is rather uncommon for budget water resistance rowers. This makes it very good for those in apartments or with limited space in their homes.
The monitor on the rower displays time, row counts, distance, calories, and more. It is a performance monitor and there is a ton of options to help keep track of the workout.
As for comfort, the seat is not okay but probably not the greatest, though putting a foam rowing seat cushion over top of it should make it better. The quality steel beam makes your rowing workout smooth and stable.
Certainly a solid choice for those who are looking for an authentic water rowing machine, but might have limited space that rules out some of the other options.
Additional Information:
The Sunny rowing machine has a max user weight of 300 lbs (136 kg) and weighs 88 lbs (39 kg) itself. Its dimensions are 81 inches (205 cm) long, 21 inches (53 cm) wide and 39 inches (99 cm) tall. It also comes with Sunny’s 3 months warranty which is not really impressive compared to what other brands offer.
The Pros:
- The foldability and limited space that this rower takes up is probably its biggest pro.
- A sturdy beam on which it is built also helps the design.
- Tablet and bottle holders for user comfort.
The Cons:
- Its seat is also not the best and the screen is not backlit.
- The short warranty might also be worrying for some.
Buyer’s Guide to Help You Find the Best Water Rowing Machine Under $500:
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. A water resistance rowing machine with 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. Although, keep in mind that most water indoor rowing machines under $500 are not foldable.
2: The seat, handlebar, and footrest. Many of the fluid resistance rowers for home under $500 on this list have no problems with the handlebars or footrests. There are some 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 $500. However, there are certainly some on this list like the GYMAX and Marcy Pro rowers 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 exercise water rowers under $500 we couldn’t find the warranty, which might be concerning for some.
5: The assembly and maintenance. Most of the assembly of all budget rowing machines 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.
FAQs When Buying Water Resistance Indoor Rowers Under $500:
Q: Does rowing help lose weight?
A: Absolutely. Rowing is one of the most complete workouts out there and provides an excellent way to lose weight. It just takes consistent workout routines to achieve that weight goal.
Q: What muscles does a rower workout?
A: Some estimates state a rowing machine can burn up to 1,000 calories an hour and can work out 84% of your muscle mass! Note: All the indoor rowers including air rowers under $500 use the same muscles.
Q: Do these rowers make a lot of noise?
A: Not all indoor rowers make noise. 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.
Final Verdict!
There you have it. Our list of the top water rowing machines for under $500. Remember, it’s good to do your own research into what kind of rowing machine you think would best fit. We are merely here to act as a good starting point and guide. So get out and start rowing!
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.
