Earlier than testing out the Hydrow rower, I used to be a rowing beginner. It was most likely one of many solely main train modalities I haven’t tried, and I’ve dabbled in a complete bunch.

In truth, if I had been to sum up my exercise historical past in a single phrase, it could most likely be “eclectic.” As a child, I attempted ballet, tennis, and kung fu, and in the end realized I didn’t actually take pleasure in any of them. I picked up strolling and body weight exercises in highschool, and received to know cardio gear, weight machines, and dumbbells fairly nicely in faculty. Then got here an infinite stream of TRX, HIIT, and dance lessons, a yoga certification, a love/hate relationship with the Pilates reformer, and a hardcore Peloton habit. 

In all that point, although, I haven’t actually dipped my toe into rowing. The one time I did try to function an indoor rower, my fiancé—who spent a semester on his college crew crew—had some, um, notes. My type was off, and it made the expertise not so nice. I had no actual idea of tips on how to place my physique, and I walked away from a five-minute session with achy traps and a sore decrease again. 

So when Hydrow provided to ship me their Unique Rower to check, I felt a bit out of my league—however excited to provide it a shot. As rowing has risen in recognition due to its strength-building advantages and aptitude for environment friendly cardiovascular conditioning, I felt like this chance may enable me to essentially discover out what all of the fuss is about. 

In regards to the Hydrow

As a result of Hydrow is a brilliant rower, it provides a ton of rowing lessons—together with many that are tutorial and geared towards newbies, in addition to “Journey”-style lessons, which don’t give set paces, callouts, and even function an teacher—so I believed it could be an effective way to ease in. Plus, the platform additionally goes past rowing, providing lessons for energy, yoga, stretching, and extra, which match proper consistent with my common health routine.

Over the span of a reasonably steep three-week studying curve, I discovered I truly take pleasure in a variety of points about rowing—and particularly, Hydrow. Whereas the machine has a little bit of room for modest enhancements, it formally (and efficiently) launched me to a exercise modality I’d written off as too technical and troublesome for my stage, and helped me hone my type, confidence, and energy. Right here’s my full Hydrow rower overview.

How I Examined

I primarily based my overview off the factors SELF’s panel of health consultants really useful for evaluating rowing machines, together with issues like noise stage, ease of upkeep, dimension and storage, and particular options. The unique Hydrow rower that I examined retails for $2,495, and I examined it with its membership. Whereas the corporate says a membership isn’t required, it’s “strongly inspired” as a result of that’s the one method customers can achieve entry to their unique library of reside and on-demand lessons. That membership will set you again one other $44 a month (or $528 per 12 months when you pay yearly), however you solely must buy one membership to your family, so you probably have a number of relations or roommates utilizing the machine, everybody can create their very own profile beneath a single membership.