Source
r/Fitness•
nickpick

Budget Rowing Machines for HIIT: Possible on Magnets?

I am looking to buy one of the more budget priced rowing machines. My primary interest is in doing HIIT on the rower during the cold months, as it is rather unpleasant to run intervals in the freezing cold. My understanding is that air rowers are generally better in this regard as they require variable effort depending on how fast you pull the string. Unfortunately, they are also somewhat more expensive and, more importantly, much louder.

Specifically, I looked at these two devices (since they are the first ones that show up on Amazon):

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B009TNXNSA

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B01781KEO0

I run frequently, but, not having trained on a rower for the past decade, I really don't know if the magnet variant with 8 kg flywheel mass would be enough for high heart-rate intervals or if I really should spend a bit more and hope that the people around me can live with the noise.

Would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

Posted Nov 15, 2016, 12:03 PM UTC

312
Meduvs•

Well, it is not the advice you want to hear, but in the rowing world it is recommended to either buy the Concept 2 ergometer or buy nothing at all. The budget ones really are only good for people who infrequently do it, if you really want to to use this as a winter substitute choose a quality one.

From your post I gather that you didn't train (rowing) for over a decade but I assume that you did before? In case you didn't I highly recommend to watch (a lot of) youtube videos on how to erg correctly. Doing it wrong for prolonged time greatly increases risk of injury, in your lower back specifically.

source: myself as I'm a competitive rower

16
nickpickOP•

Thank you and happypotatoesoncrack for the reply. Could you explain why it is the only one worth purchasing? I have done rowing in the past (on a C2), but I am really more interested in something I could just do cardio on rather than practicing for a competition involving real boats and gasp water. Do the budget variants just not offer enough resistance? Is the resistance uneven? Is it the computer that is worse?

1
CoGa•

If you are looking for a budget, then put out a craigslist notification. I had one for several months using IFTT and would get a text as soon as one was posted on craigslist or the like. After about 2 months, I was able to find a concept 2 brand new for $300 off the normal price. Best purchase I made. The thing is amazing and would have kicked myself for buying anything less.

4
Ironhide94•

Main issue is they just aren't made well. If you buy a solid C2 it will last you years with good treatment. The others break down faster. And don't offer nearly as good an interface. Really is worth it to buy up

3
vis9000Rowing•

They don't, they are far weirder and less reliable, but the main issue is that they won't hold up very well.

2
happypotatoesoncrack•

Don't waste your money on anything but a concept 2 or rowperfect (rowperfects are more than c2's). I bought my first concept 2 for 250 dollars used, it was a model c from the late 90s and it still is infinitely better that any of the other brands on the market (such as the ones you linked). Try and find a used concept 2, DO NOT buy one of those other brands. They suck.

9
Meduvs•

Yes! I forgot to mention rowperfects in my post

3
promitchuous•

To be fair, a concept 2 is a really good recommendation even for a non-rower who just wants to work on general fitness. A rowperfect will run about $3500 and the only real benefits it has over concept 2 is that it's a closer simulation to rowing on the water, and there's more data available. I'd never recommend a rowperfect to anyone that just wants to work general fitness unless they're so rich that they think about it for 5 mins before deciding to just buy both.

3
promitchuous•

OP if you're able to find one used for somewhere in the $300-$500 range you're golden. They hold their value like crazy and they're built to last forever without too much extra maintenance. C2 is really the way to go.

3
GreenStrong•

I have an alternate suggestion, since a concept 2 rower is expensive- get a kettlebell. It is ideal for HIIT, and inexpensive. THe starting weight for a male is 16kg, most people work up to 24 kg rather quickly. The basic swing motion isn't much different from rowing, but the resistance is higher, so you would be working in sets of 10-50 and resting.

Just a thought, since the recommendation is so often repeated to use the expensive Concept 2 or no rower. I've used a Concept 2, and a few others, the Concept2 is the by far better than any I've tried, but there might be a decent budget brand out there somewhere.

1
hawktomegoose•

Kettleballs, good jump rope, even a cheap punching bag are all solid options for a HIIT substitute that'll be cheaper and just as quiet if not more so than a rower IMO.

If you're looking for something specifically for the rowing motion or to work your back, a used c2 is probably your best bet as many have mentioned. Unfortunately your best time to look on Craigslist and possibly eBay was in the summer - now that it's getting colder, a lot more people will have the same idea as you

1
toothlessmaddog•

Just stick an Olympic bar in the corner and do T-bar rows.

1