Best Budget Rowing Machines in Canada
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the way we work, socialize, dine and even exercise. Home workouts have always been a favourable option for many and transitioning to exercising at home has been well received during the pandemic. For this reason, fitness buffs have been investing in equipment that can be used in their homes since they can’t go to the gyms.
Indoor rowing machines are a great option for an all-in-one machine. It targets multiple muscle groups for a total body, calorie torching experience (rowing makes you use 86% of your muscles). If you are now starting on your weight loss or fitness journey, an indoor rowing machine can certainly be an asset. Here are our top picks for the best budget rowing machines in Canada.
Compare The Best Budget Rowing Machines in Canada
| Number | Name | Resistance | Folding | Bluetooth | Capacity | Frame |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NordicTrack RW Rower | Magnetic | Yes | No | 250 LBs | High-Rise |
| 2 | Xterra Fitness ERG600W Water Rower | Water | No | No | 300 LBs | High-Rise |
| 3 | Marcy Foldable Rower NS-6050RE | Turbine | Yes | No | 300 LBs | High-Rise |
| 4 | Serene Life Smart Rowing Machine | Air and Magnetic | Yes | No | 250 LBs | High-Rise |
| 5 | Sunny Health and Fitness Rower | Magnetic | Yes | No | 250 LBs | Low-Rise |
| 6 | Fitness Reality 1000 Plus | Magnetic | Yes | Yes | 250 LBs | Low-Rise |
| 7 | Stamina ATS Air Rower | Air | Yes | No | 250 LBs | High-Rise |
| 8 | Marcy Foldable Magnetic Rower | Magnetic | Yes | No | 300 LBs | High-Rise |
| 9 | Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 | Hydraulic | Yes | No | 250 LBs | Low-Rise |
Editor’s Best Affordable Rower Choice in Canada!
Water Resistance
Xterra ERG600W- Aluminum Rails
- Natural Sound
- Affordable Price
Air Resistance
Marcy Turbine- Dynamic Resistance
- Low-Maintenance
- Folding Frame
Magnetic Resistance
Nordictrack RW 200- Good Monitor with Bluetooth
- Quiet Resistance
- Foldable Frame
Top 10 Best Budget Rowing Machines in Canada:
Table of Contents
Nordic Track RW 200 Rower
The NordicTrack RW 200 Rower includes a 1-year iFit membership with purchase. You can experience a professional personal training session in the comfort of your home or apartment. Simply connect to iFit on your smartphone or tablet which can be secured onto the rowing machine’s integrated device holder for added convenience.
You can easily keep track of your stats such as calories burned, number of strokes, time and watts with the built-in digital console. Advanced models in this rower (500,900) have improved screens for display but the 200 paired with your smartphone or other device is just as versatile.
The RW200 Rower also has a sleek, ergonomic design with adjustable foot straps to create a comfortable position during use. It has a space saving design which allows for easy storage after each use. Just fold your rower into a vertical position and slide it into a corner or inside a closet for efficient storage!
Another great feature on the NordicTrack RW Rowing Machine is its silent flywheel. With SMR Silent Magnetic Resistance, you can expect a quiet and smooth ride that won’t disturb your household.
Conclusion
If you have a small to medium budget, the RW200 is a best buy. As a beginner, the iFit training sessions can teach you how to execute correct form, how to structure workouts and provide you with a fitness plan that you can stick to.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Quiet
- Space saving
Cons
- iFit membership subscription must be purchased after 1 year to continue virtual coaching access.
Xterra Fitness ERG600W Rower
If you are searching for best budget rowing machines in Canada, look no further than the Xterra Fitness ERG600W Water Rower. This simple design is power packed, and efficient at burning calories. It comes with an easy-to-fill water tank that sports 6 resistance levels according to the amount of water you use in the tank. The movement of the impellers also mimics the sound of nature with its soothing rowing motions that make you feel like you are actually rowing on water.
Track your workout time, calories burnt, distance, strokes and more on a large 5.5 LCD display (powered by 2 AA batteries). You can also make use of programmable modes that allow you to race against the computer, time, distance, strokes or calories countdown for a fun challenge.
It only lacks a heart rate monitor and a chest strap must be purchased separately for this purpose. These are easily found online or in sporting goods stores. You can also consider a smart watch with heart rate monitoring features as a substitute.
The ERG600W rower is ergonomically designed with adjustable, flexing pedals, a contoured seat and ergonomic, padded rowing handle. It’s suitable for a range of heights and can accommodate up to 300lbs of weight. It can also be stored vertically when not in use and doesn’t take up much floor space (33”x22”) in this position.
Conclusion
Xterra Fitness gives you bang for your buck with the ERG600W water rower. You can achieve a dynamic full body workout, flexibility and endurance training right in your home. Its soothing water sounds can also help you to relax and focus.
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy storage
- Sleek Design and good quality material
- Great built in features
Cons
- Only 6 resistance levels
- Must manually adjust the water tank capacity to adjust resistance levels
- No heart rate monitor
Marcy Foldable Turbine Rowing Machine
The Marcy Foldable Turbine Rower is one of the most portable units on the market today. Not only can it fold up for easy and compact storage but it also has built in wheels for easy movement and transport. You can move it from room to room or even to outdoor areas.
This model is designed with ease and comfort in mind. It features a mould-injected seat made from high density padding that aids to reduce muscle fatigue. This means you don’t get burnt out too quickly and can have a more effective workout session. It also carries a foam handle with non-slip grip that is easy to hold onto.
There are eight resistance settings to choose from to adjust the intensity of your rowing experience and increase versatility. You can also keep track of your stats on the built-in computer display which shows you calories burnt, speed, distance, time and RPM.
Since it is a turbine-based rowing machine you also get the added benefit of being cooled down by the air resistance as you work out. Its solid steel frame and adjustable foot straps provide extra stability during your workout and can support up to 300lbs.
Conclusion
The Marcy Turbine Rower Machine is a great option if you are short on space. Its portability can allow you to transport it outdoors if you don’t have enough indoor space. It is powerful and you can move up the eight levels of resistance as you improve in strength and form for more intense exercise. It’s in the mid-range of best budget rowing machines in Canada and manufactured with durable materials that can withstand regular or daily use for a long period of time.
Pros
- Space Saving
- Affordable
- Portable
- Durable Materials
- Comfort Design
Cons
- Very basic computer display
- No preset challenges or routines
- No built-in holder for smart device
- Can get noisy over time
Serene Life Smart Rowing Machine
The Serene Life smart rowing machine is exactly as the title implies. It comes with a bright LCD display that features app connectivity (Fitshow) via Bluetooth to record and track your exercise data and review your fitness journey on your smartphone, tablet or computer. It also has a built in PMS system for easy monitoring of your fitness levels and challenges.
This compact rowing machine also provides a smooth and comfortable workout experience with its air and magnetic resistance capabilities. This makes it one of the quieter budget rower machines so won’t disturb people around you or lose focus due to excessive noise. You can also get comfortable on its padded seat and padded handle grips.
You can choose between 8 adjustable resistance levels to suit your fitness level. It packs a punch by targeting your total body and cardio rates for intense workouts that will swiftly help you get into shape. It has an adjustable grip for further customization and has a smart device holder for easy access to your apps and music.
Made from durable materials, the Serene Life Rower can withstand years of usage and is a good investment that can benefit your entire household. You store it vertically or turn it into a collapsible rowing machine by removing a few screws. Upon purchase, you are offered a full one-year warranty on the Serene Life Rower, though you may not actually have reason to use it. The materials that make up the frame are top rated and it can accommodate up to 250 pounds.
Conclusion
For an inexpensive indoor rowing machine in Canada, the Serene Life Smart Rower is a good investment. Apart from its one-year warranty and smart capabilities, it’s also user friendly, versatile and durable. You can achieve many fitness goals such as weight loss, strength and cardio endurance as well as toning and flexibility improvement.
Pros
- Smart capabilities
- Combines Air and Magnetic resistance
- Durable and resilient design
Cons
- Requires assembly
- Does not fold and requires sufficient room
Sunny Health and Fitness Rower
Sunny Health and Fitness provides the ideal cheap indoor rowing machine for small budgets. If you want a straight to the point exercise machine, the SF- RW5515 model will suit your needs. It sports magnetic tension with 8 adjustable resistance levels to suit your desired level of intensity. It comes with an LCD display console that tracks your calories, time and total count.
It’s a basic and straightforward rower machine and doesn’t have preset challenges or smart capabilities but you can get a decent exercise session with every use. It has a low noise level so you can break the monotony with music or work out class on your tv or smart device (you just have to find a way to secure it for easy access as the rowers does not have a built-in holder).
The overall design and build of the rower are impressively sturdy and can bear up to 250 lbs. It has a padded seat and non-slip grip handle bars to avoid slipping. There are also large anti slip foot pedals that can be adjusted to suit the user for maximum comfort.
The Sunny Health and Fitness magnetic rower machine is compact and can be folded for easy storage. It has large wheels attached for even more portability that allows for easy movement. This is a major plus for most homes because there can never quite be enough space available!
Conclusion
The SF-RW5515 model from Sunny Health and Fitness is a tough yet beginner friendly rower that combines powerful magnetic resistance with an affordable price tag. You can work your way up the resistance levels as you get stronger and build endurance for longer sessions.
Pros
- Affordable
- Portable and foldable
- Easy to use lcd console
- Durable
Cons
- No smart capabilities
- Heavy
- Suitable for intermediate to advanced users
Fitness Reality 1000 Rowing Machine
The Fitness Reality 1000 Plus model is one of the best budget rowing machines in Canada. It is affordable and comes with great features such as Bluetooth connectivity and app compatibility (MyCloudFitness app).
App connectivity allows you to efficiently track your stats and your workouts in addition to the basic built in LCD display. This allows easy settings adjustments and the tracking of calories burnt, time and total count stat display to show how much work you put into your rowing sessions.
In addition to the 14-level magnetic rowing resistance, it has front stabilizer foot pads that can accommodate additional work out exercises such as curls, bent over rows, front raises and much more. This gives it even more total body exercise options than just the movements of rowing.
It has a comfortable seat, wide grip handle bars and a smart device holder for easy access to the fitness app to set your workouts. It’s quiet and can bear up to 250 lbs as well as heights up to 6’6”. This makes it very versatile for both men and women.
Conclusion
The Fitness Reality 1000 plus rower is a great buy for those who want quality, modern technology capabilities and affordability in one rower machine. It’s a simple and straightforward rower machine that’s easy to use and maintain.
Pros
- Affordable
- Can do additional exercises apart from rowing
- 14 levels of resistance
- Smart Capabilities
- Good quality and comfortable design
Cons
- No preset programs or challenges
- Must use smart phone to access app and Bluetooth for workouts and challenges
Stamina ATS Air Rowing Machine
The Stamina ATS Air Rower (1399) is essentially a ‘true’ air rower machine. It does not have additional magnetic or water resistance combined and has no adjustable resistance levels. Your resistance levels depend on the effort and speed that you put in. This dynamic rowing effect is frequently used by Olympic rowing athletes for training and off season!
Its simple, no fluff design comes with a monitor that displays speed, distance, calories burnt and time to track your efforts. For a budget rower machine, it is very efficient for targeting your arms, legs, abs and glutes.
The Stamina ATS Rower is also built with comfortable foot plates that are easily adjustable and a soft padded seat. It’s a sturdy build and can hold up to 250 lbs. of weight. It can be easily operated by beginners or more advanced rowing enthusiasts.
A few added benefits are the folding capability for easy storage, built in wheels for portability as well as nonskid floor protectors to prevent shifting or skidding while in use. It even has a 3-year warranty from the manufacturer.
Conclusion
The Stamina ATS Rower is a basic but efficient air rower that can be well utilized by any fitness level or targeted fitness goals. Air rowers are very efficient when it comes to building strength and endurance because you work against yourself to create the right resistance level.
Pros
- Dynamic Air Resistance
- Portable and foldable for easy storage
Cons
- Basic LCD Monitor
- No smart capabilities or presets
Marcy Foldable Rowing Machine
The Marcy Foldable Magnetic Rower has 8 levels to choose from to achieve your desired resistance. It’s a great tool for getting cardio workouts in while strengthening and toning your entire body. Its magnetic resistance allows for quiet and smooth operation even with more intense workouts.
It comes with a multi-angle LCD panel that can be adjusted and displays your workout statistics. It has very basic but useful functions that are still very beneficial to your workout progress. It tracks your rowing time, stroke count and calories burnt for your session to manually record your training results.
The defining feature of this model is its convenient folding design that allows for easy storage and transportation with built in wheels. It also sports a sleek ergonomic design that is easily customizable to suit the height, weight and size of the user. It had anti-slip grips and a foam padded seat for extra stability and comfort.
Regular use of the Marcy Foldable Rowing machine can contribute significantly to your weight loss goals. It’s a budget friendly alternative to the gym which can give you the same results on a rowing machine at home without pricey gym memberships.
Conclusion
This budget rower machine is ideal for beginners and advanced users alike and is very versatile despite its simple design. Its space saving design is a major plus for people who live in small apartments and simply don’t have sufficient storage space to utilize.
Pros
- Space saving features
- Quiet and versatile for a range of users
Cons
- No smart functions of preset workouts
- Only 8 levels of resistance
Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rower
The Stamina Body Trac Glider is another basic Rowing Machine that is wallet friendly yet packs a punch. It is a hydraulic rower that is compact, foldable and space saving and suitable for beginners or those with very tight budgets who want to invest in fitness.
It comes with a simple and easy to use LCD monitor that tracks your workout stats such as calories burnt, rowing time and more. While there are no presets or smart features, it can be used to monitor your fitness progress and keep a log of your progress.
The design is intended to be sturdy with some degrees of comfort such as an ergonomic moulded seat and textured foot plates and adjustable straps. This makes it “It comes with a basic LCD monitor that tracks your workout stats for easy recording for keeping up with your weight loss and fitness goals/ This allows for a customizable experience to suit all body types and heights to use the rowing machine with ease.
Hydraulic rowers tend to have mechanical issues over time with their performance, therefore, this particular type of rower is suitable for light to moderate ranges of usage to maintain its optimum standard of performance.
Conclusion
It is probably one of the simplest rower designs and has an almost retro aesthetic. Despite that, it provides a decent workout for the user and can contribute to great results in strength and cardio endurance as well as total body toning.
Pros
- Compact and space saving
- Affordable
Cons
- Basic functions
- Seat may be uncomfortable for long workouts
A Buyer’s Guide to Inexpensive Rowing Machines in Canada
With the increased push towards stay at home exercise there are some key questions you should ask yourself when choosing to purchase a rowing machine.
Price
You get what you pay for. Usually rowing machines range from a couple hundred dollars to upwards in the thousands, and with each bump in price you can expect a rise in construction quality, multiple features and advanced technologies to ensure you are receiving as much information and effective intensity as needed to help you achieve your desired goals.
Ease of Use
Some rowing machines designs facilitate different levels of ease of use. You do want to spend some time taking note of the ergonomics and range of movement that is being marketed to you. A rowing machine should keep you upright and “flowing” along a guided path with no sudden upset to body alignment and neutrality.
Storage and Space Allocation
By today’s standards we would want something that is easily stored. Luckily with advances in engineering most modern rowing machines have the capability to fold neatly to provide storage capabilities. These are the most sought after as it allows a user to maintain their space and utilize what is needed, when its needed, by the machine. It is recommended to choose a machine that allows some degree of “breakdown” so it can be stored when necessary.
Type of Rowing Machine
There are many types of rowing machines present in today’s world. With the differentiating factor being the difference in the type of resistance that is exuded on the body.
Air Rowers:
- Smooth operation
- Varying degrees of resistance
- Reduced degrees of wear and tear
- Machine adjusts resistance based on your input (stroke rate)
- Can be noisy
- Most popular type of rowing machine
- Most accurately replicates the motion of rowing on water
Water Rowers:
- Smooth consistent resistance
- Quiet in operation
- Requires little maintenance
- They tend to be larger than other types of rowing machines
- Price point is higher than other comparable rowing machines
- Often come in wooden frames with a sleek design
Magnetic Rowers:
- Silent operation
- A wide range of resistance
- More compact
- Requires minimal maintenance
- They will not simulate the feeling of rowing on water
- Easily storable as most are foldable
Hydraulic Rowers:
- Easiest to purchase cost wise
- Smaller size and foldable
- Tends to be a bit quieter than Air rowers
- However, they do not provide smooth operation
- Inconsistent ranges of resistance owing to viscosity loss as oil heats up in damper
- They require more maintenance
The Final Verdict
During these times, a rowing machine can be one of the best investments you can make to gain a total body workout effectively and efficiently in a set amount of time. These machines are easy to use, gentle on the joints and beginner friendly.
If we were to recommend a machine or type it would be that of an air rower. These provide the best medium between size and ease of operation. Coupled with the varying and wide range of resistance adjustments, you will most certainly achieve the desired burn from your workout. However, having said that, none of these best budget rowing machines in Canada are a bad option as each with the right approach can lead to varying degrees of health benefits and workout intensity. It all depends on your budget, your level of fitness, your available and your general preference as outlined in the buyer’s guide above. Some people prefer simple rower machines with basic functions and others are more motivated with smart functions and apps. Any rower machine that suits your needs is a good buy. Investing in fitness equipment is a step towards achieving a healthier lifestyle. Let’s get Rowing!