It’s always a challenge when purchasing exercise equipment that’s meant for health and fitness benefits. Many people don’t know where to begin, nor which machines will be the best for their needs. When searching for best water rowing machines under 500, it’s a real challenge. Rowing workouts are easily some of the best workouts you can do, but realistically many people are on fairly tight budgets. Finding the best water resistance rowing machines under 500 will bring you closer to your health goals, but first, you have to settle on which one is the best water rowing machine under 500 for your specific needs.
Of the three types of resistance in indoor rowing machines, water seems to be the one preferred by most rowers who do both indoor machine rowing and on the water rowing. There’s no way to fully replicate the feel of water except with water, so it only makes sense that those who enjoy and prefer being on the water would want the same gentle swooshing sounds and smooth stroke sensation in an indoor rowing machine as well. While magnetic resistance rowing machines are quieter with great control over resistance and air resistance rowing machines have a similar feel and smoothness to the motions, neither can really compare to a water resistance rowing machine when it comes to aesthetic and mimicry.
While there are some downfalls to a water resistance rowing machine such as how they are usually the largest and heaviest, they’re often lower to the ground, and they require water level adjustments for more accurate resistance level changing, they still are some of the more popular and preferred models people choose for their indoor rowing machine. For many, the benefits of water resistance rowing machines outweigh their downfalls and put them in the spotlight for home gyms. Without further ado, let’s see the 8 best water rowing machines under 500 that won’t break your bank and still provide a decent indoor rowing workout.
| Number | Name | Resistance | Folding | Bluetooth | Capacity | Frame |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Circuit Fitness AMZ-167RW | Water | No | No | 300 LBs | High-Rise |
| 2 | Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5713 | Water | No | No | 300 LBs | High-Rise |
| 3 | Harison Water Rowing Machine | Water | No | No | 300 LBs | High-Rise |
| 4 | Koreyosh Water Rowing Machine | Water | No | No | 330 LBs | Low-Rise |
| 5 | HouseFit Water Rowing Machine | Water | No | No | 330 LBs | High-Rise |
| 6 | N/C Water Rowing Machine | Water | No | No | 300 LBs | High-Rise |
| 7 | Marcy NS-6070RW | Water | No | Yes | 300 LBs | Low-Rise |
| 8 | MBH Water Rowing Machine | Water | No | No | 300 LBs | Low-Rise |
Our top pick for water resistance indoor rowers under $500 is the Circuit Fitness Water Rowing Machine. This compact and sturdy indoor rowing machine has an adjustable monitor, which is great for those who are either taller or shorter, and for those who want to use their home water rower for exercises other than the simple stroke.
One great thing about the Circuit Fitness Water Rowing Machine monitor is that it has different modes for different focuses. There’s a mode where you race against a set time and the computer on the display, a countdown mode that allows you to set certain goals and it will countdown until you reach those goals, and a recovery mode which measures your heart rate through a chest strap HRM and has a minute countdown for winding down at the end of your workout.
However, the chest strap heart rate monitor is sold separately, if that’s something you want to use. We also found the foot straps to be angled in a way that caused slipping, though we don’t think this will be a problem for those with larger shoe sizes. Along with the mode options, the monitor will also give you more basic workout information with time, distance, stroke count information, calories burned, and heart rate. The noise factor shouldn’t be a concern as it simply sounds like water sloshing as you stroke.
Conclusion
The Circuit Fitness Water Rowing Machine can support up to 300 pounds and the frame can be stood up for storing or moving out of the way. There’s a 2-year limited warranty and it has a footprint of 78 inches long, 22 inches wide, and 42 inches tall. Like almost every water rowing machine for sale, there is no dial control for resistance levels. The speed of your strokes and the water level is what determines the resistance.
Pros
Cons
Sunny Health & Fitness is a name that most in the exercise equipment world will recognize. They’ve been making various fitness machines for a while, so it’s no surprise they ended up on our list of rowing machine reviews under 500.
The Obsidian SF-RW5713 Water Rowing Machine is fairly lightweight as far as water resistance rowing machines go, and it is made with a stable steel frame. The seat may not be very cushioned, but its shape helps the user to sit with the right posture which will reduce possible back pain.
We did find that the seat made some noise as it slid, which detracts from the quietness of water rowers. Also, despite the 16 blade design, this didn’t reach the same level of resistance that some other water rowing machines can.
Conclusion
The Sunny Health & Fitness Obsidian SF-RW5713 Water Rowing Machine comes with a 3-year structural warranty and a 180-day parts warranty. It can be stood up for convenience and has a footprint of 80 inches long, 22 inches wide, and 34 inches tall. The maximum user weight it can support is 300 pounds. The Digital R2 Fitness Meter monitor displays time, stroke count information, distance, calories burned, and pulse. It also has a clock, calendar, and temperature features, and it works with ANT+ heart rate monitoring technology, such as watches or straps.
Pros
Cons
The third one we chose is the Harison Water Rowing Machine. Like the Circuit Fitness Water Rowing Machine, this one also has an adjustable monitor to cater to varying fitness routine needs. The screen size is large, making it easier to see at a glance. It’s designed with a dual track system to make it extremely stable and solid through your strokes, even for more intense workouts.
The pedals fit well for an exercise machine that’s less expensive. One thing that we noticed during assembly is that some of the screw holes were not in quite the right place. This seems to be a common issue and may make it impossible for some to work with.
Conclusion
The frame will stand up to take less space or to be stored away and the water resistance uses stroke speed and tank level to increase or decrease resistance difficulty. It’s quiet and can support up to 300 pounds of weight. The footprint is 82 inches long, 20.5 inches wide, and 31.5 inches tall. The monitor displays calories burned, stroke count information, both rowed distance and the distance you set as your goal, and time.
Pros
Cons
If you’re really going for the aesthetic you should consider the Koreyosh Water Rowing Machine. The wooden frame pairs beautifully with the water resistance style in order to create a pleasant workout that will make you feel closer to rowing on the water. The monitor is adjustable and this one also has a dual track design like the MARNUR Water Rowing Machine.
We did notice that the instructions were terrible, making assembly far more difficult than it needed to be. There was also a discrepancy with the weight limit. At first, we came across the listed maximum user weight of 330 pounds. However, we found out it’s actually 260 pounds. This can make a significant difference for some potential users who weigh more.
Conclusion
As mentioned, the monitor is adjustable for that personalized convenience, and it shows time, distance, stroke count information, and calories burned. It also has a scan option you can use. The frame can stand for storage and the machine is pleasant sounding to use. The water resistance uses stroke speed to determine the difficulty of resistance. The total Koreyosh Water Rowing Machine takes up 84 inches long, 22 inches wide, and 20 inches tall.
Pros
Cons
The HouseFit Water Rowing Machine is a great water resistance rowing machine. It has an adjustable monitor to angle it exactly where you need it and a steel frame. This home rowing machine is sturdy and strong. It feels like it will last a while, even for those with more rigorous fitness routines.
We found the assembly to be quick and easy, and customer service to be helpful. However, we didn’t like how small the monitor was. It’s much easier to see multiple stats at once instead of needing to cycle through them or wait for the scan option to cycle. There is a large device holder so you can easily use a smartphone or even a tablet if that’s your preference.
Conclusion
The small monitor can display time, calories burned, distance, speed, and has a scan option. It uses stroke speed and water tank level to determine the water resistance difficulty. Its strong frame can support user weight up to 330 pounds. If you need to store it away when you’re not using it you can stand it up. While in use, the HouseFit Water Rowing Machine takes up 80 inches long, 20.5 inches wide, and 37.5 inches tall.
Pros
Cons
This indoor rowing machine had decent pedals and handles that were comfortable. The frame felt sturdy and the monitor is adjustable to cater to different heights making this a nice option for a fluid rowing machine under 500. We did find some workout information to be unreliable and inaccurate.
The seat, though shaped well, was too hard which made longer workouts less than ideal. We also found customer service to be lacking. They weren’t as helpful as we thought they should have been. But we like the most about this water rower is its affordable price, yet large display monitor. It’s pretty difficult to come across water resistance rowing machines under 500 US Dollars with such a performance monitor.
Conclusion
The N/C Water Rowing Machine can support up to 264 pounds and has a footprint of 78 inches long, 17.3 inches wide, and 35.5 inches tall. N/C has a 30-day warranty for defective parts or damage caused by transportation. The frame can be stood for convenience and to save space. The monitor can display stroke count information, distance, time, and calories burned.
Pros
Cons
Here’s another indoor water resistance rowing machine with the ability to connect to a chest strap HRM for pulse reading. Just like the Circuit Fitness Water Rowing Machine, the chest strap is sold separately. This is a great feature for those who base their fitness goals around their heart rate. Another nice feature was the solid pedals. They were of better quality than a lot of the lower priced machines.
The monitor is adjustable for convenience and the frame felt sturdy. Overall, the Marcy NS-6070RW rowing machine is a great and simple home water rowers under $500 without too many bells and whistles. It’s perfect for those who want to focus on improving their health.
Conclusion
Along with being adjustable, the monitor will show stroke count, calories burned, and time. It will connect via ANT+ to any compatible chest strap monitor for a pulse reading as well. The Marcy NS-6070RW Water Rowing Machine takes up 79 inches long, 22 inches wide, and 42.25 inches tall. There’s a 30-day warranty and the water resistance is quiet and pleasant sounding. The Marcy NS-6070RW Water Rowing Machine can stand vertically to save space and store away, and the frame can support up to 300 pounds.
Pros
Cons
The MBH Water Rowing Machine has the dual track design that the MARNUR Water Rowing Machine and the Koreyosh Water Rowing Machine has that makes the strokes smooth and incredibly solid. For those who like their exercise equipment to match their interior or have a certain appearance, the MBH Water Rowing Machine has two options, one black and one white.
While this is great, the overall design looks rather bulky. We did notice that the dual tracks were a little short which may impact taller users. We also had an issue with the assembly instructions. They weren’t very clear and they weren’t entirely correct, making the process of putting it together challenging.
Conclusion
The weight capacity on the MBH Water Rowing Machine is 264, and the quiet water resistance is determined by stroke speed and water tank level. The monitor will display time, distance, stroke count information, and 500m split time. The frame can be stood for convenience and the MBH Water Rowing Machine has a footprint of 71 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 18 inches tall.
Pros
Cons
With all of the water resistance indoor rowing machines on our list and with almost every other water resistance indoor rowing machine, the way the resistance difficulty changes is by changing the speed of your stroke and by changing the amount of water in the tank. Choosing the right tank size is essential to have the range you will want, but it also makes for a bulkier and heavier machine. If you’re the type to prefer relying on your own performance to increase or decrease your difficulty or if size and weight are an issue, then a smaller tank should be considered.
Height
A common trait of water resistance indoor rowing machines is that they tend to be lower to the floor than air resistance or magnetic resistance generally are. This means that if you have joint pain or limitations, or if your mobility is hindered, you’ll want to consider the height of the seat. It doesn’t do any good to get a great machine where you can go through an intense workout if you won’t be able to get off it easily afterward.
Design
As mentioned, if your main reason for getting a water resistance indoor rowing machine is the aesthetic of it, then you’ll want to make sure to design fits into that. Unless you’re going to be rowing with your eyes closed, you’ll want to make sure the frame and appearance of your machine fits what you’re looking for.
Dimensions
The footprint of water resistance indoor rowing machines is usually larger than that of an air resistance or magnetic resistance. If the benefit of the water resistance is what you want, but you’re limited on space, pay attention to the dimensions of the machines and whether they can be stood up to easily move out of the way. You’ll want to make sure you have the space to fit it with a little extra room around it. Keep in your mind.
The Circuit Fitness Water Rowing Machine was the top choice on our list because there seemed to be a real focus on making the workout as beneficial and as personalized as possible. The different mode settings that are a part of the monitor options really pushed this one ahead. Adding to that the heart rate monitoring compatibility secured this as our top pick. It’s a great indoor rowing machine on its own, but the fact that it comes with some features that low cost exercise equipment usually doesn’t while still maintaining top quality performance impressed us.
While the Circuit Fitness Water Rowing Machine was our top pick, the Sunny Health & Fitness Obsidian SF-RW5713 Water Rowing Machine came close in second. This manufacturer has proven they know what buyers want, and they delivered a great quality indoor rowing machine for a great price. What really bumped it down was the lacking increased difficulty for those who want the more intense workouts. Despite this, with the heart rate monitoring compatibility and the obvious thought put into helping users maintain proper form, the Sunny Health & Fitness Obsidian SF-RW5713 Water Rowing Machine is still a great option.
There are fewer options for an affordable water rowing machine under 500 than the other types of resistance rowing machines out there. It’s important to understand what you’re looking for and what you’re priorities are before making a purchase. We’ve made sure to give you details and information about our top choices in order for you to make the best decision for your needs.
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