rowing machine recommendations, please!

evenstar · 01-12-11, 09:09 PM

Guys, I want to buy a rowing machine. I don't have a lot of money, so it has to be cheap. It has to be quiet. It has to fold upwards when I'm not using it. It has to be able to handle short people.

Do any of you have a model and company to recommend, that would fit the bill?

Thanks!

sheepla · 01-13-11, 07:59 AM

Sorry, but as a former college rower, I wouldn't even consider anything except the Concept 2, which is not cheap. Good luck with your search.

macska · 01-13-11, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepla

Sorry, but as a former college rower, I wouldn't even consider anything except the Concept 2, which is not cheap. Good luck with your search.

Ditto. Great machine with excellent customer service. I'm very happy with it for many years now. Worth every penny!

AnnR33 · 01-13-11, 08:41 AM

If you can't afford a good machine, have you tried the resistance bands with handles? You put them over the ends of your feet and sit straight legged. Then do the rowing movement with them. You can get bands in different resistance levels. The muscles worked are the same as with a machine.

They are cheap and can be stored away easily.

They might be worth a try before you spend money on a machine that won't meet your expectations. Or until you can save more for a better machine.

scrappindad · 01-13-11, 08:44 AM

I have to join the Concept 2 lovefest. No, it's not cheap, but I think it's worth every penny. It was my best purchase of 2010. I use it almost everyday, even if it's just a 5 or 10 min. "spark".

Debbie

sheepla · 01-13-11, 08:59 AM

And I'm trying to figure out how this is an off-topic thread....

Mary09(b) · 01-13-11, 10:05 AM

I was eyeing a water rower at Costco.com for around $700. I have a feeling that's cheap for a rower but am not sure. It was $1700 at a home gym store. Please someone tell me they suck compared to Concept 2 so I can write it off.

Kesal · 01-13-11, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepla

Sorry, but as a former college rower, I wouldn't even consider anything except the Concept 2, which is not cheap. Good luck with your search.

Same here. I'd also add that although the new machines are not as loud as the ones I used in college, I still would not call them quiet. I don't think that a rowing machine is going to solve your downstairs neighbor problem.

eulila · 01-13-11, 11:16 AM

Its not real cheap and its not real quiet but I have to agree with the others that the Concept 2 is worth the price. You can lift it up out of the way.

Mary09(b) · 01-13-11, 11:27 AM

Here's the Amazon ad for the water rower Costco has for $700. Only one review, unfortunately. I tried it in the store and it's unpowered so all you hear is the swoosh of the water in the tank. I can't imagine it'd bother any neighbors, but sometimes those big stores really absorb noise well.

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01-12-11, 09:09 PM
evenstar Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Canada	rowing machine recommendations, please! Guys, I want to buy a rowing machine. I don't have a lot of money, so it has to be cheap. It has to be quiet. It has to fold upwards when I'm not using it. It has to be able to handle short people. Do any of you have a model and company to recommend, that would fit the bill? Thanks! __________________ You are loved and you are not alone.

01-13-11, 07:59 AM
sheepla VF Supporter Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: OK	Sorry, but as a former college rower, I wouldn't even consider anything except the Concept 2, which is not cheap. Good luck with your search.

01-13-11, 08:41 AM
AnnR33 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: So Cal	If you can't afford a good machine, have you tried the resistance bands with handles? You put them over the ends of your feet and sit straight legged. Then do the rowing movement with them. You can get bands in different resistance levels. The muscles worked are the same as with a machine. They are cheap and can be stored away easily. They might be worth a try before you spend money on a machine that won't meet your expectations. Or until you can save more for a better machine. __________________ Full-time homeschool mom of 3 crazy kids and a cute baby girl!

01-13-11, 08:44 AM
scrappindad VF Supporter Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Kansas	I have to join the Concept 2 lovefest. No, it's not cheap, but I think it's worth every penny. It was my best purchase of 2010. I use it almost everyday, even if it's just a 5 or 10 min. "spark". Debbie

01-13-11, 08:59 AM
sheepla VF Supporter Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: OK	And I'm trying to figure out how this is an off-topic thread....

01-13-11, 10:05 AM
Mary09(b) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arizona	I was eyeing a water rower at Costco.com for around $700. I have a feeling that's cheap for a rower but am not sure. It was $1700 at a home gym store. Please someone tell me they suck compared to Concept 2 so I can write it off.

01-13-11, 11:16 AM
eulila Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Tennessee	Its not real cheap and its not real quiet but I have to agree with the others that the Concept 2 is worth the price. You can lift it up out of the way.

01-13-11, 11:27 AM
Mary09(b) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arizona	Here's the Amazon ad for the water rower Costco has for $700. Only one review, unfortunately. I tried it in the store and it's unpowered so all you hear is the swoosh of the water in the tank. I can't imagine it'd bother any neighbors, but sometimes those big stores really absorb noise well.