Rowing Machines: How to Choose the Best Rowing Machine for Intense Full Body Cardio and Strength Training!
by John Carter
Filed under Featured Exercise Equipment, Most Popular Featured Articles
Have you ever seen people row or crew in real life? It’s intense. And if you’ve ever seen a rower’s body, you know that the sport must be a good one, because those athletes are ripped! The good news is that you can get all the benefits of a rowing workout without a boat, a lake, or 5 AM practices. Sounding good? Then read on to find out how to choose the best rowing machine for your home.
A Rowing Machine Delivers An Amazing Cardio And Muscle Building Workout
A Rowing Machine Delivers An Amazing Cardio And Muscle Building Workout
Rowing Has So Many Benefits
Working against resistance with every pull, you’re not only driving your heart rate up; you’re also building lean muscle mass in your legs, upper arms, and torso. And of course, high intensity cardio coupled with resistance training burns more calories, zaps more fat, and leaves our bodies leaner and stronger than cardio alone. If that’s not reason enough to give it a try, consider the fact that rowing is a very low impact workout; so unlike running, it protects your joints from injury. Exercise doesn’t really get any better.
What Type of Rowing Machine?
To successfully buy a rowing machine will necessarily require a few major decisions, as well as a number of smaller choices about features and gadgets. The important thing is to get a machine that fits you well, and feels smooth and stable, even during high intensity workouts.
I really get a kick out of interval training on a rowing machine, so when I joined a new gym a while back, I was thrilled to see that they had one. I hopped on, cranked up the resistance to a comfortable level, and got right into my warm up. Things were going great until I kicked up the intensity. All of a sudden I realized that the machine was moving slowly and steadily backward across the gym floor!
Each time I began a new pull, the whole thing would scootch back just a bit. Needless to say, I didn’t feel very comfortable on that particular rowing machine once I figured out what was going on. As it turns out, it was a cheap, rather flimsy model; not built to handle my weight at high speeds or levels of resistance.
Sizing
You can avoid this sort of surprise with your home rower by paying attention to the user specifications for any exercise machine. Look for something where you are comfortably within the height and weight range.
Pulling Mechanism
Some ergs (another name for a rowing machine) have handles protruding from either side of the center beam, while others have one handle in the center. Both options can give you an effective workout.
Resistance
Some Rowing Machines Use Water For Resistance To Deliver A More Realistic Rowing Feel
Some Rowing Machines Use Water For Resistance To Deliver A More Realistic Rowing Feel
Rowing machines are manufactured with different types of resistance. Some use magnets, some use fans; and still others use water. Resistance provided by pistons tends to make for a small, compact machine. Some machines require you to adjust resistance manually, while others offer pre-set programs that will take care of that part for you. Water resistance machines offer a smooth workout that allows you to increase or decrease intensity simply by pulling faster or slower.
Incentives
Good home exercise equipment manufacturers will offer warranties with their equipment. Take advantage of these and buy quality! Order your new Rowing Machine in minutes today, and it can be on its way to your home almost immediately.
Finding Success in the Details
Like most exercise machines, rowers offer a variety of different features and options. A monitor that measures the length of your workout and your resistance in real time is, in my opinion, a necessary minimum level of digital tracking. Of course, you can also find digital screens that will monitor your heart rate, track calories burned, and offer preset workout programs. These features can add variety to your workouts (which should keep you coming back); and help you track personal progress from one workout session to the next, or over an extended period of time.
Equipment Options
Many rowing machines for home sale have adjustable footrests, designed to fit almost any shoe size. You will want to make sure that your seat comes with adequate padding, and that the grip on your machine’s handles is sufficient for even the most grueling workouts.
The center bar of a rowing machine should be made of something sturdy: a combination of aluminum and steel framework make a machine that is sturdy; yet light enough to be convenient.
Extra Fun
Whether you want your cardio rowing machine to have features like a water bottle holder, headphone jack, or TV screen is, obviously a matter of preference. Keep in mind that the more comfort and entertainment potential your exercise equipment has, the more likely you’ll be to use it regularly.
Remember: a rowing machine can give you one of the best full body strength and cardio workouts of any piece of exercise equipment, but it can only do that if you’re willing to put in the work. Don’t just think of this as an investment in a piece of equipment: think of it as an investment of your life-long health and fitness. Invest wisely and work hard. You deserve it.