The Benefits of Owning a Water Rowing Machine

The main benefits of owning a water rowing machine are a smooth, boat-like stroke, upright storage that frees up the floor, and a wooden look that can stay in a living room. The trade-offs are a higher price than many air machines, a heavy tank, and scores you cannot compare with the wider rowing world. If you want a 2k time or a leaderboard, buy an air rower instead.

A water rower uses a paddle spinning in a tank of water to create resistance.

The main benefits

A smooth, boat-like feel. The water builds resistance as you drive and eases off as you recover. Rowers often describe that as closer to the feel of a boat than other machine types. Resistance rises the harder you pull, so the same machine works for a gentle 30-minute row and for hard intervals. There is no dial to set: your effort sets the load.

Low-impact exercise for legs, back and arms. Like any rowing machine, it uses legs, back, core and arms in one movement, without the repeated impact of running. That suits steady aerobic work, which is where most of your rowing should sit, and intervals once your technique is reliable. If you have an injury or a joint condition, speak to a GP or physio before you start, and stop if pain increases.

Upright storage. Several WaterRower models stand on end, which turns a two-metre-long machine into a narrow column in the corner of a room. Check the stored size for your model. Because the machines are around 207 to 215 cm long, you need ceiling height of well over two metres. A 2.4 m ceiling clears the longest model by roughly 25 cm.

Looks. Wood finishes mean it can sit in a living room rather than being hidden in a garage. A machine that lives in view is harder to forget than one wedged behind boxes.

Feel and sound. The sound is a soft swish rather than the roar of a fan. It is not silent, and a hard sprint is clearly audible, but it tends to be less intrusive than an air rower. Our guide to how loud rowing machines are compares what to expect from each type.

No subscription needed. The standard WaterRower monitors work without a membership. Some models offer optional touchscreen packages, so check what an option costs before you add it.

WaterRower models compared

Model	Price	Footprint	Max user
WaterRower Hybrid	Around £899	215 x 56 cm	130 kg
WaterRower Lite (Oak)	Around £999	207 x 57 cm	130 kg
WaterRower Original	Around £1,199	209 x 57 cm	315 kg
Concept2 RowErg, for comparison	Around £990	244 x 61 cm	135 kg (EN standard)

Prices are “from” prices, checked 30 Oct 2026. Against the RowErg at around £990, the Original costs around £209 more and the Hybrid around £91 less. The RowErg takes up 35 cm more length than the Original, which is worth measuring if your room is tight.

The current range is Original, Performance, Hybrid, Lite and Metallic. Names such as “Club” now refer to finishes, and you may still see “M1” used for Metallic models.

What to weigh up

• Weight. Retailers list WaterRower models at around 25 to 30.5 kg before water. One retailer gives the tank’s maximum as 18 litres, and a litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so a full machine is around 43 to 48.5 kg. A RowErg with standard legs is 26 kg. Plan your spot carefully, and fill the tank where the machine will live.
• Maintenance. The tank needs occasional water treatment to keep it clear. WaterRower’s advice, as reported by reviewers, is a new purification tablet about every 6 months, or sooner if the water discolours. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and see our guide to cleaning a rowing machine.
• Feel is different. Water rowers do not behave identically to air rowers such as the Concept2 RowErg, so times and metrics are not directly comparable. If you plan to race others on a leaderboard or sit a 2k test, an air rower is the standard.
• User limits. Limits vary a lot, from 130 kg on the Hybrid and Lite to 315 kg on the Original, so check the rating if you are heavier or taller than average.

A word on the old claims

You will see water rowers described as ethically made, or as removing a specific type of fat. Treat both with caution. Some models use solid wood, and manufacturers publish their own sourcing information, so read that rather than relying on a retailer’s summary. Body-fat changes depend on diet, sleep and overall activity, not on the type of rowing machine you buy.

Who it suits

A water rower is a good choice if you:

1. want a machine that looks good in a shared living space;
2. have limited floor space but decent ceiling height;
3. prefer a smooth stroke and a softer sound; and
4. do not need to compare scores with an official leaderboard.

It is a weaker choice if you have a low ceiling and no floor space, if you want to chase 2k times against the wider rowing world, or if budget is tight, since cheaper air and magnetic machines exist.

Next steps

Our air vs water vs magnetic comparison goes through the trade-offs, and Concept2 vs WaterRower vs Hydrow compares the three big names. For recommendations by budget, see the best rowing machines or the rowing machines hub.