The Essential Rowing Equipment for Beginners

The essential rowing equipment for beginners is a short list: close-fitting sportswear, flat trainers, a water bottle and a dry change of clothes. Clubs supply boats, oars and often shoes, and you can learn on an erg in ordinary gym kit. Don’t spend anything else until you’ve rowed a few times and asked your club what it expects.

What you need, in order

Priority	Item	Why
1	Close-fitting stretchy clothing	Loose kit catches on the handle, seat and slide
2	Warm layer you can remove	Mornings on the water are cold
3	Water bottle	You’ll sweat more than you expect
4	Dry change of clothes and towel	Spray is normal, and falling in is possible
5	Flat trainers	For the erg and walking to the boat
6	Sun cream and cap	Light reflects off the water and there’s little shade
7	Tape and plasters	For your first blisters

The basics

Clothing. Wear stretchy, breathable sportswear. Baggy shorts can snag on the slide, and loose tops can catch on the handle. A one-piece rowing suit (an all-in-one) is common but not needed at first. Our guide to what kit to wear for rowing covers every kind of weather.

Layers. Wear a base layer, then a light top you can remove. Waterproofs help in the wet but shouldn’t restrict movement or hang near the handles. A gilet is useful on the bank, but take it off before you launch.

Footwear. On the erg, wear flat-soled trainers. In a boat, your feet go into shoes fixed to the boat. Our page on rowing shoes explains how they fit and why heel restraints matter.

Water. Fill a bottle before you leave home. As a rule of thumb, 500 to 750 ml covers a one-hour session in mild weather.

For the water

• Sun protection. A cap, sunglasses and sun cream. The NHS recommends at least SPF 30 and 4 stars, reapplied every 2 hours.
• A change of clothes and a towel. Dry socks and a warm top are the two items you’ll miss most.
• Spare socks. Wet feet cause blisters.
• Gloves or pogies in winter, if you want them. Your coach will have a view on these.
• A buoyancy aid, if your club recommends one.
• A dry bag. It protects your phone and keys.
• A small first aid kit and tape. Some rowers put fabric or zinc oxide tape over hot spots. Clean any broken blister and cover it with a waterproof plaster.
• A rigger tool. A small double-ended spanner, if your club lets you adjust boats. Ask first.

Our kit bag checklist turns all of this into a list to pack the night before.

Seats are hard, and some people find a pad helps while they get used to it. It’s optional, and not every club or boat suits one, so ask first.

For the erg

If you train indoors, a machine is the only major purchase. A Concept2 RowErg costs around £990 (checked 30 Oct 2026), and our best rowing machine guide compares the other current options. You can also start on a gym’s machine for nothing beyond your membership. Beyond the machine:

• A mat protects the floor and reduces movement.
• A towel and water bottle are enough for most sessions.
• A heart rate monitor is optional.

Learn the stroke before you worry about gadgets. Our plan for your first month on the erg builds up gradually, and our free rowing resources add a set-up checklist and a training log to go with it.

If you own a boat

Few beginners should. If you do, ownership adds a list of extras:

Item	Why
Boat cover	Protects from sun, dirt and debris
Oar or scull covers	Protect blades in storage and transport
Spare nuts, washers and bolts	Quick fixes for loose fittings
Spare bow ball	Replaces one that comes off or is damaged
Spare wheels	Wheels wear, and a spare avoids a lost session
Trailer or roof rack	Transport

Keep spares at the boathouse rather than in the boat, and carry a small bag with a spanner and spare nuts. Check the boat before every outing. Our guide to handy rowing boat accessories goes through more options and what to buy first.

What can wait

• An all-in-one. Buy one when you start racing or when your club orders kit.
• Specialist tops and splash jackets. Your gym kit will do for the first few weeks.
• Boat shoes. Most clubs supply them.
• Rate meters and watches. Your coach will tell you what to work on.
• Blades and boats. Wait until you know how often you’ll row, and which boat you’d want.

Common beginner mistakes

• Wearing a loose hoodie. It looks warm enough, but it catches on the handle at every finish.
• Overdressing. As a rule of thumb, you warm up within about 10 minutes. Start slightly cool, with a layer you can remove.
• Forgetting a dry change. The drive home in wet kit is miserable, even in summer.
• Buying before asking. Clubs often have second-hand kit, and many have rules on colours.