The best magnetic rowing machines operate by varying the distance between powerful magnets and a spinning flywheel attached via a chain to the handle.
Depending on the brand and model purchased, you may either be able to adjust the resistance via mechanical sliders or digital buttons on your console.
Ever since their release on the market, rowers powered by magnetic resistance have always been the most popular due to their superior advantages.
In fact, everyone finds out the power of these types of rowing machines sooner or later.
Therefore, if you are looking for the perfect rowing machine for use at home, it better be one with magnetic resistance.
In spite of their numerous high-end features, they are usually built to be super-quiet with smaller footprints to save space.
Contents
Best Magnetic Indoor Rowers : Quick Comparison
Model | Max User Weight | Rating | Price | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 Magnetic Rowing Machine
| 250 lbs | 4.3 | $$ | |
Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower
| 275 lbs | 4.0 | $$$$ | |
Air Magnetic Rower Machine with Dynamic Response by Sunny Health & Fitness – SF-RW5623
| 300 lbs | 4.0 | $$$ | |
LifeSpan RW1000 Indoor Rowing Machine
| 300 lbs | 3.8 | $$$$ | |
Full Motion Magnetic Rowing Machine by Sunny Health & Fitness – SF-RW5624
| 300 lbs | 3.9 | $$$ |
Top 5 Magnetic Rowing Machine Reviews
Check out comprehensive reviews of each of the top 5 models shortlisted by our team of experts. This will help you choose the most desirable model for your fitness needs.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 Magnetic Rowing Machine
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 puts you on track towards achieving your dream body within the shortest possible time.
No matter which muscle group you are interested in toning, you can be sure that this affordable model will make it a possibility, thanks to the non-sophisticated single-motion design.
Packed with 8 levels of magnetic tension resistance, nothing can stop you from getting that challenging workout your body needs to transform.
As your fitness continues to improve, you can easily kick the resistance up a notch to continue to increase body strength, burn more calories, and tone more muscles.
The seat is not just designed to be large enough for people of all sizes, it is also completely padded to ensure optimal comfort. In addition, the built-in handlebars allow you to grip comfortably without any form of discomfort or slipping.
It comes with a huge LCD display that can help motivate anybody to keep going even when the temptation to give up is strong. This display presents users with core performance data such as Time, Count, Calories Burned, Total Count, and Scan.
The foot pedals are huge and enhanced with multiple anti-slip and safety features that protect your feet from injury while boosting the user experience.
The foot straps lock your feet in and the fact that they can be easily adjusted means you get complete control on how tight you want it to be.
For easy portability, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 comes with integrated transportation wheels.
So feel free to move it to another part of your home as and when necessary because you won’t need to enlist anyone’s help.
Buy the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 here.
PROS
- 8 levels of magnetic resistance for users having varying degrees of stamina
- Huge foot pedals with adjustable foot straps to prevent common injuries
- Maximum user weight capacity of 250 pounds
- Built-in transportation wheels for easy portability
CONS
- Fitness monitor doesn’t allow tracking of the number of meters rowed
- Monitor is quite small for those with less than perfect eye sights
Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower
The Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower is the perfect partner for fitness enthusiasts on the hunt for a powerful machine endowed with the necessary level of friction for building sheer muscle strength and skyrocketing endurance.
This is made possible thanks to the Drum Magnetic Control and electronic tension control system integrated into it.
Apart from its transformational effects on your body and fitness, this unit is strong enough for professional rowers and can aid in training for standard rowing competitions such as the Olympics.
The world-class frame is manufactured from premium-grade aluminum in a distinct design that protrudes outwards.
This ensures flawless housing of the ergonomically crafted seat to promote minimal stress on the lower back muscles. An Increased level of comfort is therefore guaranteed for all users no matter how many minutes or hours rowed.
According to experts, retaining your ideal position promotes excellent posture and this is why Velocity Fitness has gone through the trouble of fitting this magnetic indoor rower with non-slip foot pedals.
These foot pedals also provide more balance, especially for older users or those who may be suffering from balance problems.
The built-in LCD display is another reason why the Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower will blow your mind. It keeps users accurately informed about core metrics such as Time Taken, Pulse Rate, Calories Burned, Distance Covered, and much more.
These parameters can be monitored by everyone to undertake more efficient training routines utilizing the most rewarding rowing methods.
If you aren’t intrigued by this powerful indoor rower, which model stands a chance?
Buy the Velocity Exercise Magnetic Rower here.
PROS
- Powerful Drum Magnetic Control system is perfect for everyone from complete beginners to super-fit athletes
- Heart rate monitor chest strap is integrated to help keep an eye on the user’s pulse during training
- Suitable for training professional rowers and those preparing for their first rowing competition
- LCD display supplies comprehensive performance metrics
- Top-level aluminum frame is designed to maintain performance for many years
CONS
- Doesn’t come with an on/off button
- More levels of resistance would be great
Air Magnetic Rower Machine with Dynamic Response by Sunny Health & Fitness – SF-RW5623
The Air Magnetic Rower Machine with Dynamic Resistance gives dedicated rowers the dual benefit of both air and magnetic resistance.
It comes packed with the necessities required for amazing cardio workouts during every single session for fitness enthusiasts of all levels.
The magnetic tension system grants access to 8 levels of resistance for everyone from complete beginners to seasoned rowers to supercharge their bodies to fitness.
Adjusting the tension to increase or decrease resistance is easy and makes engaging in high intensity interval training sessions extremely fluid.
The embedded fan allows the air rower to provide additional resistance, ensuring that every single pull takes the body by a storm. This enhances the rowing experience while the burst of cool air that comes with each row can be a refreshing addition.
Users gain a great level of support from the non-slip handlebars which keeps them going for as long as they can.
The fully padded seat is gentle on the lower back muscles, eliminating increased discomfort even for those with hermiated discs and other back problems.
Secure footing has never been easier with the large anti-slip pedals integrated into this model. Even if you have never used any fitness equipment in your life, the adjustable foot straps will pose no challenges.
Curious about where your performance levels are at during each exercise session? The built-in computer is sure to become one of your favorite features. It displays workout Time, Calories, Distance Covered, and other important metrics.
A high level of portability is achieved via the integrated transportation wheels that ensure easy movement to and from different areas of the home.
Buy the Air Magnetic Rower Machine with Dynamic Response here.
PROS
- 8 levels of adjustable magnetic resistance coupled with air resistance
- Fully padded seat is gentle on the lower back muscles
- Integrated transportation wheels make it easy to move from one area to another
CONS
- You have to row very far forward before the display works
- Display is quite basic for the price and too small as well
LifeSpan RW1000 Indoor Rowing Machine
The Lifespan RW1000 is one of our top picks for the best magnetic rowing machine, thanks to its provision of exceptional cardiovascular workouts for muscle toning.
Core parts of the body such as the arms, legs, back, and shoulders are strengthened as long as you are able to undergo regular workouts on this powerful indoor rower.
It is powered by a patented Eddy Current Drive System that guarantees workouts which are extremely fluid and quiet.
Even when rowing at the highest levels of intensity, the slack-free belt retrieval means you can still watch TV or engage in a productive conversation without disturbances.
With 5 resistance levels to choose from, there’s no reason why your workouts shouldn’t feel challenging even if you have impressive levels of endurance. The resistance is controlled by an adjustable knob found directly below the LCD display.
A large swivel foot pedals with Velcro strips are some of the numerous comfort features integrated into the rower.
The large impressively designed seats are manufactured from premium foam and projected 14 inches to provide the ultimate comfort for everyone, including 300-pound users.
The Lifespan RW1000 Indoor Rowing Machine features an intuitive console that can be used with zero stress. Readouts for Calories Burned, Time, Distance, Stroke Count, and Strokes Per Minute are transmitted on the screen in real-time.
The console is powered by a single AA battery and doesn’t require any additional source of power to work flawlessly.
The Lifespan RW1000 is therefore one of the most energy-efficient indoor rowing machines on the market.
Thanks to the world-class engineering standard of manufacturing, this indoor rower can be easily folded to approximately half of its normal footprint during storage.
Buy the LifeSpan RW1000 Indoor Rowing Machine here.
PROS
- Powered by patented Eddy Current system with 8 levels of resistance
- Whisper-quiet resistance makes rowing and watching TV at the same time possible
- Easy to fold during storage without the need for additional tools
CONS
- Users with extremely small feet experience pulling out from the pedals
- Quite lightweight for the price
Full Motion Magnetic Rowing Machine by Sunny Health & Fitness – SF-RW5624
The Sunny Health & Fitness Full Motion Magnetic Rowing Machine is regarded as one of the best magnetic indoor rowers for consumers looking for low-impact full body workouts on a budget.
Enhanced with specially designed full motion rowing arms, this model gives complete range of motion while pulling against the resistance.
It is engineered with 8 levels of magnetic tension resistance to meet the stamina needs of all users.
As long as you are willing to move to the next level whenever the current one becomes less challenging on the body, even the most ambitious fitness goals will become reachable.
This model is one of the most versatile rowing machines money can buy at the moment. It comes in a distinct design which allows users to row symmetrically or asymmetrically to keep sessions not just rewarding but fun as well.
You can be sure that the days of severe boredom with your rowing machine as a result of undertaking the same routines is over.
Optimal comfort for users of every stamina level is guaranteed thanks to the super-padded seats. The handlebars also feature grips which are enhanced with several potent non-slip properties.
Another impressive feature available is the large-sized textured foot plates which fit all foot sizes snugly. During the most intensive workout routines, having exceptional footing security can make a huge difference in protecting your feet.
Thankfully, the footplates offer world-class grip to keep your feet in place all day, every day.
Tracking your progress during exercises couldn’t be simpler with the digital computer integrated into the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5624.
Buy the Sunny Health & Fitness Full Motion Magnetic Rowing Machine here.
PROS
- Allows you to switch between symmetrical and asymmetrical rowing as and when you want
- 8 levels of magnetic resistance
- Easy to fold for storage
CONS
- Getting it out of the box can be a real pain in the ass
- Assembly isn’t the simplest out there
Advantages of Magnetic Rowing Machines
There are lots of positives derived from magnet-based rowing machines when compared to rivals such as Hydraulic and Air-based.
Let's take a look at some of the reasons for their huge popularity among well-informed industry experts and beginners alike.
Noise
If you don't mind a bit of noise from your rower during workouts, you probably won't be too selective with respect to the type of resistance integrated into a particular model. However, if you live in an apartment or prefer to break some sweat whisper quietly, a magnetic indoor rower will definitely be a suitable option for you.
Floor Space
Floor space or the lack thereof is another important factor that cannot be ignored when shopping for any sort of fitness equipment. The size of apartments most of us live in makes it impossible to invest in huge-sized rowing machines.
It is therefore important to shop for models with minimal footprints and magnetic indoor rowers makes this possible.
The good news is that each of the models reviewed here requires minimal space without sacrificing performance.
Cost
All things being equal, magnetic resistance-based rowers tend to come with more affordable price tags than rivals such with Air and Water-based resistance types.
Therefore, you won't need to pay an arm and a leg in order to take home a powerful model that meets your fitness and weight loss goals.
Conclusion
There you have it: These are the best magnetic rowing machines available on the market today. We have taken every factor into consideration in order to come up with this valuable shortlist.
If you'd rather shop based on your budget, here are the top options available under $500.
For those with slightly lower budgets, the best models under $200 have just been reviewed here.