Once known as a cardio machine stuck in the corner of a fitness facility, rowing machines are now one of the up-and-coming ways to boost cardiovascular endurance and increase strength gains while staying low impact. Many different factors go into the rise of the rowing machine as of late, but the fact that they are so versatile for workouts is undoubtedly a plus.
Rowing is a total body, low impact workout and is terrific for increasing power and building strength throughout the body. While this piece of equipment can certainly be used in a competitive field, it can also be used by novice exercisers – perfect for elite athletes and even those recovering from injury.
Do you have a day on your calendar marked just for active recovery? The rowing machine is an excellent alternative to the bike, elliptical, or treadmill on those days that you need to stay indoors while still increasing your heart rate.
Since rowing is a fantastic exercise for just about anyone, it’s no surprise that more and more have popped up on the market today; although with all the numerous retailers out there, it can be challenging to find a rowing machine that fits your needs and specifications.
Let’s break down the ProForm rowers and the Sole rowing machine – both popular equipment brands within today’s fitness world. Then, you can decide if one is better for your home gym needs!
ProForm Rowing Machines
ProForm has two rowers: the Pro 750R Rower and the Pro R10 Rower. The 750R is $799. iFit is included for free with the 750R rower for 30 days, and then monthly payments are $39 after that.
The R10 is free with a purchase of a three-year membership to the iFit community, totaling $1,403 over 36 months.
You have access to virtual trainers who can motivate you throughout your workouts and increase or decrease your intensity. The workouts and trainers can be viewed on a 5″ display on the 750R rower and a 10″ high definition touchscreen on the R10 rower. Both machines have an inertia-enhanced flywheel, and the R10 rower has resistance levels up to 24.
ProForm always has space in mind, so these rowers are designed with SpaceSaver Design; this feature makes the rowers easy to fold in half and store away when not in use. With a 250 pounds weight limit on both rowers, these machines are perfect for anyone in your family!
Sole Rowing Machine
Sole currently has one rowing machine on the market – the SR500. This rower comes in at $999.99 (MSRP $1,799.99) and offers pricing for a Studio membership, either yearly or monthly. The studio is similar to iFit in that you’ll have access to thousands of on-demand classes at your convenience, along with virtual trainers and classes to fit just about every fitness need.
These workouts and classes are viewed on the 5.5″ LCD, and the 16 levels of resistance can be adjusted via magnetic/air technology. With wireless technology, you can change your resistance on the rower through the handlebars, so you don’t ever have to pause in the middle of your workout anymore.
The dimensions of the Sole rower are as follows: 46″ high, 94″ long, and 18″ wide. With a weight capacity of 515 pounds, you can rest assured that you and your family will all be able to get lots of use out of the Sole!
The Bottom Line
Both companies make high-quality rowing machines that will suit most individuals and families. Proform offers more selection with two models, and the space-saving design ensures you’ll have plenty of room to add this rower to your home gym.
However, you can’t go wrong with any of these rowers!
