Regularly using a rower as part of your home workout routine can be a great way to emphasize upper body strength, build up your core, and engage in low-impact, high-intensity cardio. With all these benefits—and the fact that rowers don’t take up much room—more people are looking to add a rower to their home gym.
The trick is, finding the right rower for the right price. Here at NordicTrack Coupon, we can always guarantee that our coupons and promo codes will help you save on NordicTrack machines, but what if you wanted to branch out?
To help you through your decision-making process, we will compare the top NordicTrack rower to the Hydrow rower to help you see which machine is best for your fitness needs.
Established NordicTrack Rower vs. Newcomer Hydrow Rower
NordicTrack is an established name in fitness, which helps provide potential customers with a point of reference when it comes to the expected quality and reliability of a machine. However, established doesn’t always mean it is the best option.
The Hydrow rower entered the fitness scene in 2018 and gained traction through 2019 with its approach to rowing workouts. Much like market disruptor Peloton—who only had one machine at its initial launch—Hydrow only currently offers their rower. While the focus on one machine can mean that more care and attention can go into their equipment, it also means that the company’s hopes are pinned on one main product.
Considering that one of the main appeals of the Hydrow rower is their subscription membership workouts, any potential buyers should keep the lack of track record in mind when choosing between a new company like Hydrow and NordicTrack.
NordicTrack RW900 vs. Hydrow Rower
When it comes to comparing rowers—or any other machines—we try our best to stack similarly priced fitness equipment against each other. It provides a more accurate picture of what you are comparing. However, the NordicTrack RW900 is the closest in price to the Hydrow rower, and it is considerably more affordable than the Hydrow rower.
| Features | NordicTrack RW900 | Hydrow Rower |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,599 | $2,199 |
| Display | 22” smart HD touchscreen | 22” Full HD touchscreen |
| Weight limit | 250 pounds | 375 pounds |
| Resistance | 26 digital resistance levels | Electromagnetic resistance |
| Fitness app | Yes, iFit free 30 day trial | Yes, membership sold separately |
| Built-in workouts | 30 onboard | N/A |
| Flywheel | Inertia-enhanced | N/A |
| Speakers | Yes | Yes |
| Folding | Yes | Yes, with separate kit |
| Footprint | 86.5” L x 22” W x 50.4” H | 86” L x 25” W x 47” H |
| Seat | Ergonomic, molded | Ergonomic, cushioned |
| Pedals | Oversized, pivoting | Adjustable |
| Warranty | 10-year frame 2-year parts 1-year labor | 5-year frame 2-year screen and electronics 1-year labor |
As you can see, there are some areas where the NordicTrack RW900 outperforms the Hydrow rower and others where Hydrow is on top. In particular, the Hydrow offers a much higher weight limit than the RW900. However, the price tag on the Hydrow versus the RW900 puts the NordicTrack RW900 in a much better light.
You even get a free 30 day trial of iFit membership with your purchase, while the Hydrow class membership is sold separately. Without the Hydrow membership, your machine will lose most of its functionality, which is not true for the RW900.
Even better, if you don’t feel like either of these machines is right for you, there are other NordicTrack rowers you can check out. They have more budget-friendly price tags without losing the quality or cutting back on much of the fitness tech.
More Rowers Available Through NordicTrack
There are two other rowers available on NordicTrack—the NordicTrack RW200, and the NordicTrack RW500. If you want most of the tech you can find on the RW900 for a lower price, the RW500 is a great compromise. But, if all you want is a quality rower, the RW200 is a natural choice.
So, if you decide you would prefer a NordicTrack rower, be sure to grab and redeem one of our NordicTrack promo codes to help you save on your new machine!