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Top 5 Rowing Machines in Canada for 2025 — Best Air, Water & Smart Rowers

Published on Monday, August 25, 2025

Full-body cardio equipment using air, magnetic or water resistance to simulate rowing for high-calorie burn and strength endurance. Rowing machines appeal to Canadian buyers because they deliver efficient, low-impact workouts suited to small home gyms, long winter training cycles, and multi-user households. Current trends in Canada for 2025 emphasize compact, foldable frames for condo living, durable materials for year-round indoor use, and connected performance tracking for interval and technique-focused workouts. Consumers tend to choose by resistance type (air for realistic feel and high-intensity intervals, water for smooth, natural stroke dynamics, magnetic for quiet and low-maintenance use), console features, build quality, and ecosystem — including on-demand classes, community features, and post-purchase service and warranty coverage from local retailers and direct-to-consumer brands.

Quick Menu

1. Best Commercial-Grade Erg

2. Best Immersive Live-Rowing

3. Best Interactive Touchscreen Rower

4. Best Aesthetic Water Rower

5. Best Budget Connected Rower

1
BEST COMMERCIAL-GRADE ERG

Concept2 RowErg

Concept2

The Concept2 RowErg is the industry standard for performance and durability, favored by gyms and competitive rowers for its reliable air resistance and the accurate PM5 performance monitor. It holds its position by offering low lifecycle cost, minimal maintenance and unmatched data accuracy compared with more connected, subscription-focused rowers like Hydrow and NordicTrack.

4.8
★★★★☆

  • Race-proven durability

  • Smooth air resistance

  • Race-proven durability

  • Smooth air resistance

Review Summary

94%

"Users praise the Concept2 RowErg for its durability, consistent performance, and accurate monitor — a staple for serious rowers and gyms. Long-term owners highlight minimal maintenance and reliable tracking but note the basic console compared to connected competitors."

  • Classic loud whoosh

  • PM5 performance monitor with accurate metrics, Bluetooth/ANT+ heart-rate support and reliable firmware

  • Classic loud whoosh

  • PM5 performance monitor with accurate metrics, Bluetooth/ANT+ heart-rate support and reliable firmware

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Skill Development & Mastery

The Concept2 RowErg is the industry standard for performance and durability, favored by gyms and competitive rowers for its reliable air resistance and the accurate PM5 performance monitor. It holds its position by offering low lifecycle cost, minimal maintenance and unmatched data accuracy compared with more connected, subscription-focused rowers like Hydrow and NordicTrack.

  • Race-proven durability

  • Smooth air resistance

  • Classic loud whoosh

  • PM5 performance monitor with accurate metrics, Bluetooth/ANT+ heart-rate support and reliable firmware

  • Air-resistance flywheel with adjustable damper for smooth, self-paced resistance

  • Race-proven durability

  • Smooth air resistance

  • Classic loud whoosh

  • PM5 performance monitor with accurate metrics, Bluetooth/ANT+ heart-rate support and reliable firmware

  • Air-resistance flywheel with adjustable damper for smooth, self-paced resistance

Order Now

$1,150-1,500 CAD

2
BEST IMMERSIVE LIVE-ROWING

Hydrow Wave Rower

Hydrow

The Hydrow Wave Rower delivers a studio-style, instructor-led experience with strong emphasis on immersive content and community-driven workouts. It competes with other connected machines by prioritizing live and on-demand classes, but buyers should factor ongoing subscription fees into the total cost when comparing it to lower-tech, one-time-purchase options such as Concept2 or WaterRower.

4.5
★★★★☆

  • Live coastal workouts

  • Near-silent motor

  • Live coastal workouts

  • Near-silent motor

Review Summary

86%

"Owners like the Hydrow Wave for its immersive, smooth rowing experience and premium build, praising live/on-demand classes and realistic resistance; common negatives are the high price and ongoing subscription cost. Long-term users report strong motivation from content but some wish for more offline features."

  • Row with pros

  • Large HD display streaming live and on-demand instructor-led classes (subscription required)

  • Row with pros

  • Large HD display streaming live and on-demand instructor-led classes (subscription required)

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Recreational Enjoyment

Skill Development & Mastery

The Hydrow Wave Rower delivers a studio-style, instructor-led experience with strong emphasis on immersive content and community-driven workouts. It competes with other connected machines by prioritizing live and on-demand classes, but buyers should factor ongoing subscription fees into the total cost when comparing it to lower-tech, one-time-purchase options such as Concept2 or WaterRower.

  • Live coastal workouts

  • Near-silent motor

  • Row with pros

  • Large HD display streaming live and on-demand instructor-led classes (subscription required)

  • Electromagnetic resistance tuned for a realistic, near-silent rowing stroke

  • Live coastal workouts

  • Near-silent motor

  • Row with pros

  • Large HD display streaming live and on-demand instructor-led classes (subscription required)

  • Electromagnetic resistance tuned for a realistic, near-silent rowing stroke

Order Now
From 3574.38$
3
BEST INTERACTIVE TOUCHSCREEN ROWER

NordicTrack RW900

NordicTrack

The NordicTrack RW900 combines a large touchscreen and full iFit integration with adjustable resistance to provide a highly interactive, coached rowing experience. It stands out technically for multimedia-led training and varied programming, though that interactivity brings added recurring costs and dependency on a subscription compared with maintenance-light choices like Concept2 or the aesthetically focused WaterRower.

4.1
★★★★☆

  • Incline intensity boost

  • iFit immersive classes

  • Incline intensity boost

  • iFit immersive classes

Review Summary

78%

"Buyers appreciate the NordicTrack RW900's large interactive display and engaging iFit workouts, but many report occasional software issues and questions about long-term sturdiness. Overall it's seen as feature-rich for the price if you commit to the subscription."

  • Big interactive screen

  • 22-inch rotating HD touchscreen with iFit live and on-demand rowing workouts

  • Big interactive screen

  • 22-inch rotating HD touchscreen with iFit live and on-demand rowing workouts

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Time-Saving Convenience

Recreational Enjoyment

The NordicTrack RW900 combines a large touchscreen and full iFit integration with adjustable resistance to provide a highly interactive, coached rowing experience. It stands out technically for multimedia-led training and varied programming, though that interactivity brings added recurring costs and dependency on a subscription compared with maintenance-light choices like Concept2 or the aesthetically focused WaterRower.

  • Incline intensity boost

  • iFit immersive classes

  • Big interactive screen

  • 22-inch rotating HD touchscreen with iFit live and on-demand rowing workouts

  • Quiet magnetic resistance with multiple levels and ergonomic handlebars for varied training

  • Incline intensity boost

  • iFit immersive classes

  • Big interactive screen

  • 22-inch rotating HD touchscreen with iFit live and on-demand rowing workouts

  • Quiet magnetic resistance with multiple levels and ergonomic handlebars for varied training

Order Now

$2,500-3,200 CAD

4
BEST AESTHETIC WATER ROWER

WaterRower Natural

WaterRower

The WaterRower Natural emphasizes a realistic water-resistance feel and a handcrafted wooden frame that also serves as attractive home furniture, offering a quiet and low-tech rowing experience. While it lacks the data depth and subscription content of Hydrow or NordicTrack, it provides an elegant, low-operating-cost alternative for users who prefer a smooth, immersive stroke over connected features.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Handcrafted oak beauty

  • Real water sound

  • Handcrafted oak beauty

  • Real water sound

Review Summary

88%

"The WaterRower Natural is widely admired for its smooth, quiet, realistic water resistance and attractive wooden design that fits home decor; users note it's comfortable and durable with straightforward maintenance. Some mention the higher upfront cost and occasional need to top up or treat the water tank."

  • Furniture-grade calm

  • Authentic water-tank resistance that delivers a natural, fluid rowing feel and self-regulating load

  • Furniture-grade calm

  • Authentic water-tank resistance that delivers a natural, fluid rowing feel and self-regulating load

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Eco-Friendly Living

Recreational Enjoyment

The WaterRower Natural emphasizes a realistic water-resistance feel and a handcrafted wooden frame that also serves as attractive home furniture, offering a quiet and low-tech rowing experience. While it lacks the data depth and subscription content of Hydrow or NordicTrack, it provides an elegant, low-operating-cost alternative for users who prefer a smooth, immersive stroke over connected features.

  • Handcrafted oak beauty

  • Real water sound

  • Furniture-grade calm

  • Authentic water-tank resistance that delivers a natural, fluid rowing feel and self-regulating load

  • Handcrafted solid wood construction that doubles as furniture and dampens vibration

  • Handcrafted oak beauty

  • Real water sound

  • Furniture-grade calm

  • Authentic water-tank resistance that delivers a natural, fluid rowing feel and self-regulating load

  • Handcrafted solid wood construction that doubles as furniture and dampens vibration

Order Now

$1,400-2,000 CAD

5
BEST BUDGET CONNECTED ROWER

Echelon Row-S

Echelon

The Echelon Row-S is a budget-friendly connected rower designed for users who want guided classes without premium pricing, offering magnetic resistance and a compact footprint. It undercuts premium connected brands on initial price and subscription options, making it a strong value play versus Hydrow and RW900, though it sacrifices some of the commercial-grade durability and advanced performance monitoring found on Concept2.

4
★★★★☆

  • Affordable live classes

  • Compact foldable footprint

  • Affordable live classes

  • Compact foldable footprint

Review Summary

75%

"Echelon Row-S buyers like the value, compact footprint, and connected classes but commonly report that build quality and resistance feel are not as robust as premium models. Long-term reviewers recommend it for casual users seeking an affordable connected rower, while power users may find it lacking."

  • Community leaderboard buzz

  • Affordable connected rower that streams instructor-led classes via the Echelon app (membership optional)

  • Community leaderboard buzz

  • Affordable connected rower that streams instructor-led classes via the Echelon app (membership optional)

Enhanced Physical Well-Being

Time-Saving Convenience

Recreational Enjoyment

The Echelon Row-S is a budget-friendly connected rower designed for users who want guided classes without premium pricing, offering magnetic resistance and a compact footprint. It undercuts premium connected brands on initial price and subscription options, making it a strong value play versus Hydrow and RW900, though it sacrifices some of the commercial-grade durability and advanced performance monitoring found on Concept2.

  • Affordable live classes

  • Compact foldable footprint

  • Community leaderboard buzz

  • Affordable connected rower that streams instructor-led classes via the Echelon app (membership optional)

  • Compact, foldable frame with magnetic resistance levels for quiet home use

  • Affordable live classes

  • Compact foldable footprint

  • Community leaderboard buzz

  • Affordable connected rower that streams instructor-led classes via the Echelon app (membership optional)

  • Compact, foldable frame with magnetic resistance levels for quiet home use

Order Now

$900-1,200 CAD

Why Rowing Works: Research-backed Benefits

Scientific research and exercise physiology reviews show rowing is an effective combination of cardiovascular and muscular training. Rowing engages both upper and lower body muscle groups while remaining low-impact on joints, making it suitable for general fitness, weight management, and rehabilitation. Connected tracking and interval coaching further improve adherence and technique, which boosts long-term outcomes for calorie burn and endurance. Below are beginner-friendly summaries of the main findings from peer-reviewed literature and professional exercise guidance.

Full-body engagement: Rowing recruits legs, core, back and arms in a coordinated movement, producing high metabolic demand per stroke.

Cardiovascular gains: Studies show regular rowing improves VO2 max and markers of aerobic fitness comparable to other popular cardio modes at similar intensity.

Calorie burn and efficiency: At matched intensities, rowing burns calories at rates comparable to running and cycling, while offering greater muscle activation across more muscle groups.

Low-impact joint safety: Because the feet remain planted, rowing reduces loading on knees and hips, making it safer for users with joint concerns when compared to high-impact running.

Technique and interval training matter: Research supports that guided technique coaching and structured interval workouts increase performance improvements and reduce injury risk.

Adherence and behavior: Connected consoles, live and on-demand classes, and social features increase exercise adherence and measurable fitness gains over months.

In Canada, the right rower depends on your space, budget and training priorities. The five models highlighted here—Concept2 RowErg, Hydrow Wave Rower, NordicTrack RW900, WaterRower Natural, and Echelon Row-S—cover the full spectrum: Concept2 RowErg is the best overall choice for durability, training accuracy and resale value; Hydrow Wave Rower delivers immersive live and on-demand classes; NordicTrack RW900 adds a powerful interactive console and coaching ecosystem; WaterRower Natural combines a warm wood aesthetic with smooth water resistance; and Echelon Row-S is a budget-friendly, connected option for class-driven users. I hope you found what you were looking for — refine or expand your search using the site search to compare specifications, prices and local availability across Canada.

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