Hydrow Origin Rower Review: Is It Better Than the Competition?

Hydrow Takes a Different Approach

So what are Hydrow trying to sell you with their Hydrow Rower? That “rowing on water feel”? An immersive rowing experience? Well, it’s nothing new!

Dynamic resistance has been around for decades. The harder and faster you pull, the stronger the resistance. The Concept2 uses dynamic resistance, and so do all air and water rowers.

So what makes the Hydrow so special? And so expensive?

What these guys have managed to do is take a magnetic resistance system, which is what we’d normally call constant resistance, where the resistance stays the same unless you manually adjust it, and turn it into a dynamic system. And that’s something you just don’t normally see with magnetic rowing machines.

The Best of Both Resistance Systems?

So simply put, you get all the benefits of magnetic resistance: whisper quiet, consistent and ultra smooth, but with that dynamic resistance feel of rowing on water. It’s kind of like taking the best from both resistance systems, and surprisingly, it really works.

At the start of the stroke, the resistance you feel in the handle responds to how hard and fast you’re pulling, much like rowing on water. But you still get that silky smooth, almost silent rowing stroke that magnetic resistance is known for.

So yeah, this is Hydrow’s angle on the home rowing market, and it is pretty special. I love that you can get some of that rowing on water feel without the noisy fans of an air rower.

Yeah, you have to pay for the privilege, but so far, it looks like it might be worth it. And for the right person, I think the Hydrow has a lot to offer.

Okay, so we’re liking the resistance system. So far, so good, but there’s a lot more to making a top-end rower than just clever resistance. The other essentials have to be just as impressive, especially when you’re paying this much.

So is the Hydrow really that good, and is that whole immersive rowing experience really worth all that cash?

Let’s get on with the Hydrow Rower Review and find out what else this machine has to offer, including any drawbacks.

At the end of the review, I’ll also compare the Hydrow with another fav of mine in this price range, the NordicTrack RW900. It’ll be interesting to see how these two best sellers match up.

But first, let’s take a quick look at the Hydrow Origin’s specs, pros, and cons!

Specs

Why Do We Like The Hydrow Rowing Machine?

As I already mentioned at the start of the review, the resistance system is what sells this rower. That mix of dynamic and constant resistance is just awesome, and it’s not a system anyone’s going to outgrow anytime soon. It’s challenging enough even for the most seasoned rowers.

Resistance You Won’t Outgrow

And if you’re really looking for that rowing-on-water feel, the sweet spot for the Hydrow Rowing Machine is level 104.

So there are no issues with the strength or feel of the resistance with the Hydrow. You’ll mostly be determining how challenging your workout is by how fast and hard you’re rowing, rather than simply cranking up the resistance level. Row harder and the Hydrow makes you work harder. Simple.

Built Like a Tank

What I think a lot of people are going to love about this rower is actually the build quality. The Hydrow Rowing Machine is a rock solid rower. This thing weighs nearly 150lb. That’s a beast of a machine.

And trust me, heavy is good when it comes to rowing machines, as the weight of a rower gives us a really good clue to the overall quality of the parts used in the build.

Typically, the heavier, the better. All that weight also keeps the Hydrow planted firmly to the floor. It gives the Hydrow that premium, sturdy feel, which is something we all want from a home rowing machine.

There’s no annoying movement or wobble when you’re rowing, and those wide front and rear stabilizing feet help keep things even more stable.

It’s a solid, well-built machine, and that’s what matters most when you’re spending this kind of money on any gym gear.

Click here to check price of the Hydrow Rower on Amazon

Wide, Long Slide Rail

The rail is decent on the Hydrow Origin. What I like is that it’s wide. A wide rail gives that feeling of extra stability, and you want that when rowing indoors.

Also, the Hydrow’s rail is slightly inclined, this is going to add a little more to your workouts.

An inclined rail makes the drive phase of the stroke that much more challenging and really works those large leg muscles. An inclined rail isn’t a must, but it’s worth having and certainly better than a flat rail in my opinion.

So what about taller users? Is the slide rail long enough? Hydrow gives us a maximum 36″ inseam, which gives us a max height of around 6’4″ for the Origin rower. That’s about what I expect to see at this price point.

Oh, and I have to mention the 10 rollers for the seat. They really do allow the seat to glide smoothly across the rail. It’s a silky smooth rowing experience on this machine, and the seat just adds to that.

Impressive 22″ Monitor With Hydrow App

The monitor tilts, it turns, it’s HD, it’s crystal clear. It is, in one word, impressive for a rowing machine. Some may be thinking overkill, but I like it. It’s just the right size to view all the workouts and your stats easily while rowing.

And the Hydrow app, yeah, it feels immersive. Of course it does, but that’s partly thanks to that rowing on water feel of the resistance system.

What you’re feeling from the rower kind of mimics what’s happening on screen, so you feel much more involved in the workout. It’s an app and rower that pushes you to work harder and reach your goals.

Thousands of Workouts, But There’s a Catch

The beauty of the app is how polished it is. They also use pro and world class athletes, people who know what they’re doing and who you can actually learn from. Plus, there are around 6,000 workouts. You’re not going to get bored with Hydrow.

Still, as with all these high-end fitness apps, they’re expensive. You’re paying over $2k for the actual rower and then another $50 a month for the app.

You need to be certain you’re someone who’s going to get a lot from that subscription, because if you’re not, you should be looking at something that’s not so app or subscription dependent, like the Concept2 or Sole SR550.

Vertical Storage – At a Price!

When stored vertically, a rower’s footprint can be reduced by around 80%, which is better than even most folding rowers. Still, the storage system should be built into the rowing machine.

What disappoints me about the Hydrow Rower is that you have to pay for the storage kit separately, which I think is just way too cheeky.

They already want over $2k for the rowing machine, then another $50 a month from you for their app, and now they’re asking you to put your hand in your pocket again just so you can store the thing vertically.

I’ve been reviewing rowing machines for well over a decade, and I can’t remember another company asking you to pay for the privilege of being able to store your rower. Vertical storage is normally part of the rowing machine; you shouldn’t have to buy it as an extra.

Certainly my first thumbs down for the Hydrow.

Will I need a Rowing Mat?

It really depends on whether you’re going to use the Hydrow Rower on hard, polished floors. If you are, then yes, a rowing mat is always a good idea to protect your floors from scratches.

Also, many people will buy a rowing mat to prevent slippage on polished floors, because the last thing you want is the rower moving around while you’re rowing.

One other time you may want to get hold of a rowing mat is if you live in an apartment or shared housing, as a mat will soak up most of the vibrations from your workouts, handy if you want to keep your neighbors happy.

No need to spend a lot of money on a rowing mat. I’ve found the best low cost equipment mats are made by Sunny Health & Fitness; here’s a link in case you need one: Sunny Health Equipment Mats

Drawbacks of The Hydrow Origin Rower

It’s hard to fault the Hydrow, all the essentials are there and done really well. They’ve taken magnetic resistance to another level, and it’s impressive. And most importantly, the build quality is second to none. Still, there are a couple of minor drawbacks worth a mention.

• The Subscription Isn’t Cheap: The Hydrow app is excellent, but $50 a month isn’t cheap, especially when you’ve already spent over $2k on the rower itself. Hydrow is very much built around its app, so you want to be someone who’s actually going to use those workouts and get your money’s worth. If you’re not into fitness apps, there are better choices out there.
• Paying Extra Just to Store It: This one bugs me more. The Hydrow is a big rower, so vertical storage is important, but Hydrow makes you buy a separate storage kit if you want to store it upright.  The storage system should be included. You shouldn’t have to pay extra just to stand the thing up.

Easy Assembly- 30 Minutes

There’s not much to worry about with assembly. Most people seem to get the Hydrow Origin together in about half an hour or so, and there’s not much to it, mainly attaching the feet and monitor.

You might want another pair of hands around, though. This thing weighs 145lb, and that’s not something I’d fancy wrestling out of the box on my own.

Hydrow also offers in-home assembly if you’d rather let someone else do the work, but you’ll have to pay extra for it.

Final Verdict

It’s good, it’s really good. I didn’t quite know what to make of the Hydrow Rower when it first came out. I’m used to the old-school, hard-training rowers like the Concept2, but Hydrow surprised me.

Even though it looks sleek, futuristic, and techy, underneath all that it’s actually a heavy-duty beast.

It’s a solid rowing machine with a modern design, and just how they’ve managed to make a magnetic resistance system feel like you’re rowing on water is very clever. And the app is the icing on the cake. It pulls you in and encourages you to work hard. It’s immersive home rowing at its best.

So yes, what surprised me most is that the Hydrow isn’t all about the tech and the app. The actual rowing machine is much more impressive than I thought it would be. It’s suitable for beginners right through to advanced users, it’s a well-built, sturdy rower that should last years.

How Does The Hydrow Origin Compare To The NordicTrack RW900?

NordicTrack RW900 vs Hydrow Origin

The NordicTrack RW900 is NordicTrack’s flagship rower and has been my favorite magnetic rower for a while.

It’s such an impressive machine. The rowing stroke is silky smooth, mainly thanks to the combination of a heavy flywheel, magnetic resistance system, and belt drive. It’s about the smoothest combination possible for a rowing machine.

And resistance is strong in the upper levels, strong enough for serious, intense workouts. It’s another rower you’re not going to outgrow anytime soon.

More Similar Than You’d Think

Even though the design is different from the Hydrow Rower, they’re actually very similar rowing machines.

Both weigh around 140 lb, they’re both heavy-duty premium rowers, they both have long, wide slide rails, and both use magnetic resistance, although Hydrow’s system is slightly more advanced. Both also come with large HD touchscreens and boast their own polished fitness apps.

On paper, there’s not much between these two high-end machines. I’m finding it very hard to choose between the two when it comes to build quality and all the other essentials like stability and resistance.

Still, I think choosing between these two really comes down to the battle of the apps.

Which app is better for rowing? iFIT or Hydrow?

iFIT is awesome and comes with features like AI Coach and automatic resistance adjustment, something Hydrow lacks. But then Hydrow feels much more rowing-focused. It’s all about you and rowing and becoming the best you can. Whereas iFIT, although packed with features and plenty of rowing workouts, isn’t quite as polished for rowing as Hydrow is.

Then again, Hydrow is $50 a month, and iFIT is around $30, and over a few years that’s going to make quite the difference.

So yes, it’s a tough decision. If rowing is your main thing and you want the most immersive rowing experience, I’d go with the Hydrow. The whole thing has been designed around rowing, and it shows.

If you want more variety from your workouts, or simply don’t want to spend $50 every month, I’d go with the NordicTrack RW900. You’re still getting a beast of a rowing machine, iFIT offers a ton of rowing workouts, and you’ll save quite a bit on the subscription too.

Whichever one you choose, you’re getting one of the best high end rowers out there.

Still comparing rowing machines? Read Next: Best Magnetic Rowing Machines

Hydrow Rowing Machine FAQs