TOPIOM Rowing Machine Review: Everything you need to know

Heavy duty? Almost! This rower weighs 30kg, so it’s on the heavy side, and thats a good thing; the heavier, the better when it comes to cardio gear that extra weight tells us the Topiom Rowing Machine is made from high-quality materials and that extra weight is going to keep this rower planted to the floor.

Includes Comparison With Best Selling Steel Frame Water Rower

Today I want to take a close look at everything the Topiom rower has to offer, its pros and its drawbacks. At the end of the review, I’ll compare the Topiom to the best-selling steel frame water rower, the Sunny Obsidian Surge, which is just as impressive as a wood rower but costs considerably less.

First, a quick look at the Topiom Rowing Machine product specs!

Why Do We Like The Topiom Rowing Machine?

Water resistance systems are a little more expensive to manufacture than magnetic or air resistance systems. Still, they are worth it because they mimic the feel of outdoor rowing more closely than anything else out there, and thats what sells this rowing machine its resistance system.

Water resistance is dynamic. The faster you row, the stronger the resistance you feel from the handle. Just like you would when rowing on actual water.

Soothing sound of the blades pushing through the water adds to that natural feel.

And is not just the dynamic resistance system that helps give the water rower its natural feel. You also have the sounds of the blade pushing through the water in the tank, it is an awesome sound, almost soothing, and if you haven’t tried a water rower before, I think you’ll love the sound they make while you workout.

Suitable for any fitness level

Also, a dynamic resistance system allows for a limitless amount of resistance levels, so whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned rower, you’ll easily be able to find a workout pace suitable for your fitness level.

Does The Water Level Affect Resistance Strength?

As I just mentioned, the primary way to control resistance strength is through the pace of your workout, but the amount of water in the water tank can also affect resistance strength to a certain degree.

It would be best if you thought of the water level in your rower’s water tank as people in your boat. Filling the tank 1/4 full will feel like you’re rowing in a boat with three people, and filling it just under half full will feel like you’re rowing in a boat full of people.

I’ve used a few water rowers, and regardless of the cost of the rower, I find filling the tank to just under half full gives a strong, smooth resistance at a medium stroke rate. Of course, we are all different, so it’s best to experiment to see how much water suits your workout best.

Click here to check price of Topiom Water Rower on Amazon

Stability: Sturdy Heavy Rower

This thing isnt commercial grade, but it’s still pretty heavy. Water rowers usually are the heaviest out of all the rowing machines types, and being the heaviest makes them the studriest, so you shouldnt have any issues with stability. Plus the low center of gravity will help keep things stable, lower than an air or magnetic rower.

No Adjustable Levelers

I’ve never come across adjustable levelers on the wooden frame rowers, which is a shame as they keep a rowing machine stable on uneven surfaces, so make sure to find an even surface to house this one.

The Topiom rowing machine does come with four rubber pads. The rubber pad will grip polished floor surfaces and prevent slips. Still, if you’re going to use this rower in an apartment, I recommend getting hold of a cheap rubber floor mat as they really help absorb vibrations.

The Seat

Even the design of the seat can help with stability. We need the seat to be perfectly contoured to prevent slips in the push phase of the rowing stroke, which, thankfully, I can say the Topiom seat has been. And this seat isnt too soft, which can cause stability issues, or too hard, which can be off-putting. It’s just right.

Basic Easy To Use Monitor

I’ve seen monitors a lot worse than this on machines with a similar price tag, so it isnt too bad, just slightly dated. The monitor includes a couple of advanced features such as BlueTooth and Wireless Heart rate monitoring, and there are a couple of free apps you can take advantage of.

The screen is large, so it’s easy to read while you workout, and you can adjust the angle, but it’s not height adjustable which is disappointing.

The monitor tracks all the essential data such as distance, times stroke, SPM, total strokes, calories burned and is enabled to be used with a heart rate chest strap which is the most accurate way to monitor your pulse, but you’ll have to buy an HR chest strap separately around £30 to make use of this handy feature.

Anything Else Worth a Mention?

This isnt a folding rower! The Topiom has been designed to be stored vertically, which is a good thing as it takes up less space than a folding rowing machine, just 0.3 square meters of space when stored against a wall.

Also, we have transport wheels built into the base of the rower, just tilt and roll to store.

Quiet Belt Drive System

One of the best features of this rowing machine is that it uses a belt drive system rather than a chain. Chain drives are noisy and require maintenance, belt drives are smooth and whisper quiet. The only sound you’ll hear from this rower is the whooshing from the blades going through the water.

Easy To Assemble – 1 Hour

Most of the Topiom rower comes pre-assembled, so you haven’t got too much to do. All the complicated stuff, such as the drive systems and water tank, are assembled. Tools and instructions are provided. Assemebly takes most people around an hour.

And here’s an unboxing and assembly video just in case you get stuck.

Unboxing & Assembly Topiom Water Rower

Alternative

Sunny Health & Fitness Obsidian Surge Water Rower

There’s no lack of experience when it comes to Sunny Health and Fitness. These guys have been at the top of their game for over two decades, and they specialize in building high-quality cardio gear at affordable prices.

Their rowers are some of the best on the market, and the Obsidian is their flagship water rower. This water rower is slightly different from the Topiom because it’s a steel frame rower, but dont let that put you off. Steel frame rowers deliver on all the essentials such as stability, resistance strength, and smooth rowing strokes.

The Obsidian Surge weighs 40kgs which is reassuringly heavy for a low-cost water rower. It’s built from high-quality materials and its study. It’s not going to feel like some cheaply made rowing machine. It’s a solid rower from Sunny.

When it comes to features, it’s really no different to the Topiom as both rowers include the dynamic resistance systems, both boast quiet belt drives, both have long rail accommodating users up to 6’5,” and both include very similar monitors with wireless heart rate monitoring.

The Sunny Obsidian Surge is the best-selling water rower on the market, and thats because it offers everything a wood rower does at a lower price; wood is more labour intensive than steel so it ups the price.

Aesthetically it may not be as pleasing as the wood rowers. Still I like the modern look of the Obsidian and considering it cost £200 less and offers everything a wood rower does including a silky smooth rowing stroke, I think the Obsidian is worthy of some serious condieration.

To Sum Up

The Topiom Rowing Machine is an impressive wood frame water rower for the price. It shares many similarities to the more expensive WaterRower machine, except the monitor isnt as accurate and has fewer features.

Apart from a basic monitor, all the essentials are there, the build quality is high, and the rowing stroke is smooth. It’s easy to assemble and stores vertically, saving a ton of space.

If you want to get as close to outdoor rowing indoors, then the dynamic resistance system of a water rowing machine is as good as it gets, and if you want to do it in style, a wooden frame rower is the way to go.