Rowing machines are perhaps the best full body workout machine you can buy. (Just ask Conor McGregor.) Unfortunately, for too long, rowing machines have also been a luxury for the Frank Underwoods of the world. Most ordinary bros couldn’t just buy one, throw it down and get to work. Fortunately for you, though, there are now a number of quality rowing machines that you can buy for an affordable price, and guess what? Yeah, that’s right, I found them for you.
So, pick out the rowing machine that best suits your needs and your budget and prepare to get your game tight with one of these, the 13 best rowing machines under $500.
This machine has eight preset magnetic tension levels, which you can customize depending on your individual needs. And since it’s foldable, you won’t have to worry about leaving it out all the time to trip over when you’re staggering back to your bed from the bathroom at 2AM.
This rowing machine offers two big things: one, its arms allow for a full range of motion, which give you a wider range of workouts and perhaps better simulate actual oars, and two, it has larger footplates, which is a nice touch for anyone with big feet. But that’s not all. The hydraulic resistance system is adjustable, and the display also has a tablet holder in case you want to use your iPad or whatever to monitor your progress.
Sunny Health and Fitness Full Motion Rowing Machine
Another full-motion rower, this one has twelve levels of adjustable resistance. And, if you’re a bigger guy, this machine is for you – it has an extended weight capacity of up to 350 pounds.
This rower is a little more basic. The five levels of adjustment are nice, but really, it’s no more complicated than sitting down and getting to work. So why is it here? Well, the price.
Sunny Health and Fitness Magnetic Rowing Machine
This magnetic rowing machine has eight levels of adjustment, a large LCD display, and a fully padded seat, which I shouldn’t have to tell you is a godsend for long workouts, especially for those of you out there with that Hank Hill ass. You know who you are.
Stamina 1215 Orbital Rowing Machine
This compact rowing machine is designed to mimic rowing on the water. Novel concept for a rowing machine, huh? Its orbital, free-motion arms give you a little different workout, but again, it’s just as effective if not more so than a standard pull system. It’s all about what you want and need out of your rower. Oh, and the five-year warranty is an awfully nice feature.
Sunny Health and Fitness 12 Adjustable Resistance Rowing Machine
As you can see from the name itself, this rower has twelve adjustable resistance levels, which is a nice feature for any rower. This is the most affordable rower you’re gonna find, and it’s just a nice bonus that it also happens to be a good one.
Body Xtreme Fitness Turbo 2000
The 16-pound magnetic tension system allows for a wide range of adjustable settings, and with non-slip handles and non-slip pedals, you will be able to work out safely and efficiently even when the sweat gets flowing. Hell, they’ll even throw in a free sweat-resistant cooling towel.
Sunny Health and Fitness Ultra Tension Magnetic Rowing Machine
This elevated magnetic tension system has ten-adjustable levels. It also has a built-in Wireless Pulse receiver, which will allow you to monitor your pulse rate. (You have to buy a chest strap separately if you don’t already have one.) It has a 300-pound limit, which is a step up from many rowing machines, and add it all together and you have one of the most robust rowing machines out there.
LifeSpan RW1000 Indoor Rowing Machine
This rowing machine features an eddy fly-wheel drive system, which simulates water tension better than a lot of other tensions systems. How well? Well, apparently it was the 2008 recipient of the Gear Awards Seal of Excellence. If that still doesn’t convince you, maybe the five-year warranty will.
Sunny Health and Fitness Dual Function Rowing Machine
This magnetic tension system with eight adjustable levels is a fine rowing machine all on its own. But it’s also designed to allow you to do targeted workouts, so you can concentrate on individual muscle groups if there’s one that you really need to work on, or perhaps one that you want to rest for a while. This versatility makes this a kickass rowing machine.
Most air rowers are reserved for a higher income bracket, but you too can have that unique wind resistance, which allows for a more natural workout. You don’t have to worry about resistance settings or anything like that. Your body simply works against the air as you row, just like in nature. The result is a low-impact, high-efficiency workout.
Sunny Health and Fitness Air Magnetic Rowing Machine
This rowing machine gives you the best of both worlds. The magnetic tension system gives you eight adjustable resistance settings. But, the air rower provides additional resistance, which creates a different response with every pull – again, just like actually rowing on water. The cool thing about this rower is that you have a basic level of tension already built in that you can increase or decrease, sort of like deciding whether to row with or against the current, but it also changes depending on how hard you want to work. The result is perhaps the most natural rowing machine workout you’re gonna find. Especially for the price.
The BroBible team writes about gear that we think you want. Occasionally, we write about items that are a part of one of our affiliate partnerships and we will get a percentage of the revenue from sales.