What is the difference between air and magnetic rowing machines

Hydraulic rowers are considered the most basic. The resistance is created from hydraulic cylinders that are attached to the handle of the rower. Within the hydraulic cylinders, there is air or fluid. When you pull, you are pulling against the air or fluid and level of adjustment.

This is what creates the resistance. This makes the movement slightly uncomfortable. It feels more like pulling against a weighted cable, rather than rowing on water. But, this type of resistance still provides a great workout for your upper and lower body.

Hydraulic rowing machines are best suited to those looking for a cheap, yet effective way to keep fit. The full motion movement of the arms will burn more calories, increase strength by activating more muscles in the back, shoulders, and core. The rower allows you to work both arms simultaneously with equal resistance. Elastic cord rowers are also a simple type of rowing machine, like the hydraulic. How do they work? Simply, an elastic cord offers resistance by its tendency to recoil or retract to its initial length.

However, these machines produce almost zero noise, which makes them a great fit for an apartment or a house with many people. There are many types of rowing machines available on the market. Which one is best for you depends on your needs and requirements.

The main things to consider when buying a rower is cost, data accuracy, flooring, noise, and feel. Michaela Summers is a health and fitness content creator.

She is on a mission to help people live a more fulfilling, impactful life through fitness and lifestyle. When she's not writing, she can be found in the gym, playing tennis, or exploring the great outdoors. All products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Contents show. In a Hurry? How to Choose a Rowing Machine Feel. Type of Floor. Data Accuracy. If you want to create an experience of rowing on water, the water rower is your best option.

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Recommended Products:. Magnetic Resistance vs. TOPICS Products accessories aerobic step assembly cycle bikes elliptical machines featured gift guide home gym how to use maintenance tips mini bikes popular product comparisons purchasing guides recumbent bikes row-n-ride rowing machines steppers strength treadmills upright bikes. Newsletter Signup. Top Sellers. Magnetic resistance can make workouts more fun and satisfying. By being more compact and quiet in operation than other rowing machines types, a magnetic rowing machine is ideal for home-usage.

The handle features an attached spinning flywheel a large metal wheel inside the housing via a chain. This type of rowing machine has got multiple levels of resistance from easy to hard workout. Larger the flywheel, smoother is the resistance. The machine not only gives you excellent cardiovascular workout but also tones your muscles. Some machines have 8, 16, or 32 magnetic resistance levels.

The level can easily be adjusted according to your workout need by digital console controls or mechanical sliders. A magnetic rowing machine is a great in-home fitness solution as its compact with efficient footprint design and completely noiseless ; best for your little apartment. Plus, some models also have a foldable design for easy compact storage. A high-quality rower with dual independent rowing handles that provide full arm, shoulder, and chest exercises.

The most popular and common type is air rower. Moreover, an air rowing machine is also considered the best type. Resistance is provided by air blowing through the flywheel; the harder you pull, the faster the fans move around, and the more resistance it provides.

This is why rowing clubs tend to use air rowers as they give real rowing feel and sound. Rower Comparison. It targets your muscles in your core, back, shoulders, and legs. Plus, it improves your cardiovascular endurance as air rower uses a smooth belt-drive mechanism with a metal chain to produce a powerful stroke. Some models come with Mag-Air resistance that includes both magnets and fans for linear resistance.

Try checking out my Sole Rower review here. Thank you for the information in this article, My year old son has started doing Crossfit for increasing his strength for travel baseball. If you need a magnetic rower for one of the features it provides over an air rower, then the SF-RW is the best option.

However, if you are split between air or magnetic rowers I would choose an air rower. Air rowing machines are used the most by athletes and they are used in all Crossfit gyms because they are variable resistance and better for sprinting workouts. Crossfit uses the Concept2 Model D which is an air rower. Hi, Is it fair to say the distance travelled on a magnetic will be much lower than air? I am athletic, understand the mechanics of rowing and tried the magnetic rower for some time before concluding there is no way to get a better split.

Unfortunately, magnetic rowing machine monitors are not going to be as accurate as the Concept2. The C2 PM5 is the most accurate monitor on the market.

If you are using an inexpensive rower sometimes the monitor just calculates and average distance for each stroke regardless of watts, stroke length, etc. I have an Echelon rower at home and use a Concept 2 at the gym. My split time on the Concept is around On the Echelon, it is ! What would cause the pull strap on a magnetic rower to not completely return at the end of a stroke.

About 15 inches do not reenter the console. It would have to do with the recoil mechanism not fully winding back the strap.

You should contact the manufacturer or customer service department. They should be able to help troubleshoot the issue. Trying to find best rower for my situation. My only concern is using a pull handle over machines with bars.

Your thoughts? Really, a user should have their arms locked straight out and drive with their legs first, then follow through with pulling the handle to their chest. This means more of the work is done with your legs and the follow through is with your arms. This would lead me to believe it would be less stress on your elbow.

Hello, my parents have Fila rowing machine that has magnetic resistance wheel and spring loaded assembly. Could you elaborate on how that functions. They are having retraction issues Regards Gavin. The best option would be to contact the Fila customer support and have them walk you through it.

I am not familiar with this model. I only recommend the Model E if a person needs the taller seat. I see from past comments that megnetic rowers are not great for distance calculations so is there a way to calculate distance achieved by using spm and time?

Hi Clare — thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, the answer is no. Think about if you are in a rowboat and you row 30 strokes in 1 minute 30 SPM very lightly versus 30 stroker per minute with very hard strokes. On your monitor it would read 30 SPM in each scenario but in reality one example the boat would have traveled much further than the other. From my school physics electric currents induced by a magnetic field increase proportionally with speed of conductor through the field.

Indeed the Wikipedia article referenced states that eddy currents are proportional to speed. If I yank the handle as I might with a paddle in the water there is enough force for me to regain balance without using foot staps. Nevertheless, thanks for the article it was, nevertheless, useful.

If the drag is proportional to velocity with magnetic it increases in a straight line with velocity. Air drag increases at the square of speed. My daughter 12 has just started rowing and is keen to build up her strength at home.

Glad you enjoyed the post! Great article! I have been researching which type to purchase and this help make my decision easy!! Many articles are not as direct on the compare and contrast nor provide recommendation for the low budget models which I appreciate! I am a regular runner and rowing has been the best crosstraining and also a good quick warm up on an easy setting before lifting weights :. Hi Edwin, Great article indeed. I am considering to buy a magnetic rowing machine, especially due to budget.

My concern is that magnetic rowers usually have a characteristic of resistance in terms of the flywheel weight. I found many around 6 kilos, but also some around 7 or 8 kgs.

Do you think that this minor difference could have a major impact in workout? I am between two models of Tunturi: the cheaper one has a 7kgs flywheel, while the expensive has a 6kgs, but it is of higher quality.

Any advice? I am a beginner rower who wants to get some cardio with improving the muscle tone as well. While the flywheel weight will have an impact on resistance strength, I think you should read some comments about what other users are saying and base your decision on that.

If most people are saying the resistance strength is good, then I would think the 6kg flywheel will be fine. I am looking to buy my first rower and was wondering if one resistance still tends to be more durable.

Any thoughts? I tend to think air rowers are the most durable. My experience is with a Concept 2 at the gym. Magnetic looks interesting and stores into a more compact size.

Would I be disappointed with magnetic after spending a year with a Concept 2? Any suggestions. Storage and cost are the deciding points. I like air resistance over magnetic because I enjoy HIIT workouts and enjoy the increase in resistance as I row faster. If you want stronger resistance at a slower rowing speed, then I would go with magnetic.

The is a great low-cost air rower option. If you want magnetic I would go with one of the Sunny Fitness models. Hello — I have been using a Concept 2 at the gym for over ten years.

Because of the current lockdown situation I bought a Reebok GR magnetic rower for home mainly due to that was all I could find available. Am I correct in thinking it is such a completely different feeling from an air rower? It feels like the flywheel is not spinning like in an air rower — it feels more just like pulling an adjustable weight at the end of the cord?

Sorry if the enquiry sounds a bit naive it just seems like night and day compared to using an air rower — I actually wondered if there was something wrong with it when I first used it! Hi Derek — thanks for reaching out! You are correct that the resistance types will feel a lot different from each other. You also have to compare the quality of the two options.

However, even the expensive magnetic rowers will feel different but probably a bit smoother. It might be worth it to return it and get an air rower if you prefer that resistance style. Hi many thanks for the feedback.