10 Best Compact Rowing Machines Reviews In A Rush? Get the Stamina ATS Air Rower Dynamic wind resistance provides an efficient smooth stroke. The upholstered, padded, sliding seat makes it comfortable and sliding easy even during longer rowing routines. Proven to provide a nearly unsurpassed aerobic workout without the relentless pounding to your joints. check For extra convenience, the Stamina® 1403 Air Rower folds to a compact size for easy storage with built-in wheels. Check Price on Amazon.com Rowing is a great workout.It hits just about every muscle in the body—plus, it’s easy on the joints.The problem is …Most equipments are just too big. Many people don’t have space for an eight foot long, 200 pound piece of fitness equipment in their home.Thankfully, there are a number of highly effective equipments on the market. You can still get in a great workout without setting up a special room just for your rower.Let’s take a closer look at a few of the best compact rowing machines on the market and how to select the one that’s right for you. For more choices on top models, check out our list here:www.fitnessfirstnation.com/best-rowing-machines-reviewsTop Compact Models Image Product Rating Stamina ATS Air Rower 9.7 Check Latest Price Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 9.6 Check Latest Price Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5639 9.4 Check Latest Price Stamina 35-1215 Orbital 9.2 Check Latest Price Kettler Home Equipment 9 Check Latest Price How to ChooseA compact rowing machine is a great way to get in a full body workout without sacrificing too much space or forking over money every month for a gym membership. If you live in a small apartment or just don’t have a lot of storage space, it may still fit in a closet or folded away in the corner of one of your rooms. Most equipments are also fairly lightweight, making them easy to maneuver up and down stairs or across the room when you’re ready to use it. Picking the Right Resistance One of the first things you’ll want to consider when picking the right equipment is what type of resistance you want. These come in several different types of resistance, including: Hydraulic piston resistance Water resistance Air resistance check Magnetic resistanceEach type of resistance has its pros and cons, including price and the space required to operate. More often than not, hydraulic rowers will be the most compact and inexpensive, while air and water resistance rowers will be larger and more expensive. Understand the Sizes There are two important things to keep in mind when considering the size you want: The amount of space you have available to use the rower The space available for storage Many equipments fold up into a fairly small package, but are quite large when assembled and ready to use. On the other hand, there are lots of other machines that are very compact when in use. Make sure you pick a model that fits both space needs. What will it Cost? Most purchase decisions come down to money, so make sure you have a good idea of what you can spend before looking at rowers. Prices vary widely with rowing machines with budget units available under $200. For a mid-range rower, expect to pay between $300 and $600. And, around $1000 for a higher-end rowing machine. The Top Rated Products1. Stamina ATS Air Rower Check Price on Amazon.com If you’re looking for a simple, reliable rower with plenty of power and flexibility, check out the Stamina ATS Air Rower. This air-powered rower relies on your power output and speed to adjust the effort level. The harder you row, the more intense the resistance becomes. This makes for simple, no frills operation that equates to durability and long term reliability. Progress, distance, time, and more can also be tracked through an LCD monitor. The wide, padded seat of the ATS provides plenty of comfort for bodies of all shapes and sizes. Don’t be intimidated by the size of the ATS air rower. With a collapsible, fold up build, this rower can be quickly folded up for storage and place in a closet or other storage area. Specs: Air powered—adjusts with speed and effort level LCD monitor tracks activity and progression Folds into package of just 48 x 18 x 28 inchesPros: Fold up design for easy storage Simple, reliable air-powered system Wide, padded seat for maximum comfortCons: Limited feature set Not many settings or digital controls to adjust 2. Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Check Price on Amazon.com The Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 is a compact rowing machine that relies on a hydraulic piston for resistance. Users can select from a number of different resistance settings to really dial in the correct intensity. An articulated arm design provides a realistic experience, while a LCD monitor helps users track and monitor activity including time, calories, and other features. The Body Trac Glider 1050’s seat is also fully adjustable, providing space for users of all heights. The maximum weight capacity of 250 pounds may be limiting for some though. Though it doesn’t fold up, one of the top features of this rower is its compact, easily stored design. At just 58 inches long and 48 inches wide, it will comfortably fit in most storage spaces. Specs: Adjustable, hydraulic piston provides resistance Just 58 inches long Articulated arms for realistic rowing experiencePros: Compact design—easy to store Realistic rowing experience Inexpensive to purchaseCons: Does not fold up for storage 3. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5639 Full Motion Check Price on Amazon.com One of the top equipments available right now is the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5639. This machine stands out with its long, full motion range arms. The longer arms provide for full range of motion—even for those with longer arms. The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5639 is competitive with other models in this price range with its sturdy steel frame, ergonomic seat, and oversized foot rests. A digital, LCD monitor allows users to quickly and easily monitor rowing progress including distance and count. Although it doesn’t fold up for storage, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5639 is relatively short overall with a length of just 51 inches. Specs: Weight capacity of up to 350 12 levels of resistance with hydraulic piston Just 51 inches long overallPros: Higher weight capacity supports users of larger stature Long arms allow full range of motion Compact length for easier storageCons: May not provide enough resistance for some users 4. Stamina 35-1215 Orbital with Free Motion Arms Check Price on Amazon.com The Stamina 35-1215 Orbital is a compact rowing machine with plenty of high performance features. Rather than using a single rowing handle or two that connect and work together, the Stamina 35-1215 Orbital has two handles that operate freely and indecently of each other. This allows each arm of the rower to work independently, giving the users a complete and balanced full body experience. The Stamina 35-1215’s handles and seat are padded for comfort and the big pivoting foot pedals include straps to help the user’s feet stay positioned while rowing. With a frame made of aluminum, this rower is designed for both strength and to be lightweight. The arms also fold flat on The Stamina 35-1215, making it easy to store out of the way when not in use. Specs: Frame made of strong, lightweight aluminum Dual handle and piston design Just 50 inches long overallPros: Compact design for easy storage Dual handle design ensures both sides of the body are worked equallyCons: Size may feel too small for some users exclamation-triangle Dual handle design could be confusing 5. Kettler Home Equipment Check Price on Amazon.com Simple, compact, and easily adjustable, the Kettler Home Exercise/Fitness Equipment: Favorit is another great choice for rowing machine shoppers looking for a more compact piece of fitness equipment. With resistance coming from two heavy duty pistons, the Favorit can be quickly adjusted between a whopping 50 different resistance levels. Users simply turn a knob to a new resistance setting. Instead of just moving faster for more resistance, this rower lets users set the difficulty on their own. A padded seat and ergonomically correct foot pedals make the Favorit comfortable to use. A 285 weight capacity can be used by most people. Unfortunately, the Favorit cannot be folded up or easily taken apart for storage. It is, however, much more compact than most air powered rowers. Just to be on the safe side, make sure you’ve got enough space for the unit before purchasing. Specs: Resistance adjustable to 50 different levels LCD monitor tracks and records workouts Made in GermanyPros: Simple, durable design Resistance adjustable to 50 different levels check Ergonomic seat and foot pedal designCons: Cannot be folded or disassembled for storage 6. Stamina 1445 Wave Water Check Price on Amazon.com The Stamina 1445 Wave Water gives rowers a realistic experience with real water resistance. As you row, a series of paddles turn inside a water tank, providing a limitless stream of resistance that grows with difficulty the hard the user rows. The steel frame is fitted with wheels at one end for easy transport can easily be folded for storage in small spaces. A padded seat and handle provide comfort and good grip while rowing. The Stamina 1445 Wave Water also includes a built-in fitness monitor that allows users to track important stats like distance, time, stroke count, and more. Specs: Water rowing resistance provides limitless degrees of resistance Foldable design for easy storage Wheels built into frame plug Padded seat and handlePros: Built-in wheels and foldable frame for easy storage Water resistance is smooth and quietCons: Long term reliability may not be ideal 7. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 Magnetic Check Price on Amazon.com If you’re looking for a nice compact rowing machine, it’s hard to go wrong with the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 Magnetic.This rowing machine uses a magnetic resistance system that gives users to select from eight levels of resistance. Resistance is controlled by a large dial right on the front of the machine and can be turned easily while seated on the rower.A nice big LCD monitor allows users to easily track things like time, count, calories, and more.Big, non-slip foot pedals and a cushioned seat and handle make this rower comfortable and safe to use. An all steel frame gives users solid support and long-term durability.Specs: Magnetic resistance with 8 levels to choose from LCD monitor to track key rowing and resistance metrics Cushioned seat and handle plug Built in wheels for easy movingPros: Magnetic system provides consistent resistance Can be easily moved with built in wheels check Steel construction for stability and durabilityCons: Large size could be difficult to store 8. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410 Check Price on Amazon.com For an inexpensive, compact design that doesn’t skimp on features, check out the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1410. This machine is a very simple, hydraulic piston design that operates with a single piston and a pair of levered handles. The end of this rower folds easily, allowing the machine to be more easily stored in a closet or smaller space. An overall footprint of 59” by 29” means it will fit comfortably in smaller areas when in use too. The also has 12 levels of resistance and a built in LCD monitor to track time, count, calories, and more. Specs: Compact 59” by 29” footprint when set up Hydraulic piston resistance Padded seat and handlebars plug LCD display tracks progress while using itPros: Small size when in use and folds up for storage too Despite low price, is still fully adjustable and includes LCD displayCons: 220 maximum weight capacity 9. Stamina InMotion Rower Check Price on Amazon.com If you really want to get back to basics with a compact, easy to store design, take a look at the Stamina InMotion Rower. It is a truly compact rower with a footprint of just 56” by 19” when set up. Though it doesn’t fold, the InMotion Rower can easily be stored on its end in a small space. The InMotion Rower has five levels of adjustment with the single hydraulic resistance piston. Users also get a small LCD fitness monitor for tracking important workout stats like time, stroke count, and more. An all steal frame provides enough strength and durability to support rowers up to 250 pounds. Specs: Super simple, compact design LCD fitness monitor Padded seat and handles for comfort and stability plug Can be stored on endPros: Simple design is easy to store and use All steel frame check Padded seat and handlebarsCons: Simple design does not have a lot of features 10. Stamina Air Rower Fitness Check Price on Amazon.com The Stamina Air Rower is a robust, compact rowing machine that’s made with a steel frame. For storage, and ease of use, it comes with a set of built in wheels and folds easily in half.As the name implies, this Stamina rower uses a fan for air resistance. Tension is not adjustable, but the resistance will naturally increase the faster the user rows.This rower also includes a fitness monitor that allows users to easily track important figures like distance, calories burned, speed, time, and more. A molded and padded seat keeps users in comfortably positioned while a padded handle and pivoting foot rests add grip and stability.Specs: Durable, all steel frame Metal chain and handle Folding frame and built in wheels for easy storage plug Air resistance plug Included fitness monitorPros: Durable, steel build Metal chain check Folds into compact formCons: Large footprint when in use Final Verdict: Check Price on Amazon.com For the money and compact convenience, it’s hard to go wrong with the Stamina ATS Air Rower. The Stamina ATS gives users plenty of resistance with a large fan that naturally, progressively adds resistance as speed increases. The built-in fitness tracker makes it easy to track progress and better understand how the workout is going. A folding frame and built in wheels make the ATS easy to store. If you’re in the market for a compact rowing machine, check out the Stamina ATS Air Rower today.