Choosing a WaterRower rowing machine can seem a little overwhelming as WaterRower presents you with a lot of different options ultimately giving you a lot to choose from. This can be confusing for someone entirely new to the WaterRower line up. Options when choosing your WaterRower include differences in performance monitors, materials such as wood or metal as well as the ability to have connected experiences and integrate with apps or training platforms. In this article we break down the 3 main options you have when choosing your WaterRower.
What are the 3 main options when choosing your WaterRower?
The 3 main options when choosing your WaterRower are:
- The WaterRower Hybrid A1 monorail
- The WaterRower Lite, Original, Metallic & Performance dual-rail models
- Connected experiences: CityRow and Ergatta
 | WaterRower Hybrid |
| View on Amazon |
 | WaterRower Original |
| View on Amazon |
WaterRower Hybrid A1
All of WaterRower’s rowing machines are dual-rail apart from the WaterRower Hybrid A1 which features aluminum monorail. This provides a different style machine to choose from, but still retains the great build quality that WaterRowers are known for. The monorail design enables increased foot width placement, which can make it more comfortable to get into the ideal catch position particularly for larger or taller users. This makes this machine highly regarded and a very popular choice.
The WaterRower Hybrid features the S2 CR BLE Bluetooth monitor which gives you basic metrics and the ability to connect it with a phone or tablet to use apps like WaterRower Connect, CityRow, EXR etc.
Upgrade options for the A1 WaterRower:
– Phone / tablet arm
– SmartRow power meter upgrade
– CityRow connect tablet upgrade kit
– Ergatta upgrade
– LightRing
A reason for choosing the WaterRower Hybrid when choosing your WaterRower is if you fit into the category of the wider foot placement being more comfortable for you or you like the look or feel of the monorail model.
WaterRower dual-rail models
The other option when choosing your WaterRower rowing machine is the dual-rail models. These include the WaterRower Lite, Original, Metallic and Performance models. The WaterRower Lite is the entry level thin and lite WaterRower with a non-Bluetooth monitor (which can be upgraded). The Original Series models have a backlit Bluetooth monitor and comes in various types of wood such as Oak, Cherry and Walnut.
The metallic models are the M1 in aluminum and the S1 in stainless steel. Both also include a backlit Bluetooth monitor which give you the option to connect to apps like WaterRower Connect, providing you with advanced metrics and historical performance and other 3rd party apps like Peloton, Asensei, EXR and more.
A big benefit of the dual-rail models include providing a very smooth and quiet rowing experience. Many people enjoy the look of wooden WaterRowers as they don’t look like your traditional gym equipment and fit nicely in your home.
Upgrade options for the Original Series WaterRower:
– Phone / tablet arm
– SmartRow power meter upgrade
– CityRow connect tablet upgrade kit
– Ergatta upgrade kit
– LightRing
Connected Experience WaterRowers: CityRow and Ergatta
The third main option when choosing your WaterRower is connected experiences. These consist of the CityRow tablet kit upgrade and the Ergatta upgrade kit and two unique Ergatta models of WaterRower. Both CityRow and Ergatta are online training platforms to further enhance the training and rowing experience.
CityRow
CityRow offers studio styled cardio, strength, mobility and endurance training using the CityRow Connect Touchscreen upgrade kit. The CityRow upgrade kit features a 19.5″ touchscreen with high-fidelity speakers for an immersive experience with CityRow. You can also use your own phone / tablet and use the CityRow app.
Ergatta
Ergatta offers two custom models of WaterRower the Ergatta Luxe and the Ergatta Lite. The Ergata Luxe features a beautiful custom built American cherry wood frame including custom cut-outs which make it easier to move and sleek angles to give it a nice minimal and compact look. Performance is measured by a power-meter and displayed with a 17.5″ tablet.
The Ergatta lite is a more budget friendly version of the Ergatta rower which features a lightweight oak frame.
Ergatta also provide the option to purchase Ergatta as an upgrade for your existing WaterRower.
Ergatta offers unique beautifully designed and constructed programs and games to follow which are tailored based on your intensity zone metrics which have been calibrated from your first calibration row when you set up your Ergatta. Workouts constantly evolve based on your progress and performance.
This is great for people that like data and also why many people traditionally enjoy using a Concept2 with the PM5 vs other rowing machines as having great data and tracking keeps you motivated and progressing as well as being able to compare times against yourself and others. Workouts are highly efficient and effective. Ergatta also have ‘open row’ mode where you can program a row for a specific distance or time or free row which includes scenic video footage from locations globally.
Ergatta has also teamed up with CityRow and now also includes the CityRow instructor led classes as well, offering a complete and comprehensive training platform.
Conclusion
We hope you now know what the 3 main options are when choosing your WaterRower rowing machine and also have a better understanding of which one might be best suited for you. All the best with choosing your WaterRower 🙂