WaterRower Accessories: 13 best accessories for your WaterRower

Rowing on a WaterRower indoor rowing machine can be an enjoyable unwinding experience or an intense vigorous workout depending on your desired session. Get more from your WaterRower and workouts with 13 of the best WaterRower accessories. Here are the coolest WaterRower accessories to check out that are a great complement to your WaterRower.

1. WaterRower tablet and phone arm

The first of the WaterRower accessories to feature in our WaterRower accessories article is the WaterRower tablet and phone arm. The phone and tablet arm does a fantastic job of holding your phone or tablet in front of you as you row. This is great if you have the Bluetooth ComModule and are using the WaterRower connect app and want to see your rowing stats in front of you. Likewise with using the SmartRow power meter and SmartRow app on your phone or tablet. Otherwise perhaps you just want to use your phone or tablet to stream and watch some content from Netflix, Spotify, YouTube etc.

2. WaterRower ComModule

The WaterRower ComModule is the Bluetooth Add-on for the S4 Performance Monitor which comes with the original series dual-rail WaterRowers crafted in different woods such as Oak, Ash, Walnut etc. and the metallic versions of WaterRower such as the M1 and S1.

Having the WaterRower ComModule allows you to connect your WaterRower to the WaterRower connect app from WaterRower that lets you see your stats as well as historically track your workouts. Having the WaterRower Bluetooth ComModule also lets you connect to many third party apps such as EXR, Asensei, CityRow Go etc.

3. Apps

Apps are a great addition to your rowing experience. They can keep you motivated, help you with your training. Below are some of the apps that you can use with your WaterRower.

S4 with USB: We-Row and CoxSwain
S4 With Bluetooth ComModule: WaterRower Connect, WaterRower Challenge, WaterRower TV
3rd Party Apps for the S4 and Bluetooth ComModule: EXR, KinoMap, CityRow Go, Asensei
SmartRow Apps: SmartRow App, EXR

As well as apps there is also great free online rowing content available to row along to.

4. SmartRow

Having the SmartRow power meter you are able to use the SmartRow app and have access to detailed metrics and options including a force curve as well as historical tracking of your workouts and the ability to race other SmartRow users. The SmartRow power meter is considered the most accurate way to monitor the output of a water rower and is potentially the future for performance analysis and tracking. Learn more about SmartRow here including which models of WaterRower are supported.

5. Ergatta Upgrade

The Ergatta upgrade transforms your traditional WaterRower into a connected experience machine. With the Ergatta upgrade package you receive the 17″ HD touchscreen and mounting arm and it connects to your existing S4 Performance Monitor and is able to be used with any of the Original series wooden WaterRower rowing machines. What is also great about Ergatta aside from being fun and captivating, is the continual development to bring new programs, games and workouts to their platform.

Features of Ergatta:

• Race workouts: Choose users to race against or race against yourself or let Ergatta select it automatically based on your intensity zone metrics. Race workouts can be chosen based on duration or distance
• Push Programs: Goal based training programs, completing sections of the program unlocks subsequent sections holding you accountable and keeping you progressing toward your goals
• Interval workouts: Use hundreds of different workouts with different lengths, intensity, focus and lengths which help you reach your targets
• Programs are curated based on your calibrated intensity zones
• Game-Based Workouts: Meteor, Vortex, Pulse
• Open Row: Pick your own workout variety such as a distance or time
• Scenic Row: Row along to stunning scenery shot in different global locations
  

6. Heart Rate Monitor

Heart rate monitors are also a very popular and useful accessory. Having the ability to track and monitor your heart rate during your workouts is a very useful training tool. Different options exist depending on what setup you have with your WaterRower, such as the WaterRower Digital Heart Rate Monitoring Kit that connects to the standard S4 monitor and displays the HR on the S4 performance monitor as you row. Other options include having SmartRow and using other Bluetooth heart rate monitors such as the very popular and accurate Polar H10 or Apple watch etc. Being able to see history and tracking of heart rate during your workout sessions over time is useful.

7. Slides

Slides can turn the Static WaterRower into a dynamic indoor rowing machine, which gives you the closest feeling of rowing in a proper boat. This means you can be rowing similarly to a dynamic rowing machine like the Concept2 Dynamic or the RP3. This gives you a much more realistic feeling of rowing like in a skull. You can pick some slides up from ccrowingslides.com or use Concept2 Slides with boards like from FlowRow.

8. Flow Row boards

FlowRow boards are a great way of adding an interesting feel to your WaterRower by placing balancing boards under your WaterRower, requiring you to now balance the rowing machine underneath you similarly to how you would balance in a boat (however you also normally have oars which help with balancing in a boat). As well as being more realistic and adding more fun, having to balance your WaterRower whilst rowing greatly increases the engagement of your core.

9. Hi Rise Kit

Having the Hi Rise kit raises your WaterRower by 8″ and is very useful for those with hip or mobility issues as having your WaterRower raised can make it easier for getting on and off your WaterRower. This makes it a useful accessory as well as a preference upgrade as the Hi Rise kit is great for those that prefer and enjoy rowing at an increased height.

10. Wide Handle Upgrade

The 17″ wide handle upgrade is another WaterRower accessories preference upgrade, but worth mentioning. The standard original series WaterRowers have the 15″ handle and the upgraded 17″ handle is great for those with broad shoulders or those that just feel more comfortable or are used to having a wider handle like the handle on the Concept2 RowErg indoor rowing machine.

11. Seat Pad

Seat pads are probably one of the most popular WaterRower accessories. They are great for longer rowing workouts or overall comfort if it is needed. There are many different options here such as you standard seat pad like the official WaterRower seat pad, memory foam, gel and silicone. The foam seat pads generally provide the most padding for those that like a soft seat. Gel seat pads can be quite comfortable but generally provide less padding. The silicone seat covers provide the least padding but can also be quite comfortable for those that like a firm seat but just need a little extra comfort and may also want to protect their seat from wear.

Seat pads can also be useful to raise your height on the seat to get you into the most optimal position at the catch. You can also use a towel instead of a seat pad or also put a small towel under your seat pad (depending on the type) as well to raise the height even further if desired.

Below are three of the popular different types of seat pads.