WaterRower · Water Rower Review
WaterRower Original Series Review
The WaterRower Original is the machine that defined water rowing, a handcrafted wooden rower that rows beautifully and looks like furniture, at a premium price.
WaterRower Original Series
Handcrafted water rower
Price and any code applied at checkout via Sweatband
The verdict
Handcrafted from wood with a water tank and flywheel, the WaterRower Original delivers the smooth, swooshing catch water rowers are loved for, and it is the official water rower of British Rowing. It is as much a piece of furniture as a rower, which matters when it lives in a room you actually use.
It stands upright for storage, taking up little more space than a chair, and the water stays safely in the tank. The S4 Bluetooth monitor is more capable than it looks, and the 315kg user limit is the highest of any rower we cover. It starts at £1,199 across four wood finishes, so it is a considered purchase rather than an impulse one.
Strengths
- Handcrafted wooden frame that doubles as furniture
- Smooth, natural water resistance that scales with effort
- Capable S4 Bluetooth monitor with 17 programmes
- Huge 315kg user weight limit
- Stands upright for storage, takes little space
- Official water rower of British Rowing
Watch-outs
- Premium price
- S4 monitor is capable but plainer than a touchscreen
- Heavier to move than a folding rower once filled
- Water needs an occasional purification tablet
Build and feel
Nothing else here feels like the WaterRower. The wooden frame absorbs sound and vibration, so the machine is quiet and stable, and the water tank gives a progressive catch that builds naturally as you pull. It is the closest a machine gets to the feel of rowing on water, which is exactly what it was designed to replicate.
The dual wooden rails and overall construction are built to last for years, and the 315kg user weight limit is the highest of any rower we cover by a wide margin. This is a machine you buy once.
Monitor and storage
The S4 Bluetooth monitor tracks pace, split times per 500m and 2km, power in watts, stroke rate and calories across 17 programmes, and connects to the WaterRower Connect and City Row apps. It is not a touchscreen, so if a big class display is your priority a connected magnetic rower suits better.
Storage is a genuine strength. The machine stands upright, taking up about the footprint of a chair, and rolls on transport wheels, so despite its size it is practical in a home.
Who it is for
Buy the WaterRower Original if you want the definitive water-rowing feel and a machine you are happy to leave on display, and the premium price is within reach. If you want the same water feel for less, the Xterra ERG600W is the value alternative, and if you want a big class screen, look at a connected rower.
Specifications
| Resistance | Water, scales with effort plus tank level |
|---|---|
| Frame | Handcrafted wood, 4 finishes |
| Monitor | S4 Bluetooth performance monitor |
| Programmes | 17 |
| Data | Pace, 500m and 2km splits, watts, stroke rate, calories, heart rate (optional sensor) |
| Apps | WaterRower Connect, City Row |
| Max user weight | 315kg |
| Storage | Stands upright, transport wheels |
FitRank breakdown
Performance 4.6
A smooth, natural water catch that scales with effort, widely regarded as the benchmark feel for a home rower.
Build quality 4.9
Handcrafted wood built to last for years, with a class-leading 315kg user weight limit. As solid as home rowers get.
Value 3.9
The one area it scores lower. It is a premium purchase from £1,199, justified by the build and looks rather than the spec sheet.
Features 4.6
A capable S4 monitor with 17 programmes and app support, though it is a classic display rather than a modern touchscreen.
Frequently asked questions
Is the WaterRower Original worth the money?
What is the difference between the WaterRower finishes?
Does the WaterRower need much maintenance?
How much space does the WaterRower take up?
Related rowing machines
Compare it against the field in our best home rowing machines guide, or narrow it down in our best water rowing machines guide. You might also consider the adidas R-21 Water Rower, Xterra ERG600W and MERACH wood water rower.
Chris writes the home fitness reviews across our sites, including our sister site HomeTreadmill.co.uk. He compares every machine against its rivals on UK pricing and specs, and scores each one with FitRank.
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