NordicTrack · Magnetic Rower Review
NordicTrack RW300 Review
The NordicTrack RW300 is the iFIT rower for people who want coached, automatically-adjusting workouts, a quiet magnetic machine that changes its own resistance to match the session.
NordicTrack RW300 Rowing Machine
iFIT connected magnetic rower
Price and any code applied at checkout via Sweatband
The verdict
The RW300 is NordicTrack’s entry rower and its appeal is iFIT, the coaching platform that runs the show. It uses 26 digital levels of near-silent SMR magnetic resistance, and with iFIT’s SmartAdjust the machine changes its own resistance in real time to match a trainer-led session, so you simply row while the coaching does the thinking. It engages around 85% of your muscles and stands upright on a patented space-saver frame when you are done.
The catch is the same as every connected machine, the 5-inch LCD shows your stats but the classes run on your own tablet through the iFIT app, and the real value needs an ongoing iFIT membership after the 30-day trial. At £799, down from £999, it is a premium magnetic rower whose worth depends on whether you will use iFIT.
Strengths
- 26 digital levels of near-silent SMR magnetic resistance
- iFIT SmartAdjust changes resistance automatically to match the session
- Full metric 5-inch LCD, plus watts and 500m splits
- Stands upright on a space-saver frame
- USB-C charging, device shelf, speakers and Bluetooth audio
- Syncs with Strava, Garmin and Apple Health
Watch-outs
- The class experience needs an ongoing iFIT membership
- No built-in touchscreen, iFIT runs on your own device
- Mains powered, so it needs a socket
- A premium price for a magnetic rower
The row
The RW300 rows quietly and smoothly, as magnetic rowers do, with 26 digital levels giving plenty of range from gentle recovery to hard intervals. The stand-out is SmartAdjust, part of iFIT, which lets a trainer-led workout control the resistance for you in real time, so the machine ramps up for a hard push and eases off for recovery without you touching anything. It is a genuinely different experience from a manual rower.
The build is solid, with oversized pivoting pedals, a soft-grip handle and an extended rail, and it stands upright on a patented space-saver frame to reclaim floor space between sessions.
iFIT and the subscription catch
The 5-inch LCD shows a full set of live stats, watts, stroke rate, 500m splits, calories and more, but the immersive part, the 10,000-plus coached workouts, global rows and AI coaching, runs through the iFIT app on your own tablet or phone. A 30-day iFIT Train trial is included, and there are dual speakers and Bluetooth headphone support for audio.
After the trial, the coaching and SmartAdjust need an ongoing iFIT membership, so factor that running cost into the price. If you will use iFIT, it is what makes the RW300 special. If you would not, a manual magnetic rower gives you the quiet row for less.
Who it is for
Buy the NordicTrack RW300 if you want a quiet, premium magnetic rower and you will genuinely use iFIT’s coached, auto-adjusting workouts. If you would not use a subscription, the folding Echelon Row offers connected classes and folds for less, and a simple MERACH magnetic rower gives you the quiet row at a fraction of the price.
Specifications
| Resistance | 26 digital levels, SMR Silent Magnetic Resistance, SmartAdjust |
|---|---|
| Console | 5-inch backlit LCD |
| Data | Watts, SPM, total strokes, time, calories, distance, resistance, speed, 500m split, pulse |
| Platform | iFIT (BLE) on your own device, 30-day Train trial included |
| Extras | USB-C charging, device shelf, dual speakers, Bluetooth audio |
| Data sync | Strava, Garmin Connect, Apple Health |
| Storage | Stands upright, space-saver frame, transport wheels |
| Power | Mains powered |
FitRank breakdown
Performance 4.1
Quiet 26-level magnetic resistance with iFIT SmartAdjust changing the level automatically to match coached sessions.
Build quality 4.2
A solid NordicTrack frame with oversized pedals and an extended rail that stands upright to save space.
Value 3.9
The weaker pillar. At £799 plus an ongoing iFIT membership, the value hinges on using the platform.
Features 4.2
A full metric console, iFIT with SmartAdjust and AI coaching, speakers, USB-C and third-party syncing. Feature-rich, short only of a built-in touchscreen.
Frequently asked questions
Is the NordicTrack RW300 any good?
Does the NordicTrack RW300 need a subscription?
Does the NordicTrack RW300 have a screen?
Is the NordicTrack RW300 quiet?
Related rowing machines
Compare it against the field in our best home rowing machines guide, or narrow it down in our best folding rowing machines guide. You might also consider the Echelon Row-7s, Echelon Row Smart Folding and Viavito Sumi.
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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