Xterra · Water Rower Review
Xterra ERG600W Review
The Xterra ERG600W delivers the smooth, natural feel of a water rower for £499, less than half the price of a handcrafted WaterRower, and it folds away too.
Xterra ERG600W Water
Value water rower
Price and any code applied at checkout via Sweatband
The verdict
The ERG600W’s horizontal tank uses 16 impeller blades to mimic a boat moving through water, and a 4.8-star retailer rating and well-regarded build make it the value benchmark among water rowers. Six resistance levels set by the water volume let you dial in a base feel on top of the natural effort-scaling.
At £499, down from £899, with the EXTRA20 code taking it lower at the time of writing, it gives up little that matters for home training. The raised 13.5-inch seat makes getting on and off easy, and unlike a premium wooden rower it folds and rolls away.
Strengths
- Genuine water feel for well under half a WaterRower’s price
- 16-blade tank, six resistance levels by water volume
- Comfortable raised 13.5-inch padded seat
- Folds with transport wheels for storage
- Adjustable 5.5-inch LCD with recovery mode
- Steel frame and smooth dual aluminium rail
Watch-outs
- More functional in look and finish than a wooden rower
- 136kg user weight limit
- Water needs an occasional purification tablet
- No built-in app classes
The row
The ERG600W nails the thing that matters most in a water rower, the feel. The 16-blade impeller gives a smooth, progressive catch and the soft swooshing sound water rowers are loved for, and reviewers consistently rate the stroke quality on a par with machines costing twice as much.
The raised 13.5-inch seat makes getting on and off easy, a small thing that matters more than it sounds, and the dual aluminium rail keeps the action steady even at higher stroke rates.
Console and storage
The adjustable 5.5-inch LCD covers time, 500m splits, calories, distance, stroke rate and more across six programmes plus a recovery mode, with an optional heart-rate chest strap. It is a clear, functional console rather than a connected screen.
When you are done it folds and rolls away on transport wheels, which a premium wooden water rower does not do, so in a tight space the Xterra is arguably the more practical machine.
Who it is for
Buy the Xterra ERG600W if you want the genuine water-rowing feel without the premium price, and you value a folding frame and a comfortable high seat over a handcrafted wooden look. If looks and a huge weight limit matter more, the WaterRower is the step up.
Specifications
| Resistance | Water, 16-blade tank, 6 levels by water volume |
|---|---|
| Frame | Steel, dual aluminium rail |
| Console | 5.5-inch adjustable LCD, 6 programmes plus recovery |
| Data | Time, 500m, calories, distance, strokes, SPM, total strokes, pulse |
| Heart rate | Optional chest strap |
| Seat | 13.5-inch padded |
| Max user weight | 136kg |
| Storage | Folds, transport wheels |
FitRank breakdown
Performance 4.1
A smooth 16-blade water catch that reviewers rate alongside machines costing twice as much.
Build quality 4.0
A sturdy steel frame and dual aluminium rail, functional in finish but stable and well made for the money.
Value 4.5
The standout. A genuine water rower that folds, for £499 and less with EXTRA20, is exceptional value.
Features 3.8
A clear, adjustable LCD with recovery mode and an optional heart-rate strap, though there are no app classes.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Xterra ERG600W a good water rower?
How does the Xterra ERG600W compare to a WaterRower?
Does the Xterra ERG600W fold?
What is the weight limit on the Xterra ERG600W?
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 WaterRower Original, adidas R-21 Water Rower 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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