At some point, you've probably tried enrolling in a rowing class where participants move in unison to the cadence of "Legs, core, arms. Arms, core, legs."
Indoor group classes revolutionized the way people view the rowing machine. It's a pretty great experience when you and your fellow rowers fall in sync with one another, making you feel like you’re in an actual boat race.
Rowing can be a huge physical challenge, but you can’t deny that it makes for a fun and exhilarating workout. You might love it enough that you’d want to have your own equipment for quick rowing sessions in the comfort of your home.
If you’re looking for a high-quality rower that's a lot like what you would use in a fitness studio, something that can provide the same total body workout that you’d get in a group class, you might want to consider the latest model in NordicTrack’s line of rowers.
Let’s talk about the NordicTrack RW900.
At a Glance:
The RW 900 quality construction, 22in smart touchscreen display, and included 1 year of iFit membership make this an ideal home rower if you are serious about your workouts. The foldable design allows for easy storage in small homes and the 10-year frame warranty provides peace of mind.
The NordicTrack RW900: What’s Great About It?
NordicTrack believes in providing high-quality equipment that gives owners the ease and freedom to reach their fitness goals.
The RW900 is a piece of equipment suitable for such goals. The air-magnetic rower's top-of-the-line features and its ability to interface with iFit programs make it a world-class cardio machine.
Dimension and Build Quality
The 120-pound RW900 has a solid, steel frame. It has dimensions of 86.5” L x 22” W x 50.4” H.
The rower's SpaceSaver design allows it to be folded in half, leaving a smaller footprint in your room when stored. Its length is reduced to 36.2 inches once folded.
Touchscreen
One of RW900's unique features is its built-in 22-inch touchscreen, where you can view various trainer-led workouts. These workout videos come free to you for one year, thanks to the iFit membership that comes with your purchase of the rower. The widescreen gives a clear view of your trainer alongside your stats.
iFit Subscription
With iFit, your trainers can auto-adjust your resistance in real-time, depending on the type of rowing programmed during the session. Beginner to advanced lessons ranges from 10 to 60 minutes. The iFit subscription also comes with a live chat feature that allows you to talk to your personal trainer.
There are also workouts available that will show you the other creative uses of the RW900, including sliding seat reverse lunges, spine step-ups, and other body-weight exercises.
Resistance and Noise Level
The RW900 runs on a combination of magnetic and air resistance. As this feature allows for the quiet use of the rower, you won’t have to raise the volume of your touchscreen to hear your iFit trainer. Consequently, you also won’t need to play loud music from any device you plug into the machine's auxiliary port. It features 26 resistance levels, which you can adjust from your digital console.
Workout Programs
Aside from the iFit sessions, you can also choose from any of the 30 on-board workouts for endurance, cardio, or upper body conditioning. All of them are programmable through your console.
Pedals
The rower has pivoting and oversized pedals with "quick-release" nylon foot straps that you can easily adjust for your comfort and safety.
Seat Rail
The RW900 has an oversized steel seat rail with industrial-grade ball bearings and a cushioned, molded seat. This allows rowers of various heights to do full and pain-free movements.
Handles
The Rowing Machine features durable SoftTouch handlebars, which can minimize fatigue on your hands and wrists during tough or long sessions.
Warranty
NordicTrack offers a 10-year warranty on the frame, a two-year warranty on the parts, and a one-year warranty on labor.
What RW900 Owners Are Saying
Owners of the RW900 are generally pleased with its easy assembly. They have found the video sessions to be both motivational and challenging, especially when trying to keep up with the paddle strokes of their trainers, who include champion rowers. The interval and circuit exercises available for cross-training are a plus, providing a good break from rowing sessions held in popular lakes and rivers in various countries.
However, some users commented that starting up the screen can take time and that they need to plug in their machine several minutes ahead of their actual workout. Some also reported instances where the video's visuals would lag although the audio would continue to play. Others who lost connection with their trainers during their session were told that their machine required software updates.
FAQ:
Can you use headphones when working out on the RW900?
Yes. Although the flywheel hardly makes any noise and the machine has built-in speakers, you can use the auxiliary port in the RW900 to plug in your headphones.
What is RW900's weight limit?
The machine can support users up to 250 pounds.
Final Thoughts:
Fitness buffs who love rowing or want to improve in this type of cardiovascular exercise will want to feature the heavy-duty and modern-looking RW900 in their homes.
Provided you have a good internet connection, you'll feel as if you're transported right into your trainer's surroundings, giving you an optimum "on-the-water experience."