Hydrow makes some of the best rowing machines in the market with the Pro Rower and the compact Wave. Problem is, both of them require a monthly subscription, much like many contemporary home gym equipment. If you like their rowing machines, but don’t really care for the on-demand classes (or the recurring costs that go along with them), you might be interested in the Hydrow Core.
That’s right, you can now get one of Hydrow’s rowing machines without the need for a membership, so you can get the same full-body cardio workout without having to sign up for another subscription. You get everything available in the Hydrow Pro, too, from the stylish frame and the electronically-controlled resistance to the comfortable ergonomics and the activity tracking, essentially simply going without access to the on-demand courses.
The Hydrow Core Rower is, basically, just the Hydrow Pro sans the monthly subscription. You get the same patented electromagnetic drag system that claims to replicate the feeling of being on water, all while making very little sound, so you can get your workouts in without disturbing the whole house. We don’t know if it will automatically adjust resistance to simulate the feel of the onscreen course, though, like it does with the on-demand workouts, since that’s not the focus here. If we had to guess, it will probably work more like a Concept2, where you dial in the resistance to your liking, which is more in line with traditional rowers.
The seat, handle, and footpads are also the exact same from the Pro, so this should be just as comfortable to do your workouts on. It also takes on the exact same design, so it should be just as stunning to look at compared to traditional rowers, all while allowing for upright store, so you can comfortably stash it in a corner of the house.
The Hydrow Core Rower also retains the 22-inch touchscreen from the original, complete with 30 preloaded videos of stunning waterways that you can play while you do your workout, so it can offer an immersive rowing experience even without the on-demand classes. It tracks your metrics, too, recording distance, heart rate, and caloric burn, among others, complete with the ability to set goals, track progress, and more. You can pair it with your phone over Bluetooth to sync your workouts, although it only supports Apple Watch and Strava, with no word on whether they’ll expand it going forward. We don’t know if it has Wi-Fi, though, or whether you can play your own videos on the screen, but we hope so, since that will make for a much better overall experience.
What exactly don’t you get compared to the Pro? Pretty much, just the monthly membership and most of the things that come with it, like the instructor-led rowing sessions, unlimited scenic courses, leaderboards, and so on. You still get 30 preloaded workouts, though, which, for most people, will probably be enough.
The Hydrow Core Rower is available now, priced at $1,995.
