rowing trends in gym design and equipment
As gym consultants working with hotel groups, resorts and real estate developers, we keep a close eye on the latest gym industry trends, from equipment to software and design.
One area that appears especially dynamic at the moment is indoor rowing. Here we look at the latest rowing machines, rowing studios and rowing trainer software solutions catching our eye.
RP3 - gym equipment
Rowcave - gym design
CityRow - gym equipment and virtual trainer content
Ergatta - virtual trainer software for gyms
Hydrow - gym equipment and virtual trainer content
Review of the Best Rowing Machines for Commercial and Residential Gyms
There are many rowing machines on the market, but some brands stand out above the rest. The following are some of the best rowing machines for commercial and residential gyms:
City Row Go
Peloton Row
Hydrow
RP3 Row
Ergatta
CityRow - rowing machines and virtual trainer software for gyms
CityRow are an equipment and software brand that present a range of gym design solutions, from an immersive machine with full entertainment screen, to a more minimal product that can still be combined with a user’s own phone or tablet and the CityRow training app.
A wide variety of tutorials, classes, and instructors are available on the app and virtual trainer software, with access to the app starting at just US$10 per month.
The Cityrow Max is a full immersive experience that has a touchscreen, features water resistance along the lines of the original WaterRower machine it is clearly inspired by and comes in at $2200 plus $62/month software subscription.
The brand then introduces new technology in the form of a built-in touchscreen with high-fidelity speakers for a fully immersive workout.
For a gym designer, it is important to communicate to the other fitness center facility or gym owner, that there will be ongoing (very modest) Opex expenses incurred with this machine, in addition to the upfront Capex expenses of the initial equipment fit-out in order to avoid any miscommunication. One machine may be OK but multiply that by 20 and it can make a dent in an operations budget if properly planned for.
Either way, the "upfront cost + ongoing software subscription" model his is likely to be an increasingly common solution for cardio machines going forward as the virtual trainer phenomenon takes hold in fitness industry.
Hydrow gym equipment
Hydrow was founded with a mission to make fitness accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or schedule. What sets Hydrow apart from other gym equipment manufacturers is its commitment to innovation facility design and technology.
Hydrow currently offer two different machines, the original Hydrow model priced at US $2500 and the newer, more accessibly priced Wave model priced at US $1700.
A $38/month All-Access Membership is sold separately and required upon activation of both machines so factor that in to any purchase decision from the get-go!
This brand offers immersive rowing workouts captured by patented Live Outdoor Reality. On-demand workouts come from a library of thousands of on-the-water rows while live workouts are experienced in real time with the Hydro athletes on-screen. Distance rows provide goal-setting opportunities ranging from 250m to 10,000m.
Finally, Circuit Training content on and off the Hydrow combines rowing and strength training in one training session - weights and gym equipment sold separately.
There are also a range of yoga, Pilates, strength training, mobility, and stretching workouts – all filmed from visually appealing locations around the world as a way to motivate and encourage users to use the machine as often as they can.
Peloton
Peloton is a leading fitness company that specializes in providing high-quality gym equipment and innovative fitness solutions to its customers. The company is well known for its state-of-the-art fitness bikes and treadmills that are equipped with screens that allow users to participate in live and on-demand workouts from the comfort of their own homes. In addition to these products, Peloton has recently launched a new rowing machine that has been making waves in the the fitness equipment industry. The Peloton Rowing Machine is an excellent addition to the company's lineup of gym and cardio equipment throughout. It is designed to provide users with a full-body workout that is both challenging and effective. The machine features a sleek design and is equipped with a large touchscreen display that provides access to a library of rowing workouts.
Users can choose from a variety of classes that are led by world-class instructors and participate in live or on-demand sessions. The machine is also equipped with a variety of features that make it easy to use, including adjustable footrests, adjustable resistance, and a comfortable seat. Overall, the Peloton Rowing Machine is an excellent choice for anyone looking to add a high-quality piece of gym equipment to their home gym. It is well designed, easy to use, and provides users with an excellent workout that is both challenging and effective. Whether you're a seasoned rowing pro or a beginner looking to get in shape, the Peloton Rowing Machine is definitely worth checking out.
RP3 rowing machine in gym design
RP3 specialises in producing high-quality rowing machines designed to provide gym floor to a realistic rowing experience that closely mimics the feel of rowing on water. This Dutch brand was established in 1988 and has now gone fully digital native with an app that allows users to compete virtually in an e-league, effectively gamifying the indoor rowing experience for gym users.
The new ModelT (€2.895,00) of the RP3 rower comes loaded with easy to use software that shows a user’s force curve in real time, allowing them to adjust their movements based on a graph through the RP3 app that helps track output and provide feedback on workout performance.
What does that equate to? Well the real innovation here from our perspective is the ‘dynamic rowing’ motion that is more akin to the real experience of rowing on water, it seems.
The industry standard common in the majority of gym design examples of late is for the seat to move and the handle, but for the rest of the machine to remain in one place. The RP3 changes that.
Ergatta - virtual trainer software for gyms and rowing machines
Billing themselves as “the game based rower”, Ergatta partnered with WaterRower for the rowing machine and focused their efforts on the tech component of a virtual trainer software designed to gamify the rowing experience for home users.
On offer are multi-day challenges, interval workouts, live racing, scenic row experiences on-screen and plenty of community competition, along the lines of Peloton for indoor cycling in other words.
In fact, Ergatta seemingly want to go after that very market, claiming users can “Get your workout in faster. Burn calories twice as efficiently as with spinning”.
Updates come in the form of a minimum of five free weights, five new workouts per week, a Race of the Week each Sunday, a new Push Program and new community challenge each month.
Instead of instruction videos it it more of a structured workout delivered in the from of a game with 3D virtual courses.
The rowing machine is handcrafted from sustainably sourced cherry wood which is specifically designed to fit into a home or boutique gym environment.
The Ergatta rowing machine is an innovative piece of exercise equipment that combines the best of both worlds: a traditional rowing machine and a modern interactive gaming system.
An intuitive interface and adjustable resistance levels allow users to tailor their workouts to their individual fitness levels.
It also features a large, full-color display screen that tracks your progress in real-time, giving you an accurate measure of your performance.
It is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, so users can sync their data with compatible devices for easy tracking and sharing.
Additionally, the Ergatta rowing machine provides access to over 40 pre-programmed workouts and allows users to create custom workouts based on their own goals.
The machine also includes a built-in heart rate monitor, allowing users to track their progress while they work out.
RP3 rower - new gym equipment
The new ModelT (€2.895,00) of the RP3 rower comes loaded with easy to use software that shows a user’s force curve in real time, allowing them to adjust their movements based on a graph through the RP3 app that helps track output and provide feedback on workout performance.
What does that equate to? Well the real innovation here from our perspective is the ‘dynamic rowing’ motion that is more akin to the real experience of rowing on water, it seems.
The industry standard common in the majority of gym design examples of late is for the seat to move and the handle, but for the rest of the machine to remain in one place. The RP3 changes that.
This Dutch brand was established in 1988 and has now gone fully digital native with an app that allows users to compete virtually in an e-league, effectively gamifying the indoor rowing experience for gym users.
Rowcave - gym design installation (tech /screens)
Rowcave have partnered with RP3 (see above) and the Dutch rowing team to show what an Immersive and performance-enhancing studio space can look like, designed specifically for indoor rowers.
Why is this relevant? The experience of rowing with nothing but a black and white monitor to keep track of your performance, with no visual stimuli as entertainment, can be disheartening for some, presumably enough of a pain point that Rowcave decided to invest in a creative solution.
Here the space simulates real-world conditions via an indoor training area in a gym design offering 180-270 degree visuals for those using the rowing machines, giving something close to the sense of being on water, especially when combined with the RP3 machines.
There are plenty of real-life courses to choose from that are streamed on the high-quality LED screens. Users can see opponents on screen as if they were actually there as well as the surroundings of the course, even the roar of some far-off crowd on the shore!
Users can even control settings like the weather, time of day, and other conditions via a simple interface.
The screens start at 4.5 meters wide and a height of 2.8 meters, with the option for a 2.5 meter height for smaller spaces.
CityRow - rowing machines and virtual trainer software for gyms
CityRow are an equipment and software brand that present a range of gym design solutions, from an immersive machine with full entertainment screen, to a more minimal product that can still be combined with a user’s own phone or tablet and the CityRow training app.
A wide variety of tutorials, classes, and instructors are available on the app and virtual trainer software, with access to the app starting at just US$10 per month.
The Cityrow Max is a full immersive experience that has a touchscreen and comes in at $2200 plus $62/month software subscription.
For a gym designer or gym owner, that means there are ongoing Opex expenses incurred with this machine, in addition to the upfront Capex expenses of the initial equipment fit-out.
This is likely to be an increasingly common solution for all cardio machines going forward as the virtual trainer phenomenon takes hold.
The multisensory CITYROW MAX Rower features water resistance along the lines of the original WaterRower machine it is clearly inspired by.
The brand then introduces new technology in the form of a built-in touchscreen with high-fidelity speakers for a fully immersive workout.
The CITYROW CLASSIC is similar in design and spec except without the touchscreen, it costs US$1500 + $42/month
Ergatta - virtual trainer software for gyms and rowing machines
Billing themselves as “the game based rower”, Ergatta partnered with WaterRower for the rowing machine and focused their efforts on the tech component of a virtual trainer software designed to gamify the rowing experience for home users.
On offer are multi-day challenges, interval workouts, live racing, scenic row experiences on-screen and plenty of community competition, along the lines of Peloton for indoor cycling in other words.
In fact, Ergatta seemingly want to go after that very market, claiming users can “Get your workout in faster. Burn calories twice as efficiently as with spinning”.
Updates come in the form of a minimum of five new workouts per week, a Race of the Week each Sunday, a new Push Program and new community challenge each month.
Instead of instruction videos it it more of a structured workout delivered in the from of a game with 3D virtual courses.
The rowing machine is handcrafted from sustainably sourced cherry wood which is specifically designed to fit into a home or boutique gym environment.
The Ergatta rowing machine is an innovative piece of exercise equipment that combines the best of both worlds: a traditional rowing machine and a modern interactive gaming system.
An intuitive interface and adjustable resistance levels allow users to tailor their workouts to their individual fitness levels.
It also features a large, full-color display screen that tracks your progress in real-time, giving you an accurate measure of your performance.
It is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, so users can sync their data with compatible devices for easy tracking and sharing.
Additionally, the Ergatta rowing machine provides access to over 40 pre-programmed workouts and allows users to create custom workouts based on their own goals.
The machine also includes a built-in heart rate monitor, allowing users to track their progress while they work out.
HYDROW - rowing machines for commercial gyms and home gyms
Hydrow currently offer two different machines, the original Hydrow model priced at US $2500 and the newer, more accessibly priced Wave model priced at US $1700.
A $38/month All-Access Membership is sold separately and required upon activation of both machines so factor that in to any purchase decision from the get-go!
This brand offers immersive rowing workouts captured by patented Live Outdoor Reality. On-demand workouts come from a library of thousands of on-the-water rows while live workouts are experienced in real time with the Hydro athletes on-screen. Distance rows provide goal-setting opportunities ranging from 250m to 10,000m.
Finally, Circuit Training content on and off the Hydrow combines rowing and strength training in one training session - weights and gym equipment sold separately.
There are also a range of yoga, Pilates, strength training, mobility, and stretching workouts – all filmed from visually appealing locations around the world as a way to motivate and encourage users to use the machine as often as they can.
For our insights on sustainable gym equipment see here.