Hydrow Wave Rower Rowing Machine

I have had my Hydrow Wave for 10 weeks now. I paid for delivery and set up and it was totally worth it. The delivery team called ahead, arrived on time and set up my Hydrow within about 20 minutes. After they left I hopped on and started the Learn to Row series and it’s been love at first row ever since. I enjoy the daily motivations, the variety of mobility, strength and yoga classes, and the challenges and milestones to motivate me. I’m already closing in on 250k meters and my free pair of Hydrow socks! The community on Facebook are very active and supportive and the instructors are very likable. I have one of those well-known cycles, but have been finding myself favoring my Hydrow. That says it all.

I have had the unit for one month and have had issues since day one. Hydrow is fast to respond and ship parts. Their support staff and field service vendor are very polite and responsive as well. Unfortunately, the unit has not been reliable. It started with a loud squeal. A part was replaced that took care of the squeal, but other noises and tension issues occurred. The remaining mechanical parts (magnetic brake) were replaced and seemed to correct the issue. However, after the second row it has lost all tension and no longer records data. It appears that the new brake is also bad. I hate it, because I really like the training content and advanced rows. I need a new unit, but am not sure that I can trust the Wave. Perhaps it's too new and untested to know it's ... MoreI have had the unit for one month and have had issues since day one. Hydrow is fast to respond and ship parts. Their support staff and field service vendor are very polite and responsive as well. Unfortunately, the unit has not been reliable. It started with a loud squeal. A part was replaced that took care of the squeal, but other noises and tension issues occurred. The remaining mechanical parts (magnetic brake) were replaced and seemed to correct the issue. However, after the second row it has lost all tension and no longer records data. It appears that the new brake is also bad. I hate it, because I really like the training content and advanced rows. I need a new unit, but am not sure that I can trust the Wave. Perhaps it's too new and untested to know it's reliability.

So far I love my Hydrow Wave! I'm new to rowing and bought one based on a recommendation of a friend. First, the shipping was quick. I did not upgrade to have it moved and set up. However, the set-up was a breeze one I got it into my basement (I had a friend help me as it is quite heavy and I needed it moved to my basement). It fits perfectly in my basement and I have used it almost every day. As a new rower, I have been going through the beginner sessions which are all helpful in helping me with my form and building up my endurance. So far each of the instructors have been great, although my favorite is Aquil. The machine is quiet and feels solid. I'm looking forward to expanding into more difficult rowing classes!

New to rowing and I think this probably an above average rower. I do enjoy the "immersive" experience very much and didn't think I would. The seat however, is rather noisy. I think the sounds are coming from the plastic rollers underneath. Quite annoying and distracting. I was sent a replacement seat after contacting support. Unfortunately was sent a seat for the original Hydrow. That seat is obviously made with higher quality materials and is even softer which would make for a more comfortable rowing experience. The rollers are completely different that those on the Wave and my guess is the overall seat feel and slide is superior. Should have spent the extra money for the original.

I decided to take the plunge and purchase a rower, looking for a compact home fitness machine that was low-impact to supplement my long-distance running training. I did a ton of research to compare different rowers (smart rowers vs. regular rowers) and eventually landed on the Hydrow Wave. I had only rowed a dozen or so times before at the gym or in OrangeTheory classes, so I liked that the Hydrow had lots of classes to keep me engaged and teach me proper form and technique. I'm a bit bummed that the month-to-month membership is so expensive, but I have been so impressed with the variety and quality of the on-screen content. I love that I can stay engaged by tracking my stats and progress over time, and it's nice to be able to set up multiple profiles so my family, ... MoreI decided to take the plunge and purchase a rower, looking for a compact home fitness machine that was low-impact to supplement my long-distance running training. I did a ton of research to compare different rowers (smart rowers vs. regular rowers) and eventually landed on the Hydrow Wave. I had only rowed a dozen or so times before at the gym or in OrangeTheory classes, so I liked that the Hydrow had lots of classes to keep me engaged and teach me proper form and technique. I'm a bit bummed that the month-to-month membership is so expensive, but I have been so impressed with the variety and quality of the on-screen content. I love that I can stay engaged by tracking my stats and progress over time, and it's nice to be able to set up multiple profiles so my family, friends, and guests can use the rower too. The machine itself feels high-quality and very well made. I don't feel like the screen on the Wave is too small for me, and seemed to be the only major difference between the Wave and the original that I tested at Best Buy. Overall, I'm super excited about my purchase and am looking forward to continuing my rowing journey with Hydrow!

I'm really enjoying the Hydrow Wave Rower. The instructor led rowing sessions do a great job of keeping me engaged and motivated to work out. That being said, I'm not a fan of the subscription model. Having to pay around $1,500 with an additional monthly fee makes the lifetime cost of owning this product pretty high. The hardware itself is of pretty good quality, but the display is literally an android tablet that's locked down with Hydrow software. It would have been nice to use it like an actual tablet and watch Netflix or something while rowing. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be possible. If you can get over the high lifetime cost and the fairly restrictive display use, I definitely recommend the Hydrow Wave. It is a great way to get a daily workout in ... MoreI'm really enjoying the Hydrow Wave Rower. The instructor led rowing sessions do a great job of keeping me engaged and motivated to work out. That being said, I'm not a fan of the subscription model. Having to pay around $1,500 with an additional monthly fee makes the lifetime cost of owning this product pretty high. The hardware itself is of pretty good quality, but the display is literally an android tablet that's locked down with Hydrow software. It would have been nice to use it like an actual tablet and watch Netflix or something while rowing. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be possible. If you can get over the high lifetime cost and the fairly restrictive display use, I definitely recommend the Hydrow Wave. It is a great way to get a daily workout in from the comfort of your home.

Excellent. Love it.

I love this. One of my favorite purchase ever. It fits in my apartment nicely. It is quite heavy near the front but it has wheels so it will roll. I recommend getting a gym mat to put underneath so it doesn't damage your floor. The ride is very smooth and quiet (just make sure you clean it often). It's also very easy to put together and transport if moving. Love the Hydrow library and athletes! Wonderful workout. Highly recommend. I wish I would have waited to buy it in one of the new funky colors!

Great machine, app content could be improved

Pros: Was able to assemble myself with attached instructions. High quality machine with smooth operation. High quality monitor. Better than most machines I have tried at gyms. Seems sturdy and that it will last. Comfortable to use if you are wearing shoes. Beginner videos of proper technique are good.Cons: Requires a $40+tax monthly subscription to be able to use Hydrow screen/content. Unable to play your own music or content on screen. I am not sure if the machine will show your stats without the subscription. Also I have tried maybe 10 videos and mostly find the trainers not engaging. The trainers mostly talk about random non-interesting stuff (for example one ranted about a New Zealand rugby team for 20 minutes) with some occasional instructions. Also they are ... MorePros: Was able to assemble myself with attached instructions. High quality machine with smooth operation. High quality monitor. Better than most machines I have tried at gyms. Seems sturdy and that it will last. Comfortable to use if you are wearing shoes. Beginner videos of proper technique are good.Cons: Requires a $40+tax monthly subscription to be able to use Hydrow screen/content. Unable to play your own music or content on screen. I am not sure if the machine will show your stats without the subscription. Also I have tried maybe 10 videos and mostly find the trainers not engaging. The trainers mostly talk about random non-interesting stuff (for example one ranted about a New Zealand rugby team for 20 minutes) with some occasional instructions. Also they are rowing on real boats mostly and not the machine, and as a beginner I would appreciate being able to mirror on the machine. I don't think the subscription is worth it for the quality of the content so far.Overall: seems like great machine/hardware with some lacking on the side of the app content/software.

Rower is good, subscription sucks, regret buying

Overall the Hydrow is a nice machine, compact, seems high quality and very solid. The videos are okay, but pretty unengaging and it lacks a lot of basic capabilities you would expect at this price (play your own music, enable video apps).This is all on purpose because they make their money off subscriptions. It's $70 CAD/month ($840/year), which means you're going to pay for the rower multiple times over its life. Its completely useless without the subscription, and they can and do raise the subscription price. Wish I went with a rower that didn't lock us in.