Immersive home workouts have made great strides in recent years, thanks in part to high-tech exercise machines — some of which may even replace a gym membership altogether.
Designed to change the way users exercise, Hydrow positions itself as the total package for those looking to work out at home. The company claims to deliver an unparalleled immersive workout with their state-of-the-art rowing machine. In addition to offering smooth, true-to-life resistance, Hydrow’s interactive platform promises engaging instructor-led classes, team activities and a robust online community.
We wanted to see if the Hydrow Arc lives up to its promise as a state-of-the-art machine with a comprehensive membership program, so we decided to put it to the test. We ran the Arc through extensive testing in the BestReviews Testing Lab, and here's what we found.
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We tested the Hydrow Arc with a busy mom of two who is constantly juggling school-pickup lines, work deadlines and everything else life throws at her.
For her, setting personal records is less important than having the ability to find a workout that actually fits into her schedule. Over the course of multiple weeks, she used the Hydrow Arc, trying the various modes and built-in classes, to stay active.
The Hydrow Arc rowing machine offers an immersive rowing experience through a variety of interactive programs streamed via a 24-inch HD touch-screen monitor. Hydrow claims their machine, with its true-to-life resistance, is as close as you can get to an on-the-river rowing experience.
Currently, the Hydrow platform offers more than 6,000 live and on-demand workouts for rowing, as well as strength training, yoga and Pilates. Members can also track their progress and earn badges as they complete more rows. Classes are led by an elite roster of world-class rowers, and they play an instrumental role in Hydrow’s interactive community through classes, online meet-and-greets and live interviews.
Hydrow offers a diverse array of On-Demand classes that are segmented by experience and difficulty levels. Our tester found these were convenient alternatives to the Live Outdoor Reality exercises and team-based activities.
Hydrow’s On-Demand classes are enjoyable and easy to follow. Our tester noted that instructors provide familiar cues and form checks throughout each class, which were helpful to rowers and fitness enthusiasts of all levels.
The instructors were friendly and encouraging, and they challenged Hydrow users to push themselves during workouts. Our tester took a medium-level rowing class, and she reported feeling more inspired and challenged than when she does self-paced erg workouts.
While our tester didn’t participate in team- and community-based Hydrow activities, she was interested in exploring these programs in the future. However, she was able to view the community leaderboard for On-Demand classes.
According to our tester, individuals interested in more competitive training will value the option of joining a team. Additionally, Hydrow is committed to social impact and sustainability and makes a charitable donation to Water.org once a user logs 25 days of workouts.
The Arc's standout feature over other Hydrow rowers is called HydroMetrics, which gives real-time performance data, assessing power, precision and endurance during a row.
The Hydrow is equipped with several ergonomic design elements that contribute to a comfortable rowing experience.
The seat is contoured, cushioned and supportive. It’s secured to the track in a way that eliminates most rattling and wobbling. Our tester indicated this stabilizing feature was in stark contrast to other rowing machines she's used in the past.
The monitor is designed to be eye-level for most users, promoting the “eyes-forward” position rowers naturally have on the water. For some users, this configuration may eliminate unnecessary neck strain and encourage better posture through the stroke. Additionally, feet are well secured with an adjustable strap system, and the handle ensures a comfortable, low-stress grip.
Our tester found the Hydrow Arc was quiet, though not completely silent. The chain and resistance were noticeably quieter than a typical mechanical rower, though she noted the sound increased somewhat at higher stroke rates, described as a "dull whirring" rather than a persistent mechanical noise.
The Arc was so quiet, our tester would feel comfortable using it in an apartment building with neighbors downstairs, because the seat is stable and it didn't produce any clunky, ambient noise.
The Hydrow has a 24-inch HD touch screen that is sweat- and dust-resistant. During testing, it remained responsive even when our tester navigated it with sweaty hands. She found the user interface was intuitive and easy to follow and was generally beginner-friendly. One minor snag: The on-off and volume buttons are tucked away for a cleaner look and can be difficult to find the first time.
We tried the Hydrow Arc's Bluetooth compatibility with an Apple Watch and other heart rate monitors, syncing BPM and calories burned directly to the on-screen display alongside split time, stroke rate, total distance and watts.
The Hydrow Arc retails for $2,295, or as low as $48 a month via financing. Every Arc comes with a free 30-day home trial and a free one-year warranty. A Hydrow membership, which is required to use the full benefits of the machine, costs $50 per month, which includes a one-year home-use warranty and unlimited profiles.
The Hydrow Arc is sold exclusively through Hydrow's website.
The Hydrow provides a wide variety of workout programs led by world-class instructors. Hydrow’s competitive training programs appeal to experienced rowers and fitness enthusiasts. From the leaderboard to team-based activities, the machine provides a sense of challenge and engagement that many home-based users miss outside of the traditional rowing settings.
The Hydrow is lauded for its fine construction. It provides a quiet user experience and has top-notch durability and stability. The machine holds up well to heavy use, and it has a weight capacity of 375 pounds, which is higher than other premium exercise machines.
Its household membership pricing also makes it a stronger value for multiperson homes compared to a single-user subscription model.
Our tester also pointed out that the instructor-led format feels similar to working one-on-one with a personal trainer, a meaningful value comparison for anyone weighing the cost of the machine and membership versus in-person training.
The Hydrow membership, which costs $50 per month, is required to use the machine. Without the Hydrow subscription, users have limited access in “Just Row” mode.
During testing, we found the on-off and volume controls are hidden out of sight on the machine for a cleaner aesthetic, which made them harder to locate at first without checking the manual.
The Hydrow Arc has a large footprint and doesn't fold easily for storage. While it can be stored vertically, which Hydrow sells an optional Upright Storage Kit for, it won't fit in all settings.
Our tester also noted that, despite the wide variety of available workouts, she didn't feel the Arc delivered a noticeably better workout, or a higher calorie burn, than other equipment already in her home gym — worth keeping in mind if raw workout intensity is your main priority over the immersive class experience.
The Hydrow Arc rowing machine lives up to its promise, delivering an immersive workout experience. Given the variety of live, on-demand and community-based training programs, it’s a dynamic exercise machine that continues to engage and challenge users.
For anyone specifically weighing performance data, the Arc's HydroMetrics tracking is the clearest differentiator versus Hydrow's other models (the Origin and Wave), and worth the price premium if data tracking matters to your training.
Based on our experience testing the Hydrow Arc, we think it’s a suitable investment for individuals looking to upgrade their home-exercise experience with a high-end machine. The Hydrow also has a place in upscale fitness studios, as it offers a high level of engagement.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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