working up a sweat
Before running out and buying a home rowing machine there are a few things that you need to figure out first; such as, where am I going to use it - what are the measurements of the space available compared to the models?

Home Rowing Machine: What They Won't Ask You

Maybe you used one in your gym. It felt good. Maybe you saw one on TV. It looked cool. However you came to this place in your head, you’ve got the fever now and you are thinking about having one at home.

There is plenty of information to help you decide which home rowing machine to buy. Having your own rowing machine at home has one major consideration that salespeople will never ask you about. Where are you going to put it?

Before you go shopping take stock of things. Decide honestly how serious you are about it. Well-built rowing machines are not cheap. Even the shoddiest machine will have you forking over a couple of hundred dollars. If you get something sturdy and durable be prepared to pay a good bit more.

The Space Factor

Once you have resolved yourself to making this investment in your health and fitness ask the big question. Where are you going to put it? Start with your home itself. None of these machines are very wide or very tall. They do primarily consume floor space in their length. Before you hit the fitness equipment store or start looking online, designate the place you will be using your home rowing machine.

In all cases the machine’s actual dimensions will be available. Use a measuring tape to confirm the size of your designated space. Be sure and account for some room around your machine. You will literally need elbowroom to work the machine. Also in most cases you will be mounting the machine from the side and not likely the front or rear. You need room to walk around it. About 2 feet on the sides is comfortable enough, any less is a squeeze. Often the legs of the machines are easy to trip over too, so have a spacious area.

If your home is limited on wide-open spaces you have options. Many of the rowing machines, even some of the very nice ones, do setup and break down to fold away for storage. The designs are often so easy that they are intended to be stored daily. This is a small chore that needs to be done after your workout when you might not feel like it. Be honest, will you leave it in place and sidle around it day after day? Will setting it up be such a pain that you don’t use it?

Other Considerations

Do realize, in limited space, with the intent to store it after use is a tiny commitment. Other options might be possible. Is there a spot in your garage for your home rowing machine? Is there a place in your yard where all you would have to do is throw a small tarp over it? Could the sofa in the guest room be disposed of for your rowing machine spot? Whatever you do decide where your machine will go before you buy one and not afterwards.

Most rowing machines, even home varieties, have some sort of monitoring displays that require electricity. Those that use electro-magnetic resistance don’t work at all without it. It’s fine to find your space for your machine but make sure you have access to an electrical outlet too. Outdoors some machines can run on battery power, some of these are even rechargeable. You’ll want to know these things before you buy.

If you do decide to commit to daily break down of your machine you must also designate a place to store it. Clean some things out of your closet. Find another place for those sweater boxes under the bed.

The salespeople don’t want to discuss these things with you; they just want to sell the machine. Good intentions to have your own rowing machine at home are great, but packed away in the closet is a waste of good money.