In the smart rowing machine market, the Hydrow stands out for its buttery smooth ride and its immersive outdoor workouts that virtually transport you to picturesque waterways around the world. If the original Hydrow rower is out of your budget, you might be interested in the company's latest model, the Wave ($1,695, plus a $38 monthly class membership). It undercuts the original Hydrow rower by $800 and takes up less space, but gives you access to the same top-notch workout streaming platform. The Wave's hardware is a step down from its sibling, with some bumpiness in testing and a smaller 16-inch display that doesn't rotate. Even so, if you're looking to save money and floor space, the Wave is a solid option that can help you crush your fitness goals and enjoy the process. In this price range, we recommend checking out the NordicTrack RW900, our Editors' Choice, which boasts a 22-inch rotating screen and more class variety for $1,999.
The Hydrow vs. the Hydrow Wave vs. the Competition
Released in 2019, the original Hydrow remains one of the best smart home rowing machines on the market with one big drawback: At $2,495 plus a $38 monthly Hydrow All-Access class membership, it's expensive. It's now been eclipsed in price by the recently released Peloton Row ($3,195, plus a $44 monthly subscription), but let's be real: Both are a luxury that many simply can't afford.
The latest addition to Hydrow's product lineup, the Wave, is a less expensive option. It still requires the same $38 monthly membership, but sports a more palatable base price of $1,695. To make the cost more manageable, you can finance the Wave through Klarna for around $36 a month for 48 months. Hydrow offers a 30-day risk-free home trial, so you can get a full refund if you're not satisfied with the product.
Most of Hydrow's All Access content is filmed outdoors with trainers rowing real boats, versus in a studio like on Peloton. iFit-powered rowers from NordicTrack and ProForm also offer scenic outdoor rowing content, while competitors Cityrow and Echelon mostly film in studios. The Aviron and Ergatta rowers offer more gamified fitness content than classes.
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Hydrow has steadily released new content since launching the original model and now offers 4,000 on-demand workouts across the following categories: rowing, pilates, mobility, strength, and yoga. In addition to its on-demand library, Hydrow live streams two to three workouts each day.
A membership gives you unlimited access to the company's workout content on your rower's built-in display and the Hydrow mobile app (available for Android and iOS). You can set up an unlimited number of user profiles under one membership, so everyone in your household can track their stats separately.
Without a Hydrow All-Access membership, the Wave only works in Just Row mode, which displays your metrics (and nothing else) on screen as you row, which is boring. If you're not interested in trainer-led classes, there's no reason to splurge on a Hydrow rowing machine over a non-connected model.
Hydrow also offers a $20 monthly Digital Basic subscription, which lets you stream its workouts on an iOS or Android device while using a rower of a different brand. This is a nice option if you already have a non-connected rower and you're interested in Hydrow's content. The main drawbacks of the Digital Basic membership are that you can't compete on the Hydrow leaderboard, and the app doesn't track your stats like meters rowed or calories burned. Note that you cannot use the Wave or the original Hydrow with this less expensive Digital Basic subscription; they require the All-Access membership.
Like the original, the Wave is a monorail-style rower as opposed to a dual-rail machine like the WaterRower-based Ergatta. Measuring 80 by 19 by 43 inches (LWH) and weighing 102 pounds, the Wave is smaller and lighter than the original Hydrow. Both models are recommended for riders up to 375 pounds with a maximum 36-inch inseam. With an optional wall mount anchor (sold separately for $190), you can store the Wave in an upright position to save space.
The Wave features a stainless steel track, aluminum feet, and a plastic frame in your choice of five colors: black, blue, green, yellow, or orange. For this review, Hydrow lent me the basic black Wave, which I have been testing in my home for five months at the time of this writing.
For connectivity, the Wave supports Wi-Fi and Ethernet, as well as ANT+ and Bluetooth for heart rate monitors (HRMs) and headphones. I had no trouble connecting dedicated HRMs like the Peloton Heart Rate Band and the Polar OH1, as well as Apple AirPods Pro. Note that to pair an Apple Watch with the Wave for heart rate tracking purposes, you need a third-party hardware device called the Watch Link, sold separately for $89.99.
The Wave requires an internet connection, even in Just Row mode. Hydrow recommends a minimum 10Mbps Wi-Fi connection. On my Wi-Fi, measured at around 235Mbps, I usually experience no buffering during Hydrow's on-demand classes. I have only experienced buffering during a live workout, and it resolved quickly.
Attached to the Wave's frame is a 16-inch full HD capacitive touch screen on which you can browse and stream Hydrow's workout classes. The original Hydrow's 22-inch screen offers a more immersive experience for the company's scenic content, but both consoles feature the same loud-and-clear front-facing speakers.
Unfortunately, the Wave's screen doesn't tilt or rotate. Hydrow offers plenty of mat-based workouts to supplement your rows, so having the ability to rotate the screen would be helpful. I made do by standing beside the Row and craning my neck. The original model's display, in comparison, tilts 15 degrees up and down and pivots 25 degrees left and right.
Like the original, the Wave features an electromagnetic resistance system. You can adjust the drag on both from 50 (which mimics the feel of an eight-person boat) to 300 (which mimics the feel of a single-person boat).
The Wave's flywheel and resistance system are quiet, but the seat makes a bit of noise. In a quiet room, without the audio playing through the Wave's speakers, I measured its operating volume at around 60db using the NIOSH Sound Level Meter app, or about the equivalent volume of a normal conversation or air conditioner.
My main gripe about the Wave is that it can take a bit of time to get "warmed up," for lack of a better term. Every time I start rowing on the Wave, the pull cord (the polyester strap connected to the handle) gently skips. One might also describe it as a slightly bumpy feeling. The problem always resolves itself, usually after just a minute or so, but it's noticeable. I adjusted the drag settings up and down, and it's the same either way. I never experienced this problem on the original Hydrow, which is one of the smoothest rowing machines I've tested.
The Wave's 2-roller and 2-idler seat slide system is a downgrade from the original Hydrow's 10-roller design, but I don't feel a difference. The Wave's seat doesn't skip at all as it slides back and forth on the rail.
Riding the Wave
When I reviewed the original Hydrow in 2020, I noted that most of the workouts were filmed in Boston and Miami. Thanks in part to an infusion of cash from celebrity backers like Lizzo and Justin Timberlake, the company has since expanded to additional locations around the US and Europe, including Alaska, Ireland, Italy, London, Prague, and Switzerland.
Hydrow's well-organized interface and filtering options make it easy to find suitable classes. There's plenty of content for all levels, including lots of beginner-friendly options. Classes range from 5 to 45 minutes.
I really like Hydrow's content, and I appreciate what an undertaking it is to film—it's a lot harder to live stream on the water than in a studio. On rainy days, the camera will sometimes get clouded, but that's part of the experience. Trainers sometimes see friends they know, or say hi to strangers. You'll occasionally see someone paddleboarding in the background, or a boat will pass by and the trainer will have to contend with a large wake. The unpredictability of its workouts is a big part of Hydrow's appeal. One time, during a row filmed in Alaska, a bob of seals made an appearance.
I caught one live row with instructor Dani Hani filmed in Tampa, right down the road from where I live. It was a busy Saturday on the water, and boat traffic made the situation dicey. I was worried for her, but she's a literal champion, so she made it out of the traffic jam unscathed, and it was fun to watch during the workout.
My journey on the Wave started with the 9-workout intro series. Each session is led by a different trainer so you can get to know the team and find your favorites. These intro sessions are also a great starting point for rowing newbies.
During one intro session, I was moved to tears when trainer Sera Moon Busse told an inspirational story about how she overcame a hardship in her life. After breaking several bones in a car accident, the trainer had to take a long break from rowing and worried she would never be able to regain her previous fitness level. After giving herself the necessary time to heal, she got back on the water, and with determination made a full recovery.
Other times, the trainers tell jokes to pass the time. I laughed my way through one Pyramid Quiz row with trainer Mike Dostal, who told a series of outlandish stories and had us guess whether they were true or false, while also leading a challenging workout.
As mentioned, Hydrow has been sending its trainers near and far to film content. In the process, two Hydrow trainers, Laine Maher and Nick Karwoski, fell in love and are now engaged. When I saw Engagement Story in a class title, and the two of them sitting together in the preview photo, I never clicked on a workout faster. There were two parts to the Engagement Story series, and you bet I caught both. During these workouts, they tell the story of how they met and traveled together while working for Hydrow, became best friends, and got engaged.
I'm happy to report that Hydrow has added a lot of great off-rower content as well. I really enjoy the strength classes with trainer Peter Donohoe, which are filmed in beautiful settings in Dublin, Florence, Siena, and other locations. The classes deliver a real burn, usually with just bodyweight moves, but also sometimes resistance bands. I like to tack his 10-minute strength classes onto the end of my workouts after rowing.
In my 2020 review, I described Hydrow's class interface and the metrics you see on the screen while rowing. That has remained largely unchanged, so check out my previous Hydrow review for those details.
With around 200,000 users, Hydrow's in-class leaderboards are highly competitive. During on-demand classes, there are often hundreds of rowers on the leaderboard, and I'm usually in the bottom half, so I don't really pay close attention to my rank. I find the leaderboard a lot more compelling during live workouts, which are typically much smaller in terms of attendance. During one live workout, the leaderboard really motivated me as I fought for 17th place (out of 37) with another user and won.
After each workout, Hydrow automatically suggests a 5-minute cooldown. The trainers always encourage you to do these cooldowns, and I found them helpful. They sneakily turn a 30-minute workout into a 35-minute one. During the 5-minute cooldowns, the trainers often break down certain aspects of the stroke and stress proper form to help you practice your technique.
Since I last reviewed Hydrow, the company has eliminated certain features of its platform, including the social feed and partner racing. I spent very little time with these features before, so I don't miss them. If you want to connect with other members, I suggest checking out the active Hydrow Training Camp Facebook group. And if you're competitive, you can still row for maximum meters in weekly race-style workouts (to find them, navigate to Workout Style > Weekly Races).
Happily, Hydrow has maintained its philanthropic program. For every 25 days you're active on the platform, Hydrow makes a donation to Water.org, a nonprofit working to provide safe water and sanitation throughout the world.
A Similar Rowing Experience for Less Money
The $1,695 Wave offers a similar experience to the original Hydrow for $800 less. With a $38 monthly membership, both give you access to about 4,000 on-demand workouts including daily live streamed rows and mat-based classes. Hydrow continues to wow us with its top-tier content, which banishes boredom and keeps you motivated to work out day after day. Of course, the Wave comes with some trade-offs, like a smaller screen and a less premium feel. The original Hydrow is smoother, more immersive, and more durable, but the Wave is a welcome alternative if you're looking to save money and/or space. If you're not married to the Hydrow platform, the NordicTrack RW900 ($1,999, plus $39 a month for an iFit membership) offers more bang for your buck with a 22-inch rotating touch screen and a larger iFit workout library, earning it our Editors' Choice award.
Though less luxurious than its premium sibling, the Hydrow Wave smart rowing machine offers access to the same fantastic workout streaming platform at a more reasonable price.
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