Nordictrack RW900 vs Echelon Row-S Review | Main Differences

When it comes to fitness, rowing machines have gained immense popularity in no time. The reason being – how well your body gets toned. Nowadays, with no time to hit the gym because of our fast paced lives has taken a toll on our fitness. How about being trained without a physical trainer? Having said that, in this article we’ll talk about two rowing machines, Nordictrack RW 900 and Echelon smart rower that you can not only get access to in the comfort of your home but also get trained virtually by some world-class trainers. Keep reading to know what makes them stand out from the rest.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

PARAMETER	NORDICTRACK RW 900	ECHELON SMART ROWER
Dimensions (H x W x L)	86.5” x 22”x 50.4”	41.7” x 20.5” x 83.5”
Weight	130.6 pounds	123 pounds
Colour	Black	Black / red
Flywheel weight	6.5 kgs	3.5 kgs
Resistance type	Magnetic and Air	Magnetic
Number of magnetic resistance levels	26	32
Number of air resistance levels	10	–
Tablet provided	No	No
Tablet holder	Yes	Yes
Screen	22 inches	21.5” HD
Rotatable	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes
Display type	LCD	LCD
Bluetooth	Yes	Yes
Foldable	Yes	Yes
Transport wheels	Yes	Yes
Cord length	3.2 metre	3 metre
Maximum user weight capacity	250 pounds	300 pounds
Membership program	iFit	Echelon Fit
Subscription	1 year free	Optional and is paid
Speakers	Yes	Yes
Labour warranty	1 year	1 year
Parts warranty	3 years	1 year

FEATURES

• DISPLAY:  Both Nordictrack RW 900 rower and the Echelon smart rower have an exceptional screen quality. Both are almost the same size, are LCD, support touchscreen and can also be tilted to obtain the best viewing angle. Nordictrack RW 900 rower’s 22″ HD rotating touchscreen enables you to choose from a variety of workouts that are led by world-class iFit trainers. The readings displayed include calories burned, elapsed time, distance, etc. In the case of Echelon smart rower, it has a 21.5” HD touchscreen that you can use to take advantage of a number of workouts and live classes from top instructors across the world. You get information about Calories burned, Distance, Heart rate, RPM, Resistance, Time, etc. displayed. The large screen, in both these cases, ensures a better visual experience, undoubtedly. 

• RESISTANCE: The NordicTrack RW 900 rower uses a combination of air and magnetic resistance which enables the user to experience both – high end as well as low end resistance. It has 26 magnetic resistance levels and 10 air resistance levels. The combination of two resistance mechanisms calls for an enhanced user experience. With this rowing machine, you are bound to experience a smooth and quiet workout (thanks to the silent magnetic resistance (SMR)). On the other hand, Echelon smart rower has only magnetic resistance mechanism and has 32 resistance levels to choose from.

• SPEAKERS: Both these rowing machines possess this feature of built-in speakers.

• MEMBERSHIP: NordicTrack RW 900 rower has an edge over Echelon smart rower as the former comes with 1 year free iFit membership. With this membership, you are entitled to get trained from world-class personal trainers and also get to choose from over 12,000 workouts. Though most of them are rowing specific, but you also get access to yoga, kick-boxing, weight lifting and a lot more. After one year of free subscription, you’ll have to pay a certain amount to avail the same services. On the other hand, the Echelon smart rower has a membership plan as well but unlike the former, this is a paid membership. 

• USER COMFORT: The NordicTrack RW 900 rower takes the user comfort to another level as it has oversized, pivoting pedals with a quick release adjustable foot straps that provide confidence and comfort throughout your fast-paced, trainer-led rowing workouts. On the same lines, Echelon smart rower too assures the user of utmost comfort as it boasts of being equipped with a comfortable seat with 6” lever-style adjustment that ensures a comfortable rowing posture, foot platform to adjust the foot size (adjustable foot straps), non-slip surfaces and a lot more.

• STORAGE: Both these rowing machines can be folded easily when not in use thus making sure that you do not have to compromise on the space these would have taken had they been not capable of getting folded.

• USER CAPACITY: NordicTrack RW 900 rower supports a maximum user capacity of 250 pounds whereas Echelon smart rower supports a maximum of 300 pounds of user weight.

NORDICTRACK RW 900 PROS & CONS

ECHELON SMART ROWER PROS & CONS

CONCLUSION

Both these rowing machines, NordicTrack RW 900 and Echelon smart rower exhibit more or less the same features be it in terms of compact storage, display, user comfort, compatibility to smartphone, etc. They vary slightly in terms of resistance levels, warranty period, membership details, total number of workouts available, and so on. Hence, these are the parameters that can help you decide as to which one to go ahead with.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Why does the seat wobble?
  After prolonged use, the fit or position of the seat on the monorail may become loose due to wear and tear on the rollers. 

• Can rowing tone my legs?
  Well, a rower does more than just toning your legs. Rowing is a full body workout targeting your arms, shoulders, back, core as well as your lower body. 

• Do these rowing machines require assembly?
  Yes, both NordicTrack RW 900 rower and Echelon smart rower require a little assembly. 

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