TLDR: After lots of research I ended up buying the AVIRON... I got it financed ($0 down and 0% APR ) so my monthly payments are just $45
When my daughter was born, my life changed in the blink of an eye, and suddenly every minute was precious.
Five years later, little has changed. I’ve got lots to do, but I’m strapped for time. Since life and workouts don’t just cease when you have kids, I was still hitting the gym, but I knew I had to find a time hack for my fitness routine.
Since I’ve been hooked on rowing, I got to thinking about bringing the gym home to me, so I could benefit from the workout without all the waste of a back-and-forth commute. I decided to look at the two biggest names in rowers that I know of - Hydrow and AVIRON - to see which one was best for me.
After a thorough exploration of each, I had unlocked my favorite workout - here’s what I found and which one I ultimately landed on:
The workout that is actually fun… AVIRON
AVIRON makes my workouts fun with options like games, live classes and a healthy dose of competition. I can compete against my friends or do a “Pros vs. Joes” challenge, where I put my skills to the test against professional athletes.
On top of all that, I can stream my favorite shows on Netflix and Hulu on days that I want to take things a little easier. There’s really an endless supply of entertainment with this machine and I am here for it!
With Hydrow, there’s a variety of live and on-demand classes ranging from beginner to advanced, and there are milestones to celebrate your progress, but I found it was a little underwhelming when it came to sustaining my interest.
The rower with the best pricing… AVIRON
Since a rower is a considerable investment, pricing was a big factor for me. AVIRON’s Impact Series Rower comes in at $1,899 (or as little as $65.83/month with financing), and its Strong Series Rower model at $2,199. Hydrow starts at $2,495. They also offer financing, but it still comes out costlier any way you slice it.
Both AVIRON and Hydrow require a membership to access certain content, but AVIRON’s is only $29/month (or $24/month with an annual subscription). Hydrow's All-Access Membership fee comes out to a whopping $44/month.
When it comes to protecting my purchase, AVIRON offers a Lifetime Warranty at an affordable $9/month, whereas you have to buy a protection plan for your Hydrow and only covers the rower for 2 additional years. All things considered, I feel like I get much more value for the money with AVIRON.
The machine that’s easy to use… Tie
I was looking for something super user-friendly that required little-to-no assembly time, and thankfully, both of these rowers checked those boxes. Both rowers can be stowed away when not in use, but I like that the AVIRON rower can be safely stored upright - no wall mount required.
For the Hydrow you have to spend an extra $80 on an Upright Wall Storage kit for safe keeping, which you have to drill into the wall yourself. While they essentially achieve the same outcome, I’d personally love to skip that extra hassle and not start with drilling into my walls.
The rower that is most comfortable… AVIRON
If I'm going to be working out for hours, the seat I'm on better be comfy. AVIRON certainly understands this, offering a cushy elevated seat, adjustable foot width, and a remote resistance handlebar. It's all about making your workout as enjoyable as it can be.
The Hydrow looks modern—akin to a show-piece chair in a hotel lobby—and that's also how it feels; no one really likes sitting on those, they're more for looking at. When it comes to comfort during long workouts, Aviron seems to have the upper hand.
The rower that ultimately won me over… AVIRON
Having thoroughly weighed my options, it was clear that AVIRON’s Strong Series Rower was the one for me. It’s the perfect combination of fun and challenging, and its affordable pricing was really attractive to me.
AVIRON is designed by experts in the rowing industry, and the performance speaks for itself - I definitely made the right choice.
