Rowing machines provide the most efficient and economical way to get a full body workout, including a vigorous cardiovascular workout.  There are many different types of rowers available at sporting goods and specialty shops, but one of the most popular is the air rowing machine. In this article we will take a look at the pros and cons of using an air rowing machine, as opposed to the hydraulic piston, or water pressure rowers.



Air rowing machines offer the closest thing to the experience of being out on a lake rowing a kayak or "skull."  The amount of benefit you receive from using an air rower is in direct proportion to the resistance the machine is set at, and the amount of effort you put into each stroke.

The big problem with some rowing machines, hydraulic machines in particular, is that they lack a smooth range of motion.  While hydraulic machines have their advantages, they are often extremely heavy, and do not provide the smooth stroke motion that air machines are famous for.

Because of the smooth stroke action, air rowers are superior when it comes to the consistency of resistance from one stroke the next.  For example, think about rowing a boat out on the lake.  Every single stroke will have the same amount of resistance because the water itself will always provide the same amount of resistance.  There is certainly no such thing as water that is less resistant or more resistant -- it is what it is, and it maintains a constant pressure to push against.

Air rowing machines benefit from the exact same physical principle.  By forcing air through an oblong chamber, the force of the resistance for each stroke remains consistent.  Just like water, air never changes -- the air in one room will have exactly the same resistance as the air in another room, or the air on the other side of the world for that matter!

And this is the most profound benefit of using an air rowing machine over the hydraulic or water-based models.  Every single stroke will be smooth throughout the entire range of motion, and there is never a chance that some strokes will have more or less resistance than others.

This results in the user getting a consistent work out every time the machine is used.  The elegantly engineered design of the machines also insure that they take up very little space, and can be stored easily in most closets or even under many beds.

On the downside, air rowing machines are considerably noisier than either the hydraulic type or the water pressure type.  The pressure created by forcing air through the chamber creates a noticeable "whooshing" sound that increases as you pick up the pace.  The reason for this is because when you row faster, you are forcing a greater volume of oxygen into the resistance chamber, resulting in a louder "whooshing" sound.

Another potential downside of using an air machine is that they create a breeze in the area around the air piston or chamber.  For most users, this is actually a plus, as people tend to get hot and sweaty while rowing and the air helps to cool them off.  But if you're working out at home during the cold winter months, the extra breeze created by these machines could be unwanted.  Whether this is a downside for you personally largely comes down to personal taste.

Other than these few potential drawbacks, air rowers are vastly superior to either the hydraulic or water-based types.  Overall, air rowing machines are extremely cost effective, and provide a smoother, more consistent work out than other types of rowers.