Echelon Row
What’s the story?
Echelon makes smart indoor bikes, treadmills and even workout mirrors… and also offers one of the more affordable routes to get that connected rowing feeling. But its smart rower does require you to provide the screen and pay for a subscription (from £20/m) to access its extensive library of on-demand and live classes.
The machine is simple to put together, but it’s not a light thing to assemble so may require an extra pair of hands. It can fold up, but still remains a sizeable rower even in that slightly more compact state.
Is it any good?
If you’ve used a Peloton or stepped into a gym class, the experience of using the Echelon Row will feel familiar. There are more on-demand workouts than live ones but the instructors will work you hard, keep you motivated without overdoing it and always remind you of the correct technique. Some classes require a mix of rowing and weight-based movements, so it’s handy to have some free space around you.
It uses magnetic-based resistance that, along with a 3.5kg flywheel, creates a smooth and not too noisy sound; more seasoned rowers will want to up that resistance level close to max to get the toughest workout. Opting for a tablet over a phone as a display makes
