Aviron vs. Ergatta Rowing Machine | Let the Games Begin

Dimensions/Storability

Aviron

• Footprint: 84” L x 27” W x 48” H
• Pedals: 11″ L
• Monorail: 47″ L x 10″ H
• Seat: 15″ W x 10″ D x 20″ H
• Belt Drive: 30″ from where the belt appears from the flywheel

Ergatta

• Footprint: 86″ L x 23 W x 40″ H
• Stored Upright: 23″ W x 2.5″ D x 86″ H
• Pedals: 12″ L
• Dual Rail: 40″ L x 6″ H
• Seat: 12″ W x 8″ D x 12″ H
• Belt Drive: 20″ from where the belt appears from the flywheel

Onboard Workouts & Apps

The Aviron and Ergatta have comparable gamified content. They both make for really fun experiences when using these rowers. To access the gaming content on each rower, you need to subscribe to their memberships. We suggest doing this for either rower. That way, you’ll have access to all of the content.

Aviron Content

In addition to video games, Aviron’s membership offers guided workouts with and without an instructor, virtual rowing in outdoor locations, competitions, and streaming from apps like Hulu and Netflix. This is the widest variety of content on a rower that we’ve seen.

There are 2D and 3D games.

The PowerPlay section of the gaming content is structured more like workouts. These feature multiple lanes and your avatar is a car that drives down them, collecting points.

Some involve shooting targets and running away from scary things like sharks and zombies, and there’s even a game that lets you fly around on a rower. Other games let you race against other members. These allow you to host a private or public race to compete.

The graphics on the games are clear, and the variety of options is really fun. Something to be aware of is that there isn’t any form correction or rowing guidance in any of the games, so if you’re new to rowing, you might want to check out Aviron’s coached and guided programs before diving into the games.

Rowing is a technical exercise that requires proper form to help prevent injuries. The coached programs feature an instructor who leads you through various workouts on and off the rower. These feature Youtuber Training Tall, and he has several classes that are split into different programs meant to be taken over a few weeks or months.

The guided workouts offer guidance throughout the workout through a rating and text feedback. There is also a graphic on the screen to demonstrate each move.

The Pros vs. Joes category shows how your rowing stacks up to professional athletes. It’s motivating and intimidating. There is also virtual rowing, where you virtually row in various outdoor water locations. The video quality isn’t quite as clear in these videos as in other programs we’ve used, but it lets you do some free rowing and gives you another option.

You can also stream from third-party apps on the touch screen. The apps include Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, YouTube, and Amazon Prime. We’re excited to have these options on the Aviron and all of this content to choose from while rowing.

Ergatta Content

The Ergatta has gaming content and free rowing. Overall, the gaming content is simple yet motivating. Every game has an objective and often pushes you to focus on a specific pace and intensity level. Every game is also structured as a workout, too.

The Push Programs are neat because they use progressive overloading, which is a proven training method that improves performance.

Several of these programs, as well as interval training workouts, are available. These have preprogrammed targets and paces, so your focus is on hitting your goal and staying within the target areas.

There are also races that let you compete privately and publicly against other members. These feature a lane for each competitor, allowing your competitive side to shine. The Ergatta has a lot of challenges that you can participate in as well. Plus, leaderboards show how you rank compared to other members.

The Ergatta also offers free rowing, where you can choose from several prerecorded videos filmed on water. These are very similar to Aviron’s virtual rowing content. However, on the Ergatta, you can do free rowing or customize them ahead of time to be a more structured workout with specific duration and goals.

The Ergatta also has a Feed.fm music feature, so you can choose from multiple preselected playlists depending on the genre of music to listen to while you row. This feature is available during free rowing as well as during the gaming content.

We are in love with the two newest additions to Ergatta’s content library. They added trainer-led content from CityRow. Now, there is also an AI coach! This futuristic feature assesses your form through the Ergatta app on your phone. Set up your camera according to Ergatta’s instructions and receive feedback on what’s going wrong and how you can improve.

Aviron vs. Ergatta Console

The console on both of these rowers primarily consists of the touch screen. This is where you access and view the content on each. The Aviron has a slightly larger 22″ screen than the Ergatta’s 17.3″ touch screen. The difference in screen sizes isn’t very noticeable when using either rower, though.

The 22″ touch screen can be tilted up and down but doesn’t adjust from side to side.

The screen is a little difficult for me to reach when both of my feet are strapped into the pedals. This is probably due to my petite 5’1″ frame and the fact that my hips are usually tight. There are a few functional buttons externally from the touch screen on the front, side, and top to do things like turn the screen on/off and adjust the volume and resistance.

Since the Aviron uses magnetic resistance, it can be adjusted on the screen, which is easy to do with the arrows at the bottom.

Unfortunately, the speakers are mounted on the back of the screen, so the sound projects away from you. We wish they were front-mounted. That way, they might be easier to hear over the sound of the fan when rowing. I notice that when watching videos, I have to keep the volume up pretty loud to hear them more clearly.

Ergatta Console

It is also a little difficult for me to reach the screen while I’m strapped in, most likely because of those tight hips. All of the functionality is within the screen.

The 17.3″ touch screen tilts up and down as well as side to side slightly.

The speakers are on the rear of the screen like the Aviron, but these are weaker. To listen to the music available on the Ergatta, I have to have the volume pretty much all the way up. The resistance isn’t adjustable, so that isn’t an option on the screen.

Build Quality

Both rowers really differ in construction. They’re made of different materials, offer different weight capacities, and have very different rail heights. Both rowers have large weight capacities, with the Aviron handling up to 507 lbs and the Ergatta handling 500 lbs.

Aviron Vs Ergatta Frame

The Ergatta uses a dual-rail that sits just 6″ above the ground.

As you can probably tell by looking at it, the Ergatta Rower is made of cherry wood and has a traditional water-rower design.

The Aviron Strong’s seat sits 20″ off the ground, making it easier to get on and off.

The Aviron Rower, on the other hand, is made up of aluminum and steel.

Aviron vs. Ergatta Footboard & Pedals

When comparing the footboards and pedals, we prefer the Aviron’s overall. First, the footboard is slightly longer, and the pedals are more spaced out than the Ergatta.

On the Ergatta, our larger reviewers tend to feel scrunched because the pedals are very close together. The nylon strap is also just one piece, which sometimes makes it shift from side to side. The Aviron also uses nylon straps, but they’re a bit easier to adjust and stay in place.

Along with being wider apart, the footboards on the Aviron are slightly longer than the Ergatta.

Users can use any type of athletic shoe with the Ergatta’s pedals, as shown here, as well as the Aviron’s.

Aviron vs. Ergatta Handle

The Ergatta’s is molded to support a specific hand position, so it isn’t round but oval. It doesn’t rotate to allow you to switch hand positions like the Aviron. The Ergatta handle has a nice texture to prevent your hands from slipping when sweaty. Something to note is that this is based on our preference for handles.

We also prefer the Aviron’s handle to the Ergatta’s because it is rounded and has soft padding.

We prefer round, but the molded handle on the Ergatta is just as sufficient.

Aviron vs. Ergatta Seat

To be clear, seats on rowers usually aren’t the most comfortable. Meaning that you won’t want to spend a long period of time sitting on them. The Aviron’s seat is larger and wider, in fact, one of the widest we’ve seen on rowers, but the padding is firm and uncomfortable. The Ergatta’s seat is smaller but more cushioned.

Aviron vs. Ergatta Flywheel

The flywheels have very different looks and functions on these rowers. The flywheel on the Aviron rower is a fan with blades that move when you row and vents that suck air in for the blades to move against. It is positioned up high behind the screen. The Ergatta’s is a water tank with paddles that sit low to the ground, much like the frame.

The clear tank on the Ergatta Rower is filled with water, and the paddles move through the water as you row.

Both of these rowers use belts that connect the flywheel to the handle. Belt drive systems help cut down on noise and help create a smooth rowing experience. The belt on the Ergatta doesn’t always stay on its track, and we’ve noticed that ours has some fraying on the edges from use.

Because of the build of these rowers, the Aviron’s belt emerges about 10″ higher from the flywheel than the Ergatta. Both allow you to be in the correct position throughout the stroke, and both keep their tension in the finish.

Aviron vs. Ergatta Resistance

The Ergatta is a water rower that uses water resistance. Traditional rowing enthusiasts tend to prefer water rowers because it feels realistic to rowing outdoors, but it isn’t quantifiable. This means that you can’t see what level of resistance you’re at on the screen. It isn’t adjustable on the screen either, but if you want more tension, you can add more water to the tank.

The harder and faster you row, the more resistance from the water you get. This is also how air resistance works on the Aviron. It can’t be out-rowed because the tension increases with your intensity.

The Aviron rower isn’t a true air rower though, it’s a hybrid rower because it uses both air and magnetic resistance.

The magnetic resistance is adjustable and has specific levels from 1 to 16 that are displayed and changed on the screen. Neither type of resistance is better than the other; it is more up to what you like. It’s also important to consider the type if you want or don’t want to adjust or see your resistance displayed.

Should You Buy The Aviron or Hydrow Rowing Machine?

The Aviron Rower and Ergatta Rower help to make rowing fun with their gamified content. They require memberships to access all the content on the screen, and we highly recommend subscribing.

The Aviron offers a wide range of content, such as games, competitions, virtual rowing, and streaming from Netflix. The Ergatta has trainer-led workouts, an AI coach, gaming programs, and free rowing virtually outdoors.

Aviron and Ergatta use different types of resistance and have completely different builds. The Aviron is made of steel and aluminum, folds in half, and is a hybrid rower with air and adjustable magnetic resistance. It is noisier than the Ergatta, a wooden water rower. The Ergatta can be stored upright but sits closer to the ground when you’re rowing than the Aviron, making it harder to get on and off.

We like the build of both rowers, but they provide different experiences. We hope this comparison review helps you determine which is right for you.

Aviron vs. Ergatta Q&A / FAQ

Who are the competitors of Aviron?

Aviron’s top competitors are Ergatta, Hydrow, NordicTrack, Peloton, and ProForm. All these rowing machines have subscription platforms with classes, games, or entertainment.

Does Aviron work without a membership?

The Aviron works without a membership, but you will lose access to games, training classes, and entertainment.

Can I watch Netflix on an Aviron rower?

Yes, you can watch Netflix on the Aviron rower with an active membership.

Can you use the Ergatta without a membership?

Yes, you can use the Ergatta without a membership, but you cannot take any of the classes, play the games, or compete in races.