One of the biggest drawbacks to many rowers is their noise, long dimensions, and their lack of entertainment or rowing guidance. But wait, the Echelon Row has entered the chat.

This rower was designed for most homes. It folds in half and even has a handy (pun intended) handle, so you can effortlessly roll the rower where you plan to use it and out of the way again.

As far as noise, the belt drive and magnetic resistance already make this rower quieter than pretty much all air rowers on the market. As for rowing guidance and entertainment, the Row has that handled, too.

You can stream the Echelon app to access live and on-demand trainer-led rowing workouts with your device.

Oh, and it is less than $1000. For a home rower that checks a lot of boxes, it isn’t for everyone. Let me explain why.

Echelon Row Review: Bottom Line

Star Rating
PriceMSRP: $999
ManufacturerEchelon
TypeMagnetic

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This quiet rower allows you to stream Echelon’s app on your tablet.

Rating MetricOur Rating

Workout Experience
7
Specs / Features
7
Dimensions / Storability
8
On-Board Workouts & Apps
6
Build Quality
6

The Echelon Row is a budget rower with nice features. The folding frame and adjustable magnetic resistance make sense, and the adjustment buttons on the handle make sense, too.

Echelon wanted convenience and a smooth rowing experience, and they’ve achieved both. With its 300-lb weight limit, belt drive system, and device rack, the Row appeals to many people.

My big complaint narrows down who the Echelon Row is for, though. Keep scrolling to learn about all of the Row’s features and if what’s missing is a deal breaker for you or if it’s just what you need to get into a good rowing routine.

What We Like

Quiet and affordable
Your device syncs instantly for access to all FitPass classes and content with a subscription
Folds up to save floor space
Adjustment buttons on the handle
It only weighs 106.5 lbs
Supports up to 300 lbs
Silent magnetic resistance does not create noise or require maintenance
Lots of training options in FitPass, including live classes and outdoor rowing routes
Good for beginners

Areas for Improvement

No display to show your metrics on the rower without using the app on your device
You must use your device to track metrics
Limited 1-year warranty

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We Enjoy Guided Rowing On Quiet Rowers

For over a decade, we’ve been testing fitness equipment, including rowing machines. I’m a group fitness instructor who loves taking studio classes on equipment. Even when a machine doesn’t have a touchscreen, I’m looking into the apps it’s compatible with.

I’ve taken plenty of Echelon’s classes and have used the app, so I know what this training platform entails. Even though we don’t have the Echelon Row in for testing yet, I have a great idea of how it works to give you insight into what to expect. I’ve tested several magnetic rowers from other brands, as well.

Editor’s Note, 10/29/2024: We’ve updated this review with current information and included our exercise bike comparison chart.

Echelon Row vs. Similar Rowing Machines

Check out this comparison chart to see how the Echelon Row compares to similar treadmills.

	Echelon Row	NordicTrack RW600	ProForm 750R	Concept2 RowErg	Hydrow Wave
Price (MSRP)
Star Rating
Bottom Line	This is a quiet folding magnetic rower that you can use in most homes with your tablet to stream Echelon’s membership.	The NordicTrack RW600 uses quiet and powerful magnetic resistance for training with iFIT coaches on the 7” touchscreen display.	The ProForm 750R folds up and out of the way when you are done with your trainer-led iFIT classes—a great feature for such an affordable price.	The Concept2 is regarded as the best rower with the most accurate monitor and competition-level performance.	The Hydrow Wave’s magnetic resistance and training content create the most realistic on-the-water feel with a lighter frame and lower price than other machines in Hydrow’s lineup.
Awards Earned
Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price
Product	Echelon Row	NordicTrack RW600	ProForm 750R	Concept2 RowErg	Hydrow Wave
Workout Experience	7	7	6	8	8
Specs / Features	7	7	6	8	8
Dimensions / Storability	8	6	8	8	7
On-Board Workouts & Apps	6	8	6	6	9
Build Quality	6	7	6	10	9
Overall Score	73	80	74	92	90
# of Onboard Workouts	1	2	21	12	1
Paid Programming - Cost	FitPass - $11.99/month	$39/month	$39/month	N/A	$44/month
Netflix / 3rd Party Apps	N/A	Netflix and Prime (beta testing)	N/A	N/A	N/A
Display	N/A - Device rack	7” HD touchscreen	High-contrast digital screen	PM5 Console	16” HD touchscreen
Dimensions (In Use)	84” L x 21” W x 45” H	82.5” x 25.5” x 44”	86.5” x 22” x 45.5”	96” L x 24” W x 14” H	80" L x 19" W 43" H
Storage	Folding	Horizontal and vertical	folding	Vertical, horizontal, in two pieces	Horizontal, vertical
Rower Weight	106.5 lbs	129 lbs (in-box)	116 lbs	57 lbs	102 lbs
Weight Capacity	300 lbs	250 lbs	250 lbs	500 lbs	375 lbs
Resistance Type	magnetic	magnetic	magnetic	Air	magnetic
Max Resistance	32 levels	26 resistance levels	24 resistance levels	Unlimited	300 (drag factor)
Height Limit	N/A	6’5”+	6’5”	38” (inseam)	36” (inseam)
Warranty	1-year	10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor	5-year frame, 1-year parts and labor	5 years on frame; 2 years on moving parts and console	5-year frame; 12-month parts, screen, and labor
Additional Features	Handlebar controls, quiet belt drive, standard monorail	AutoAdjust, quiet resistance, Bluetooth	Automatic resistance adjustments, Bluetooth, tablet rack	10-level damper, chain drive, device holder	Belt drive, Bluetooth, frame color options

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Dimensions/Storability

Most rowers take up a lot of floor space. The Echelon Row is a little shorter in length than some and folds up. Unfolded, its dimensions are 84” L x 21” W x 45” H. Folded, it shortens to 40” L and is 60” H.

You can lift the back of the rail and fold it vertically. When folded, it locks into place for security. This reduces the amount of dedicated floor space you need since you can fold it up and down.

When folded, you can tip it to engage the two transportation wheels under the floor frame beneath the flywheel. A handle positioned under the rail allows you to wheel it around.

The Echelon Row weighs only 106.5 lbs, so wheeling around should be easy and convenient. It is handy that it folds up. This way, you don’t have to worry about having a ceiling that is tall enough to store it vertically.

Onboard Workouts & Apps

There are no onboard workouts on the Row. If you don’t use the Echelon app, the rower will still work, and the resistance levels can be adjusted on the handles, but you won’t get a readout of your metrics or what level of resistance you are on.

There isn’t a console, but you don’t need to use the app to use the rower. However, we highly encourage you to consider the FitPass subscription. If you don’t want subscription training content, there are plenty of simple rowers to check out.

FitPass Subscription

The FitPass subscription includes live and on-demand classes led by a rowing instructor. It also includes a leaderboard feature that provides a competition factor for users. One FitApp subscription will work for all your Echelon devices.

Other classes, besides rowing, are available with FitPass. You can cross-train with HIIT, yoga, strength training, meditation, and more. There are also outdoor-filmed water routes to take.

The workouts feature playlists of music for each. This is a great format for indoor fitness classes. When the instructor cues to increase the intensity, the music matches to add to the overall energy.

Echelon features different challenges and programs of classes if you have specific goals you want to focus on. The format is similar to Peloton, especially with the leaderboard.

The Echelon app connects to other fitness platforms like Apple Health, Strava, and Fitbit to sync your workout data. It’s a nice option for the Echelon Row because it is less expensive than the standard membership for equipment with touchscreens. It is also cheaper than many training apps at $11.99 per month.

Console

On the Echelon Row, there isn’t a console or display to track your metrics. Instead, the console consists of an adjustable device rack for your phone or tablet.

This design encourages you to use the FitPass membership. You can track your workout metrics and see your resistance level by using the Echelon app on your phone or tablet.

The device rack should securely hold most sized devices and be within reach while rowing. It also swivels from side to side for off-the-rower training with Echelon.

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Build Quality

The Echelon Row has many convenient features for home use. It isn’t the most heavy-duty rower out there, but for its price, it’s a good option for beginners.

It handles up to 300 lbs of user weight.

Frame

Like other rowers, the frame consists of steel stabilizers that hold the flywheel and suspend the rail. There is also a center stabilizer to support the front end of the rail and enable the rower to fold up. The rail sits at a 1.7-degree angle, so there is a gentle decline as you move in the recovery to the catch. This design helps encourage more natural movement from the finish. Echelon states that the steel monorail is a standard length. It should accommodate most heights.

There appear to be leveling feet that could be adjustable to help plant the rower on the floor.

Footboards & Foot Stretchers

The footboards are wide, and the foot stretchers accommodate most athletic shoes. The foot stretchers have a gentle texture so the sole of your shoe doesn’t shift around, and they have wide straps to hold your feet securely.

The foot stretchers adjust for different-sized users. The sturdy footboards underneath support your feet, so you get a bit of ankle flex while rowing (which keeps the hips, knees, and ankles in alignment) but still provides a solid surface to push off from in the drive.

Handle

The handle is one of our favorite features on the Row. It looks slim enough for smaller hands and textured enough to prevent slipping.

What I like best is the adjustment buttons in the middle. These allow you to adjust the resistance mid-stroke rather than having to stop and press your device. On some magnetic rowers, I have to unstrap one of my feet to reach the screen and adjust the resistance. This is a nice feature to avoid this.

They are designed to encourage proper wrist and hand alignment. They are also angled slightly for added comfort.

Seat

The seat has an interesting design. It is contoured for your seat bones and legs. It looks to be nicely padded, but we will verify its comfort once we can test this rower. It might not be very wide. Many rowers, especially lower-budget magnetic rowers, have narrower seats.

I assume that the seat will make some noise as it moves over the rail. Even the quiet resistance (which I’m about to get into) can’t eliminate the noise that saddles create when gliding over rower rails.

Flywheel

The flywheel on the Echelon Row is attached to the handle via a belt. When you pull the belt, the flywheel spins. Magnets adjacent to the flywheel oppose the spinning motion as they move closer, creating magnetic resistance.

We like not only how the Echelon’s flywheel is designed but also where it is positioned. Since it hovers slightly above the rail, with the handle just at the base, the person rowing can sit more upright rather than lean over in the catch and into the drive.

We’ve tested rowers that are well-built and function fine, but the flywheel’s placement is too low, resulting in poor posture while rowing. The flywheel on the Row should be high enough to allow for an upright torso and proper spine alignment.

Resistance

Magnetic resistance works by increasing as the magnets come closer to the flywheel. The opposing polarity between the magnets and the flywheel makes it harder to pull.

Preset resistance levels are a nice addition to a rower since there are often only ten settings, and resistance varies depending on how hard you pull through the drive. Magnetic resistance levels ensure you can always find the same resistance at each level. For beginning rowers or those just learning to row, it is nice to have preset levels to find the right amount of resistance that is always the same.

Warranty

Echelon includes a 1-year warranty with the Row

Should You Buy The Echelon Row?

The Echelon Row syncs with Echelon’s app to stream rowing classes and content to your tablet. A device rack over the flywheel provides the perfect viewing spot, and buttons on the handle allow rowers to increase or decrease resistance easily.

As more people look online for workouts that can be done at home, the Row is designed to provide an excellent full-body training regimen with instant access to hundreds of classes and routes.

We all have the best intentions when working out at home, but staying focused and maintaining interest can be challenging. Streaming classes directly to your machine helps tremendously, as these are engaging and provide good cues for proper form fun classes and gorgeous outdoor rowing routes.

Echelon has targeted a niche here by providing quality equipment that is quiet (thank you, magnets!), smooth, foldable, and syncs with your personal tablet to provide guided workouts with a subscription.

We love the resistance controls on the handle, and the quiet belt drive paired with the magnetic resistance should make the Row appropriate to use in most spaces.

The Echelon app also syncs with other Echelon equipment, so you do not need a separate subscription if you own an Echelon bike or treadmill. Take an in-depth look at the Echelon Row today; we think you’ll be impressed!

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Echelon Row Q&A / FAQ

Can you use the Echelon Row without a subscription?

The Echelon Row can be used without a subscription. However, you won’t be able to track any of your workout metrics or see which resistance level you’re at while rowing without using the Echelon app on your phone or tablet.

There isn’t a console to display and track these metrics.

Can you use the Echelon Rower with other apps?

The Echelon Rower is compatible with the Echelon app. The app can be synced with apps like Apple Health, Strava, and Fitbit to sync your workout data.

Is this a paid review?

This is not a paid review. This is our analysis of the Echelon Row based on our extensive testing experience of rowers for several years. We have affiliate links where we earn a small commission if you purchase through them. This allows us to create thorough reviews of fitness equipment we test and spec reviews of equipment we haven’t tested yet.

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Echelon Row Review: Is This Smart Budget Rower For You?