Ergatta Lite Rower Review: What To Know Before Buying

Dimensions/Storability

Rowing machines, in general, are long machines that require a significant amount of floor space to use. The Ergatta Lite was designed to be more compact and better for smaller spaces than the original Ergatta Rower. Although the Lite is smaller, it only shaves off 4″ of required room from the Ergatta. Its dimensions are 82″ long, 23″ wide, and 38″ tall.

I appreciate that Ergatta has included another rower, and I’m glad it is priced lower than the original, but the Lite still requires a good amount of room to use.

You need to factor in these dimensions plus a few feet surrounding the rails and at the rear for getting on and off and your rowing position in the finish.

It is a little lighter at just 40 lbs without water and around 72 lbs with water, but this doesn’t seem to make it any easier to move or store upright than the original. When you lift the back end of the rail, the front wheels engage to move it around.

We didn’t find it any easier to move, especially because the wheels are pretty small on the Lite.

My biggest qualm is folding down the touch screen and storing the Ergatta Lite upright. First, you’ll need to make sure your ceiling is at least 7 feet high. Next, you must ensure the screen is folded correctly before tipping the rower upright.

There are two small plastic pieces that the wood piece holding the touch screen rests on to keep the screen up and visible when you’re rowing.

These need to be folded inward to collapse the wooden beam holding the screen onto the belt from the drive system. Before doing this, you’ll adjust the screen by flipping it back to face the rear of the rower. Once you push the wooden beam down onto the belt, you must ensure it snaps to the magnetics.

Once the wooden beam and screen are secured flat, you can lift the back of the rower and push it upright on the two small pegs behind the water tank. The big aspect to pay attention to here is making sure the magnets are connected properly; otherwise, the screen could fall forward when you lift the back of the rower to move it or store it upright.

Considering I failed to do this the first time, the touch screen is durable and didn’t crack when it hit the floor. This is a plus, but don’t be like me. Ensure the screen is properly collapsed downward before moving and storing the Ergatta Lite upright.

Onboard Workouts & Apps

The Ergatta Lite comes enabled with Ergatta’s membership and content on the touch screen. The membership isn’t required, but it is a big reason why this rower and the original Ergatta are so fun to use. Instead of relying only on trainer-led content like platforms such as Hydrow, iFIT, and Peloton, the Ergatta has games.

Here’s what you can expect with the membership.

Ergatta Membership

The Ergatta Membership is $29 per month. It includes live and on-demand single and multiplayer games. The games are structured around different types of workouts, such as HIIT, conditioning, recovery, and endurance.

The three categories of gamified workouts are Push Programs, Interval Workouts, and Races. Push Programs feature different workout programs with specific training goals. Programs are constantly added to the library. They consist of workouts meant to be taken in order, so you unlock each one as you go. Each workout in this category is structured like a complete workout.

The Interval Workouts are structured for you to hit targets or stay within certain targets during different portions of each game.

These are set just like regular interval workouts. Your intensity varies during each portion or interval. These are available as single-player games.

The Competitive Workouts category allows you to race and compete against other members. These are multiplayer games where you compete against other Ergatta members. You can race against them or collect more points than your opponents by utilizing power in your strokes.

The games are divided into five types: Pulse, Meteor, Echo, Race, and Vortex. Race and Vortex are for multiple players and competition. They are found in the Competitive Workouts category. Some push Programs utilize these game types.

The other three game types are for single players. These are found in Push Programs and Interval Workouts. The Pulse games have you hit and stay in targets by maintaining different paces throughout the workout. The Meteor games feature a shooting star-type icon that you must keep in specific areas as it flies across the screen.

The Echo games are newer and my new favorite.

These focus on your strokes per minute. As long horizontal bars come toward you on the screen, you must time your stroke so you’re in the drive as the bar hits the target. These games help you match the rhythm(s) to focus on keeping specific paces.

The Races are pretty self-explanatory. You compete against other members all by racing down lanes. The Vortex games require you to collect points as you row; the stronger you row, the more points you earn.

Although you’re technically playing games, Ergatta does a wonderful job of making each game an actual workout. It doesn’t feel like you’re rowing and doing cardio, which is a big plus. The games do a great job of focusing on strokes per minute and pacing, which are important aspects of rowing.

Another plus is that you can search for specific game workouts and filter your search by game type and length. Some workouts are just a few minutes long, and some are 60 minutes long. There’s plenty in between these lengths to choose from, too.

You can filter workouts by difficulty, workout categories such as recovery or endurance, and game type.

You can select Free Row to do your own thing or customize your workout by setting a length or creating your intervals. You can have Ergatta’s default metrics screen shown or select from different outdoor-filmed scenes during this feature. These feature a camera that films from a rowing shell on the water in various places like rivers in Thailand and lakes in Portugal.

They lack a little bit in film quality, but they’re nice to have as something on the screen when you just want to do your own thing on the Ergatta Lite.

Ergatta has recently started implementing ways to improve your form and learn to row if you’re new to the exercise. They have training videos you can watch to gain insight into proper rowing form. Rowing is a very technical exercise. I constantly try to improve my form, which is far from perfect. These videos are a step in the right direction to help you row correctly.

The new Coach AI is another HUGE step in the right direction for helping its users row with proper form. At the time of writing this, this feature is still in beta testing, and it is only available for Apple phones. It should hopefully be available for Androids soon.

Coach AI is a feature you can access through the Ergatta App with the Ergatta membership. This feature utilizes your phone camera, positioned to see you and the rower at the height of the touchscreen, to assess your form. It doesn’t record and save your video, but it tracks your positioning by highlighting and tracking your limbs with white dots and lines.

Once you row while using this feature for at least a minute, the Coach AI rates your form and provides feedback on where you can improve. There is a tutorial on how to set up this feature to use on your phone in the App.

I’m impressed with the Coach AI. All of the recommendations and areas of improvement it gave me have helped me with my form. Along with written feedback, Coach AI shares one of the training videos with you that specifically explains how to correct certain aspects of your stroke.

For instance, I sometimes collapse my upper body in the catch. Coach AI included a video titled “Sitting Up Tall” to help me correct this.

From the first time I used Coach AI, I’ve worked on implementing the feedback on my form. When getting my form analyzed through the Ergatta App, I improved. The Coach AI feature picked up on my improvements. Overall, this is a very cool feature that is helpful not only for beginners but for most rowers. Coach AI is included with the Ergatta Membership.

The Ergatta also has trainer-led programs from City Row. These workouts allow you to follow along with a trainer in a studio setting like you would with a Hydrow, NordicTrack, or Peloton rowing machine.

Onboard Workouts

The Ergatta Lite Rower can be used with a membership. Without Ergatta’s membership, you can use the Just Row feature, connect with Strava, save your workout history, connect Bluetooth headphones and a heart rate monitor, and access Ergatta’s music feature.

More information about these features is below.

Console

The console consists entirely of the 17.3″ touch screen. It is where you access the membership. The Ergatta Lite is a water rower, so there are no resistance levels or a damper to adjust. The only settings you’ll need to adjust are the Bluetooth settings and speaker volume.

The speaker’s volume is a little underpowered. I wish it increased louder. Ergatta now has music you can choose to play in the background of the games. I can hear it fine, even over the water while rowing, because it isn’t loud, but I would like the range to increase more.

The music features different genre stations, like radio stations, with preset playlists of songs. There are stations like Classic Rock, Hip Hop, Country, and Top 40, to name a few. You pick which station you want to listen to before working out. Unfortunately, you can’t change stations or the speakers’ volume during your workout. This all has to be done beforehand.

Before your workout, you can connect to a heart rate monitor and Bluetooth headphones. The Ergatta Lite also connects to Polar, Garmin, Apple Watch, Whoop, Wahoo Tickr, and other heart rate monitors through Bluetooth. The Ergatta also connects to Strava.

The screen overall is easy to use.

I do have to unstrap at least one of my feet from the pedals to lean forward to reach the screen. I’m not the most flexible, so I might be the problem here. I’m also short at just 5’1″. If you’re taller and/or more flexible, you’ll probably be able to reach the screen without unstrapping your feet.

The screen does angle up and down, so you can better view it for your height, too. Other than the screen, there isn’t any storage. You’ll need to set your phone, water, and whatever other item(s) you want on the floor or a table nearby.

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Build Quality

The overall build quality performs similarly to that of the higher-end Ergatta Rower. Even though it’s lighter and more compact, the Ergatta Lite doesn’t lack overall stability and performance.

It is made with oak wood and is manufactured in the United States. Like the original rower, Ergatta has partnered with WaterRower to use their rowing machines with Ergatta’s touch screen and subscription membership. The Lite is another rower from the WaterRower brand.

The WaterRower branding is on the rower.

Frame

It sits very low to the ground, and under the seat is a dual-rail system. Because of this design, users with mobility issues that prevent them from sitting on or close to the floor might need a rower with a taller seat and rail, like the Aviron Strong Series Rower.

The wooden frame is traditional for water rowers.

The rails are easy to step over, but sitting down and standing up from the seat might be hard for some people. The rail is just 5″ high off the ground. It’s harder to get on and off than other rowers like the Concept2 RowErg.

The Ergatta Lite also might not be best for larger users. It has a 320 lb weight limit, and Ergatta claims the height limit is 6’4″ or a 38″ inseam. Matt, who is 6’5″, can comfortably fit on the Lite. I’m not going to claim that it can handle people up to 6’8″, like the original rower, but if you are a little taller than 6’4″, you could still probably use the Lite.

One thing I did notice is that the rails have stoppers on the front and back to stop the seat from rolling all the way into the footboard and off the back end of the rower.

The original Ergatta also has these. When measured from these stoppers, the rails are 38″ long.

For some reason, the front stoppers are placed further back than the OG rower. I’m our shortest testing expert at only 5’1″ (with shoes on), and I noticed the seat would sometimes hit this stopper before I was fully in the catch. If you’re short like me, this might be something to remember. It only happens occasionally, but I wish the stoppers weren’t placed so far back.

Geometry/Dimensions

• Dimensions: 82″ L x 23″ W x 38″ H
• Stored Upright: 21″ L x 23″ W x 82″ H
• Pedal Footboards: 16″ L x 9.5″ W
• Dual Rail: 38″ L x 5″ H
• Seat: 12″ W x 10″ D x 11″ H
• Belt Drive: 18″ from where the belt appears from the flywheel

Footboard & Pedals

The footboard is just one piece of wood under the pedals. Like most water rowers, the pedals are close to one another. This placement makes the Ergatta Lite more similar to rowing outdoors. The pedals or foot-stretchers require a narrow stance. Some people, such as beginners and larger folks, might feel cramped with this design.

The foot stretchers are easy to adjust.

They’re compatible with athletic shoes, and the length adjusts for most shoe sizes. They adjust by sliding them up and down and matching the pegs into the holes at a length that is right for you.

A good rule of thumb is to place the straps over the balls of your feet. This will allow you to push off from the wooden footboard in the drive firmly. The nylon straps adjust over your feet. They aren’t as easy to use as velcro foot straps, but they work fine and keep your feet secured while rowing. The clips for your heels hold your feet in place, too.

Handle

The handle is the same as the original rower’s. It is oval and textured to keep your hands from slipping. The handle isn’t my favorite, but this is a personal preference. I prefer rounded handles and a smoother texture. The Ergatta Lite’s handle is molded to keep your hands and wrists aligned as you row.

The handle sits up above the handles, so it’s well within reach to grab when you’re ready to row.

Seat

The seat has been updated on the Lite. It is larger with better padding. It is 10″ deep and 12″ wide, providing a good base of support underneath you. It has contouring for your legs and tailbone for added comfort, too.

This is one of the most comfortable seats that I’ve used on water rowers.

As I mentioned, the seat sits lower to the floor, so just keep this in mind. The seat sits on four wheels that glide smoothly and quietly over the dual rails.

Flywheel

The flywheel is a water tank. The water in the tank is used as resistance against paddles. This makes the Ergatta Lite feel more like rowing outdoors on the water than other rowing machines.

The Ergatta Lite has a belt drive system.

A nylon belt connects the flywheel to the handle, spinning the paddles when you pull the handle. Belt drives reduce overall noise and make the strokes feel smooth. They also don’t need maintenance like the chain drive on the Concept2.

You will need to clean the tank water occasionally, though. Ergatta sells water purification tablets to put in the water to keep it clean.

The water in the tank also makes the Ergatta Lite quiet and appropriate for most homes and apartments. Some people, including us, think the water sloshing sounds soothing while rowing. I like using water rowers for this reason. That, and the way the water feels as resistance.

Overall, the Ergatta Lite is comfortable and quiet for most people.

Resistance

Because the water is the resistance, there aren’t any set resistance levels. If you like to be able to adjust the resistance as you do on an indoor cycling bike, then keep this in mind. Like air rowers, there isn’t a max resistance. The harder you row, the more tension you’ll feel. However, you can add more water to the tank for more resistance and remove it for less resistance.

Warranty

Ergatta includes a 5-year warranty with the Ergatta Lite. This isn’t the best warranty coverage we’ve seen. It would be nice if Ergatta increased this to 10 years. The full warranty is five years for the wooden structural frame, three years for components such as the handle, strap, and cables, and one year for the touch screen.

Should You Buy the Ergatta Lite Rower?

The Ergatta Lite Rower is an excellent option for changing rowing workouts. The gaming content is what sets this rower apart. Even though you’re playing games, the majority of the games are structured as complete workouts that have you focus on pacing and strokes per minute.

Ergatta provides helpful ways to correct your form through training videos and the Coach AI feature. The games themselves are extremely engaging, motivating, and just fun, so if you want extra motivation to work out, I would consider this cardio machine.

The Ergatta Lite is a well-built rower on its own, separate from the content. It is a WaterRower with a stable oak wood frame that sits low to the floor. Folks with mobility issues that limit them from sitting on or close to the floor might not be able to comfortably use this rower, but it’s a great option for most people. It’s also quiet to use in most homes and apartments.

Although it doesn’t have weight and height limits as high as the original Ergatta Rower, the Lite is lower in price. If these limits concern you, check out the premium Ergatta, but if you want to save a little bit, I highly recommend the Ergatta Lite.

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Ergatta Lite Rower Q&A / FAQ

What is the difference between Ergatta Lite and the original?

The Ergatta Lite is lighter and more compact than the Ergatta Rower. The frame is oak rather than cherry wood. It weighs 72 lbs with water versus 105 lbs. The Lite has a 320 lb weight limit compared to the 500 lb weight limit of the original. The original is also more accommodating for taller folks up to 6’8″ and 40″ inseams versus the 6’4″ height and 38″ inseam limit of the Lite.

The Ergatta Lite is also priced around $500 less than the original Ergatta.

Can I use the Ergatta Rower without a subscription?

Yes, you can use both Ergatta Rowers without a subscription to Ergatta’s membership. Without the membership, you can use the Just Row feature and connect your Bluetooth headphones and heart rate monitor. You can also utilize the music feature on the touch screen.

Can you adjust the resistance on the Ergatta Rower?

The Ergatta Rower and Ergatta Lite use water as resistance. It isn’t quantifiable with resistance levels like magnetic rowers. The harder you row, the more resistance you get. This is how air rowers work, too. You adjust the resistance by your intensity. You can also add more water to the tank for more resistance and include less for less resistance.

Is our Ergatta Lite Rower review a paid review?

We did not get paid to write this Ergatta Lite review. Ergatta sent us the Lite Rower to test, but they did not pay us to create this. We work with various rower brands to test all kinds of rowing machines on the market. This way, when we recommend the best rowers, we have compiled our list based on our experience, and we know that the models we’ve awarded as best deserve it.

We get paid through affiliate links. If you purchase a rower through one of our links, we receive a commission. This allows us to test all kinds of rowers and to create unbiased reviews.

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