Ergatta vs. Hydrow: A Rower Comparison You Need To Read

Dimensions/Storability

Both the Hydrow Pro and Ergatta are sturdy, well-built rowers. They are similar in size. The Hydrow Pro is 86” L x 25” W x 47” H, and the Ergatta is 86” L x 23” W x 40” H. You should consider these dimensions plus a few feet surrounding to ensure you have enough room to use whichever rower you choose in your home.

However, there is a significant weight difference between them.

The Hydrow weighs 145 pounds, while the Ergatta weighs only 76 pounds when empty and 105 pounds with water.

The Hydrow’s design is sturdy and fairly heavy for a rowing machine.

The Ergatta has a traditional water rower design.

The Hydrow can be stored vertically, but lifting it is more challenging since it is a bit heavy. Additionally, you will need a separate anchor kit if you plan to store it vertically.

It’s also a good idea to secure the Ergatta when it’s stored vertically. It’s easier to tip it upright because it weighs less.

Both rowers can be moved when needed. To engage the front two wheels, you lift the back of the rail on both. The Ergatta is easier to move.

Onboard Workouts & Apps

The touchscreens with subscription training content are a big draw to each of these rowers. Here’s what you can expect from each membership.

Ergatta Membership

At $29 per month, Ergatta’s subscription membership is slightly less expensive than those of Peloton, iFIT, and Hydrow. It’s also different from the more traditional-style trainer-led workouts that these brands offer.

Ergatta includes single and multiplayer games. My favorite part about the games is that each one is structured as a complete workout, so as you’re distracted “playing” you’re still getting in a good workout that focuses on pacing.

There are three categories of games: Push Programs (my favorite), Interval Workouts, and Competitive Workouts. The Push Programs have different training goals and utilize progressive overloading. You take them in order to progress your fitness over time.

The Interval Workouts are designed so that you can vary the intensity of each interval portion. These are single-player games that work to where you focus on staying within set targets by adjusting your pace.

The Competitive Workouts is where you can race against other members. You collect points and focus on the power in your strokes.

These workouts are in different games, including Pulse, Meteor, Echo, Vortex, and Race. The latter two are multiplayer games.

The games keep you engaged by focusing on hitting targets and staying at specific paces or strokes per minute.

There is also a Free Row mode to create your workouts as you row. You can track your metrics or take one of the outdoor-filmed videos if you want something more interesting on the touchscreen.

Ergatta also offers some guided workouts. You can follow along with an instructor with the City Row workouts. There is also Coach AI that will assess your rowing form and provide tips on how to improve when you use the Ergatta app on your iPhone.

Hydrow Membership

Hydrow’s membership is $38 per month. It features instructor-led content primarily filmed outdoors. It reminds me of iFIT, but it is rowing-focused. The instructors are professional rowers who row on the water in a rowing shell as they provide instruction.

There’s a leaderboard, metrics tracking, and live and on-demand workouts. Overall, the quality of Hydrow’s workouts is really impressive. Between the trainers, various locations, and film quality, Hydrow’s content is supreme.

Every class has a curated playlist of music that plays in the background. I don’t know about you, but music is important when exercising. Having the music built-in means that it is incorporated to encourage rowing to the beat.

The Journey workouts are for when you don’t want to follow along with an instructor. They let you explore outdoor water locations on your own.

There are also workouts for off-the-rower training. These include strength, yoga, and stretching workouts that you can take some days instead of or in addition to the rowing workouts.

The trainer-led workouts are my favorite when it comes to Hydrow’s membership.

Ergatta Console

The Ergatta has a 17.3” touchscreen. It’s easy to see and reach. The screen pivots up and down so you can get good visibility, depending on your height.

The speakers are my only complaint about the console. They are positioned at the back of the screen, and the volume is a bit weak. The Ergatta is Bluetooth-enabled to sync your headphones and heart rate monitor.

The library is easy to navigate.

Hydrow Console

The Hydrow has a slightly larger 22” touchscreen. It is clear and easy to see, and it pivots to either side of the rower for when you want to take off-the-rower workouts.

The speakers are just below the screen. They’re clear with plenty of volume. You can also pair headphones and a heart rate monitor pretty easily through Bluetooth.

The Hydrow’s library of workouts is easy to scroll through on the touchscreen.

You won’t find water bottle holders or phone device racks on these rowers, and streaming from third-party apps like Netflix isn’t available either.

Build Quality

The Hydrow Pro and the original Ergatta are similar in price. They’re premium rowers with premium construction. However, they differ a lot in their designs, mainly because they are different types of rowers.

They are both good for users of most sizes. The Ergatta has a 500-lb weight limit, and the Hydrow has a 375-lb limit.

Ergatta vs. Hydrow Pro Frame

The Ergatta is a water rower with a standard wooden design. The frame is made out of cherry wood. It sits very low to the floor, doesn’t rock, and has four sets of feet that the frame rests on. It features a dual-rail system that’s smooth and supportive.

The Hydrow Pro looks like a rowing shell. It has a steel monorail that sits higher up off the floor. It’s easier to get on and off of than the Ergatta. You should consider this if you have mobility issues or cannot sit close to the floor.

Ergatta vs. Hydrow Pro Footboards

The layout of the footboards and foot stretchers is different for each rower. Being a standard wooden water rower, the Ergatta has one footboard with foot stretchers that are close together.

This design is typical for outdoor rowing. This positioning is a little more advanced. If you are new to rowing, are larger, or have less mobility, you might feel a little cramped and constricted on the Ergatta.

Since we compare so many rowers and most have more space between the foot stretchers, it’s a little bit of an adjustment for some of our team.

The Hydrow is a little more comfortable for the majority of our team because the foot stretchers and footboards are more spaced out. Our larger team members, like Matt, who is 6’5”, feel a little more comfortable on the Hydrow because of the foot placement.

The Ergatta features a nylon strap to strap your feet in and out of the foot stretchers.

The Hydrow features two separate nylon straps.

I also like strapping in and out of the Hydrow a little better. Since the Ergatta has one strap if you pull one side too hard, it offsets the strap, so one side is tighter than the other. Both foot stretchers hold your feet securely and are compatible with tennis shoes.

Ergatta vs. Hydrow Pro Handles & Seat

I also prefer the Hydrow’s handle over the Ergatta’s. The foot stretcher’s placement, handle, and seat are all personal preferences. I prefer rounded handles, like the Hydrow’s.

The Ergatta’s handle isn’t completely round.

It’s designed to help keep your wrists and hands in proper alignment while rowing.

The Hydrow’s handle is completely round to hold onto.

The Hydrow’s handle also keeps your hands and wrists in alignment. I like the smoother texture and padding on the Hydrow over the Ergatta. Both handles are effective, although our broader-shouldered team members wish the Ergatta’s handle was a little longer.

Both rowers use a nylon strap that connects the handle to the internal rowing mechanism. The Ergatta strap is slightly thinner and narrower than the Hyrow and is already fraying along the sides. You cannot row with one arm on the Ergatta because if you move the strap to the side, it comes off the roller that feeds into the tank, which is what has caused it to fray already.

The Hydrow’s seat is also a little more comfortable than the Ergatta’s; it’s wider and offers more padding. The Ergatta’s seat is a little smaller. Both offer a good base of support. It’s important to remember that if you’re new to rowing, you probably won’t find any rower seats extremely comfortable. They’re not meant to be comfy chairs, unfortunately.

Ergatta vs. Hydrow Pro Flywheel

The Ergatta’s flywheel is a water tank with paddles that move through the water. When you pull the handle, the paddles start moving. The water tank needs to be maintained occasionally. Water purification tablets are easy to pop in every few months or so to keep the water fresh.

The Hydrow uses magnetic resistance that doesn’t require being maintained. Instead, magnetics create drag on the flywheel to provide resistance.

Ergatta vs. Hydrow Pro Resistance

Resistance is where the two constructions of these machines differ significantly. Their resistance types work differently and make them feel different while rowing.

The water resistance of the Ergatta feels more similar to rowing outdoors. The resistance isn’t quantifiable, however. It can be adjusted. You can add or remove water, but you can’t see specific resistance levels. When you add more water, you’ll feel more resistance.

Instead of “adjusting” the resistance, when you adjust your intensity, you feel more or less resistance. Like air rowers, the harder you row, the more resistance you feel. There also isn’t a set max resistance. So, the Ergatta is a good rower for strong rowers.

The Hydrow’s resistance is quantifiable. You can adjust it via the drag factor on the screen. It has a default level and a max level of 300. The Hydrow offers plenty of resistance. You could technically “out-row” it, but this isn’t a concern for most people. If you are concerned about this, I would get the Concept2 RowErg.

The feel of the water on the Ergatta is smooth.

The Hydrow is also smooth.

Both rowers are pretty quiet and appropriate to use in most homes. The Hydrow makes a low whirring sound as you row, and the Ergatta’s water tank makes a soothing sloshing sound. The water sounds almost meditative while rowing on the Ergatta.

Ergatta vs Hydrow Warranty

Ergatta and Hydrow offer similar warranties. Ergatta includes a 5-year frame, 3-year parts, and 1-year labor warranty. Hydrow has a 5-year frame and 12-month components, screen, and other electronics warranty with the Hydrow Pro. These warranties aren’t as extensive as we see from other brands. We want to see at least ten years for each rower’s frame.

Should You Buy The Ergatta Or The Hydrow Pro?

If you’re here, you’re probably looking for a rower with subscription training content. The Hydrow is better if you like more formal studio-type workouts with an instructor leading the class.

Hydrow offers some of the best trainer-led content for rowing. The workouts are filmed outdoors, and the instructors are professional rowers.

The Ergatta offers some guided workouts and an AI Coach feature to help with form, but most of the content is gamified workouts. These are fun and unique ways to work out.

The Ergatta is a classic water rower. It isn’t as comfortable as the Hydrow, but it’s soothing, offers unlimited resistance, and feels more realistic to rowing outdoors. The Hydrow’s taller rail is easier to get on and off of.

If you’re stuck between the build of the rowers but are set on the subscription content, go with the kind of content you prefer. If you have mobility issues that limit you from sitting close to the floor, you might want to consider the Hydrow. Either way, both of these rowers are excellent and entertaining to use.

Ergatta vs. Hydrow Rower Comparison Q&A / FAQ

Can you adjust the resistance on the Ergatta Rower?

The resistance isn’t adjustable on the Ergatta. The resistance is the water in the water tank. The harder you row, the more resistance you’ll feel, and there is unlimited resistance. You can fill the tank with more water to get more resistance, but there aren’t set resistance levels to adjust.

Is the Ergatta and Hydrow rowers quiet?

Both of these rowers use different types of resistance, and they sound different, but they’re both quiet. The Ergatta’s water resistance makes soothing sloshing sounds, and the Hydrow’s magnetic resistance makes a low whirring sound.

Can you increase the resistance on the Hydrow Rower?

The Hydrow’s resistance is adjustable with a drag factor on the touchscreen. It increases to level 300 as the max.