Sydney - Guru Team

Hi thanks for your question. As far as apps that have rowing classes, some of our favorites are Hydrow and iFit. You can take classes on their mobile apps and on their enabled equipment. iFit is enabled on rowers from ProForm and NordicTrack.

Hi, thanks for your question. Most seats on rowers are contoured for added comfort and they're wider than seats on exercise bikes. Exercise bike seats can be notorious for being uncomfortable because they're narrow. As far as rowers with seats that we like and find comfortable, check out the Hydrow, Concept 2, Echelon Smart Rower, and the Assault Fitness AirRower Elite.

Hi Kathryn. Usually smaller, compact treadmills have less functionality than larger ones. For example, if the deck length is under 60" in length, some users might not be able to use it for running especially if they have longer stride lengths. There are plenty of treadmills that have 60" long decks that fold up to save space however, like the NordicTrack 2450 and 1750, and treadmills from Sole. Were there any treadmills in particular that you're wondering about? How are you planning on using your treadmill? With a little bit more information, I can let you know what kind of capabilities certain models have and I can recommend some to check out.

Hi Christina. We are working on the video of the ProForm Pro 9000, so it will available sometime soon.

Hi Laura. I think it depends on your preferences. They're both really solid rowers. If you want subscription content, the Ergatta is a great choice, but if you don't want to tied into a monthly fee then I would go with the Concept 2. If noise is an issue, the Concept 2 might be too loud, the Ergatta is quieter. I personally like water resistance best for rowing, but I'd factor in the content and noise level in your decision. Hope this helps!

Hi Scott. You're right, they're very similar. I think it will just come down to how much you're planning on using it? What kind of use do you want it for? If you want to use it heavily, say everyday for over an hour while running at high speeds, or if you have roommates/family members that also want to use it regularly, then you might want to get the 7.8. Both treadmills can handle running and larger users, you might just get a bit more out of the 4.0 CHP motor if you're planning on using the treadmill heavily.

Thanks for your question! The Ergatta, Hydrow, and NordicTrack rowers are all well built and solid machines. What really sets them apart is the type of resistance they use and their content, so it comes down to personal preference with those. The Ergatta is a water rower which provides soothing sounds of water sloshing when you row that I personally like, although they can require a little bit more maintenance than other types of rowers. It has gamified content which we found to be surprisingly motivating. It's also great if you're competitive and don't want to take classes led by an instructor. The Hydrow uses magnetic resistance which is pretty quiet and this type of resistance has different levels so it can be adjusted and you can see what level of resistance that you're at. Hydrow has live and on-demand classes that are filmed outdoors and led by an instructor. It's great if you want some guidance while rowing and their content is impressive. Rowers from NordicTrack, like the RW600 and RW900, are hybrid rowers that use both magnetic and air resistance which gives you 2 ways to adjust and add more resistance. They use iFit which has thousands of trainer-led classes filmed all around the world. iFit is great if you want to be led by an instructor and if you want to train off of the rower as well since they have a wide variety of classes. I hope this helps you narrow your search, and you can check out our best rowers page to learn more about these rowers too.

There is a little bit of a learning curve when you first start using one. We find it's best to start out at a slow pace in order to get the hang of walking and working at a desk. We really like the Lifespan tr1200 DT3. If you want to check out a few more options though, head to our best under desk treadmill page. The tr1200 DT3 is on it too, so you can get a bit more information about it there.

Great question. Would having a virtual instructor that guides you through a run help motivate you? Or would you like to watch a movie or tv show while you run? I'm the same way with running, I either need the motivation from a trainer-led class, or I need to be occupied with a good show in order to get in some miles on a treadmill. There's plenty of content and entertainment choices on home treadmills nowadays. I know a monthly subscription fee can also be a motivating factor, kind of like a gym membership.

We recommend buying from the manufacturer directly. That way in case you have a problem with your bike you can contact them directly and utilize their warranty. We recommend checking out brands like NordicTrack, MYX, Sole Fitness, Bowflex, and Life Fitness. Good luck in your search!

Hi, thanks for your question. There are treadmills that have just onboard workouts that are included on the console. These workouts don't require a monthly subscription to use and are pretty straightforward. They typically include workout activities like heart rate training, HIIT, as well as a manual mode. I recommend checking out treadmills from Sole, Xterra, and Life Fitness for these types of workout activities. There's also a lot of treadmills that have fitness subscription apps integrated onto the consoles. These require a monthly subscription and often include classes led by an instructor. Some of these are iFit, the Peloton App, and JRNY and they can be found integrated on machines from NordicTrack, ProForm, Peloton, and Bowflex.

Hi, thanks for your question. I'm not aware of a rower having a handle like this. Most have pretty straight handles that keep your grip the same throughout the row. To minimize the stress on my wrists when rowing, I really engage my core, especially when I'm fully extended to keep the tension there, rather than in my arms and wrists.

Hi! I don't think one is better than the other, I think it comes down to personal preference. Do you want a more realistic feel when you row? Do you want to be able to adjust your resistance? Magnetic rowers typically have an adjustable resistance, while water rowers feel more like rowing outdoors. Also, what kind of content do you like? Do you just want to row on your own, or follow along with an instructor? Both of these kinds of rowers come with different content options depending on the brand. Water rowers can require more maintenance than magnetic because they need to be filled with water in their initial set up and the water might need to be changed occasionally to keep it clean. A lot of rowers come with tablets that keep the water clean though, so maintenance isn't a big issue with these. Here's our post that goes into a bit more of the pros and cons of each type of rower. https://www.treadmillreviewguru.com/different-types-of-rowing-machines Hope this helps you narrow your search for a rower!

Hi. We haven't tested any treadmills from Freemotion, so I'm not sure how they compare to the brands that we do test.

Hi there. What are you planning on using the treadmill for? Just walking? Walking and running? How often do you want to use it? With a little bit more information I can suggest a specific brand/model. There are plenty quality budget-friendly treadmills out there, but some are better for walking and light jogging, while others we recommend for running.

Hi! I usually go off of what the treadmill says for distance. I have a little bit of a love/hate relationship with my Apple Watch because there's times when it isn't very accurate. I've only ever calibrated it by doing an outdoor walk or run though. Treadmills tend to be pretty accurate at configuring distance, so I go off of that mileage, especially when my Apple watch is way off.

Hi, thanks for your question. We usually test the equipment for a few weeks before we write and film the review. Yes, we continue using the equipment to test how it holds up overtime. We also compare brands/models to each other in comparison reviews and also in the individual reviews. So, typically we use the equipment pretty often. Once we've had a machine for a while, usually at least a year, we will update the review to talk about it's durability and say how it's held up.

Hi there, I'm sorry hear that your elliptical is squeaking. I would make sure that all the moving parts are clean and lubricated. I would try re-lubing the wheels and rails as well, and make sure they're all clean. You can also try greasing the pedal arms and handlebars with an all-purpose grease. I hope this helps!

We've found that treadmills from Sole and NordicTrack tend to be durable, solid builds. Could you give me a little bit more information for how you're planning on using the treadmill? What speeds/inclines would you like to use the treadmill at for those 40-50 miles every week? With some more information I can hopefully recommend some specific models.

Hi, thanks for your question. For affordable, quality rowers we recommend the ProForm 750R, Echelon SmartRower, and NordicTrack RW500. These are all great options. If noise is a factor for your home though, I would look into the type of resistance the rower uses because certain resistance types make more noise than others. Air rowers tend to be the loudest, while water rowers make noise but it is quieter and many people actually like the sounds they make. Magnetic rowers can typically be more quiet as well.

Hi Allison, great question. We recommend using a treadmill mat under your treadmill at home in general. If you have carpet, the carpet fibers can get into the motor overtime. Also, if you have hard floors, the treadmill can also scratch them and slip on them, so to avoid this we encourage users to use a treadmill mat.

Thanks for your question. Just to be clear, we are not medical professionals, but we suggest going over general treadmill safety with her before she uses the treadmill. We have a post about treadmill safety tips as well as a video that you can find here: https://www.treadmillreviewguru.com/important-treadmill-safety-tips/ This, along with assuring her that she can hang onto the handles, especially when she feels unsteady, could help too. I would also show her how the safety key works, and that when it's unplugged the treadmill will immediately stop. Make sure it's clipped to her clothing and that she knows she can pull on the cord to stop the treadmill whenever she feels unbalanced. I hope this helps and I wish her a smooth recovery.

Hi Julian, thanks for your question. We haven't been on the Bowflex 10 yet, but both of these treadmills are great options. We really like the Sole F63 because treadmills from Sole tend to be really solid and durable to handle everyday use. Could you tell us a little bit more about how you are planning to use the treadmill? Are you planning on just using it for walking, or for running, too? How long everyday? A little bit more of this info will help us be able to determine which one should be best for you.

Hi Amrita, I would recommend checking out Sole's treadmills. They fold up and have 4 wheels which makes moving them around easy, and we find them to be really sturdy and durable. We really like the F65, F80, and F85 models. You could also check out the TR2000e electric treadmill from LifeSpan, it's also very portable and durable. Other foldable treadmills from Nordictrack and Horizon are durable as well as portable. They just have 2 wheels on the front so you have to tilt them back to move them.

Great question. I would look into the running surface size, especially the length of the deck. We recommend a 60" deck length for running, anything shorter tends to be harder to run on, especially for taller users. 60" is pretty standard for a lot of home treadmills. I would also look into how soft/firm the cushioning is as well depending on if you want a softer or firmer surface to run on. As far as specific treadmill models, I would check out the NordicTrack x32i and x22i Incline Trainers. They offer higher inclines/declines than most treadmills. They incline all the way up to 40% and decline to -6%. They really simulate running outside, but they do have a good amount of cushioning so they feel soft to run on. Just something to keep in mind. The NordicTrack 2950 also declines, which isn't very common on other home brands of treadmills. It declines to -3% and the cushioning can also be turned on and off. So, if you want to run on a firmer surface, similar to running outdoors, you have that option as well.