NordicTrack RW900 Review (Is This Rower Worth The Money?)

Pros & Cons Of The NordicTrack RW900 Rower 

The NordicTrack RW900 is one of the best-looking rowing machines on the market. Not only does it look fantastic, but it also performs excellently. Its fully adjustable 22-inch screen is what makes the RW900 rower stand out; it has full iFit capability and has thousands of workout options, both live and pre-recorded.  

The machine itself is suitable for both taller and more petite users. It’s not often that rowing machines accommodate taller users, so it is excellent to see that NordicTrack has thought of this. I’m also a fan of the folding nature of the machine, saving you space in your home gym. 

Unique Features Of The NordicTrack RW900 

The NordicTrack RW900 is one of the most attractive options when it comes to home rowing machines. Whether it’s the 22 inch HD screen, the iFit membership, space-saving design, or another feature, I’m sure it’ll tick a lot of boxes for you. 

30-Day iFit Family Membership 

The NordicTrack RW900 rowing machine comes with a 30-day family membership for the world-class training app iFit. The 30-day free trial allows you to have up to five individual profiles that will track your exercises progress, measure personal metrics, and track your fitness score across all iFit compatible gym equipment. 

22” HD Interactive Touchscreen Display 

One of the best features of the NordicTrack RW900 is the bright 22” HD rotating touch screen display. It shows all of the information you need to know about your workout and allows you to use the iFit app while you join in with the fitness classes it provides.  

The touchscreen is one of the best rowing machine displays that I’ve come across.  

26 Digital Resistance Levels 

Along with the 10 levels of air resistance, there’s also an additional 26 digital magnetic resistance levels, allowing you to increase the resistance with ease without disrupting your workout.  

As the machine uses dual resistance, it performs a lot quieter than you’d expect it to and will undoubtedly provide you with an effective workout. This magnetic rower is much quieter than other air rowers on the market.

Innovative Space Saving Design 

As I've mentioned earlier in the article, the RW900 rower from NordicTrack can fold away when it’s not in use and is extremely easy to store. This will save you plenty of room in your home gym, which I know you’ll be grateful for.  

The machine doesn’t take much effort to fold, can easily be wheeled into the corner of the room, and doesn’t look out of place.  

If you want to see other foldable rowing machines, you can check out our in-depth guide.

Bluetooth Connectivity 

When it comes to connections, the NordicTrack RW900 rower not only has Wi-Fi connectivity but also supports Bluetooth too.  

The Bluetooth connection can be used to connect your exercise trackers or heart monitors to the iFit app so you can receive accurate data on each workout you perform.  

Ergonomic & Oversized Seat 

With the RW900 rowing machine, comfort has been at the forefront of the design. It has a highly comfortable oversized seat that’s ergonomically designed to provide both functionality and comfort.  

Gone are the days of getting numb glutes during a rowing session; this model is one of the comfiest rowers you’ll use.  

Pivoting Pedals 

Not only does the NordicTrack RW900 come with quick-adjust foot straps that take all of the hassles out of strapping your feet to the machine, but the pedals themselves are fully adjustable too.  

You can adjust the length of the pedal and also the angle at which they’re set. This is useful as different body proportions require different setups. So no matter what your body shape is, the RW900 rower can be adjusted for you.  

Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel 

The inertia-enhanced flywheel allows you to operate the NordicTrack RW900 rowing machine exceptionally quietly.  

The use of both air and magnetic resistance is an excellent feature that’s both quiet and smooth while you work out. This is good news for your neighbors or sleeping family while you work out in the morning. While magnetic rowers are the quietest, different types of rowers have different benefits.

NordicTrack RW900 Review 

Comparing The RW900 With Other NordicTrack Rowers

NordicTrack RW900 Vs RW200 

When you look at the NordicTrack RW900 vs. RW200, there's not much of a contest, in my opinion. Even though the NordicTrack RW200 is an excellent mid-range rowing machine, the RW900 rower blows it out of the water with its 22 inch HD touch screen.  

The screen really changes your experience, and having a built-in HD screen saves you from borrowing your partner’s tablet during your workouts (which is something you’d end up doing with the RW200).  

As for the price, the NordicTrack RW900 is relatively expensive compared to the NordicTrack RW200. In fact, the RW900 rower is over double the price of the RW200, but in my opinion, it’s worth every cent.  

Both machines function the same, using dual resistance, which means they operate exceptionally quietly.  

Overall, if you have the budget, I’d choose the NordicTrack RW900 every time.  

NordicTrack RW900 Vs RW500 

When comparing the NordicTrack RW500 vs. RW900, you’ll notice that both machines are highly similar in both looks and operation. However, the main difference is the integrated display.  

The NordicTrack RW500 rower has a built-in digital display with easy touch buttons to interact with the machine itself. NordicTrack also provides a free 10 inch Portal 10i tablet that’s held using the integrated tablet holder. While the free tablet is excellent, it still doesn’t beat the RW900 for either looks or functionality. 

As for the price, when you compare the NordicTrack rower RW500 vs. RW900, there’s only approximately a $500 difference, so if you can afford to spend a bit more, you’ll get more bang for your buck.  

Comparisons With Other Rowing Machine Brands 

NordicTrack RW900 Vs Concept2 Model D 

If you look at the NordicTrack RW900 vs. Concept2 model D, then you'll notice right away that there's a huge aesthetic difference between them.  

The NordicTrack RW900 looks state of the art; it has a great-looking screen and will impress your friends when they visit your home gym. However, the Concept2 seems pretty dull, in my opinion. While I know that they’re one of the best companies for fitness equipment, I feel they need to update their look.  

Even though the Concept2 can link up to your fitness apps and heart rate belts, the apps aren't included. This is where NordicTrack comes out on top with their free trial of iFit, which will allow you to track your workout data and participate in live and pre-recorded sessions.  

For almost $1000, I find the Concept2 doesn’t excite me as much as the NordicTrack RW900 does, even if it does cost slightly more.  

NordicTrack RW900 Vs Proform 750R 

The Proform 750R is a great looking rowing machine, but how does it measure up to the NordicTrack RW900?  

There are several similarities that I noticed straight away. The NordicTrack RW900 and the Proform 750R fold away similarly and look great, either open or closed. However, the 750R is slightly lighter and is easier to move around.  

The 750R lacks an integrated smart screen, unlike the RW900’s 22 inch HD screen, which certainly comes out on top of Proform’s offering. But, you can attach your own tablet to the Proform 750R, so it’s not too bad.  

Both machines have iFit compatibility and come with free 30 day trials. The main difference is that the RW900 comes with 30 days of family membership (5 profiles), while the Proform comes with a standard iFit membership.  

However, with a considerable price difference, the Proform costs around $1000 less than the RW900. This is a significant price difference, so it comes down to your budget yet again.  

NordicTrack RW900 Vs Hydrow Rower 

Let’s look at the Hydrow rower vs NordicTrack RW900. The Hydrow rower is a futuristic-looking rowing machine that will set you back around $1800-$2300 compared to the $1500-$1600 you’d spend on the NordicTrack RW900.  

While the price difference isn’t huge, the main hang-up I have about the Hydrow is that it doesn't fold up. So while you can purchase an additional storage stand for it, it still takes up more space than the RW900 would.  

One thing I love about the Hydrow is that the screen looks brilliant, and the Hydrow all-access membership is great, even if it does come with an expensive membership fee compared to the iFit app.  

Overall, the Hydrow rower is a brilliant machine, but I feel you’d be best off buying the NordicTrack RW900 as it’s easier to store and has all the features the Hydrow has for less money.  

People Also Ask (FAQs)

Is this rowing machine quiet? 

Yes, the NordicTrack RW900 rowing machine is one of the quietest rowers I’ve used. Due to it using magnetic resistance and air resistance, it creates a quiet and cool breeze, but nothing more; this is welcome during a sweaty workout. 

The NordicTrack RW900 uses a belt feed instead of a chain to power the rower, so this is generally a lot quieter too.  

You won’t wake up your family if you enjoy early morning workouts as I do. 

Can you use headphones with the NordicTrack RW900? 

The RW900 NordicTrack comes with a headphone jack port that will allow you to use headphones during your workout to improve your experience. However, if you want to go wireless, the NordicTrack RW900 Bluetooth is extremely useful. 

How many calories can you burn with a NordicTrack RW900? 

On average, a 125lb person will burn roughly 210 calories per 30 minutes of rowing at a moderate pace. This will vary from person to person, but you can use an exercise tracker or heart monitor to link to your NordicTrack RW900 to give you an estimated calorie burn.  

This will work hand in hand with the iFit classes, such as those aimed at calorie burning.  

Can you use the NordicTrack RW900 rower without iFit? 

While the iFit app is excellent, sometimes you need to switch off entirely and row your troubles away. So you’ll be happy to know that the NordicTrack RW900 can be used without an iFit membership and without iFit altogether.  

You can create custom workouts based on Google Maps, and you’ll be able to track these workouts over time.  

Conclusion

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Rowing machines are one of the best ways to improve your overall fitness, increasing both your heart and lung health.  

The NordicTrack RW900 rowing machine is one hell of a rower. It looks fantastic, feels great, and performs excellently. Not to mention the brilliant features such as the 22 inch HD screen, fully adjustable pedals, and comfortable seat.  

While it might seem pricey, it is well worth the investment and will look fantastic in your home gym, even when it’s folded.