Hydrow vs Peloton – Rowing Machine Comparison 2024

Updated: April 22, 2024

Hydrow and Peloton have competing high-end rowing content. Their rowers are designed with premium and high-tech features. They have sleek and stylish builds with quality displays. Hydrow has multiple rowing machine models from the more affordable Wave Rower to the expensive Vista. Peloton has only the single Peloton Row. These rowing machines rely on their training programs to deliver the full experience. Their services are led by top rowing athletes and fitness coaches. This Hydrow versus Peloton comparison reviews their build and features to help you choose between them.

All of Hydrow’s rowing machines have their renowned outdoor rowing content–a fit competitor for Peloton’s studio training.

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Rowing Machine Comparison of the Hydrow vs Peloton

Build Quality

The Hydrow Pro is priced most similarly to the Peloton Row out of Hydrow’s rowing machines. Thus, I will most directly compare the Pro to the Peloton Row. Keep in mind that the Wave and Vista have many of the same features and all of the same content as the Hydrow Pro.

These rowing machines are high-end cardio machines. The Hydrow machines are the best option for rowing athletes who want great magnetic resistance and awesome training content. The Peloton Row is a great option for a new or experienced athlete in rowing who wants access to Peloton’s whole ecosystem of equipment.

Frame

The Hydrow rowing machines have frames made of a combination of aluminum, steel, and polymer. The Peloton Row combines aluminum and plastic. They weigh a similar amount at 145 lbs for the Hydrow Pro and 156 lbs for the Peloton Row. The Hydrow is the better choice for larger users as its rowers’ maximum user weight is 375 lbs compared to the Peloton’s 300 lbs. I prefer the Hydrow line of rowing machines for their use of steel and their higher weight capacity.

Handle

The handles are very similar. They are made of hard plastic and have a softer coating to feel more comfortable in your grip. The Peloton Row is slightly curved and has an opening for a center grip for single-arm rowing. The Hydrow rowers stick to more traditional rowing. I’m not the biggest fan of rowing with a single arm on a rowing machine, so if you are more traditional like me, the Hydrow is great. If you want the option to row one-handed, the Peloton Row is the better choice.

Chain and Tension

Both rowing machines use a strap attached to the handle and a belt drive. This design keeps the rowing machines much quieter than chain-drive rowing machines. Each rowing stroke also feels smoother. Out of all of the magnetic rowing machines I’ve tried, the Hydrow keeps the best tension.

Rail

The inseam-to-height ratio varies from person to person. The Hydrow can accommodate a maximum user inseam length of 36 inches. The Peloton Row supports a maximum height of 6’5”. My research indicates that these are about equal. Thus, the functional rail length of the two machines should be very similar.

The Peloton Row’s rail is an anodized, powder-coated aluminum. The Hydrow rowing machines have stainless steel rails. There is no clear winner here. Both should allow their seats to glide smoothly.

Seat

The Hydrow and Peloton rowing machines use moderately cushioned seats with ergonomic molding. The Peloton Row is a lot more concave than most rowing seats I’ve seen. They should be comfortable enough for most users for even their longest rowing sessions.

Foot Stretchers and Footboards

The foot stretchers are almost identical on the Hydrow and Peloton. They have 7 slots for adjusting them up and down. The footboards are also very similar. The straps are the key difference with the Hydrow using the traditional buckle system while Peloton uses Velcro. I prefer Velcro for its ease of use, but buckles are known for tightening down more effectively.

Storage

Hydrow and Peloton rowers store upright when secured with a wall mount. You can also keep them on the floor and ready for use. The Peloton Row is one inch narrower than the Hydrow Pro rowing machine and one inch taller in its exercise-ready orientation. The Peloton Row is substantially longer than the Hydrow Pro at 94 inches compared to the Hydrow Pro’s 86 inches. So, you will need higher ceilings to store the Peloton Row upright and more floor space. I declare the Hydrow Pro the winner in this category for its more compact size and slightly lighter weight.

Resistance

Both rowing machines use magnetic resistance. They use a drag factor instead of resistance levels. For the Hydrow machines, a drag factor of 104 creates an on-the-water feel. The Peloton Row’s default setting is 115 (medium) and also has a light drag factor (100) and a heavy drag factor (130). You can leave your rower set to the 115 default for a row similar to Hydrow or use the light, medium, and heavy settings. You can also further customize the settings to fit your preferences.

The Hydrow ranges from 50 to 300. The Peloton Row has a range of 0 to 230. Hydrow has a larger range, and more importantly, has established themselves as the dominant force in recreating the outdoor rowing feel using a magnetic resistance machine.

Features & Accessories

So far, the Hydrow and Peloton rowers seem fairly evenly matched. Their aesthetics, construction, and storage options are impressive. The high-tech features below should help you pick your favorite, but make sure to check out the differences in their content, too.

Console Overview

Both consoles are focused on the screens. Training content is front and center on both brand’s machines. If you want to enjoy the console’s screen and features, you will need an active subscription.

There are not a lot of buttons on the machines. Volume controls are located on the side of the console. These rowing machines are designed to stay set at one drag factor as you train, so there are no physical resistance buttons on the console or handles.

Screen

The Hydrow Wave, Pro, and Vista rowers have touchscreens that are 16 inches, 22 inches, and 27 inches respectively. The Peloton Row has a 23.8-inch touchscreen similar to Peloton’s other machines. The Peloton Row, Hydrow Pro, and Hydrow Vista screens rotate for off-rower viewing. The Hydrow Vista is the best choice for exercisers who want the best viewing experience. Its 27-inch display is curved with a 2560×1440 resolution.

Speakers

The Hydrow Pro has two 3W front-facing speakers. The Peloton Row has two front-facing stereo speakers and two rear-facing woofers with a combined 26W of power. I have no complaints about Hydrow’s audio quality, but I have to admit Peloton’s superiority when it comes to exercise equipment audio. They do a really good job of making the noise adequately loud and clear so you can hear the music backing the workout class. Music is central to the Peloton experience, so this makes sense.

Bluetooth

You can pair Bluetooth headphones with any of these rowers. Bluetooth allows exercisers to train quietly while still enjoying the class audio. You can also pair a Bluetooth heart rate monitor. Not all monitors will be compatible. My Garmin connected with Hydrow and Peloton machines well.

Storage

The Peloton Row has storage for a water bottle and other small items, including your phone. Neither rower has a device shelf where you can view third-party content on a device while training. The good thing about rowing machines (depending on how you look at it) is that you are close to the ground, so you can keep all your belongings reasonably within reach by setting them next to the rowing machine.

Form Assist

The Peloton Row has form assist, which helps you practice and improve your rowing form. There are sensors built into the Peloton Row that learn your rowing form to give you feedback on 9 problem areas. While the Peloton Row might not replace one-on-one coaching, it gives new and intermediate rowing athletes assistance they might not be able to afford otherwise. Rowing requires the most technique out of all of the common cardio machines, and it can be intimidating. Peloton’s classes combined with form assist make it more approachable for newbies.

Performance

Because the Hydrow and Peloton rowers both use drag factors, the experience of training on them is very similar. Rowers, like those from NordicTrack and ProForm, have automatically adjusting resistance levels. If you use Peloton’s light, medium, and heavy drag settings, you can create a workout closer to what you would experience on those rowing machines. Some Peloton classes incorporate the different drag factor settings on the Row. When using just the drag factor, you rely on varying your stroke rate and force to vary your intensity.

Hydrow’s workouts are filmed on the water and keep me dialed in for my whole workout session.

We have a lot of confidence in the performance of the Hydrow rowers. They have performed well for us and continue to be highly ranked among the rowing community. Peloton is newer to the rowing machine game. While they are established in the fitness industry, rowing machines are tricky to get right, particularly magnetic rowers. The Peloton Row has a lot of promise, and with such similar features to the Hydrow, it looks like a solid contender.

Subscription & Content Options

These rowers are built well and have great resistance, but they wouldn’t have half of their notoriety if it weren’t for their subscription training content. The type of content each brand offers is very different. However, both brands have huge followings for the high quality of their classes alone.

Hydrow Content

This is a look into the vast Hydrow library on the Wave rower’s 16-inch display.

Hydrow specializes in rowing classes filmed on the water and led by top rowing athletes. Their classes are full of fun banter if more than one coach is guiding the class and expert guidance. They’ve carved out a niche in the rowing content market by appealing to serious rowing athletes and beginners alike. Hydrow demonstrates a solid understanding of rowing as a sport. They don’t feel like general cardio workouts repurposed for the rowing machine.

Hydrow classes are filmed all over the world. The rowing classes vary from low-intensity endurance efforts to high-intensity intervals for a nice variety. There are even supplementary classes for strength and yoga that help you become a more well-rounded exerciser.

Hydrow has more than just rowing content, ensuring you stay strong and flexible enough for future rowing sessions,

Hydrow has a live leaderboard and weekly racing challenges. But the emphasis on form keeps me focused on rowing well and not just fast.

Peloton Content

Peloton has a pretty set blueprint for how their classes work. The workout is set to music with the instructor frequently picking up the pace in time to a particularly powerful chorus or drop in the bass. The music helps create a more lively atmosphere while revealing more of the trainer’s personality.

Here are two of the many class options available on Peloton for rowing.

Peloton hired more coaches for their release of the Peloton Row. The classes are the same quality that first drew me in. I like that Peloton has a mixture of experienced rowing athletes and coaches coming from other sports. The experienced rowing instructors like Ash Pryor and Alex Karwoski have a lot of knowledge to impart. As a rowing beginner myself, I like learning from them. I also enjoy taking rowing classes from instructors like Becs Gentry and Adrian Williams. If you’ve taken classes with them before, it’s comfortable to get into rowing with them.

Katie Wang teaches row boot camp classes that combine rowing with strength training.

Peloton offers entertainment like Netflix and other streaming services. This is a great option for anyone who wants to row as they catch up on their favorite shows and movies.

Bottom Line Review: Hydrow vs Peloton Row

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Hydrow and Peloton are noteworthy brands in the rowing space. They both have sleek machines with vivid displays. The resistance is magnetic and uses a drag factor instead of resistance levels. These quiet rowing machines can be stored upright but should be secured with a wall mount. The Hydrow is our pick for experienced rowers and anyone else who wants the closest virtual training experience to outdoor rowing. The costly Peloton Row impresses with its Form Assist sensors that help beginners and intermediate rowers refine their rowing form. The Hydrow rowing machines are our pick, but we can’t fault Peloton subscribers for picking the Row for its seamless fit into their home gym.

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