Hydrow Wave Rowing Machine Review: Compact, Powerful, Immersive Home Rowing Experience

When you think “connected fitness,” names like Peloton, Mirror, and NordicTrack often come up first. But Hydrow has carved a niche with its immersive rowing experience. The Hydrow Wave Rowing Machine is the brand’s more compact, foldable alternative to its flagship Pro model, a “trimmed” version that aims to blend performance, immersion, and space efficiency.

In this review, I dig deep into:

• What the Hydrow Wave is and how it works
• Who makes it
• Key features and their benefits
• Strengths and weaknesses (honest and balanced)
• Real user testimonials (good and critical)
• Final verdict on who this machine is for and whether it’s worth your money

My aim: help you decide if the Hydrow Wave truly fits your home gym, workout style, and budget.

This review contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. So if you purchase through those links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What Is It?

The Hydrow Wave is a smart rowing machine built for home use. It uses electromagnetic (“drag”) resistance to simulate the feel of rowing on water, paired with a 16-inch HD touchscreen that streams live and on-demand workouts. Unlike the full-size Hydrow, the Wave is smaller (about 30% smaller footprint) and is designed to fold or stand upright for easier storage.

The idea: you get the immersive, instructor-led rowing experience Hydrow is known for, but in a format that works better for smaller spaces or more flexible home-gym setups.

Who Makes It?

The Hydrow brand is produced by Hydrow, Inc. (also sometimes styled as H20), a company focused on blending hardware, software, and content to deliver a premium connected rowing experience. Their flagship rower was the original (non-folding) Hydrow, which set a high bar for display, content, and immersive rowing. The Wave is their newer, more compact offering targeted to users who want most of the experience but with a smaller footprint and lower price.

Hydrow itself is known for high production values, licensing scenic waterway footage, hiring elite rowing instructors, and continuously expanding content libraries.

How It Works

Resistance & Mechanics

The Wave uses an electromagnetic drag system (also sometimes called “magnetic resistance”) rather than water tanks, air flywheels, or hydraulic pistons. This design offers:

• Smooth, fluid resistance that can be dynamically adjusted via software
• Low noise (no loud fan or turbulent water noise)
• No need for refilling, maintenance, or dealing with mechanical wear typical of chains or belts (PureWow)

Because the resistance is software-driven, the display and internal processor determine how “hard” your stroke feels, letting Hydrow simulate heavier or lighter resistance without physical adjustment.

Display & Streaming Workouts

The 16-inch HD touchscreen is the hub of the experience. Through it, you join live row classes, on-demand sessions (scenic rows, intervals, and full workouts), and even strength or recovery routines. The display also shows metrics like stroke rate, split times (time per 500 m), wattage, and a leaderboard to compare with others.

Folding/Storage

One of the major differentiators is its compactness. The Wave can be more easily stored (folded or stood upright) when not in use. Hydrow offers a vertical anchor (sold separately) to help it stand upright securely. (Hydrow)

Connectivity & Subscription

To use the full features, you need an active Hydrow subscription. This subscription unlocks the class library, live sessions, metrics tracking, community/leaderboard features, and new content uploads. Without the subscription, the machine’s hardware is limited, so you pay both for the device and ongoing access.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Space-Friendly Design: For users with smaller rooms, the Wave’s reduced size and folding/vertical storage capability are real pluses.
2. Quiet Operation: The electromagnetic system is notably silent compared to air or water rowers, great for shared living spaces.
3. High-Quality Content & Community: With live instructors, scenic rows, and a large content library, you’ll rarely run out of new sessions.
4. Smooth, Responsive Resistance: The software-driven drag feels elegant and consistent.
5. Strong Metrics & Motivation Tools: Real-time feedback, leaderboards, and performance tracking keep engagement high.
6. Less Maintenance Hassle: No tank fills, chain lubrication, or mechanical adjustments.

Cons:

1. Subscription Required: The need for an ongoing monthly (or annual) fee can feel like “renting” your workouts. If you cancel, much of the machine’s magic disappears.
2. Stability Concerns: Because the build is lighter and intended to fold, some reviewers suggest it’s less rigid than the full Hydrow.
3. Fixed Screen Orientation: Unlike many smart devices, the 16″ screen doesn’t swivel to accommodate various viewing angles or mounting (e.g., for off-center use).
4. Less “Heavy” Feel for Hardcore Rowers: Some advanced users expect more physical resistance contrast and may find the Wave’s ceiling less demanding.

Real User Testimonials: What Buyers Say (Good & Bad)

To ground this review in real experience, I explored user reviews, forums, and expert write-ups to capture common praise and complaints.

Praise & Positive Highlights

• TreadmillReviewGuru said the Hydrow Wave “has quiet and powerful magnetic resistance as well as a training service that lets you get as close to the outdoor rowing experience as possible.”
• Garage Gym Reviews called it “the Concept2 of smart rowers,” praising that the smaller size doesn’t noticeably degrade performance for many users.
• BarBend testers (one a certified trainer) noted that “despite its shorter rail length … we had no issues with wobbles or swaying.”
• The Revgear blog says their unit “feels as sturdy now as when I first assembled it. The build quality seems top-notch with no wobbles or odd noises.”
• On Reddit, a user in r/Rowing praised value: “Overall I am very satisfied with the Hydrow and feel I get my money’s worth. I am rowing 4 days a week usually … still interested in the workouts.”

Common Complaints & Weaknesses

• Stability & sturdiness: TreadmillReviews.com calls out that it “is not quite as stable and durable as its pricier counterpart, the Hydrow Rower.”
• Screen limitations: In r/HydrowCrew, one user compared Wave vs. original: “The Wave does have a smaller screen that does not swivel.”
• Subscription lock-in: Multiple reviewers note that you essentially “rent” the content library, and losing the subscription cripples utility.
• Comparisons vulnerability: In Men’s Health’s essay about his Hydrow experience, the author described how the leaderboard system provoked negative comparison and pressure.
• Shorter stroke/rail: BarBend and Garage Gym reviews mention the shorter rail length may feel slightly limiting for very tall users.
• The extra cost of the vertical anchor & minor inconvenience in setup for folding and storage have also been cited.

Final Verdict

Overall, the Hydrow Wave stands out as one of the best compact, immersive, smart rowing machines on the market in 2025. It blends high-end content, low noise, and a smaller footprint in a way few competitors do.

But it’s not perfect or for everyone.

Who It’s Best For

• You live in an apartment, a small room, or a shared space and need something more compact.
• You love doing instructor-led workouts or scenic rowing, or you need motivation via metrics and community.
• You dislike loud machines or maintenance-heavy gear (chains, water tanks, etc.).
• You’re okay paying a subscription for premium workout content and want continuous updates.

Who Might Be Better Off with Something Else

• If you’re a serious rower seeking the heaviest resistance or the longest stroke possible, the full-size Hydrow or a dedicated rowing machine (like Concept2) might suit you better.
• If you strongly dislike subscription models or prefer fully “offline” machines.
• If you want a screen you can swivel or reposition for non-rowing use.
• If utmost frame rigidity and lifetime durability are your top priorities (and you don’t care about compactness).

If you fall in the “best for” category, then yes: go ahead and invest, because the experience is immersive, the workouts are fun, and the design is clever. But enter knowing you’re not just buying a machine; you’re buying into a platform.

If that sounds like what you want, I highly recommend the Hydrow Wave as a strong blend of performance, style, and usability in a compact form. You can get yours here!

This article was written with AI assistance and researched and edited by the author for clarity and accuracy.