Hello, hello! I hope you all had a wonderful July 4th!! Today, I’m finally getting around to reviewing our Hydrow!
This post has been a long time coming as we purchased ours way back in May 2021! I’ve had so many of you ask me about it and well, I just kept forgetting to share, but today is the day.
I’m going to start by sharing THIS POST where I talk all about my Peloton and why I love the bike and especially the app so much. I’m about to refer to the Pelton bike a lot in this review, so I thought I’d go ahead and get that out of the way. You’ve heard me gush and gush and gush about Peloton’s app for years. For me, it’s the gold standard in fitness apps. I’ve purchased, tried and discontinued so many apps over the years but once I found the Peloton app (you don’t need the bike to purchase the app!), I was sold. I use it every single day.
Buuuuut…back to Hydrow 🙂 .
What is a Hydrow?! It’s this…
…this is my boat 🙂 . For years and years, I asked Andrew if we could buy a boat for me to row in the lake next to our house. He had some reasonable objections…how would I get it in the water, where would I store it, why did I think he wanted to swim to my rescue after I got stuck in the middle of the lake and needed help getting back to shore…sigh. So, we compromised and for Mother’s Day, I got myself a Hydrow. I LOVE MY HYDROW!
Here are a few tidbits/thoughts/facts/things about it:
1: The Hydrow works just like Peloton. You take classes of varying lengths, types and with different instructors. It has a touch screen with all of your options and is very user-friendly.
2: After you purchase a Hydrow, they deliver it and set it up for you. At this time, they also explain anything you might need to know about your boat.
3: The classes are really amazing because the instructors are actually on crew boats in the water!! Unlike Peloton where the instructors are on the stationary bike too, these instructors are actually in the water in boats all over the world. It’s so much fun to watch them row in the water while they talk to you. I’ve seen dolphins pop up, other boats get too close to them, fun bloopers and a ton of sweat and hard work. Plus, it’s just gorgeous scenery! One class might be on the Charles in Boston and another might be in the middle of the ocean off of Florida while another is in Switzerland on Lake Lucerne or Britain or you name it, they’ve probably been there.
4: I personally feel like this machine is easier to make low impact. For instance, on the Peloton, they offer low impact classes but even those feel a bit high impact. Because you can adjust your drag on the Hydrow, you really can have a very low-impact workout should you want one…or you can have a very intense one (or anything in the middle!).
5: Of course, there’s an app! Hydrow has an app (and touchscreen) that works just like the Peloton app. You can pick and choose your rowing classes BUT they also offer strength, stretching, yoga, Pilates and more. It’s definitely an app for overall fitness and not just rowing.
6: The class lengths are anywhere from 5 minutes to 45 minutes. I love hopping on for 10 minutes before a run. The Hydrow works 86% of your major muscle groups, so it’s a great way to warm up before running/cycling/lifting weights.
7: Just like Peloton, you don’t have to take a class. You can simply select a body of water and row freely. The screen will display a camera on the bow of a boat so you feel like you’re rowing in the water too. It’s an easy way to row on your own without an instructor whether you want to make it more intense or just take a leisurely row.
You don’t need special shoes to row. It’s really easy to change the foot pedals to different shoe sizes if multiple people in your family want to use it. Each person also gets their own account. With a touch of a button on the screen, my account opens which shows the classes I have taken, bookmarked and then it suggests classes for me based on what I’ve previously done. It also remembers my preferred drag (difficulty in pulling back).
For instance…
…the other day, it recommended this class for me based on how many of Mac’s classes I’ve done in the past plus the length and “type” of class.
Here is the screen that shows the different drop down options to filter your perfect row. See…
And here I am rowing 🙂 . This was her talking in the intro, so that’s why none of my stats are starting. There was 46 seconds left until the class officially started. The intros are each one minute where they break down the location and that day’s row.
It’s really cool to see where they row!
They often turn the camera around so you see the boat that’s following the instructor videoing the class.
After a full year of owning a Hydrow, I can confidently say that I really, really enjoy it! We do have ours outside because I want to pretend I’m actually rowing with them and for whatever reason, being out with the weather makes it feel much more like I’m on the water. Of course, it would be ideal indoors unless you’re crazy like me 😉 .
I really like the Hydrow, but do you know who loves it???
This kid! Smith Shull took to the Hydrow so quickly and loved it so much that he’s now about to do his third week of rowing camp on the water in Dallas. HE LOVES IT!!!! Who knew my Mother’s Day gift would end up being something to bring out a passion in Smith we didn’t know existed?! So super cool.
I’m sure you have questions about the Hydrow! Please comment and I’ll answer them for you!!!
Don’t forget, you can also see SHAY’S GUIDE TO RUNNING and MY WORKOUTS IN A WEEK posts too!
Happy Monday…er…Tuesday, friends! I’ll see you tomorrow! xx
Elspeth says
I love your different reviews on products! So helpful and honest! Hope you had a great holiday weekend!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Laura says
Sounds like a great workout! Have you read The Boys in the Boat? It’s the true story of the gold winning American row team in Hitler’s Olympics. I think there is a juvenile version Smith could read! It’s one of the best books I have ever read.
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh! Thank you so much for the rec!
Sarah says
I came on to recommend this book too. It’s so good!
Talia says
Such a great book!
Leslie S says
Yes this was an awesome book! I had no idea there was a version for younger readers – looking that up now!!
Lynne P. says
Fantastic book. Got the juvenile version for my grandkids.
Elizabeth Feldpausch says
Thank you for sharing!! I love that not only did Smith start using it but it helped him discover something he loves!!
Jess says
Thank you for sharing! I too am obsessed with my Peloton and I was pumped when they announced they’re making a rower. It will be nice to compare and contrast with the Hydrow once Peloton releases more details.
Lisa D says
Isn’t it great when our kids latch onto a hobby, sport or activity when they see their parents love something, and then they make it their own! My daughter took up cross country running in high school after watching me run for years, and she ended up lettering in it. That Hydrow looks like a great workout and fun too!
Amy says
Does Andrew use it? We’ve been considering getting one, but my husband is 6’7” and we’re not sure it’ll work for him.
Mix and Match Mama says
He doesn’t use it nearly as much as Smith and I do, but he has used it and fits on it! That’s a great question!
Keryn says
Boys in the Boat is great and Lessons in Chemistry also has a rowing component. You didn’t mention the swag when you hit certain milestones. Love my Hydrow as well and think it’s a great company.
Ginger says
If you could only have the Peloton or Hydrow, which would you choose and why?
Mix and Match Mama says
I answered this in two other comments above, so make sure you read those too! I would pick Peloton because, at least for me, I can make those classes more intense and they kick my butt more.
Jordan says
Ohh thanks for this! I would love a tour of your garage gym as I am thinking of setting one up in our garage. Especially since I am also in the south.
Debra says
If you were able to choose only one as “best overall” for cardio and strength, would it be the Peleton or Hydrow?
Mix and Match Mama says
I would pick my Peloton because I think I can make it “kick my butt” more than Hydrow. Peloton can get brutal.
Christina says
My husband was a rower and went through high school to college and did some Olympic camps before “retiring”. He has such fond memories of the time he spent on the water and with the members of his team 🙂 It’s super fun that Smith is enjoying it! It was a sport I wasn’t really aware of in my younger years.
Leisha Hemphill says
If you had to choose between the peloton and the rower- what would you choose?
Mix and Match Mama says
We have a stairmill at our house too and if I were to put all three in order of favorite to least favorite, I would say: Peloton, Hydrow and then the stairmill. Andrew though would say stairmill, Peloton, Hydrow.
Michele says
So great that Smith likes using this also. Do any of your high schools there in Texas, have a rowing team, he could eventually be apart of? Several of our private high schools in Pennsylvania, have boys & girls teams.
Mix and Match Mama says
There are a few private schools in the Dallas area that do, but none here in our area.
Alison says
I have been eyeing a rower for years! This one looks amazing! Nobody would want to see me doing the workout on it. Ha! 😉
Candice I says
Are those yellow sneakers hokas? I think I just got the same pair! If not, what brand are they? I love the color!
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes!!! I love them!
Amy Grace Duncan says
So cool! We lived in Philadelphia for 5 years while my husband did his medical residency there. There are TONS of universities that have rowing teams, and they would often have (meets? Regattas?) whatever they call them right there in the river in Philly! I could see Smith, your renaissance man, doing that!!❤️
Scarlett Spangler says
Smith taking up rowing… I mean, could that kid get any more awesome?! Love it.
Erika Slaughter says
AHHHH!!! Love seeing Smith rowing! Super cool!
Theresa Childs says
So where do you row ? I’m thinking about your Texas heat. I would love to have a Hydro !
Mix and Match Mama says
There are ponds and lakes for rowing all over. It’s super hot here, so probably better to do it earlier in the day!