by Gary Patterson |
Last Updated: May 16, 2021 Table of Contents
About NordicTrack Rowing Machines
NordicTrack is a premier fitness equipment brand that sells bikes, ellipticals, rowers, treadmills, dumbbells, and interactive training displays. Everyone can use their fitness technology, but it is often more expensive than the offerings of its competitors.
IFit membership is a key feature of NordicTrack. While optional, it provides you with workout programming that automatically adjusts incline, resistance, and other settings on your machine that can make your workout more or less difficult. There is a huge catalog of tutorials and workouts, including video instruction with motivational fitness instructors.
NordicTrack prides itself on being a brand that designs their products for your convenience. Their rowers and machines are made for personal indoor use, and great consideration is put into making them easily portable and lightweight, yet durable, and comfortable for long-term use.
NordicTrack RW200 Rower Review
The NordicTrack RW200 rower is the most basic rower model available by NordicTrack. It connects with iFit (NordicTrack’s membership service) but its display does not have video capability, meaning the workout programming occurs automatically, without the visual motivation of a professional fitness instructor. That sets it behind newer rower models, but also makes it less expensive.
The price of this rower is variable, depending on 3rd party suppliers, and, as an older model, it uses air resistance instead of magnetic resistance. But it is lightweight and functions extremely well as a highly-portable and efficient rowing machine.
This NordicTrack RW200 review will examine the rower’s technical details, its convenience as an at-home workout machine, display features, assembly process, and all you need to know to decide if this rower is right for you. While this rower has a number of excellent features, it also has a less than ideal resistance type and pricing variability.
Pros
- Superb folding, rolling, and storage capability
- Easy-to-use digital display
- Plug-in port for your personal devices
- Strap-in foot pedals
- Comfortable and form-fitting seat designed for long rows
- Lightweight with an alloy steel frame
- Workout programming available through iFit
- 1-Year iFit membership for free with purchase
Cons
- Air resistance generates noise as you row
- Difficult to purchase in the US
- Pricing is variable (3rd party suppliers)
- Weight capacity of 250lb
Technical Specifications
The NordicTrack RW200 rower weighs 111lb and has a weight capacity of 250lb. Its frame is black alloy steel, Terminator style, and has a solid four-legged base. The pedals for your feet have straps to keep you steady and focused on nailing your rowing form. To be precise about it, the rower is 84.75 inches long, 22 inches wide, and 43.5 inches high.
The seat where you spend all your time is shaped to fit you and be comfortable and noticeable during long rowing sessions. Twin speakers and a plug-in port let you sync with your personal device and listen to whatever you want while you row. Meanwhile, the display in front of you (whether or not you have an iFit membership) shows your strokes per minute, time, and calories burned, among other metrics.
The RW200 rower display is also where you change the air resistance setting, making your workout either easier or more difficult. All of it folds into a compact space that is easily tilted from one end and rolled into a closet or corner.
Resistance Type
Unfortunately this rower uses air resistance, which is normally the least-favored type due to the noise it generates while you row. But it’s become a familiar and comforting sound for some–kind of similar to cough medicine that works because it tastes bad–and clears their mind for a meditative workout session.
If background noises aren’t your thing, then you should strongly consider another rower, or at the very least watch YouTube videos of this rower in action to get a sense for the auditory experience.
In any case, the resistance level can be easily changed through NordicTrack’s display settings, clearly visible on the bottom row. Or you can go zombie-mode and have the iFit workout programming change your resistance settings while you row.
Price
Ordering the NordicTrack RW200 is as easy as placing an order on Amazon. The truly unfortunate part is that the price on Amazon varies depending on the 3rd-party supplier (it is also out of stock on the Amazon US store). So, this review recommends that you use Best Buy instead, where the RW200 rower is currently priced for $799.99 with a price match guarantee.
Shipping & Assembly
Assembly is required; prepare for pain and a potential breakup, if you dare attempt this procedure with your significant other. You may have better luck, in fact, having a mindless minion aid you in this task–mute, ideally–so you don’t get on each other’s nerves. If all goes well, you may share this customer experience: “assembly takes about 20 minutes.” Another customer commented that it is “very easy to assemble, but it is a two person job.”
This NordicTrack RW200 review wishes to tell you more details of the shipping process, but it’s handled by whichever 3rd-party supplier you decide to go with. Remember that your warranty is void if you purchase the rower from outside the US.
Setup
There is hardly any setup required for the NordicTrack RW200 rower. Once it’s assembled, the digital display will activate with an intuitive process that takes about a minute. Connecting it to your own devices may take longer, but this NordicTrack RW200 review did not find notable complaints about using the display interface.
There are ways to customize your experience that go beyond a simple setup, however, including using an HDMI cord to output the video to a second screen. It doesn’t have Bluetooth capabilities unless you buy a transmitter that plugs into the headphone jack.
Design and Features
This NordicTrack RW200 review gives an A+ to whoever designed this rower. The build is lightweight and modern, with excellent ability to be folded up, rolled, and stored in tight spaces. At the same time, the digital display is large and adjustable, and the pedals have straps to keep you stable during intense workouts.
Build Quality
Made of alloy steel, this rower is lightweight compared to its competitors, but as a result, less durable. However, the durable part shouldn’t really matter, unless you plan on throwing it off your roof (not recommended, as it would void your warranty). The build quality is what you expect from a rower, while also offering very manageable transportation with its pocket knife folding and rolling.
Comfort
The NordicTrack RW200 Rower is comfortable, with a large seat designed to the shape of your body. The digital display is adjustable, so that you can always view it with ease. The strap-in foot pedals catch your eye right away. With this feature, you have maximum stability and can focus 100% on your workout.
Capacity
You can safely use this rower if you weigh 250lb or under, which is lower than most other rowers. However, the upside is that the machine is less heavy and easier to fold, move, and store, which makes it suitable for people less confident in managing heavier rowing machines in their home.
Men, women, and people up to 250lb can use the machine. If you are at or close to 250lb, this NordicTrack RW200 review recommends that you check out other brands, which generally have a higher weight capacity.
This NordicTrack RW200 review did not find any complaints or notable comments about the rower’s capacity, which is a good sign that it is a good fit for almost anyone.
Display/LCD
This NordicTrack RW200 review went through the user manual and picked out the essential need-to-know features of the rower’s display. It’s a simple system with powerful software that motivates and otherwise aids your workout session. To turn it on, simply plug in the power cord and touch the screen.
You can change the resistance of the rowing machine from 1 through 26 using the PLUS and MINUS buttons on either side of the bottom of the screen. A higher resistance means that a successful row requires more effort. This adjustment panel is the most important part of the display and truly essential for you to customize your workout. But if you delve into the display’s features, you may not have to adjust the resistance level at all.
What makes the NordicTrack RW200 display special is its ability to connect to wifi and use iFit: NordicTrack’s members-only software that is packed with workout programs and tools for analyzing your fitness progression. You get this automatically with your RW200 Rower, as it comes with an automatically-renewing iFit yearly subscription (the first year is free). If you decide to use the iFit workout programs, it will change the resistance while you row.
On top of the workout programs, this NordicTrack RW200 review found that the display shows real-time metrics on your workout, including strokes per minute and calories burned. It can also connect to heart rate monitors. If you don’t want to use the iFit programming, you can easily connect your own music or audio books through the display instead.
Membership
The Nordictrack RW200 Rower comes with a free 1-year membership, which will auto-renew at a cost of $396 unless you cancel in advance. You don’t need the membership to use the rower, but it does assist with your workouts. Over 1 million customers, using different Nordictrack equipment, rated iFit 4.7/5 stars.
Nordictrack’s iFit membership connects you with personal trainers, who, through the display screen on your rower, instruct you through a workout program. They take away all the thought process, making you a fitness zombie–even going so far as to remotely change the resistance setting on your rower. All you have to do is obey.
As an app, iFit has a huge library of training videos and workout programs that seriously enhance your rowing experience. By following their regimen, your zombie muscles will be bursting with power. Fellow zombies at Forbes and Wired find iFit an excellent way to shut down your mind and offshore all decision making to Nordictrack.
Storage
One of the best features of this rower is the pocket knife folding ability. The entire thing bends in the middle until it touches its toes, so to speak, and is compact like a tall pyramid. This vertical shape is ideal for storage, and, overall, the RW200 Rower might be the most easily stored rower on the market. Fully folded, it is 43.8 inches high and 37.2 inches wide.
You can fit the RW200 Rower in your closet or a corner of your bedroom or living room. But keep it inside and safe from the elements, which could wear down and damage the rower over time. Store it in an upright position, without pressure on the display screen.
All you have to do to fold the rower is move the seat to the bottom of the rail, then lift the handle set in the middle of the rower and tip it forward. At this point the rower should be balanced on its front end, allowing you to pull the bottom half inward with the handle until it clamps shut.
This entire process is easy enough for you to complete on your own. The rower weighs 111lb and should be slightly tipped and rolled on its wheels for transportation, so don’t worry about being able to lift the entire machine.
Warranty
The Nordictrack RW200 Rower comes with three warranties:
- 5-Year frame warranty
- 1-Year parts warranty
- 1-Year labor warranty
The warranties only apply to the original owner, and it can only be applied to repairs or replacements. Unfortunately, this NordicTrack RW200 review must report that the brand pushes off a “minimal handling charge” to customers in the case of replacement parts being shipped in. The fine print goes on to say that you would also be billed a “minimal trip charge” for any technical service that occurs in your home.
You also need to know that the warranty does not cover damage during transit, and that the entire warranty will be vaporized under five conditions. To simplify, this NordicTrack RW200 review made a list of 5 Commandments, so that you can keep your warranty for its full duration.
1. Thou shalt not use the RW200 Rower in a store display
2. Thou shalt not purchase nor transport the RW200 Rower outside the US
3. Thou shalt heed every instruction and warning in the user manual
4. Thou shalt not abuse the RW200 Rower nor use it for strange purposes
5. Thou shalt not rent the RW200 Rower nor implement it for business
Final Thoughts
The NordicTrack RW200 stands apart from its competition as a superbly-designed rower that places the customer’s convenience above all else. From the free iFit membership to the pedal straps and digital display, this rower has everything you need and more for a successful home workout. If you don’t want to use the iFit programming, no problem–you can connect with your personal device for music or audiobooks.
The absolutely killer feature of this rower is the way it folds up completely. The process, using the handle centered on the machine, is intuitive and naturally leads into rolling the rower on one end. The fact that it’s lighter weight means it’s slightly less durable than other rowers, and has a lower weight capacity, but as a reasonably-priced at-home rower, it can’t be beat.
FAQ
Where can I purchase the Nordictrack RW200 Rower?
You can purchase the Nordictrack RW200 Rower also through the Nordictrack Amazon page, Walmart, and Best Buy, among other retailers.
Is there a Nordictrack RW200 Rower discount?
There are no sales or discounts at the time of this NordicTrack RW200 review. Rowing machines are highly-sought items, and increasingly so during the covid-19 pandemic. With one easily-stored machine, you get a full-body workout suitable for beginners and fitness freaks alike. Don’t expect discounts any time soon, but keep an eye on Nordtrack’s social media for the latest offerings–they may just surprise us with a summer sale.
While not a straight-up sale or discount, this NordicTrack RW200 review must mention that the brand includes a year-long family membership for their iFit membership with each purchase. It automatically renews at the end of the year, so be sure to cancel in advance if you don’t want to keep using it.
Does the Nordictrack RW200 Rower fold?
Yes, the Nordictrack RW200 Rower folds like a pocket knife. When used, the brilliant folding design makes it look like a yoga class instructor. NordicTrack RW200 reviews found that this compact form makes the rower incredibly easy to store in places like a closet or out-of-the-way corner, as well as to move from room to room.
Can you lose belly fat on a rowing machine?
Your belly fat will burn like crazy on a rowing machine. Rowing targets your abs and muscles throughout your entire body, making it one of the best workouts for getting lean and fit. But it’s not a magic solution: you still have to put in the time and effort.
Is rowing better for you than running?
For this NordicTrack RW200 review, there is no doubt that rowing is better for you than running. With proper form, rowing is one of the very healthiest and effective workouts you can do. It targets nearly 90% of the muscles in your body and, with changes to resistance, can tone and build muscles.
How to contact Nordictrack?
You can contact Nordictrack based on two categories.
1. The sales department can be contacted at 1-888-308-9616 and through their live chat, at any time between 6am on Monday and 10pm on Saturday MST
2. The service department can be contacted at 1-800-862-3348, Monday to Friday from 6am to 8pm MST and on Saturday from 7am to 5pm