NordicTrack - RW900 - Black

I was on a college rowing team (50 years ago) for 4 years and also rowed for a boat club during the summers so I know rowing. I have stopped running but still wanted a low impact, good workout. I purchased the NT RW900 and I have been very pleased with how close this machine mimics actual rowing, and I've only just begun. My legs handle the workout well because I ride a road bike. I have had to start more easily with this machine as I have to build up strength in my arms and chest which do not receive much exercise on a bike. But right from the start I have I have enjoyed good workouts. I really enjoy this machine. I'm still trying to get the IFITS connection to work but that does not detract from the quality of the RW900. It seems to be very well built. I set it up myself but another pair of hands would have been helpful. I am really looking forward to many good rowing sessions especially when winter sets in in Minnesota. I am very satisfied with this product.

Bought this rower for my husband. He gets up very early so it’s hard for him to get to the gym. He gets a whole body workout it’s amazing. He loves the videos and is now obsessed with NordicTrack! I plan on using input too! (New Years Resolution:)

So far so good. Im able to get a full body workout in about 40mins.

Excellent work out. Easy to put together. It comes with easy instructions and actually pretty much ready.

My wife and I have used rower for 2 weeks now. Great quality and construction. Screen is huge! Screen has adjustable height and tilts left/right (see picture; not sure what other reviewer’s problem with screen adjustment was). iFit membership for a year was included, which isn’t the case for other rower memberships. Videos so far have been helpful, good motivation and have a nice variety of workouts. I’ve never owned NordicTrack but I’m a fan so far. Recommend.

I waited on buying this until real reviews came out. They never really did but noticed I could get a no interest buy with my Best Buy card. So I bought it. I chose this over Hydrow based on the yearly cost of the Norditrack being much cheaper. I am writing this review in August 2019. Ugh! Negatives: 1. One-year subscription to iFit is missing. I have contacted Norditrack twice. They tell me they are going to e-mail the info, but it never comes. This is a $180/year I am missing out on. If this goes on for a few more weeks, I'll likely just pay for it out of pocket and hopefully if the free year comes, it will just be added on to what I purchased. 2. Meanwhile, while I wait, there is ONE free daily training by a trainer. Well, it hasn't changed in the week I have plugged in my monitor. 3. I received a bad monitor. Support sent me a new cord, even though I could tell it was the whole monitor. Well, the new cord took a week. And then it didn't work. They sent a new monitor, and a tech to my house. He confirmed the first monitor had an issue and the new one worked. (note: my issue was the two cords that go into the monitor. I find it odd they are 'pinned' connectors and not like USB. The tech had issues getting the cords into the monitor.) 4. There isn't a turn off button/switch. You have to unplug it. It's a computer so unplugging it could lead to issues down the line. 5. I can only go by the one free training but I noticed that the trainer says "We are going to increase the tension." But the tension was increased like 30 seconds before. So the automated tension changes with the trainings don't sync up that well. 6. There is a manually mode but I have had issues with the distance not working properly. I use it and the distance says "0 meters." I will need to contact support on that next week (they are only open during the week via online chat). 7. Off decision is where the pull cord has a "holder" but it's too close to where you hook in your feet. But it's really an unnecessary feature so don't let it bother you. They should have used this area to hold a cup or mobile phone. 8. The iFit wording and layout is clearly converted from a treadmill. There is an oval track for manual training. They can update this in the future, but it comes off as lazy design work. 9. The monitor only does iFit training. You can't watch TV or surf the net. 10. On the IFit web site, it shows you can create your own workouts. But it gives you two options: Run or Cycle. This rower is $1600, yet they can't even have the web site fully integrate with it? 11. There is a camera but it doesn't seem to do anything. 12. There are no live training options (like Hyrdrow offers) that I can see (even blacked out as I don't have full access). 13. The map routes you build are just Google Maps. And so it's not video but images. Wish they had some video options of real river/locations. Positives: 1. Easy to put together. One person can do it in about an hour. Take your time, and make sure everything is snug. 2. It's what I call "white noise" quiet. It's a pull strap and a fan wheel going around. So it's a smooth sound. But it's a manual fan so the faster you go, the louder it in. I feel if someone had it in one bedroom, the person in the bedroom next to it won't hear it and won't be bothered by it. 3. There is a manual tension but if you use the monitor during the training, you can change it on the screen. The on-screen option gives you more "steps" of tension. Sort of wish they put a second location to do the digital adjustments like on the machine like near your feet. 4. The screen is nice sized and bright. Responsive touch. 5. I purchased the iFit Bluetooth heartbeat strap. While the instructions aren't very clear, it's actually easier to connect than you think. Just put the strap on your chest, and the rower detects it automatically. 6. IFit saves your workouts on their web site and on the machine. This includes the heartbeat monitor results. This is great for showing what you did in a week, month, year. Even includes a place to put in your weight and other workouts (but it's limited in choices so you'd have to put elliptical or weight training in as cycling, I guess). 7. Build quality seems to be fine. I think parts could have been cleaner/better, but it's not bad.

We are still getting to know all the features, but we purchased this to use as a family. My children are 12, 15, and 19 and all exhibited early signs of "texting posture" with rounded shoulders from hours spent hunched over their devices. Not unique to my kids, unique to this generation. My physical therapist wife felt like rowing would be a great and engaging exercise for them and all of us to do. Since we live 10+ miles from the nearest gym, we invested in the RW900. With all it's many adjustments, the machine can easily accommodate me 5'4" 100lb 12 year old all the way up to my 6'3" 240lb frame. My wife likes to row the digital course for time, while I like the get out "on the water" with an instructor and "go somewhere". We haven't downloaded new routines yet simply because we have limited internet where we are, but the machine comes with great routines for every skill level. Recommend.

The concept is great, the design is good, hardware is of strong quality. IFit trainers are good, some better than others but it’s a personal preference too. The issue is with the iFit console and software. Looks like they decided to go cheap and used low quality hardware, poor processor on it. Worse is the fact that the software is buggy. some workouts restart in the middle, where you loose a good 3-4 minutes waiting for machine to restart, and when it does restart, all your stats are gone. IFit Customer service is horrible! If they could fix the software issues then this thing is a keeper! If not then it’s a source of frustration.