Rowing machines are one of the most beneficial and most popular items of fitness equipment currently on the market. They can help improve muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness, and are ideal for home use.

If you've ever been to your local gym you'll undoubtedly have seen rowing machines in use, or even had a go yourself. Most gyms will buy some of the top of the range rowers with the best features, reliability and durability. Home rowing machines can cost a lot less, though like a lot of fitness equipment, you often get what you pay for.

Some of the cheaper equipment does not include features like heart rate reading, distance, time, and resistance, plus the quality of build may not be too good. For this reason it is also a good idea to read reviews, comparisons, and ratings, to discover which rowing machine is the best within your budget.

The benefit of buying a rower for the home is being able to use it where you want, and as often as you like. Depending which equipment you choose, they can also be stored underneath beds or folded away under a couch when not in use.

The fitness equipment industry is huge, and as a consequence items such as rowing machines are available from a number of manufacturers and with different specifications. The four main types are piston, water, magnetic, and air resistance, though water and air rowers are often more popular because they provide a more realistic and natural motion. However, you can expect to pay a little more for these two types because of this.

Rowing machines are generally around 6-feet in length, so when using at home you need to consider the space available to use it in. You also need to be wary of the surface on which it will be used. Some of the cheaper rowers do not have adequate floor protectors, and can quickly damage carpet and wood flooring. You should either buy floor protectors or use on a non-marking surface.