Elliptical or Rower

Are you asking because you are purchasing a machine? Or are you going to a facility where you have a choice? I alternate between 2-3 different cardio machines weekly so I don't get into a complacent rut AND to work different parts of my body.

"An elliptical burns slightly more calories per hour than a rowing machine, according to the Harvard School of Public Health"

http://woman.thenest.com/rowing-machine-vs-elliptical-trainer-1359.html

If you are purchasing, think carefully about which motion you would prefer to do nearly every day, rowing or stepping. Calorie burns on a machine can be altered with intensity/duration.

I tend to favor the rowing machine. Like the above link discusses, it uses more of your body. I don't know what your experience has been, but there have been times when, while using an elliptical, my hands were really just along for the ride while my lower body did the work. On a rowing machine, the upper / mid / lower body motions are distinct, making it easier to make sure everything's doing its share.

In doing this, it can also help develop more muscles, which can give you a little boost as far as LBM that burns calories outside of exercise. (The muscles used also include upper body ones that can contribute to the "V" form often sought after in male physiques. It's far from my motivation for using a rower, but it's an appreciated side-effect.)


Also, when I got to a point I was looking to equip my home gym, I went with a rowing machine because it could fold up and occupy less space when not in use without losing much in the way of performance. The only thing that had to be "foldable" was the beam that does nothing except provide the track the seat rolls on. I don't know if ellipticals can fold up without having to alter the design of important moving / working parts.

I have a Weider home gym (with a weighted rowing option) and an elliptical machine. I use both - alternate days. As someone above said - I get very little in the way of arms with the elliptical. I get a LOT of upper back, core and arm workout with the rowing, but then it's weighted. The elliptical is very cardio oriented - the rower in my case, at least, is more strength oriented.

I have both & like both but if you get bored easily I'd go with the elliptical. When you row you'll either do an aerobic or anaerobic workout but the motion is the same. With an elliptical you can pedal forwards, backwards, at an incline, go hands free & do partial squats and/or oblique twists, hold hand weights.

I vote rowing ergometer. It is not purely cardio, and if done correctly will burn way more calories than an elliptical.
That Harvard School of Public Health link, if you read the whole article, the key line is actually ...
"Because of the increased muscle use necessary for rowing, your metabolism will stay elevated longer after your workout, resulting in a higher post-workout calorie burn."

So, I would say get a Concept II for home (it will come with some workouts and pictures for how to use it properly) or use one at a gym - but be sure to have someone who has actually rowed show you how to use it. Once you get the motion and rhythm correct it'll all be good. Don't be one of those people heaving and yanking on the handle with the tension cranked to 10 and then letting it pull them back to the catch position so they fly up the slide at warp speed. Aaaaaaaa!!!!! If you want to do the deadlift, go get a bar bell.

Your burn is going to be largely a bi-product of time and intensity, not what machine or exercise you are doing. Personally I would opt for a rower though...because it seems less boring.

I use the elliptical when I'm dragging and not up to a more strenuous machine. I use the rower when I'm feeling strong and can handle it. IOW, a rower kicks my butt and an elliptical doesn't.

I like the rower, too. Though, I use it to warm up before I lift (since ours is also weighted), not as my main form of cardio.

The one at my gym has games on it, basically on the technological level of Frogger or Snake, but still pretty entertaining. Plus, I get to pretend I'm Francis Underwood (House of Cards, anyone?).

Ah, see, I'm not one who wants to be distracted when I'm exercising. I want to focus on my exercise and put all my effort into it. Watching a movie is for kicking back, not kicking butt, for me.

Zyaedra wrote: »

I've owned an elliptical, treadmill, and a rower (all at separate times). After about 2 months, both the treadmill and elliptical machines were basically expensive coat racks. Don't get me wrong, they are both fantastic machines, they just didn't hold my interest. The rower (Concept2), on the other hand, holds my interest (it's fun, IMO) and the results have proven to be very rewarding (for me). With the exception of a 3 week (out of town) vacation, I've been rowing on a regular basis since late August.

Why I like the rower over the treadmill and elliptical:

• The rower REQUIRES the use of my arms AND legs. Because of this, I am seeing results all over my body, not just the upper or lower. I have noticeable muscles in my biceps for the first time ever, too.
• The "breeze" felt when moving backward and forward is quite rewarding once I start building up a sweat. Also, the air doesn't seem to get stale.
• I burn more calories on the rower than I did on the others--according to my HRM, I currently average about 660 calories per hour.

I've lost nearly 40 pounds since late August due to a combination of diet (calorie deficit) and exercise (mostly rowing). I think it would benefit you to visit a gym and try out the machines that interest you before you purchase anything. Good luck!

Not that it's a big deal, but an HRM will likely overestimate calorie burn on a rower. You might want to try the calculator on the C 2 website as a comparison. Since you are losing weight, it doesn't mean that much, but if you are interested in the numbers it might be useful.

MatthewL3382 wrote: »

This may be beating a dead horse but I will ask anyway. My goal is to lose 50+ lbs. I have a stationary recumbent bike and it can get boring at times. Between an elliptical and a rower which would y'all recommended to burn maximum calories? Thanks in advance.

If you want to lose 50 pounds, then your best best is really not to get either one. Use that money and space to get a bench and some dumbells. That way you can preserve your lean body mass while burning fat.

If your stationary bike is getting boring, then both the elliptical and rower will be probably get boring pretty soon too. Try to vary your exercise routine on the bike. Do HIIT some days on it, while doing longer moderate paces on other days. Or set up an Xbox in front of the bike and play some games while pedaling.

Or even better, start exercising outside.

Zyaedra wrote: »

debubbie wrote: »

I have a Sole E25 elliptical at my house for a quick cardio workout when I don't feel like going to the gym. I typically use the rower (Concept 2) and treadmill when I go to the gym for a cardio workout, but get more of strength workout on the rower than the treadmill. I like that I can adjust incline, resistance level, go backwards to hit different muscles, and work my arms on my elliptical.

I think the bigger selling point for me on the elliptical versus the rower is that I can set my tablet on the elliptical and watch movies or read while I workout, whereas on the rower I can't do this and I get bored fairly quickly! That may be something worth considering.

I imagine that an iPad mount could be fixed to the arm the performance monitor is attached to if someone wanted to watch movies or read on their iPad while rowing

It doesn't help for reading (which you can't really do unless you're willing to pause or learn how to row one-handed so you can turn the pages), but for TV / Movies, I just use a regular iPad stand and set it on the floor to one side. Sure, it might not be as convenient as having the TV right in front of me, but it's a no-modifications-necessary solution.

If you already have a bike, no injuries, rower, hands down.

(I'm no expert on the mechanics or technique, just prefer it. Easier to get into a kind of meditative zone, good headspace to be in. But maybe headspace is not your main criterion. So another reason: most ellipticals just feel awkward.)