Black Friday rowing machine deals are go—half off Echelon at Amazon!

Echelon likes to undercut the competition but still provides a high-end connected experience. One reason it's cheaper is that there's no built-in screen, but if you already own a tablet or decent-sized smartphone then it's a smart way to save and the holder is secure. This model is also impressively quiet, the rail folds and there are cleverly placed buttons for changing the magnetic resistance on the handles.

Echelon has inexplicably raised its sale price by $100, perhaps knowing it's soundly beaten by Amazon, with Best Buy almost price matching. Both Amazon and Best Buy beat last year's best Black Friday price.

Best Black Friday price last year: $599.99

Sure, there are cheaper rowing machines out there, but this is the most affordable model we've tested and would still recommend. The 750R is super quiet and the rail folds up to make it easier to store. It also connects to the iFit app for follow-along rowing workouts, you need to use your own tablet.

After being originally beaten on price by 99 cents, Best Buy has undercut Walmart by $50.

The Hydrow Wave is quite possibly the best home rowing machine, taking the smooth action and slick connected experience of the original Hydrow, and making it smaller and cheaper. There's a bigger discount on the original Hydrow, but you need significantly more space for that beast.

Best Black Friday price last year: $1,445

Price match: Amazon | Best Buy

This premium machine distinguishes itself by auto-adjusting the resistance in line with the demands of the trainer in the iFit app. Bear in mind you'll need to pay the ongoing cost of the app, but sign up for a year's membership (or longer) and you'll get a mat to protect your floor and a heart rate monitor to sweeten the deal.

Last year's discount was much greater, but it was on a 2020 model so I've discounted it as it's not a like-for-like comparison.

Price match: Best Buy

If you don’t like exercise classes, Aviron's gamified approach might suit you better (although it also offers exercise classes)—one Space Invaders-esque game helped our reviewer of an earlier model race through 2,000m without even realizing it. Another advantage of this rowing machine is that it has a higher seat, a real benefit if you have limited mobility. The Aviron Strong wasn't reduced last year, which is why there's no price comparison.

Price match: Amazon

The Hydrow Rower is a firm favorite with coached introductory sessions and immersive follow-along workouts, it's perfect for beginners. While the Hydrow Wave is cheaper, the frame of the original feels more expansive (because it's bigger) and the screen is bigger too.

Best Black Friday price last year: $1,745

Price match: Amazon | Best Buy

Like the Echelon Row, but with a 22" rotating touchscreen for follow-along workouts, both on and off the rower, as well as 32 levels of magnetic resistance and a foldable design for easier storage.

Amazon has undercut Echelon by $100.

Best Black Friday price last year: $1,292.70

It's not reduced, but any recommendation that doesn't ask you to consider buying the RowErg isn't worth your time. It's cheaper and more robust than many rivals (it's a staple of gyms and CrossFit boxes the world over), and also offers the connected experience by linking to Concept2’s ErgData platform or third party apps like Fiit, Regatta and Kinomap. Its downsides are that it looks (and is) utilitarian and noisy.

My colleague used this budget rowing machine for six months as part of her rehab after ankle surgery. It was quiet and the folding rail meant it could be stashed in a cupboard out of the way. It won't provide the same challenge as the other rowing machines on this list, but if you're returning to exercise and want to spend as little as possible, it's a great option and you won't be buying a lemon.

Best Black Friday price last year: £212.49

Both sides of the Atlantic benefit from Hydrow deals this Black Friday/ Cyber Monday, with the UK store slashing the price by £500, and beating last year's Black Friday price. If you have the space, it's hard to beat.

Best Black Friday price last year: £1,395

The more compact and affordable Hydrow has been discounted in the UK too, and it's back to its best price.

Best Black Friday price last year: £1,235

If you'd like the air resistance of the Concept2 without the price tag, this is a solid mid-price option. It mixes air and magnetic resistance, but doesn't need to be plugged in—helpful if you plan on placing it in a gargae where there's no power supply. The rail also folds up and you can connect a heart rate monitor to the display.

This rowing machine is already an affordable option for those seeking a smart rower, and dropped to its best Black Friday price from last year. It boasts a compact, foldable design and connects to an app for hundreds of interactive workouts, which you can stream from a phone or tablet mounted in the secure holder.

Buy it from Sweatband, which has undercut both Echelon and Amazon.

Best Black Friday price last year: £576

The Aviron experience isn't like those offered by other rowers, but it is a lot of fun. The Aviron platform uses games, rather than traditional workout formats, to encourage you to hold certain paces, outputs or stroke rates. The result: our reviewer of an older Aviron machine racked up the miles without realizing.

This deal matches the discount on a discontinued Aviron rower last year.