5 things I like about the Hydrow Wave smart rowing machine — and 2 I don't

This article is part of our Get Fit for '26 series, in which our writers talk about the wellness and fitness challenges and experiences they've taken on, and the ones set to shape the year ahead. You can read all the articles in the series here.

Using a smart rowing machine, or even rowing in general, wasn’t on my 2026 predictions or resolutions, but as brutally tough as rowing can be, I’m rather glad it is.

I’ve been using the Hydrow Wave, the company’s more compact smart rowing machine, since November last year, and while I’ve very much at the beginning of my journey with rowing as a fitness-building and fat-burning activity, I’ve already got a suite of thoughts about the Hydrow Wave and Hydrow’s smart rowing experience.

In short, I think it’s an excellent machine and ...