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Air vs Magnetic: The Debate Goes On and On

6/22/2014

4 Comments

 
Air is noisy but is closer to rowing on water than oddly enough a water resi
Earth's magnetic fieldAir v magnetic - the eternal battle for supremacy rages on!
Unless you're into rowing, rowing machines or currently researching the market for one, this debate will most likely have passed you by :0) And to be honest, you probably couldn't give a damn.

But. In the world of fitness rowing it refuses to lie down and die. The question being...

"Which is best? An air or magnetic resistance?

On one side of the ring you'll find club rowers (and invariable users of a Concept2 machine), and on the other... well anyone who doesn't want to annoy the neighbors when they're trying to get into shape in their own home!

So Who Is Right?
This is going to sound like a cop out, but it depends on what you want from a rowing machine to determine what is meant by 'best' in the question above.

Let's make some noise for AIR
First of all the indisputable facts (in my view). Yes AIR is better when it comes to replicating what a stroke feels like when rowing on the water. 

The air mechanism uses a damper setting to control how much air is allowed into the housing containing the flywheel. Higher settings let in more air which means you have to work harder to move the wheel through the air, At the high settings, the fan also slows down quicker which then means you have to pull harder to get it spinning again. The feel of the resistance will change throughout the stroke just as it would with the oar dipping in and out of the water.

So a rower will tell you air is far better because it feels like the real thing - so in your face magneto!

But, as my witty (yet also informative) title suggests, air rowers are noisy. Not a problem if you in the club house at your rowing club, but maybe an issue for the home fitness rower.

Concept2 have a good description on their website here. But in brief, the damper should be thought of as gears on a bike and not as a setting to row harder. That is, you can just as much as a workout on a bike in a low gear as you can in a high gear - it comes down to terrain.

Top air rowing machines include the Concept2 D and Concept2 E - by some distance better than anything else in this category.

Now give it up for MAGNETIC
So moving on to the blue corner. As the name suggests, a magnetic rower uses magnets to create resistance for your muscles to grapple with. As you increase the setting, more magnets (or a pair of magnets) are moved closer to the metal flywheel to slow down the spin.

The main difference is that the feel of the resistance is the same throughout the stroke cycle and is not the same as being in a real boat.

As hinted above, because their is no air flowing around the wheel, a magnetic model is much quieter and therefore may be a better option is you live in an apartment or don't want to alienate your family and friends.

Another reason you may consider a magnetic rower is the ability to use heart rate programs. You have a pay extra for one of these but they're worth it. The console can monitor your pulse rate and change the resistance accordingly to keep you working at a specific target pulse rate. There are a great way to get the most out of your workouts (see why in the link above) and are a reason why many choose a magnetic rower - so take that you airheads!

A great rower of this type is the LifeCore R100.

As a potential buyer, you;ll find both air and magnetic machines throughout the price range. 

The main questions to ask yourself are

1. Would a noisy machine be a problem? If yes, go for magnetic.
2. Will I being taking up rowing for a sport? If yes, go for air.
3. Do I want to use heart rate programs? If yes, go for magnetic (check it comes with this feature before buying)

If none of the above are a particular issue it doesn't really matter and it may come down to other features that will make up your mind. Both types will get you fit (if you use it) and if you go for one of the quality machines I've mentioned above, both types could last for years.

So there you go. Air or magnetic? Does it really matter :0)

4 Comments
Monique
1/24/2016 05:17:04 pm

I am considering 2 rowers the Everlast® 'EV796' Deluxe Rower and the stamina x air rower. I can't seem to find any reviews on these products. Space is a bit of a concern, but nosie isn't. I have used the air rowers in the gym (long times ago), but have never used a magnetic. Can you help me decide.

Reply
Roy
1/25/2016 01:04:14 am

Hi Monique, we have reviewed the x rower on this site, check the reviews page for the link, but not the everlast. The x rower is quite a sturdy machine and has some reasonable features for the price, but do check the dimensions on our review page if space is limited.

Roy

Reply
Rafael link
11/8/2020 01:38:48 pm

Hi Roy, I can't find any info on my problem so I am asking you as you are an expert on rowing machines, hope you don't mind and can help me.
How can a squeaky cylinder in a rowing machine (Avita 950 Professional) be fixed?
It is a very bothersome noise and I don't want to get my neighbours mad.
Thank you
Rafael

Reply
Hi Rafael
11/8/2020 01:57:11 pm

If the retailer or Avita can't help you, there should be a parts number somewhere on the cylinder. You can try Googling the parts number to find a supplier. It looks very similar to the cyclinders that Kettler use - they might be a better bet if you can't find the part online.

Hope that helps.
Roy

Reply



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    Author

    Roy Palmer is an athletics coach, teacher of The Alexander Technique and a rowing fanatic.

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  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Benefits
    • weightloss
    • Rowing Machine Technique
    • rower verses exercise bike
    • rower verses treadmill
    • rower verses elliptical cross trainer
    • Injuries
    • Setting Goals
  • Brands
  • Buyers Guide
    • Compare
    • Types
    • used
    • Dropshippers
    • terminology
    • retailer strategies
    • Buy from store or web
    • Help
  • UK Rowers
  • Workouts
    • Example Workouts
    • Tabata Rowing Workouts
    • Time Trial Workouts
    • Duration Workout
    • Heart Rate Training Programs
    • Rowing Machine Workout Program
    • Training Apps
    • Bad Workout Habits
  • Concept2
    • Model D vs Model E
  • WaterRower
  • Blog
  • The zone
    • Awareness and Focus
    • Peak Performance Zone
  • Fitness Tests
    • Cardio Vascular Fitness Test
    • Balance Test
    • Coordination Test
  • Maintenance
    • mats
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
    • Your Privacy
    • Disclaimer