The latest competitor in connected rowing is designed to make waves. Hydrow’s Arc rower marries an expansive, 24-inch HD display with data-driven coaching tools in a bid to be the most inspiring at-home rowing machine for those seeking studio polish, silent resistance and real guidance that helps you actually improve your form.
Rowing brings with it plenty of potential upside already: research referenced by British Rowing points out that rowing’s stroke pattern can hit about 80–86% of major muscle groups, and Harvard Medical School suggests a 30‑minute stint can burn you anywhere from 250 to 370 calories depending on workload. The Arc’s spiel is basic: grab those benefits with a smarter, more immersive experience that keeps you engaged.
Design: big screen, quiet drive, premium feel
The headline is the display: a 24-inch touch panel that’s big enough to make river workouts feel cinematic and on-screen coaching easy to follow. Front-facing speakers offer volume and clarity, external speakers aren’t required (nor are headphones for monitoring in general), and the interface is designed to serve up split, stroke rate, heart rate and target cues at a glance.
Inside, the Arc employs an electromagnetic resistance system, a notch finer than the air drag common on gym stalwarts. The payoff is dual-fold — virtually silent use for shared environments and smooth, consistent resistance throughout the stroke. A cushioned seat and molded, non-slip handle finalize the ergonomics so you can focus on form — not hotspots.
Specs underscore the serious intent: a footprint of approximately 86 by 25 inches, height about 48 inches, machine weight around 147 pounds and user weight capacity to 375 pounds. It’s a big piece of equipment, the sort you purchase once to anchor a home gym.
Coaching: HydroMetrics, data into feedback
What sets the Arc apart is Hydrow’s new HydroMetrics system, bringing clear scoring and targeted guidance on how you just did. You don’t just see generic “good job” symbols; you get instant feedback on sequencing — catch timing, leg drive, body swing and finish — and how power is applied throughout the stroke.
That’s important because the bulk of self-taught rowers unlock their backs too soon or rush the slide, leaking watts and risking overuse aches. The Arc highlights those tendencies so you can correct on the next interval, not weeks later. As the HydroMetrics index follows development in this single rowing discipline, so too does it chronicle progress across three pillars—technique quality, power output and endurance—meaning gains are represented by more than simply a faster split.
Hydrow says the Arc’s AI analysis of an enormous stream of sensor data simplifies into practicable cues. Or, simply put, if your stroke rate drifts but the split doesn’t drop right along with it, then this system nudges you to lengthen and push harder through the legs rather than just spinning a rating. That’s the kind of coaching competitive rowers have been getting on boathouse docks — now landing in a living room.
Training library and membership: content, profiles, cost
Where the hardware truly shines is with a Hydrow membership, which provides access to thousands of scenic and studio workouts and off-erg (rowing machine) sessions including strength, mobility and yoga.
Multiple profiles per home let multiple users monitor their own metrics and programs. Membership costs approximately $44 per month, which is comparable to other connected fitness platforms.
In addition to variety, that programming is structured: technique primers, progressive endurance chops, power intervals and recovery rows. For adherence, that matters. Something like the CDC’s recommendation of 150 weekly minutes of moderate aerobic activity; a plan that alternates between guided rows and strength add-ons can help you hit those minutes more easily.
Arc vs. the field: Concept2, Peloton, NordicTrack
Compared with the Concept2 RowErg, the Arc is quieter, more cinematic and more coach-forward. Concept2 is still the gold standard for pure erg feel and ecosystem (at least, among competitive rowers), but you need third-party apps to get guided content and it’s much louder because of air resistance.
From Peloton, Row delivers a similar ultra-big-screen experience and sensor-based form feedback, with the core class vibe of Peloton. The Arc retaliates with electromagnetic smoothness, and Hydrow’s waterway workouts are — more “on the river,” less “in the studio.” NordicTrack’s RW900, linked to iFit, brings you a large swiveling screen and outdoor routes at a cheaper street price, but doesn’t have as granular coaching on rowing technique as HydroMetrics.
In brief, if you want to refine your technique as well as use immersive water-based content, the Arc is the most holistic package. If you’re looking for race-erg heritage or the lowest cost of entry, rivals still hold appeal.
Price, value and who it’s for: buyers best suited
The Arc costs about $2,295, before accessories or membership. That’s high-end real estate, but the math is simple: a whisper-quiet drive that won’t wake your living space, a jumbo screen that makes starting rowing as frictionless as can be and coaching that helps meaningfully tighten your stroke. For some, a form tutor is what it is. It’s a daily meter machine with actionable metrics if you’re an experienced rower.
If price is the swing factor, Hydrow’s other in-home rowing machines and fan-only rowers are more affordable while still providing a full-body workout. But if you’re in the market for a connected rower that’s “best overall” — accounting for build quality, intelligence and programming smarts — the Arc just solidified its status as the one to beat.
Bottom line: should you buy Hydrow Arc’s new rower?
Hydrow Arc features a 24-inch display and flywheel, quiet electromagnetic resistance, plus smart feedback that addresses the most common technique leaks. Toss in wide programming and user profiles, and the result is a rower that’s not just built to look good in a room — but actually get used consistently enough to move the fitness needle.
