NordicTrack
NordicTrack RW900
$1999
Best Rowing Machines · head-to-head
NordicTrack RW900 vs WaterRower Original Series (Oak)
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. WaterRower Original Series (Oak) is cheaper at $1199. Every spec and price links to its source.
WaterRower
WaterRower Original Series (Oak)
$1199Cheaper
Which is better: the NordicTrack RW900 or WaterRower Original Series (Oak)?
They split the 2 specs we compare evenly. The WaterRower Original Series (Oak) is the cheaper at $1199.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | NordicTrack RW900 | WaterRower Original Series (Oak) |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $1999 | $1199 |
| Brand | NordicTrack | WaterRower |
| Released | — | — |
| Resistance type | magnetic | water |
| Max user weight (lb) | 250 | 700 |
| Footprint (in) | 82 x 22 | 82 x 22 |
| Foldable | No | No |
| Monitor or touchscreen | 24-inch HD pivoting touchscreen | S4 Performance Monitor (LCD) |
| Subscription required | Yes | No |
| Weight (lb) | 158 | 67 |
| Release year | — | — |
Sources — NordicTrack RW900: nordictrack.com (verified 2026-06-15). WaterRower Original Series (Oak): waterrower.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the NordicTrack RW900 and WaterRower Original Series (Oak)?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Resistance type: NordicTrack RW900 magnetic vs WaterRower Original Series (Oak) water
- Max user weight (lb): NordicTrack RW900 250 vs WaterRower Original Series (Oak) 700
- Monitor or touchscreen: NordicTrack RW900 24-inch HD pivoting touchscreen vs WaterRower Original Series (Oak) S4 Performance Monitor (LCD)
- Subscription required: NordicTrack RW900 true vs WaterRower Original Series (Oak) false
- Weight (lb): NordicTrack RW900 158 vs WaterRower Original Series (Oak) 67
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
NordicTrack RW900
Three whitelisted hands-on reviews - Garage Gym Reviews (2023), Reviewed/USA Today (2021), and BarBend (2024) - rate the NordicTrack RW900 a strong-value smart rower. All three praise iFIT's instructor-led and scenic on-water classes, a solid/durable build with a smooth, stable stroke, and the large 22-inch tilting/pivoting HD touchscreen that enables off-rower workouts. GGR and BarBend additionally call the magnetic resistance quiet and the padded, contoured seat comfortable. GGR and Reviewed flag the low 250-lb weight limit; GGR and BarBend note that full functionality effectively requires a paid iFIT subscription and that the current unit is large and does not fold or store vertically. BarBend alone measured the 53-inch monorail, 15-inch seat height, and 13-inch pedals, and alone faulted resistance uniformity across the 26 levels. (3 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: iFIT programming with instructor-led and scenic on-water classes; Solid, durable build with a smooth, stable rowing stroke; Large 22-inch tilting/pivoting HD touchscreen enables off-rower workouts.
Flagged: Low 250-lb user weight capacity; Full functionality effectively requires a paid iFIT subscription; Large footprint that does not fold or store vertically (current version).
WaterRower Original Series (Oak)
Three whitelisted testers (Wirecutter, BarBend, Garage Gym Reviews) hands-on reviewed the WaterRower Original/Classic series and broadly recommend it as a quiet, beautiful, sturdy water rower. All praise its meditative whooshing sound and compact vertical storage; all flag a bare-bones monitor with paid tech add-ons (no built-in Bluetooth). Wirecutter warns its distance/time readouts run optimistically fast. GGR's spec card lists an Oak frame with the S4 monitor while its body copy calls the unit the 'WaterRower Natural' — the same machine mechanically. (3 sourced reviews, 3 lab-tested.)
Praised: Quiet, meditative water-whooshing sound; Sturdy, premium solid-wood construction (5/5 durability); Compact vertical storage; blends into home decor.
Flagged: Basic monitor, no built-in Bluetooth; tech add-ons cost extra; Water-rower time/distance readouts skewed — not ideal for serious training; Whooshing sound can be loud in shared or early-morning spaces.