Our immersive Live Outdoor RealityTM experience, featuring world-class Athletes, rich and diverse workouts, and a supportive community awaits.
The benefits of rowing are extensive. It combines both cardio and strength training, making it a much more efficient method of exercise than others, such as cycling. It’s also incredibly easy to learn how to row.
Whether you’re looking to join a rowing team for the first time, a strong athlete looking to expand their workout routine, a busy adult looking for a simple way to integrate fitness into your already-packed schedule, an individual who has experienced an injury looking for a low-impact way to increase their mobility, or a 65-year-old whose health is a top priority – rowing is accessible to everyone.
That’s why we created Hydrow. On their own, the Hydrow and the Hydrow Wave rowers are marvels of engineering, each designed with intentionality and a keen attention to detail to provide you with an unparalleled, smooth home rowing exercise experience.
But the hardware is only the beginning of your Hydrow journey
Your Hydrow Membership is a gateway to our unparalleled, immersive Live Outdoor RealityTM Workout experience will take you to hundreds of breathtaking destinations around the globe – from the shores of Lake Champlain in Vermont to the historic Società Canottieri Firenze, the first rowing society established in Florence, Italy, in 1866.
And with our ever-expanding library of more than 4,000 rowing, yoga, Pilates, and strength and mobility training Workouts to choose from, the Hydrow Membership offers whole health fitness opportunities for everyone.
But one of the most powerful benefits of the Hydrow membership is the community. Rowing by definition is a team sport that transcends the individual, and you’ll immediately see that through the camaraderie that is so much a part of what makes Hydrow unique. When you join Hydrow, you’ll join a global team – a vibrant, positive community who is ready to cheer you on, no matter what your goals are.
That’s why we created this guide about the Hydrow Membership. We know how you invest in your health is a very personal choice, and we want you to feel fully empowered to make the right decision for you.
What you’ll learn about Hydrow Membership
Introduction / Hydrow is human
“I love the online community. Everyone is so positive and helpful!” – Cityman31
The key to understanding the power of a Hydrow membership is this – before anything else, Hydrow is human. That’s because those who use Hydrow are also humans first. Humans like you who want to feel better in their bodies and live a better life, inclusive of all skill levels, abilities, ages, and goals.
Whether you’re an athlete who relishes competition and milestones, or someone who is simply seeking to increase their mobility, strength, and overall health in a positive, inclusive, and welcoming environment, Hydrow is here for you. Through our membership, you will join a deeply connected community of people who genuinely care about you and want to see you succeed.
Like the sport of rowing itself, with a Hydrow membership, you are stronger as a part of a team (or rowing crew), as a community. No matter what your starting point is, know the Hydrow community is ready to meet you where you are. On your schedule, on your terms.
Part I / Hydrow Membership features and pricing
“I gave up my gym membership. I’m getting a better workout on the Hydrow than I’ve ever gotten from anything else – and it’s fun!! Absolutely love it.” – Hollie
All-inclusive Hydrow Membership experience
($38 monthly + tax)
Your all-inclusive Hydrow Membership has everything you need to make the most of your Hydrow experience. With your membership, you’ll have complete access to our entire library of rowing, strength training, yoga, and Pilates Workouts (live schedule and on-demand), as well as special fitness challenges, community meetups, and a vibrant calendar of other events.
In addition, all of your workout data will be tracked so you can track your progress – metrics, milestone achievements, challenges you’ve joined, workout streaks, personal records, and much more. (In fact, for every 25 days you row with your Hydrow, a donation will be made to Water.org. This donation provides access to clean water for families in developing countries around the world!)
Of course, the best part is that you’ll join a positive and supportive community who is excited to champion your success. There is no milestone or achievement too small; your global Hydrow community will always be there as your most enthusiastic cheerleader.
With your all-inclusive Hydrow Membership, you’ll have access to all of these great features right on your Hydrow. You’ll also have access to our mobile app, where you can access the workouts and programs when you’re away from your Hydrow.
You only need one Hydrow Membership for your entire household
One of the best perks of a single Hydrow Membership is that you can create multiple individual profiles for a single monthly cost. For example, let’s say you purchase a Hydrow for use by you, your spouse, and one teenage child, each with individual profiles. One Hydrow Membership covers all of you.
The Digital Basic Hydrow Membership
($19.99 monthly + tax)
If you’re looking to take the Hydrow Membership experience for a “test drive,” a Digital Basic Hydrow Membership will give you access to our full, on-demand Workouts library.
You don’t need a Hydrow to take advantage of this subscription option, but keep in mind that it is quite limited. For example, it does not include access to live rows, nor does it track your progress (e.g., milestones). The Digital Basic Membership is available for both Android and iOS devices.
About “Just Row” mode for Hydrow
One of the most common questions we receive for those considering the Hydrow is whether or not you can use it without a Hydrow Membership. The short answer is yes, you can with something we call “Just Row” mode.
“Just row” mode is not a feature, it’s a lack of features
Yes, in “Just row” mode, you can adjust drag/resistance, and you can see your live stats for your current row on screen. However, that is where your Hydrow experience ends.
You will not have any access to content (live or on demand), nor will any of your workout stats be stored. Additionally, you will not be able to connect with our community or earn any milestone rewards as you progress on your fitness journey.
Technically, yes, you can get a nice little rowing workout without a Hydrow Membership. But again, according to our community, the Membership is what makes the Hydrow unique:
“Such a great implementation of a rowing machine. Not only is the kit of excellent quality, the streaming content is also excellent and the instructors are engaging and thoroughly supportive, which keeps you coming back to row day after day and really going for it. Ditch the gym membership and buy one of these instead.” – Jon
“I LOVE Hydrow!! So interactive and engaging! So many personalities and varieties of workouts that you never get bored. At first, I was skeptical of the fact that the membership is almost required, but now I see it as the best part and I find myself so caught up in the moment with the coaches that my exercise time flies by!
The music is awesome and mechanically it is such a smooth slide. I truly feel in the moment. You can choose your workout based on so many different categories!” – Zdenka
Part II / About Hydrow workouts and our Athletes
“The Hydrow crew are such good fun … when you think you have nothing left they get that last bit of power out of you. Their commentary makes the time fly. I find myself laughing, shrieking, hooting, and hollering. I couldn’t row without them in all honesty!” – Lucy
Hydrow Membership rowing Programs
With your Hydrow Membership, you’ll gain access to a wide range of immersive rowing workouts and Programs that provide you with the most realistic experience possible on the water – filmed at stunning locations ranging from Ireland to Alaska – all within the comfort of your own home.
Workouts and program options include:
- Thousands of live and on-demand rowing workouts that cater to all paces, experience levels, and schedules (no matter where you are in the world).
- Workouts ranging in intensity from foundational cardio workouts (great if you’re new to fitness), to workouts that test your limits, such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
- Journey rowing workouts, offered as both guided and unguided experiences, where you can row through scenic waterways you can explore at your own pace.
- Distance rows, which allow you to test your performance and hit new milestones, with ranges between 250 and 10,000 meters.
- Throughout the year, you can also take part in fitness challenges and earn badges. For instance, our Commit to Fit: Fall Refresh is a four-week challenge where you can build healthy habits with our crew.
Hydrow Athletes aren’t career instructors, they’re people-focused coaches who care.
Through your Hydrow Membership, you will have access to world-class athletes and rowers.
Our dedicated Athletes include world champions, National Team members, NCAA champions, and other top-tier competitors.
What does that mean for you as a Hydrow member? In every Athlete-led live or on-demand rowing experience, you will receive the high-level of instruction you would expect from an elite champion who lives and breathes rowing every day, but with the personalized support you would expect from a dear friend who cares deeply about seeing you succeed. (As a note, our Athletes come from a wide range of backgrounds outside of rowing – but more on that later!)
Your experience with our Athletes truly embodies the spirit of what makes rowing such a powerful approach to mobility and fitness – it’s accessible to everyone. No matter what your ability level is, where you are in your journey, or what your goals may be, our Athletes are not only ready, they’re also excited to meet you where you are.
In fact, according to our community, what makes the Hydrow experience unique is the authenticity and approachability of our Athletes. Yes, they are inclusive, skilled, motivating coaches, but they’re also humans who show up fully as themselves for every class.
“Yes, our Athletes are elite. They’re experts in their field and in their sport. But when you’re rowing with them, they’re so friendly and genuine. It can sometimes feel as if you’re rowing and chatting with a close friend.”
– Amanda Crawford, Director of Product Engagement
Meet Aquil Abdullah, a man of many exceptional talents
Aquil is an Olympian, Hydrow Athlete, and a Hydrow software engineer! In addition to being immensely talented – he was the first African-American male to win a national rowing championship – Aquil is known best for his humility, as well as his expertise.
Laine Maher is another one of our world-class Hydrow Athletes
Laine comes from a family of Athletes, so it is no surprise that Laine has become an accomplished rower. Like many of us, Laine strives to achieve a balance between work and family, and rowing has offered her a focus on purpose and efficiency. She shares this focus with our members through her workouts.
Dani Hansen is a Hydrow Athlete and paralympian.
Dani brings incredible amounts of enthusiasm and passion to her rowing. It is almost as impressive as her multiple medals in the World Championships and Paralympics. As a Lead Athlete at Hydrow, Dani guides feel-good, high-energy workouts. If you’re looking for in-depth technical detail you can always count on Dani. You’ll also see Dani make appearances in On The Mat workouts.
If you’re new to rowing, our Athletes are ready to welcome you.
Learning a new skill or sport like rowing can feel intimidating at first, particularly if you consider that you will be learning from world championship-winning Athletes. When you enter the Hydrow Membership experience, put your mind at ease.
By nature, rowers are trained to work as a team, where you’re always working to lift everyone up, no matter where they’re starting from. So, when you join Hydrow, our Athletes are not only ready, they’re excited to welcome you to the crew.
Part III / Yoga, Pilates, strength, and mobility workouts
Your health and fitness journey with Hydrow isn’t limited to rowing. Your Hydrow Membership also provides access to a wide range of non-rowing workouts, including strength training, mobility, Pilates, yoga, and stretching.
Many of these additional on-demand classes are filmed in stunning, scenic locations all around the world like Norway, Scotland, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, and many more, with the same immersive Live Outdoor RealityTM Workout experience seen in our rowing Workouts.
Specialized Hydrow Membership workouts
We are always looking for new and innovative ways to serve our community with exciting, inclusive non-rowing workout classes and Programs. For instance, prenatal Pilates is one of our popular non-rowing options for community Members who are navigating a new chapter of their health journey, as pregnancy transforms the body.
Taught by Christie Wang, a certified pregnancy and postpartum corrective exercise specialist, this series will help you feel more at home in your body:
“Pilates focuses on breath, core work, the pelvic floor, and mobility. When practiced during pregnancy, it can reduce lower-back pain, prevent or mitigate loss in mobility, make the delivery process easier, and ease postpartum recovery.”
– Hydrow Athlete Christie Wang
We have also crafted intentionally-built cross-training Programs. We recently introduced the Hydrow Runner’s Program, led by Hydrow Director of Fitness Pete Donohoe.
The three-week Program includes nine workouts that combine rowing with pilates, mobility, and strength:
“It is designed for those who enjoy getting out on the roads regularly and doing a 5k or 10k road race, and who’d like to see a way to improve their performance.
Some of you will see improvements in your pace when you run, some will see improvements in road race times, and all who finish the Program will feel stronger, more efficient and a little quicker while running.”
– Hydrow Director of Fitness Pete Donohoe
In addition to our specialized programs and challenges, introductory programs like “Learn to Row, Fitness Builder, and Beginner Training Tramp” are ideal if you’re new to rowing.
“Being part of the Hydrow community you are always being inspired or encouraged to take the next step on route to better fitness.” – Paul Brown
Health and fitness is a personal journey we all experience at our own pace. It can also be a fraught space in terms of judgment and motivation, which can make it challenging for some to find a community where you feel accepted – without the pressure to always perform or be competitive.
That’s why the heart of the Hydrow Membership experience is our community, because teamwork is innate to the sport of rowing itself. When you join Hydrow as a member, you will immediately be able to tap into the power of community to stay connected and motivated.
For those of you who love to push yourself and your limits at your own pace, you can connect with the community directly through the Hydrow with team-based competitions, the leaderboard, and more. Also, through the Hydrow App, you’ll have access to a fresh, thoughtfully curated calendar of events including holiday workouts, in-person events and community meetups, fitness challenges, and more.
However, your community experience with Hydrow doesn’t stop when your workout ends. We also have a very active, user-led Facebook group that is filled with inspiration, challenges, success stories, and new friendships blossoming every day:
Our community is rooted in unity, we row as one
One of the most treasured aspects of our community is that it’s as inclusive as the sport of rowing is itself, with all levels of fitness and ability embraced. There is no milestone too small to celebrate; hitting a personal record with your 5K time, a 1 million meter milestone achievement, and having an easier time getting up the stairs are all meaningful wins worthy of equal celebration.
These ideals of unity, equality, and positivity are very much rooted in the ethos of rowing. When you row with your teammates, each of whom is unique, you row as one; everyone lends a helping hand. In the Hydrow Membership community, we all work together, and we all win together.
We see this embodied by our community members every single day. Whether someone is asking for workout recommendations for recovering from an injury or is struggling to stay motivated, the moment they post in our community they are met with an outpouring of unconditional support you won’t find within other fitness brand communities.
Part V / Real-world Hydrow Membership reviews
The words of our members matter more than our own, so we will let them speak for themselves.
“I absolutely love my Hydrow! I debated getting one for a while, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy rowing. The Hydrow community rowing experience is a game changer.” – Abby
“My wife and I have had our Hyrdow for about three months and I wanted to wait to get a fuller experience before posting a review. I can say – without reservation – that this is the best (and most fun) exercise that I have had since my high school track and field days. I’ve never had any workout of any type where I looked forward to the exercise itself.
Yes, the membership fee isn’t trivial at around $40 a month – but, given the wide range of workout types (both on the rower and on a mat), it is worth the price and I feel like I am getting a real value. Yes, gym memberships can be comparable – but I always found myself looking for excuses not to go to the gym. I don’t have that problem with Hydrow.” – Grant
“We love our rower. We tried it for two weeks without the membership and then it was added. The membership is worth every penny.” – Lisa
“I had a rowing machine several years ago and I enjoyed it, but this Hydrow Rower is, in my opinion, the optimal piece of equipment! I absolutely love it! I have used it everyday since we received it. We bought the membership for the virtual workouts, and I love them! So motivating!” – Sarah
“Such a great implementation of a rowing machine. Not only is the kit of excellent quality, the streaming content is also excellent and the instructors are engaging and thoroughly supportive, which keeps you coming back to row day after day and really going for it. Ditch the gym membership and buy one of these instead.” – Jon
“I have competed for years in Outrigger paddling and really have never enjoyed recorded instructor-led sessions. I decided to give Hydrow a try and I am so thankful I did. The machine is very well made and the 22″ monitor makes a world of difference. I feel like I am actually rowing with the instructors. The scenery is amazing. The workouts are complete and I look forward daily to a new adventure ‘in the boat.’ One of the best purchases and commitments I have ever made.” – Kevin
“I recently tore up my knee and had to have surgery. Doc said no more jogging so I purchased a Hydrow. Best investment I have done for my health. The rowing is a fantastic workout and doesn’t irritate the knee that I had surgery on 2 months ago.
One of the greatest features, I wasn’t sure about, was the membership for the trainers videos. The videos have been fantastic to row to. The trainers keep you motivated and it is also interesting to watch the scenery as they row around.
It makes a workout actually very enjoyable to the point I look forward to it. So far, well worth every penny I have spent.” – Mike
“I LOVE Hydrow!! So interactive and engaging! So many personalities and varieties of workouts that you never get bored. At first, I was skeptical of the fact that the membership is almost required, but now I see it as the best part and I find myself so caught up in the moment with the coaches that my exercise time flies by!
The music is awesome and mechanically it is such a smooth slide. I truly feel in the moment. You can choose your workout based on so many different categories!” – Zdenka
