Smartwatches have become an indispensable tool for active people. These watches have features tailored for specific activities, and we are here to shed light on the best smartwatch for rowing machine workout.
Smartwatches for rowing workout are not any different. These timepieces tell time and have rowing-specific features for outdoor or indoor rowing.
With these watches, one can keep track of their rowing data, identify the areas to improve, and monitor the time it takes to achieve the set goals.
Benefits of Monitoring and Keeping Rowing Data
If rowing is your go-to cardio activity, you need a smartwatch to help you monitor your journey and keep track of the important stats. With a sound watch by your side, you will be able to:
1. Reach your Fitness Goals
Whether you row indoors or outdoors, tracking rowing workout data goes a long way to help you achieve your fitness goals. After setting realistic goals, you can set up a routine and work towards achieving them.
2. Train Optimally
A smartwatch that keeps rowing worout data is essential to exercising optimally. As you monitor the training data in terms of distance covered, time taken, and calories burned, you reduce the risk of injuries from overtraining.
3. Recovery Monitoring
If you are recovering from an injury, you need a fitness app to help you in the process. The rowing workout data stats and other recovery stats like nutrition and sleep will help speed up your recovery and alleviate the risk of fatigue-related injuries.
4. Time Management
The best smartwatch for rowing machines helps with time management. In every session, it tracks the time one spends to row.
Time management is essential for outdoor rowing to get the most out of your outing.
5. Competition Preparation
A sound rowing smartwatch is a vital companion if you are preparing for a rowing competition. It simulates race conditions as you train and ensures you are in the best shape for the competition.
5 Best Smartwatches for Rowing Machine Workout Review
Let’s now delve into the best smartwatches for rowing machine workouts available on the market.
1. Polar M400 GPS Smart Sports Watch (Best Overall)
The Polar M400 GPS Smart Sports Watch is our first recommendation for the best rowing machine smartwatch. It has an outstanding blend of sporty design, cutting-edge features, and built-in GPS to take the first spot on our list.
The Integrated GPS makes the watch ideal for indoor and outdoor rowing. It helps with navigation, especially for the outdoor rowers when taking new waters. This watch also integrates advanced training features that include pace, distance, and altitude.
Another highlight of the smartwatch is the heart rate sensor. It is compatible with the H7 heart rate sensor to help you row at the right intensity. As you row, this watch also shows the distance covered, time spent, and calories burned in real time.
Above all, the Polar M400 GPS Smart Sports Watch is fully waterproof to enhance your rowing intensity in all weather conditions.
Features
- Built-in GPS
- H7 heart rate sensor
- Recovery status
- Customized sports profiles
- 24/7 activity tracking
- Sleep quality tracking
- Waterproof design
Pros
- Decent battery life
- Easy to use
- Fairly accurate
- Good value
Cons
- May have connectivity issues during storms
2. Polar Vantage M2, Advanced Multisport Smart Watch (Best Value)
The Polar Vantage M2 is an advanced multisport smartwatch that offers the ultimate balance of performance and value. It is designed and built with advanced features and sophisticated apps for your fitness needs.
The watch connects seamlessly with Polar Flow to be the ultimate training platform. It has an in-built GPS for navigation and ready-made daily workouts to get you started immediately. Furthermore, the wrist-based heart monitor is accurate to ensure optimal workout.
This smartwatch has an outstanding battery life of up to 30 hours with GPS and OHR on. With the Training Load Pro function, you can see how your rowing sessions strained different parts of your body. You also get to see how well your body recovers after workouts using the nightly recharge.
The other essential features included are easy-to-navigate controls and a 1.2″ color display that is readable in different light settings.
Features
- Call/text notifications
- Built-in GPS
- Weather notifications
- Large 1.2″ color display
- Heart rate monitor
- Fitspark training guide
- Nightly recharge sleep and recovery tracking
- Water-resistant
Pros
- Long battery life
- Accurate GPS and heart rate monitor
- Easy to use
- Comfortable on the hand
Cons
- The backlight is challenging to see
3. Wearable4U Garmin Fenix 7X (Best for Daily Wear)
Coming third in our list of the best smartwatches for rowing machines is the Wearable4U Garmin Fenix 7X. It is the ultimate timepiece for monitoring time as you exercise and keep track of your fitness journey from the comfort of your wrist.
This watch is built to go strong on all days of the week. The built-in GPS is outstandingly accurate and fantastic for navigation. Besides, the watch has a built-in LED flashlight and power sapphire solar charging lens to sustain your outdoor rowing challenges.
Garmin smartwatches are known for their ease of use, and the Fenix 7x is no different. It has a touchscreen interface, which provides easy access to different selections.
The outdoor navigation sensors and multi-band GNSS technology also help guide the user with higher positioning accuracy, even in the most challenging environments.
Features
- Touchscreen interface
- Large display
- Scratch-resistant sapphire lens
- Built-in GPS
- Wrist-based heart rate monitor
- 30+ built-in sports apps
- GNSS network support
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Waterproof
Pros
- Outstanding wear comfort
- Great battery life
- Unparalleled responsiveness
- High-quality construction
Cons
- Expensive
4. COROS PACE 2 Sport Watch (Best Battery Life)
If you want to reach your rowing goals and stay in shape, you need a quality smartwatch like the COROS PACE 2 Sport Watch. It makes navigation easy with the built-in GPS that you use to stay on the right path when rowing outdoors.
This sporty smartwatch is made with ease of use in mind. It has a fingertip simplicity, which makes it easy and intuitive to operate. Besides, it is so light that it is comfortable to wear all the time.
The battery life of this watch is also incredible. It provides up to 20 days of regular use and 30 hours in of continuous runtime with full GPS, heart rate, and barometer when fully charged. Besides that, the watch has multisport activity tracking to provide the most accurate metrics for different sports.
What’s more, the watch is 5 ATM water resistant. This makes it for outdoor rowing and other surface water activities. It also has customizable activity screens from which you can choose.
Features
- Activity tracking
- 5 ATM water resistance
- Customizable screen
- Built-in GPS
- Heart rate sensor
- Pre-designed workouts and plans
- Enhanced sleep monitor
- Flexible training calendar
Pros
- Lightweight
- Fingertip simplicity
- Longer lasting battery
- Easy and reliable connection to phones and other apps
Cons
- Cheap band
5. Apple Watch Ultra Smart Watch (Best Premium)
![Apple Watch Ultra [GPS + Cellular 49mm] Smart Watch w/Rugged Titanium Case & Midnight Ocean Band....](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41NQgyV24pL.jpg)
Last but not least, we have the Apple Watch Ultra Smart Watch [GPS + Cellular 49mm]. Built with the avid water activity enthusiast, this smart watch makes a perfect companion for outdoor and indoor rowing.
Its uncompromising capability and rugged construction guarantee many years of use. The watch withstands everyday wear and tear even with repeated wear and use. As such, you are assured of reliable performance wherever the adventure waits.
Moreover, the watch comes with all the features you need to stay healthy, safe, and connected. They include a heart rate sensor, sleep monitor, and fitness tracker. You can also get calls, texts, and other notifications all right from your wrist.
The display of this Apple watch is also impressive. It has a 2x brighter display than Series 8 with up to 2000 nits. Over and above that, every watch detail is crafted with precision to ensure incredible performance.
Features
- Always-on retina display
- Water-resistant to 100m
- Precision dual-frequency GPS
- Cellular connectivity
- Built-in compass
- Blood oxygen app
- 49mm case size
- Flat sapphire front crystal
Pros
- Great battery life
- Bright and clear display
- Premium and stylish design
- Incredibly well-built
Cons
- Pricey
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Smartwatch for Rowing Machine Workout
It is essential to get a watch that has all the features you need for your rowing exercises. The key things to consider include:
1. Comfort
This is the first thing to take into consideration. The watch should fit snugly on your wrist and not be a bother to you as you row.
To ensure optimal comfort, opt for a smartwatch with single-piece rubber straps. Such straps are comfortable on the skin and breathable. They also provide a snug fit no matter the size of your wrist.
Keep the watch snug but not too tight if you are doing plenty of long-distance rowing, especially on real waters. This increases blood flow into your arms as you row. It also provides room for the hand to expand when you row.
2. Weight
The weight of a smartwatch can make or break your experience when working out. It is determined by the nature of the materials used in the construction process.
Whether you do indoor or outdoor rowing, opt for a light smartwatch. Every little weight counts, which is more so when you are doing a lot of rowing. Lightweight smartwatches are also comfortable on the wrist and easy to wear and unload.
3. Water ResistantÂ
Outdoor rowing calls for a fully water-resistant smartwatch. It will keep the moisture and dust out and ensure optimal performance.
For the best smartwatch for a rowing machine workout, we recommend a water-resistant model up to 50m. Such watches offer reliable protection from moisture, sweat, and other elements of nature.
4. GPS
Built-in GPS is the next important feature that every rowing smartwatch should have. It is vital for measuring distance, speed, and routes as well.
The watch you buy should also have some form of app support to back the GPS. With the app, you can also store the routes and keep track of your workout data.
5. Battery Life
Consider the smartwatch’s battery life and see how long it lasts with continuous use. The longer the battery life, the better.
It will keep running even during the extended rowing workout sessions without recharging. Smartwatches with long battery life are also more dependable for rowing.
6. Compatibility
It is also important to look at the compatibility of the smartwatch with your rowing machine, smartphone, and any other device.
Compatibility with your rowing machine is vital to tracking your fitness. A smartwatch that is compatible with popular fitness apps can also be beneficial.
7. Budget
Lastly, consider the budget. The cost of smartwatches for rowing machines varies widely depending on the brand, technology incorporated, and features included. Set a budget and compare the smartwatch options within that range.
FAQs
Below are some frequently asked queries about smartwatches for rowing:
- Is there an app to track rowing machines?
Yes. LiveRowing is one of the best apps for tracking rowing machines. It highlights a featured day workout for those who don’t want to incorporate a training plan and prefer to just hop on the rower and start rowing.
- Are there smartwatches that sync with rowing apps?
Yes. There is a wide variety of smartwatches that sync seamlessly with the popular rowing apps. With the connectivity, one can keep track of their rowing sessions from the comfort of their wrists.
- What is the best smartwatch for a rowing machine?
The best smartwatch for a rowing machine has all the features you need for your fitness. These features include built-in rowing activity tracking and heart rate monitoring, water resistance, built-in GPS for outdoor rowing, and compatibility with multiple rowing apps.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you have found our post on the best smartwatch for rowing machine insightful. All the smartwatches we have reviewed above come with the basic features for outdoor and indoor rowing. Look at the key features that make each watch the right purchase and choose accordingly.
Last update on 2025-08-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API