NordicTrack RW700 Rower Review 2024

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Key Features:

• Silent magnetic resistance system with 26 different levels
• Equipped with automatic trainer control that will adjust your resistance levels and incline
• A 30-day iFIT membership with purchase

With so many options available, finding the right cardio machine for your home can be a big time and money investment. To help you narrow your search, we’re taking a deep-dive on the NordicTrack RW700. We’ll cover the specs, pros and cons, the experience based off of real user reviews and other factors to consider before buying the machine.

The RW700 is NordicTrack’s mid-level rower, combining the basic features from the low-end RW600 model with several premium features from the high-end NordicTrack RW900. All three of NordicTrack’s rowers operate on magnetic resistance, which means it is much quieter than the water rowers or air resistance rowers you’ll find at this price point.

The RW700 stacks up well against high-end competitors like Concept2 and Hydrow Wave Rower in features and specs, which we'll discuss in more detail below. Bottom line: if you’re looking for an affordable rower with rowing workout app compatibility that feels like a premium experience, the NordicTrack RW700 may be for you.

What is NordicTrack RW700?

NordicTrack makes high-quality cardio equipment like treadmills, rowing machines and ellipticals. All of NordicTrack’s equipment is iFIT compatible, which means you’ll have the ability to access on-demand and live classes with professional instructors if you purchase a membership. NordicTrack also offers a competitive warranty: 10 years for the frame, two years for parts and one year for labor.

The RW700 is NordicTrack’s mid-level machine, sitting in between the basic RW600 and the premium RW900 rower. Some features the RW700 shares with both rowers are iFIT compatibility, HD touchscreen display, magnetic resistance and automatic resistance adjustment when using iFIT coaches.

The RW700 has integrated the resistance adjustment into the HD touchscreen and uses sliders to give you more customized resistance options. The RW700 also has a redesigned handle that's more ergonomic and a heavier sliding system that should make the rower more stable during your workout.

Specs:

• Footprint: 87 inches L x 22 inches W x 47 inches H
• Resistance Levels: 26
• Resistance Type: Magnetic
• Display Screen: 10-inch HD touchscreen display
• Weight Capacity: 250 pounds
• Weight: 146 pounds
• Storage: Upright
• Warranty: 10-year frame, two-year parts and one-year labor
• Price: $1,500

Working Out with the NordicTrack RW700

Rowing is a full-body workout, which means it's important to have your technique down pat before fumbling with resistance mid-workout, so you can avoid injuries that sideline your training. NordicTrack’s automatic resistance adjustment feature can help to ensure that you’re rowing with proper resistance for your fitness level.The auto-adjustment means you won’t have to risk improper form during your workouts to change resistance.

To get the most out of the automatic adjustment feature—and your workout in general—you’ll need a monthly iFIT membership. That will cost you $180 per year as an individual or $39 per month for a family membership. Your rower purchase includes one month for free, so you can see how the guided workouts change your experience. If you don’t like the platform or don’t want to pay extra, you can absolutely use the RW700 without a membership.

As for the experience itself, many reviewers comment on how smooth and comfortable the RW700 is. The ergonomic handle design, oversized steel seat rails, oversized pivoting pedals and molded seat are all elements that reviewers say contribute to comfort. For the workout itself, you’ll find hundreds of guided workouts in the iFIT library, or you can set your own milestones in manual mode.

Pros of the NordicTrack RW700

• Magnetic resistance systems are much quieter than other types
• Automatic resistance adjustment to help you avoid injury
• Oversized pedals that pivot with your feet to maximize power
• 26 resistance levels
• Good warranty
• Upright storage option
• Front-mounted transport wheels to help you move the machine
• iFIT compatibility, plus a free one-month membership
• Upgraded built-in speaker system

Cons of the NordicTrack RW700

• The 10-inch display screen is relatively small
• The 250-pound weight capacity is lower than comparable models
• No folding option for storage

Who NordicTrack RW700 Is Best For

The RW700 is a mid-level rower that's great for your home gym, especially if you’re someone who already incorporates rowing into their workout routine. Reviewers say it's a very quiet rower, so if you live in an apartment or tend to workout during times when you need to minimize noise, this rower is for you.

Who NordicTrack RW700 Is Not Best For

The RW700 has a low weight capacity, so if you’re close to or above the 250-pound limit, there are plenty of options with higher weight capacities. You don’t want to sacrifice stability and risk injury. The RW700 is also a big purchase to make if you don’t want to use the iFIT membership. There are other cheaper options if you want to skip the monthly membership.

Factors to Consider Before Purchasing NordicTrack RW700

Price

The RW700 costs right at $1,500 for the 2024 model. That'S a significant investment, but other rowers with similar features to the RW700 can cost over $2,000. If you’ve got the budget, the RW700 is a big bang for your buck.

Console and controls

The console on the NordicTrack RW700 is made up of the speaker system and the 10-inch display screen. All of your controls will be run through the HD touchscreen, which is something to consider since the screen is so small. Otherwise, reviews are pretty consistent in saying the screen is responsive and the controls are easy to navigate.

Construction and design

At 146 pounds, the RW700 isn’t necessarily light, but the front-mounted transport wheels should make it easier to move if you need to reposition or store it. The inertia enhanced flywheel, magnetic resistance and oversized rails are all designed to be smooth and quiet. You should feel pretty stable on this machine, but the closer you get to the weight limit, the more movement you may feel.

Tech and features

The NordicTrack RW700 rower is operated by the 10-inch touchscreen display, and is bluetooth compatible if you want to use the speakers for another device. Unfortunately, you can't stream anything on the screen besides the iFIT workouts, but the premium 30W speakers should give you a clear sound if you connect your own device.

Training programs

iFIT offers a lot of different training programs to use with your rower. Most of these training programs are filmed on actual bodies of water with the instructor, so you'll have various environments to enjoy as you workout. If you don’t get the iFIT subscription you can still use the rower in manual mode, or you can use the handful of workouts that are pre-programmed on the machine.

Subscription

You can get a version of the NordicTrack RW700 for free when you purchase a four year iFIT membership. This version is slightly different from the standalone version we’ve reviewed here, but the main features are the same. For reference, four years worth of iFIT will cost about $1,800.

However, if you want the standalone version plus the iFIT subscription, you’re looking at $39 per month for a family membership or $180 for an annual individual membership.

NordicTrack RW700 Warranty and Return Policy

NordicTrack’s rower warranty stacks up well against the industry standard. The 10-year frame warranty is twice as long as a typical five-year warranty you’ll get from other brands. However, the two-year parts and one-year labor warranties are on the low-end because other brands offer two- to three-year warranties for both.

You can return your NordicTrack machine within 30 days for a refund. However, you'll be charged a $250 return shipping fee and a 10 percent processing fee.

How the NordicTrack RW700 Compares to Other NordicTrack Rowers

The RW700 differs from the RW600 in a couple of key ways. One is the resistance adjustment. On the RW600, the one-touch resistance adjustment buttons are located just below the display screen on the console. The RW700 integrates those controls into the touchscreen with sliders to give you a more customized experience. The other key difference is the comfort features. The RW700 has a larger slide rail and a redesigned handle that's more curved for a natural pull motion. It's also important to note that NordicTrack appears to be discontinuing the RW600 in 2024.

There are only a couple of differences between the RW700 and the RW900. The first difference you’ll notice immediately is the display screen size. The RW700 has a 10-inch display screen, while the RW900 has a 22-inch screen. The other difference is weight. The RW900 weighs 163 pounds compared to the RW700’s 146 pounds. Both models have front-mounted transport wheels to make moving the machine easier and give you an upright storage option.

NordicTrack RW700 Customer Reviews

While you can’t see written reviews on NordicTrack’s website, the RW700 has plenty of Amazon reviews. It's rated 4.1/5 stars with 882 reviews at the time of writing. It's also worth noting that the RW700 is priced $100 higher on Amazon.

An Amazon reviewer "D Allen" gives the RW700 4/5 stars and says, “The workouts with iFIT are outstanding. I have loved rowing the rivers of the world with olympians and champions. The coach has a helmet camera on, and they talk you through the entire routine as they row through beautiful settings.”

Another Amazon reviewer—"Herman the one-eye German"—has a home gym with three major pieces of cardio equipment, and also gave the RW700 4/5 stars, saying, “I average 5 days of cardio a week and since purchasing this item, I have chosen to use it [the RW700] for at least 75% of my workouts. The Peloton will likely be sold soon as it just doesn't come close to the total body aspect of the rower and hasn't been touched since it arrived.”

A common theme among negative reviews is customer service, which can be a problem at large companies like NordicTrack. One anonymous reviewer who gives the RW700 1/5 stars says, “Machine is not the problem, the Company and Service are terrible if you have issues.”

Another one-star review from "Rob B." also highlights the customer service problem. Rob says his screen had a defect and died within one week of purchase but “after being on the phone with them for an hour they agreed to send me a new screen free of charge.”

NordicTrack RW700 Rower FAQs

Does the NordicTrack RW700 Rower need maintenance?

Like other pieces of fitness equipment, regular maintenance can extend the life of your NordicTrack RW700 rower. Simple things like making sure the slide rail is clean, the foot pedal straps aren’t worn and making sure all hardware is tight can go a long way.

Does the NordicTrack RW700 Rower fold up?

The NordicTrack RW700 does not fold, but it does have an upright storage option if you need to save space.

Is the NordicTrack RW700 worth it?

The RW700 is an investment at $1,500, but if you’re an iFIT member already or plan to use the subscription with the rower, then you’ll get a premium experience for a mid-level price.

Final Thoughts

The NordicTrack RW700 is a great mid-level rower that has everything you need to reach your fitness goals. It's affordable compared to other models that offer similar features, and is made with the same high quality as other NordicTrack fitness equipment. Plus, if you use the iFIT membership, you’ll have an almost endless variety of workouts on and off the rower to keep boredom at bay.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.