NordicTrack 2024 RW900 Rower— What is New and Different from the Original
Redesigned NordicTrack RW900 Rower
NordicTrack New RW900 rowing machine looks completely redesigned from the original model
What’s different about the Latest RW900 Rower
OUR TAKE
The 2024 model of the NordicTrack RW900 Rowing machine is the latest release for the NordicTrack Rower Series. Compared to the original RW900 model it now has an updated, redesigned, sophisticated look and feel and is much quieter to row on, with an upgraded redesigned console and touchscreen, an improved sound system, a faster display, and a slightly smaller footprint than the last two versions — all together makes for an improved rowing experience.
Overall, both models are terrific indoor rowing options, but the updated enhancements, including the new super-quiet, sliding system and enhanced inertia flywheel, with an improved console, are worth the extra $700 over the older model. If you need some extra space while it’s not in use, it is freestanding, just lift it up and store it vertically upright. To discover more about the RW900 rowing machine read our full review.
NordicTrack New RW900 Rower Powered by iFit on the water Trainer-led rowing sessions
RW900 Rower Highlights
NEW Console + Frame Re-design
NEW 22-inch HD Touchscreen Rotates & Tilts
NEW 60-Watt Premium Audio Soundbar
NEW Updated Slide System & Design
NEW Inertia-Enhanced Flywheel
Improved Footrest/footpads - Work better
This RW900 indoor rower model is available to order with immediate FREE Shipping. Financing is available with a TD iFit loan with 0% APR for 39 months at $49/month. This indoor rower includes a FREE month of iFit connected-fitness membership, providing unlimited access to excellent trainer-led rowing workouts on waterways filmed across the globe and in studio settings (a $39 value) suitable for beginners to advanced rowers.
Trust Our Reviews of Fitness Equipment
When testing and evaluating the NordicTrack RW900 Rower, we compared it to comparable models like the Hydrow and Hydrow Wave, Proform R10, Peloton Row, Concept2 RowErg, Aviron and others.
Our maybeyesno review team knows what makes good fitness equipment – including treadmills, exercise bikes, strength equipment, and rowers. If it’s good, it’s good — if it’s bad, then it’s bad — we will tell you. We have tested and published exercise equipment reviews over ten years.
We get hands-on with gear to discuss overall design, tech, and function, including the feel, price, drilling down components such as the resistance mechanism, flywheel, screen display (if applicable), ease of use, subscription content, adjustment features, noise levels, warranty, and durability.
Based on extensive use and testing, we discuss, summarize, and compare equipment to help you determine if this item is the one for you.
RW900 Rower New Feature Updates
The latest Nordictrack RW900 is a connected-fitness rowing machine with a vivid 22-inch Full HD touchscreen that provides access to rowing workouts plus high-energy iFit trainer-led sessions streamed to its wide new crystal-clear display.
With an upgraded and redesigned console, the touchscreen now rotates to a greater degree and can now swivel 360 degrees and can now be also tilted (angled) up or down to better support viewing of workouts on and off-the-rower.
In comparison, the Hydrow console display will only pivot 45 degrees left and right. Follow this link The Hydrow vs. RW900 Review for more comparison detail.
Console Rotates and tilts to support improved viewing angles for off-the-rower, cross-training
The NEW RW900 console has a powerful new sound system with two forward-facing speakers upgraded to 30-Watts each. But, if you prefer, you can always use Bluetooth for pairing wireless devices — headphones or a heartrate monitor.
The rower’s contoured seat and handle have been improved ergonomically for more comfort, plus a smoother sliding system due to the oversized center rail newly incorporated into the rower's design. The handle also feels more solid to hold but not overly heavy.
Super Quiet! This RW900 model is incredibly smooth and surprisingly is even quieter to row on than the previous model, you can barely hear it, mainly because of the enhanced / upgraded Flywheel, a high-quality nylon strap combined with the new updated rail system.
Nordictrack RW900 with updated Console and new rail System Extremely smooth and super quite
The Flywheel still has 26 levels of electro-magnetic resistance that provides constant resistance independent of your rowing speed, unlike air or water-based rowing machines, you can quickly touch the screen to amp up or decrease stroke intensity (resistance). And with iFit, you have the AutoAdjust option where your iFit trainer can make required adjustments — so you don’t have to worry or mess around with making resistance changes and can focus on your rowing form.
The new RW900 kept its oversized pedals which we really like about this line of rowers, having adjustable nylon foot straps to secure your feet in place and allow for quick release so you easily can slip each foot out of the pedals.
Both the original and new versions of the RW900 support a suggested maximum user weight of 250 lbs. Not as much as the Hydrow, Ergatta, Life-Fitness, or a Concept2 RowErg rowing machine which can support up to 500 lbs. The weight capacity is one of the few weak points we found when comparing NordicTrack Rowing Machines with other brands.
Differences RW900 vs. Original RW900
RW900 Rower Re-design
Re-designed with a sleek modern look this award-winning NordicTrack rowing machine now has a more streamlined, minimalist approach that makes this latest version of the New RW900 look and feel more contemporary and much lighter. Matching to a great extent the design of NordicTrack’s latest high-end Commercial Treadmill Series machines like the 2450 and 1750 treadmill models.
The footprint of the later RW900 model is a little smaller, 4.5 inches shorter in length than the original, yet this does not affect any of its rowing functions. The overall footprint of the newer design does make a difference, especially when there is limited space for your home gym. Inspecting the New RW900 immediately after delivery and setup was complete, our team's first impression was that this newer redesigned model just felt lighter and less bulky in the room.
ESSENTIAL DIFFERENCES - OUR TAKE
1. The Original RW900 rower has a space-saving, folding-frame design capability. This folding option is useful if you have a home gym with limited space and need to place the rower out of the way. The new RW900 does not fold but can easily stand upright safely to store it when not in use (see images below) — in effect, this takes up the same amount of floor space as the older model when folded. (approx. 3’x2’) The 2021 and current RW900 both have small front wheels to help move them around.
Original Folding RW900 Nordictrack Rowing Machine - Shows muscles used with rowing stroke
[MYN UPDATE Notes]
After a couple of months using the later RW900 version, we found we preferred the ability of standing up the newer RW rowers – It's easier, quicker, and a snap to do. While the folding option of the original RW900 rower design is a useful and clever option, it can be at first be a little tricky/awkward to do and takes getting the technique down – but this is a minor point, as most people seem to leave their rowing machines, ready to go for the next session.
New RW900 Rowing Machine standing upright
2. The latest RW900 does have superior, clearer audio with forward-facing powerful speakers with an improved and faster HD touchscreen display.
3. Both rower models are quiet and smooth to row on. The new RW900 has a single electromagnetic resistance system using its improved inertia flywheel.
Both models offer 26 levels of resistance via a flywheel with silent magnetic resistance. However, the earlier (Now available on Amazon) 2021 RW900 has a dual resistance system with an additional 10-levels of manual air resistance on top of the 26 digital levels. The idea is you get the best of both worlds, air-based and magnetic.
That said, we found the handle to manually adjust the air-damper is not so easily accessible while in the midst of a workout and only kicks in as you increase your stroke rate (Row faster). Whereas, as with the electro-magnetic digital resistance approach, your resistance remains constant regardless of rowing speed which you can adjust manually using the touchscreen slider or use the interactive AutoAdjust feature.
If you just want to just focus on your rowing session and not have to decide about making any resistance adjustments or designing out your workout you will really like the iFit AutoAdjust feature where an iFit trainer can dynamically change your rower’s resistance in real-time as they take you through the workout, either on the water or in a studio setting.
4. The 2021 RW900 model on Amazon has 30 On-board Workouts for when you don’t want to use the iFit connected-fitness App for a rowing workout. The later models have no onboard workouts – you can use it in manual mode and still get your basic stats like spit-time, calories burned, strokes per minute and get in a good full-body session.
5. The later RW900 screen can tilt, and swivel 180 degrees left or right for the best viewing on or off-the-rower workouts. The tilting ability is a slight improvement over the 2021 model, being important to minimize screen glare (depending on your room lighting) and is so useful when taking off-the-rower cross-training workouts. Overall, we found adjusting the console is now much simpler / quicker with the newer rw900 model.
IN THE END — Final Thoughts
The latest Nordictrack rowing machine models offers some significant improvements over the 2021 and original models, and we always recommend staying up with the latest technology NordicTrack offers. We highly recommend the new version of the RW900 and enjoy its updated design and new features – plus it is cooler looking. That said, the Original RW900 model available on Amazon offers great value for the money and if budget is a concern this model should not be overlooked.
Overall, both models are terrific indoor rower options, but the updated enhancements, including the new super-quiet, sliding system and enhanced inertia flywheel, with an improved console, are worth the extra $300+ over the older model. Either way NordicTrack rowing machines with iFit deliver with excellent on the water and in the studio rowing workout experience and well-designed rowing programs.
Below are Model SKUS to verify you are purchasing the correct intended one.
Latest RW900 Rower
2021 RW900 Rower (NTRW19147) Available on Amazon with Prime Delivery
iFit ENHANCES THE RW900 ROWER
While the RW900 indoor rowing machine is an excellent connected-fitness rower. The iFit fitness platform rowing workouts is what makes it great.
One of our current favorite iFit rowing series filmed in the South Pacific, is the French Polynesian Tahiti Series, led by Kevin Scott — we discuss more about this series below. Not only is the scenery and wildlife spectacular your iFit trainer can dynamically adjust your rowing stroke resistance, in realtime for a much smoother, effective and intense workout overall.
You do not have to be concerned or even think about making changes to resistance, just focus on your stroke form, rhythm, the trainer cues, and enjoy the session. This live trainer-control feature is referred to as iFit AutoAjust.
iFit Rowing sessions and complete series of rowing challenges are filmed also in studio settings, but absolutely excel on the water across numerous global waterways, led by expert rowers like two-time, gold rowing Olympian, Alex Gregory, Kevin Scott, or Jay Wein, and Alex Silver-Fagen, both of NYC, City Row fame, to name some.
iFIT HIIT Rowing Workouts
iFIT Fast & Fit: French Polynesia Rowing Series
Series Level: INTERMEDIATE
12 full-body rowing workout sessions designed to get your heart rate up, build the strength of your whole body and improve stamina.
Over the 12-workouts, you'll discover a little of French Polynesia led by iFit trainer Kevin Scott who resides there. See the crystal-clear pristine waters of this unique South Pacific group of islands while working on your rowing speed, power, and endurance.
Discover French Polynesia Rowing with iFit Trainer Kevin Scott - it’s worth it!
iFit released the French Polynesia rowing series of workouts, starting with the Goal Chaser rowing challenge. This is a fantastic location to film at where you can absorb the surroundings, wildlife, the French accent and sessions seem to just fly by.
We have to mention the quality in filming and workout production. In this series and others, there are a wider range of camera angles, a larger variety of scenery shots (underwater, Drone overhead, alongside shots), you get to see more of the trainer as they walk you through your session stroke by stroke, while pointing outs highlights of the surrounding area and some historic context. You also get to view the correct form and match and row along with the trainers Stroke Rate (cadence). Overall, an excellent Rowing experience in French Polynesia Moorea and Tahiti.
2 of our Top Favorite Shoes to Row with
NOBULL & ALLBIRDS are a two of our top favorite shoe brands to use with an indoor Rowing machine. NOBULL Cross Trainers come in a ton of different color designs, with a flat sole, you can feel your foot pushing off the footrest, and specially made for cross-training. While New Zealand inspired Allbirds are super light, have a flat sole, breath well, come in different styles, and are all made from sustainable ecofriendly materials.
NOBULL Trainers offers so many colors and styles, a durable cross-fit shoes for rowing in
Allbirds, Tree Skippers (brown) & Tree runners (blue) Good indoor rowing shoes Review
NOBULL CROSSFIT FOR
ROWING
