Rowers

Nordictrack RW500 Rower Review

September 15, 2019January 7, 2020 FitnessEquipmentGuide Rowers

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. Click Here to read our full affiliate disclosure.

Is the Nordictrack RW500 Right For You?

Nordictrack rw500 Rower review — Nordictrack RW500 Rower

The Nordictrack RW500 Rower is a great mix of high-end rowing features and affordability.

It carries an upgraded console (with full-color tablet included!) and more resistance levels than the RW200 model.

You can connect with iFit Coach through the console tablet and row famous waterways around the world.

Or take rowing fitness classes from your home!

This really puts the RW500 into a whole new class of rowing machines.

Plus it’s not just about the entertainment. You get a heavy, stable machine with 2 forms of resistance and quick-adjust footpedals for added comfort.

So is the Nordictrack RW500 Rower a good choice for you?

Here’s what you need to know:

The Basics:

Price: $999 + Click Here for Free Shipping

Resistance Levels: 26

User Weight Capacity: 250 lbs

Built-in Workouts: 30

Footpedals: Pivoting with Nylon Straps

iFit Compatible? Yes

Footprint: 86.5″ L x 22″ W

Warranty: 10 year Frame, 2 year Parts, 1 year Labor

Nordictrack RW500 Rower Review – The Benefits:

Backlit Console with Tablet Included

The RW500 comes with a larger console than the RW200 model. You can easily see more of your workout stats at a glance in the 5-inch backlit display.

Plus, Nordictrack has also added in a 10-inch tablet included with this model. You store this in the media shelf in front of the console and can use it to connect with iFit Coach (see more about iFit below).

This effectively turns it into a full-color console with iFit Coach connectivity (so you can enjoy streaming rowing classes from your home).

iFit Compatible

This rower works with iFit Coach. iFit connects your rowing machine to the Internet using the Wifi in your home. From there you can track your workouts over time, set new fitness goals and see how far you’ve come.

But the coolest thing about iFit?

You can take a wide variety of video rowing workout classes right from your home. You can also row famous waterways all over the world!

nordictrack 200 rower review — iFit Coach Rowing Workouts

Enjoy the scenery as you row the river Thames or take an in-studio trainer-led, workout session.

There are tons of workouts to choose from – and iFit is always adding more.

And more good news:

While iFit Coach is usually a subscription-based service, if you get the Nordictrack 500 rower through the Manufacturer here, you’ll get a 1 year-membership to iFit Coach included with your machine.

So you can try it for a full year and see if you like it – which is an amazing deal. (You don’t need iFit to use this rowing machine – it works fine without it. iFit is just an add-on option if you want it).

Strong, Ergonomic Design

There are several features on this machine that are designed to give you a more comfortable, smooth-feeling rowing motion.

The molded seat and pivoting footpedals offer a super-flexible motion. And the Softtouch, ergonomic handles help reduce hand and wrist fatigue throughout longer workouts.

The inertia-enhanced flywheel and the silent magnetic resistance also help to give you a more smooth, quiet workout.

Two Types of Resistance

You get up to 26 levels of silent magnetic resistance that you can control from your console.

You can also add even more intensity with the air resistance option as well. So there’s a lot of room to grow and challenge yourself with this machine.

Folds Up To Save Space

The RW500 easily folds up with wheels on the bottom so you can move it out of the way when you’re done.

However note that this rower is still pretty heavy – so you may not want to wheel it around every day.

30 Built-In Workouts

Don’t want to take an iFit workout? No problem.

You also get 30 built-in workouts with this rower, designed to challenge you and help you burn more calories and increase your strength.

Nordictrack RW 500 Rower – Any Drawbacks?

Dual-Color Console

The console on this unit is excellent – however it’s only dual color. It’s also a bit smaller (even with the 10-inch tablet) than the RW900 model – which has a massive 22-inch full-color screen.

Heavy Machine

While the RW 500 rower is quite easy to take out of the box and set up, it’s also quite heavy. This is great for stability – but not necessarily for moving it around.

Bottom Line?

The RW500 rowing machine is a strong, well-built rower with several features to give you a more comfortable workout.

Plus it also adds a whole new level of training with the iFit Coach and console tablet. You can enjoy rowing different waterways around the world – or challenge yourself with one of the many trainer-led studio classes.

This, along with the extra levels of resistance – gives you a lot of room to grow over time.

And the best part is that it’s currently coming in for under $1000 – making it a lot more affordable than other quality rowers on the market.