Echelon's Linked Rowing Equipment Highlights the Importance of Content
The pandemic has shown that the future of fitness lies online. Companies like Peloton and Apple have fully embraced digital training, offering classes that are as immersive and engaging as those held in a gym. Others, such as Hydrow, are taking it a step further by providing a real-world experience, taking you on a voyage across a tranquil lake or down a distant river.
Then there's the Echelon Row-S.
Echelon manufactures budget-friendly, connected exercise machines for those who can't afford high-end options like Peloton or Hydrow. Their latest offering, the Row-S, is a freestanding rower equipped with a 22-inch screen and an electronically adjustable resistance system. It retails for $1,599, without factoring in the monthly subscription fee, which is slightly cheaper than Hydrow and comparable to NordicTrack's $1,599 connected rower. However, keeps in mind that basic rowing machines start at around $279, making the Row-S a premium choice.
The Row-S is well-constructed, folding up efficiently for easy storage in smaller spaces and simple to unfold for use. It's sturdy and its integrated controls allow for effortless adjustment of resistance. As a rower, it performs well, the heavy velcro foot straps are superior to Hydrow's, ensuring a comfortable and secure workout. Even other home exercise equipment I've tested has often felt cheap and flimsy, the Row-S, however, is a high-quality product.
[Image of John Biggs using the Echelon Row-S]
Now, for the disappointing part. I recently tested the Hydrow and was highly impressed, both in terms of the build and the content. This space is becoming increasingly competitive, with services like Apple's Fitness+, Equinox+, and Peloton providing polished, high-budget content featuring professional trainers. In fact, I'd argue that 80% of the value of connected workout machines comes from the content. NordicTrack's iFit content is filmed on location, and the footage is excellent on your tablet or phone.
Echelon, however, falls short in this area.
Echelon's streaming fitness classes cost $339 per year or $39 a month, with discounts offered for prepayments. It's worth noting that you do get a solid workout. The trainers suggest resistance levels and offer guidance to work harder or slow down. They even perform floor exercises, just like in an offline workout. However, the audio is tinny, the video resolution is poor, and the classes seem to have been filmed in a basement. In fact, the video quality is so poor that it makes me want to reconsider using the rower on a daily basis.
Worse still is the outdoor rowing footage, which appears to have been filmed with a broken smartphone:
[Images of poor outdoor rowing footage]
To sum up, my wife, who is not particularly tech-savvy but loves fitness apps, had one thing to say: "Ugh."
We all expect a certain level of production and quality from our fitness equipment, and Echelon falls short in this regard. I understand if Echelon is still a newcomer in the market, but it has been around since at least 2017 and has the potential to be a solid competitor to other brands. For such an crucial aspect of the user experience to be so lacking is quite disheartening.
I have no issue with the hardware. It's well-built and the price is reasonable. But when you're investing over $1,000 in a connected rower, Echelon simply can't compete in terms of content. It's better to buy a basic, affordable rowing machine and sign up for a different service, such as iFit or Hydrow, for a more engaging training session without the 22-inch screen.
The Echelon Row-S is a decent exercise machine that retails at a reasonable price. It's not a luxury item, but it's well-built. However, the content, which is arguably as important as the hardware, leaves much to be desired. If I'm paying $339 on top of $1,600 for a rower, I'd expect the content to be top-notch. Currently, it isn't. These machines are designed to engage users through attractive design, professional trainers, and crystal-clear video. Right now, Echelon offers just the trainers. Echelon can improve the content with investment, but until it upgrades the quality of its classes, I'd recommend skipping the Row-S for a more immersive experience.
The future of Echelon might involve investing in improving their streaming fitness content, as 80% of the value in connected workout machines comes from this aspect. disappointed with Echelon's content, some users might consider purchasing a more affordable rowing machine and subscribing to services like iFit or Hydrow for a more engaging training session on their devices.
