Peloton vs. Echelon Rower Review: Which smart home exercise machine is the best for you?

Home fitness is popular. For many of us, it's easier to fit in our workout from the comfort of home rather than making the trek to a gym and having to be there at a certain time. With more and more options on the market, high-end fitness machines are everywhere. And if you're spending that much money, it's important to know which one is best for you, so we're here to help you make the decision.

Echelon Smart Connect Indoor Exercise Bike in Use

Choosing the right smart home exercise machine is a big decision. It’s a lot of money to spend, and you want to make sure you will be happy with your purchase. Peloton is the biggest name out there right now, but there are two other companies offering amazing machines: Echelon and Hydrow.

One of the biggest differences between Peloton, Echelon, and Hydrow is that the latter two offer rowing machines. And rowing is becoming more popular. Rowing is a full-body workout that engages all of your major muscle groups while letting you get in that cardio time simultaneously.

The first thing to consider is what type of machine or workout you want. If you want a rowing machine, well, Peloton is out of the picture for you. Though there are rumors that Peloton might be working on their own rowing machine. It’s also important to also consider the footprint of each machine and how it will fit your needs inside of your home.

There are other key factors to consider which machine is best for you:

• Price
• Trial
• Financing
• Where you can get it
• Reviews

So, let’s dig in!

What type of machines do Peloton, Echelon, and Hydrow offer?

Peloton

Peloton offers a treadmill and an indoor exercise bike.

Echelon

Echelon offers an indoor exercise bike, a rowing machine, and their Reflect Mirrors. We won’t be covering the Reflect Mirrors since those aren’t a physical machine you would be purchasing.

Hydrow

Hyrdow offers a rowing machine.

What is the price difference between these smart home exercise machines?

• Peloton Treadmill: $4,295
• Peloton Exercise Bike: $2,245
• Echelon Exercise Bike: $839.98
• Echelon Rowing Machine: $839.98
• Hydrow Rowing Machine: $2,199

You can see that Echelon’s pricing is much lower, but that pricing is for the base model of the bike. Their premium bike is twice that cost. And for Echelon’s rowing machine, that price is the early bird price, so it’s likely to go up.

Do these exercise machines offer a free trial?

All three companies offer a 30-day in-home trial.

How will I pay for my Peloton, Echelon, or Hydrow machine?

If you don’t have the money to spend upfront, but you know that a smart home exercise machine is the route you want to take, all three companies offer financing. And while the cost of these machines seems steep, and you might balk at financing, think about what you would be spending at the gym for a membership.

Are there any extra costs to think about?

Each company charges extra for access to the app, which is where you will access the classes. The Peloton app is $39 per month, Echelon is $20 per month, and Hyrdow is $38 per month.

Where can I get a Peloton, Echelon, or Hydrow machine?

You’ll have to order them online and have the company deliver it to you. But with that 30-day trial, you’ll be able to see if it’s the right fit for you.

What do the reviews say for Peloton, Echelon, or Hydrow?

As with anything, you’ll find what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a reason not to buy, you’ll find one. And if you’re looking for glowing reviews as a reason to buy, you’ll find tons of those. At the end of the day, it’s important that you look at what both the positive and negative reviews say to see if those are things that are important to you.

What is the final verdict?

At the end of the day, you’re probably not going to be making a poor decision with any of these brands. Exercise is personal, so you need to decide which type of workout is best for you. The best choice by far is to think about your health and get started with an exercise and healthy-eating routine, no matter which machine you choose.

Peloton Tread Smart Indoor Exercise Machine lets you work out at home

Complete a total body workout at home every day with the Peloton Tread Smart Indoor Exercise Machine. This innovative trainer has a 32-inch HD touchscreen display that delivers live video sessions from top NYC instructors. There are 10+ classes to join each day, so you can always find something that fits with your schedule. On the display, you get live feedback on your pace and the calories you burn. The running platform itself has a shock-absorbing rubber slat belt, which runs on a smooth ball bearing system. This provides a low-impact training experience, while innovative speed and incline knobs allow you to make quick adjustments. Aside from running, the virtual classes cover floor exercises, walking, and weight-based training.

Peloton Indoor Exercise Bike gives you an intense cardio workout

Don’t bother with the gym when you can use the Peloton Indoor Exercise Bike to work out at home. This indoor workout bicycle provides you with a way to fit in serious cardio exercise, even when you don’t have time to leave the house. The Peloton gives you access to nearly a hundred live classes per week. So you won’t be watching some boring 80s workout recording. In fact, the instructors can even shout out to you in real-time, so you better keep up. If you can’t make a live class, choose from the library of classes that range from five to 90 minutes in length.

Echelon Row Smart Rowing Machine helps you strengthen important muscles

Rowing is a great exercise for building stamina and peace of mind. But, if you don’t live near a body of water, the Echelon Row Smart Rower is a great machine for you. With this smart rower, you get all the benefits of rowing at an affordable price. Available with its own tablet or customizable to yours, it lets you row down a river in Thailand or another preprogrammed rowing location. With a subscription, you’ll have access to Echelon’s floorwork classes. The rower also folds away neatly, so you can to store it against a wall or upright in a closet.

Echelon Smart Connect Indoor Exercise Bike lets you ride in your living room

Enjoy studio fitness classes without even leaving the house with the Echelon Smart Connect Indoor Exercise Bike. This workout bicycle works directly with on-demand or live classes, offering a studio class experience at home. Featuring a lightweight and modern design, the Connect Bike’s flywheel is so quiet that it won’t disturb anyone around you. Offering 32 resistance levels, the bike provides challenging workouts for all levels of riders. Using Bluetooth connectivity, you can fully integrate your Connect Bike with the app to track speed, calories burned, cadence, and distance.

Hydrow Rower Connected Rowing Machine lets you join live classes

Experience an all-over workout right from home with the Hydrow Rower Connected Rowing Machine. Complete with a built-in display, you can connect to four different experiences. You can choose to broadcast live from instructors rowing in the water or in a studio. Additionally, you can access pre-recorded river and studio rowing sessions 24/7. And with countless options and an impressively comprehensive workout, Rower is everything you could ever need from an exercise machine. Best of all, it folds up to a small footprint when not in use so you can keep it accessible.

We know, it’s difficult to choose which machine is best for you. We love features about them all, from Peloton’s name-brand recognition to Echelon’s affordability to Hydrow’s sleek look. You can’t go wrong; we’re pretty sure about that. Do you already have one of these machines? Let us know what you think about it in the comments.

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