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Turn rowing into an engaging gaming experience. This review of the Aviron Impact Series Rowing Machine takes an in-depth look at this rower’s construction and content. Read on to decide if this rower is the one to keep you motivated.
Updated: September 12, 2023
The Aviron Impact Series Rowing Machine is a dual magnetic and air resistance rower. Aviron learned how to design a winning combination of rowing features with the Impact Rower. Fun meets performance with the premium training platform visible on the 22-inch touchscreen. The Impact Rower may be one of the longest rowers on the market, measuring 97 inches, but you can’t say it's not compact once it folds up for storage. Somehow the Impact Rower combines all these features and more into an impressive and well-balanced machine. The minds at Aviron are masters of motivation, with every detail of the Impact Rower designed to invite you back for another round of fun.
The Aviron Impact Rower has a steel and aluminum frame but weighs just under 100 lbs. It feels sturdy despite not being as robust as Aviron’s other rower, the Strong Series Rower. It can support up to 397 lbs and accommodate a maximum user height of approximately 6’7”.
The Impact Series Rower uses a belt drive for a smoother and quieter row. The belt drive should also hold up longer than the chain alternative, requiring less maintenance.
The Impact Series Rower has a round, free-rotating handle. The handle’s rotation encourages proper form in the hands and wrists. The handle attaches to a nylon strap. The tension does not stay as intense as the AssaultRower Elite, so the recovery phase is a little more active. Yet, the movement is fluid. The strap and handle provide a comfortable rowing experience. I did not have any hand soreness while using the Aviron Impact.
The Aviron Impact Rower has an aluminum monorail. It sits pretty high up with a seat height of 20 inches. Because the monorail height is high, it is not the easiest to step over. However, the seat height should make it easier for some users to get up and down. Those with mobility concerns should know that the folding mechanism of the rower requires the user to reach almost to the ground.
The Aviron Impact’s seat is molded and angled for user comfort and proper form. It is firm but can be upgraded to the softer Cloud Seat (sold separately). Many users will be comfortable without the upgrade. I did not feel the upgraded seat was necessary, but it is an option. You can always try the Impact Rower as it comes and choose to upgrade to the Cloud Seat later.
The foot stretcher adjustment mechanism is a little clunky to use. If you have small hands like I do, the orange tabs are going to be a pain. To adjust the foot stretcher length, you must press down on two orange tabs to slide the foot pads up and down. I was able to do it, but it was not my favorite system.
The Aviron Impact Series Rower folds for compact storage. It has four wheels to make its folded transport easy. It is one of the best rowers for routine transport because of this design. It was very easy for me to do it on my own. Every time I encounter a cardio machine that has four wheels, I wonder why more brands don’t offer four wheels on more machines.
The Impact Rower has air and magnetic resistance. There are sixteen magnetic resistance levels, which provide a sufficiently strong challenge for rowers of all abilities. The higher levels feel more like resistance training than suitable for endurance rowing. The air resistance is much quieter than rowers with only air resistance. The noise is much more comparable to water rowers. The resistance gets harder when the user pulls harder, which is difficult for magnetic-only rowers to get right. This combination gives the Aviron Impact Rower the best of both types of resistance.
The Aviron is the more affordable and more focused alternative to Aviron’s Strong Series Rower. The features are a little more sparse, but it still has fun to spare. The Impact Rower is a bit more traditional in its feature offerings and concentrates instead on its onscreen content.
The Impact Rower has a few buttons. There is a screen on/off push button at the top of the screen. There are volume buttons on the side. Lastly, there are resistance increase and decrease buttons at the bottom of the screen. Overall, the Aviron Impact Rower is easy to navigate, and I appreciate the inclusion of some physical buttons for improved navigation.
The screen is a 22-inch touchscreen. It is a large screen. I occasionally felt like it was a little too big when I was in the catch position, nearest the screen. The screen’s position is adjustable, so if you feel this way you can move it up or down to find a better placement for you. The screen is quite responsive, and I did not have any issues making selections when my hands were sweaty from working out. The graphics are good and clear. There was little to no lag with a good internet connection.
The speakers are rear-facing, but they do not sound muffled. I had to turn the volume up higher to hear them clearly, but I don’t think this is a problem. The volume is sufficient for providing a good workout.
Users who want to train and listen to music quietly can pair headphones. Bluetooth also allows exercisers to pair a compatible heart rate monitor. I was able to pair my Garmin Forerunner 245 and view my heart rate on the screen.
The Impact Rower has a front-facing camera for post-workout celebration commemoration. The camera quality is okay, and I think it serves its purpose just fine. It will be interesting to see if Aviron expands the capabilities of the camera into their workout programs in the future.
The Aviron Impact Series Rower delivers a fun and effective workout. It was right on par with what I would expect from a high-quality rower. When I selected the top resistance level, I thought, “Oh, this isn’t that bad.” Little did I know that the Aviron Impact Rower doesn’t drop the resistance on you suddenly. Instead, it progresses from your current resistance level to the one you have selected. Once I saw the indicator moving along the resistance level selection bar, I knew I was in trouble. When the resistance finally reached level sixteen, I was struggling. For me, this level of resistance would be a good replacement for a strength exercise. It is more than sufficient for supplying a challenge to strong rowers.
Rowing on the Impact Rower is comfortable and engaging. The handles and seat ensure everything goes smoothly during your activity. The construction is also very sturdy, so you can concentrate on your workout. The only discomfort you will experience on the Aviron Impact Rower should be the burning in your fatigued muscles.
The Aviron specializes in gamified training. There are a few different categories of training to choose from. If you are like me, you will go straight to the games. These games feel very similar to mobile or computer games many casual gamers may have played before. You even have Aviron’s take on the old Brick Breaker game. You can choose from three different difficulty levels, allowing the games to get harder as you get better. Some of the other games are bug zapping, snowball throwing, and zombie chase. The games may seem kind of childish but don’t let that dissuade you from trying them. The games are very addictive and designed to help you establish an exercise routine.
The Aviron Impact Rower has several competition programs where you can compete against computer-generated opponents, friends, or unknown Aviron members. Many of these games are structured as races. There is even the option to compete against professional athletes. This race type is done under the “Pros vs. Joes” category. You can select a competition against an elite rower or an athlete from another sport. An onscreen boat will represent your effort, while another represents the athlete’s effort. There is usually a video box in the top corner of the screen that shows you the athlete rowing on the Aviron. Beware, the Pros versus Joes races are a great way to be humbled fast. Yet, it certainly made me keen on trying again to see if I can at least keep my competitor’s boat visible on screen.
Aviron has entertainment content in addition to fun gaming options. The platform supports Netflix, Hulu, and more, so you can access your account and watch your favorite TV shows and movies. I love that Aviron offers this feature, as it can distract you from your longer, steady efforts. These streaming apps are a premium feature, so only Aviron members will be able to access them.
For users who want a more traditional training experience, Aviron has you covered, too. The Aviron Impact Rower has video content from rowing coaches and structured workouts performed on the metric screen. So if you aren’t in the mood for fun and games, Aviron also works for serious training.
Lastly, Aviron also has scenic rowing. These are videoed water routes. The camera appears to be attached to a shell. You can see the stern moving through the water. The locations are beautiful and varied, perfect for pretending you are out on the water.
Without a membership, you can still use the Aviron Impact Series Rowing Machine. You retain control over the magnetic resistance, so you can train at whatever level you wish. You can workout from the basic metric view screen. The Impact Rower will keep track of your workout history and allow you to build your friends list with other Aviron users. I would like to see a few more non-subscription content options from Aviron, like one free sample game and a couple basic training programs.
The Aviron Impact Series Rower is the brand’s more affordable rower, but it has all the fun content options Aviron offers. The gamified platform helps you create a rowing routine with its fun, engaging, and addictive platform. The rower itself is comfortable and effective, ensuring subscribers and non-subscribers have an excellent rowing experience. The Impact Series Rowing Machine folds for compact storage to remedy its large unfolded footprint. The Aviron Impact Rower is lightweight and beginner-friendly, but it is definitely powerful enough to support stronger, more experienced rowers. Anyone looking for fun and games to supplement their exercise routine will love the Aviron Impact Series Rower.
