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The NordicTrack RW600 Rowing Machine is an entry-level magnetic rower. Read our review to learn how iFIT and the RW600 create a virtual on-the-water rowing workout.
Updated: May 13, 2024
The NordicTrack RW600 rowing machine is the most affordable option in NordicTrack’s rowing machine lineup. To be more budget-friendly, it has a smaller screen and a lighter frame. The RW600 still has strong magnetic resistance and smart training from iFIT like its bigger siblings the RW700 and the RW900. The RW600 is the perfect addition to your iFIT-compatible collection of home fitness equipment or a great introduction to rowing for the novice user. There are a few limitations to the RW600 compared to other rowing machines, so read on in our review of the NordicTrack RW600 to find out our expert’s opinion after training on the smart rowing machine.
The RW600’s construction is good quality especially considering its price. It has the same 10-year frame, 2-year parts, and 1-year labor warranty that NordicTrack has on most of their equipment. The RW600 is very similar to the RW700 and RW900, but the monorail is slimmed down a bit.
The frame is steel, including the monorail. It has a front and rear stabilizer with grippy feet. The frame can support a maximum user weight of 250 lbs. The industry standard is 300 lbs, so the RW600 falls a little short. The rowing machine itself weighs 129 lbs as it comes shipped. It is about 127 lbs outside of its packaging.
The RW600’s flywheel is inertia-enhanced to create a smooth rowing stroke. This rower uses magnetic resistance so the flywheel’s movement is very quiet. Air and water rowers have fan blades and paddle blades that generate more noise as they rotate.
The 26 levels of magnetic resistance vary from light and easy to challenging. NordicTrack does not use drag like most other brands do. The NordicTrack rowers’ magnetic resistance feels very different from brands like Hydrow and Aviron. The RW600’s resistance or drag changes a lot throughout a workout. These changes compound with your changes in rowing force and speed.
The handle has a soft rubbery coating. It feels pretty comfortable in my hands. The grip area is about 6 inches long on either side. The grips are spaced 7 inches apart. I like this spacing, but some users with broader shoulders might prefer a longer handle.
The catch (where you dock the handle) is a little awkward to use. It attaches to the handle very smoothly for a nice look, but I didn’t like how precise I had to be to release the handle.
The RW600 has a belt drive. It also has a strap connected to the handle instead of a chain. These two features make the RW600 feel smoother and sound even quieter. However, the tension on NordicTrack rowers decreases during the recovery phase.
The monorail is steel and slightly angled to help with the recovery phase. It varies from 13 to 14.5 inches high at the end of the rower. The monorail is 47 inches long.
I was most disappointed with the rail because it is rough. The rail is powder-coated black and does not allow the seat to roll smoothly. This unevenness generated unnecessary noise.
The seat is ergonomic and molded for your comfort. The seat is 11.5 inches wide and 9.5 inches long. It sits about 15.5 to 17 inches off the ground depending on where the seat is on the rail. While it was very soft, the seat was also very thin. It didn’t feel as stable as other rowing machine seats I have used, but this instability is minimized by the exclusive forward and backward motion of the seat. I’m happy that the maximum weight is limited to 250 lbs because it feels more practical for this rower.
The Foot stretchers have heel straps that are not fixed to the footboards. If you can’t keep your heels down during the rowing stroke this is helpful because your heels will stay in the straps. Most athletic shoes should fit. The footboards are about 5 inches apart and 14 inches long. There are 7 levels of adjustment.
The Velcro straps were easy to adjust around my feet. Unfortunately, I felt some pain on the tops of my feet from the wider size of the straps. This might not be the case for every user, of course. I like the thinner straps that most rowing machines use, but the Velcro was a nice improvement over the more common buckle used by other rowers.
You can store the RW600 vertically or horizontally. It has transport wheels on the front stabilizer which lets you wheel it around while lifting from its rear stabilizer. The RW600 might take up a lot of space when down, but its upright storage is super compact even though the screen does not fold down.
The NordicTrack RW600’s features are designed for smart iFIT training. For this reason, I do not recommend the RW600 for users who do not plan to subscribe. The features are limited in use without an active membership.
The RW600’s console tilts up and down to improve your viewing. The first thing I did when I got on the rower was to angle the console down which created a much better experience for me. The console does not rotate side to side, unfortunately, but I felt like I could still see the screen fine from the side of the rower.
The NordicTrack RW600 has buttons for quick resistance changes during a workout. Most rowing machines are designed for a consistent drag as you row and are not easy to adjust on the fly. The RW600 has 11 quick adjust resistance buttons. These skip by 2 to 3 levels to cover as many of the 26 levels as possible. There are also large plus and minus buttons to adjust the resistance more finely.
There’s a second set of buttons. These are push buttons located between the two speakers. They are volume controls.
The screen is 7 inches. This is the smallest screen size NordicTrack equips their smart machines with. It doesn’t provide the best viewing experience. Our reviewers prefer a display of 10 to 14 inches, but this 7-inch screen is a more economical option. I also prefer a smaller screen if you are going to cancel iFIT because it doesn’t feel as pointless to only view a manual training layout on it. On the RW600, the 7-inch screen felt pretty comfortable because you end up really close to the screen during each rowing stroke.
There are two 2-inch front-facing speakers beneath the screen. I’ve been happy with the audio quality in the past, so I expect nothing less from the RW600. An alternative audio option is Bluetooth. It’s easy to connect compatible headphones.
You can control the music radio and trainer volume separately to get the right audio mix for your training. There are also closed captions available.
The RW600 is Bluetooth enabled, so you can connect to headphones or a heart rate monitor. I had no trouble connecting my Garmin to view my heart rate onscreen.
A traditional rowing experience consists of setting your drag either by adjusting the airflow to the fan or changing the water level in your water rower’s tank. Magnetic rowers like Hydrow allow you to set a drag factor but encourage you to leave it. iFIT rowers encourage you to change your resistance/drag regularly. During iFIT classes, you are encouraged to row harder and faster at the same time the resistance increases, which makes the workouts very challenging.
Fortunately, iFIT adjusts to your fitness level over time, so you can give it feedback by manually changing the resistance level as needed.
I like this style of training for rowers who want to emphasize strength and power over endurance. It is not the best option for exercisers who want a traditional rowing experience.
iFIT specializes in outdoor content filmed in locations all around the world. The classes are led by professional trainers who guide you through each workout. There are thousands of classes to choose from, and they aren’t all just for rowing. There are classes for the treadmill, elliptical, exercise bikes, and more.
Rowing classes are filmed out on the water and indoors in the studio. I prefer the outdoor classes, but the studio classes are great for boot camp-style training that take you off the rower for strength moves. iFIT provides a lot of good guidance and coaching that helps new rowers along in their journey.
In addition to the classes, iFIT also has music radio that plays during classes. You can choose a station from the available genres that align with your taste. The music is current with new releases added all the time.
Then there’s also a Google Maps integration. While this feature is fun on a treadmill or exercise bike, it’s kind of funny on a rower. You create a route anywhere that Google has satellite Street View data. Once your route is created, you row through the Street View images. It’s strange to virtually row down a street, but it is an option.
Without an iFIT membership, your content options on the RW600 are very limited. You can train in a manual program and one featured iFIT rowing class. These options have fluctuated and are subject to future changes. However, the RW600 is usable without a subscription in manual mode for the foreseeable future. I wish there were more non-subscription options like the onboard target and interval programs offered by most exercise equipment.
The NordicTrack RW600 is a smart rower with a 7-inch touchscreen for viewing iFIT content. iFIT classes are excellent for guiding exercisers who are new to rowing through workouts. The magnetic resistance is quiet and has enough variability to challenge beginners and experienced users alike. The RW600 is a great addition to a home gym for users who already have NordicTrack equipment and want to build out their cross-training options. The workout is not as traditional as other rowing machines offer, but it is effective for HIIT, strength, and power training.
