Indoor rowing has become quite a popular way to kip fit globally. Rowing machines provide a way to achieve a total body workout: therefore, they are ideal if you need to build muscle, burn fat or tone your body. Because of this, they are a must-have in a gym and a good option for a home gym if you have limited space.
Whether it’s your first time or you have used this machine before, you need to have some rowing machine accessories to make your workout sessions effective. These accessories will help you customize your workouts and reach your goals much faster. Let’s take a closer look at what you need.
Essential Accessories for Rowing Indoor
Here are the accessories you need for indoor rowing.
Chain Oil
Once you buy a rowing machine, you need to do routine maintenance for it to function properly. You need to get chain oil to keep the rower chain well lubricated.
Some rowing machine brands will come with chain oil or lube that you can use. If yours doesn’t have this option, you can purchase rowing machine chain oil such as Impresa Rowing Machine Chain Oil.
If you can’t get rower chain oil, you can still use the simple oil used in bicycles or purchase regular lubricant. Whatever lubricant you choose to use, ensure that you wipe down the chain well so that there’s no excess oil left.
Cleaning Kit
If you have an older rowing machine, you’ll need to constantly clean it for stubborn marks and rust. For this, you can use regular cleaners to wipe the external parts of your machine. You can also use a bicycle chain cleaning kit to remove any stains.
On the other hand, for deep cleaning or to remove rust, you can use products that work on stubborn stickers.
USB Stick
A USB stick such as SanDisk 128GB is important if you use a rowing machine to work out because it stores data about your fitness journey. You can add information about your calories, stroke rate, watts, and pace.
USB sticks are essential for people who work out in the gym because they share equipment with other users. Statistics show that there were more than 64 million members in health clubs and fitness centers across the U.S. in 2019, and the numbers keep growing. Therefore, if you are one of them, you can carry and transfer data to a computer.
Floor Mat
High quality floor mats such as SuperMats Heavy Duty Mat can prevent the rowing machine from damaging the floors.
Although it’s not mandatory, a floor mat adds extra protection to your floor and ensures that it will not move when you are working out. In addition, the floor mat provides a barrier for the sweat to drop. An ideal floor mat is at least 4.5 mm thick and made of synthetic rubber.
Heart Rate Monitor
A heart rate monitors such as Wahoo Fitness TICKR Heart Rate Monitor and Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor helps gauge the workout’s intensity. If you monitor your heart rate as you row, you can easily know when you are under-training or overtraining. Using this information, you can know the best heart rate zone to help you tweak your workouts.
For workouts involving heart rate equipment, go for chest straps that come with Bluetooth connectivity. This is ideal because it’s more comfortable and does not interfere with the workout session.
Seat Pad
When working out with a rowing machine, your lower back, thigh muscles, and glutes are pushed to the limits. For comfort, you should get a seat pad that cushions your behind to reduce the numbing session when rowing.
When shopping for a seat pad, there are many brands available in the market. However, you should go for one with a self-adhesive backing that can be installed and removed easily and a perfect example is 2K Fit Rowing Machine Seat Cushion.
Gloves
It’s quite easy to hurt your hands when rowing. Gloves such as Fit Four The Neo Grip Glove will protect your hands and make your workout sessions comfortable. With a quality pair, you can protect your hands from forming blisters.
Proper Clothing
Wearing the proper clothing is the first step in getting motivation for a workout. When getting some accessories, you need some rowing shorts and t-shirts to help you get in the mood for exercising. Ensure that the clothes are a perfect fit to make your sessions more comfortable.
The Right Shoes for Rowing
Apart from the clothing, you also need the right shoes for rowing. All your shoes may not be ideal for rowing; therefore, you need to look for the best shoe options that will keep you comfortable.
Nice To Have Accessories
Here are the nice-to-have accessories you should get for your rowing sessions.
Rowing Slides
Slides will make your indoor rowing experience feel like an outdoor experience. When you wear these rowing slides, the experience feels like rowing on water. In addition, they’ll also help you get your stroke rate higher.
Smartphone Cradle
Smartphones are important in every aspect of our daily lives. Therefore, you can get a smartphone cradle to secure your phone when working out.
The cradle you buy should perfectly fit your machine’s handles to avoid falling when working out. With this accessory, you can watch music or your favorite shows as you work out. You can try out Phone Holder Made for PM5 Monitors.
Cover
A cover comes in handy when you are not using your machine. You can cover it to protect it from dirt.
The cover will also keep the machine looking new. Ensure that you get one that is made of polyester or vinyl to protect your equipment from stains. Whether you put your rower inside the house or outside, a cover is necessary.
Summary
The onset of the pandemic in 2020 led to an increase in home workouts as more people stayed worked remotely.
Rowing machines became one of the best ways to work out at home. They are also quite popular in the gym due to their benefits. However, you need to have some accessories to make the workout experience more comfortable. These items boost comfortability and will improve your rowing experience.
