Which is better: rowing machine or cross trainer?

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Rowing machine or cross trainer - which one is better?

Are you looking for the best fitness equipment and asking yourself: which is better, the rowing machine or the cross trainer? We have conveniently prepared all the important facts and everything you need to know here so that you know which is the right machine for you.


Rowing machine or cross trainer - which one is better for you?

Basically, rowing machines and crosstrainers are completely different machines. Unlike the comparison between a speed bike and an ergometer , it therefore depends much more on what exactly you expect from your workout. The crosstrainer trains your whole-body fitness and does so in a relatively joint-friendly and fluid manner. This means that you will not be overly strained, especially at the beginning. The movement is distributed between your legs and arms, so you use your thighs, butt, back, but also biceps and triceps . It's this general workout that makes the cross trainer so appealing. You're really training your whole body here and can become evenly athletic. But of course, there are downsides to this because you're not specialized. You can work out the intensity more from the legs or the arms, but a pure upper body workout is hardly possible.


When will I see the first successes with the rowing machine?

The rowing machine, on the other hand, is primarily suitable for the upper body, especially you come out of the units with a strong back. The strain on the legs is rather negligible here. For strong arms, an impressive lower back and of course as preparation for rowing, the rowing machine is clearly preferable. Here you simply achieve a more defined muscle build-up on the upper body and can train specifically for a sport. Both machines are well suited for losing weight due to their high intensity, as they intensively work large muscle groups. The rowing machine is also not too demanding on the joints, which also makes it ideal for beginners. The fact that many beginners prefer long sessions on the cross trainer may have to do with the fact that it is easier to follow Netflix on the cross trainer. The rower firstly requires more focus to perform the technique correctly and secondly, the head and body are constantly changing position. Not ideal for working out on the side.

Which is better: rowing machine or cross trainer?

The best fitness equipment for you is the one you actually use. No matter if you are looking for the right machine in a gym or if you want to buy one for your home, it is all about your individual demands. In principle, high-quality rowing machines and cross trainers are a good choice in all cases, whether you want to lose weight or build up muscles. But there are individual advantages and disadvantages.

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Editors fitnessmarkt.de (EA)

Picture credits: #95873319-luckybusiness-AdobeStock

Published on: 13 February 2018

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