Rowing is one of the best low impact cardiovascular exercises for people of all fitness levels. But sitting on a freezing cold river at 6am in the morning is, understandably, not for everyone. This is where rowing machines come into play. The best rowing machines these days, from brands including Concept2 and Hydrow, can take your heart rate, monitor your progress and have you Boat Race ready in no time... maybe. Ex-Team GB athlete Mike Dostal explains: “Not only does rowing engage up to 86 per cent of your body’s muscle groups, it is also incredibly low impact. It’s gentle on the joints – unlike high impact forms of exercise like running and cycling . It’s also a time effective workout, making it one of the best pieces of home gym equipment you can invest in. We’ve tried air, water and magnetic rowers and, with the help of our experts, compiled a guide to the best at-home rowing machines on the market today.…