In-depth review
WaterRower Natural Review (2027): Upright Storage, Honest Sound
Full research review of the WaterRower Natural: ash frame, upright storage dimensions, water flywheel feel, and tank upkeep.
WaterRower Natural Rowing Machine
Ash wood water rower that stands upright in about a closet-sized patch.
- Water flywheel, self-regulating
- Resistance
- Stores upright, about 82.25 in tall on a 22.25 x 20 in base
- Stored size
- Dual rail seat travel for a full-length stroke, assembled about 82.25 in long
- Rail length
Our verdict
The Natural is the compact pick for people who refuse to look at gym equipment in their living room. Stored upright it takes about a two-foot square, in use it gives a full dual-rail stroke, and the sound it makes is one owners describe fondly rather than apologetically. You pay premium money and accept a basic monitor and a small water-care routine. For a one-room or living-room rower, that trade is the point of the product.
What we like
- Stores upright in roughly a 22 x 20 in patch of floor
- Water flywheel self-regulates: pull harder and resistance rises
- Solid ash frame doubles as furniture in a living room
What to watch out for
- Premium price for a monitor that is basic by connected standards
- Needs water care tablets and an occasional tank check
Who it is for
Living-room rowers and design-conscious buyers who store the machine upright in the room where it is used.
Upright storage, measured
Tip it onto its front end and the Natural stands about 82.25 in tall on its 22.25 x 20 in end profile, with dolly wheels to move it there. The storage patch rivals a floor lamp. The preconditions are real: ceiling height for the tip arc, and care moving a tank that holds water. Owners in small apartments rate this as the feature that kept rowing in their lives.
The water stroke
Resistance comes from paddles in water, so it scales with your effort smoothly and has no settings to choose. The catch and drive feel even, with none of the dead spot some magnetic rowers show at the start of the stroke. Rowers coming from air ergs miss the damper dial; rowers coming from boats miss nothing.
Wood, rails, and upkeep
The ash frame is solid wood that can be oiled and ages well, and the dual-rail seat runs smoothly. Upkeep is a purification tablet on the maker's schedule and a tank level check, a few minutes a few times a year. Our water rower guide covers tank care in full.
Key specifications
- Resistance
- Water flywheel, self-regulating
- Stored size
- Stores upright, about 82.25 in tall on a 22.25 x 20 in base
- Rail length
- Dual rail seat travel for a full-length stroke, assembled about 82.25 in long
- Capacity
- 700 lb per maker documentation
- Storage method
- Tips upright, transport wheels on the front
What owners report
Commonly praised
- The sound is a soft slosh rather than a fan or chain whine
- Upright storage genuinely gives the room back
- Stroke feel is the closest here to rowing on water
Common complaints
- S4 monitor feels dated next to tablet-based rivals
- Moving it full of water takes care and two hands
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: WaterRower Natural product documentation, Amazon listing specifications
Also consider
Concept2 RowErg Rowing Machine
Air rower that separates into two pieces for storage, with the PM5 monitor.
- Resistance: Air, spiral damper adjustable
- Stored size: Separates into two pieces; monorail about 54 in long
Sources: Concept2 RowErg product documentation, Amazon listing specifications
Check price on Amazonor add to your Amazon cartChoose the Concept2 if training data, damper control, and parts depth matter more than looks and sound. Read our Concept2 RowErg Rowing Machine review
Fitness RealityFitness Reality 1000 Plus Magnetic Rowing Machine
Folding magnetic rower with Bluetooth and a wide contoured seat.
- Resistance: Magnetic, 14 levels
- Stored size: Folds up; assembled about 88.5 x 21.5 x 39 in
Sources: Fitness Reality 1000 Plus product documentation, Amazon listing specifications
Check price on Amazonor add to your Amazon cartChoose the Fitness Reality to spend far less and fold instead of tip, accepting a plainer machine in the room. Read our Fitness Reality 1000 Plus Magnetic Rowing Machine review
Research-based assessment: manufacturer specifications and documentation, cross-checked against retailer listings and recurring themes in published owner feedback. We do not claim hands-on testing we have not performed.
FAQ
Questions, answered straight
Can the WaterRower leak when stored upright?
The tank is sealed and the machine is designed and warrantied for upright storage. Owners report leaks mainly after transport damage or a loose tank plug, both worth checking on arrival.
How much water does the tank hold?
The maker specifies a fill level rather than a fixed volume for feel; the tank takes roughly 17 liters at the standard fill line per WaterRower documentation. Fill to the gauge, not to the brim.