If you’ve been following my channel for the past month or so you may have seen the “new” Total Gym Incline Row machine off in the background. While I did a video review on this product, I thought I’d touch on some of the main pros and cons for anyone who might be considering picking one of these up.
What I like about it..
First, I like the price tag (~$550) and felt the overall design of the machine was fairly solid. I wouldn’t say it’s light, but also wouldn’t say it’s super heavy either. I’ll say it is a bit more bulkier or more cumbersome to move around than most of my sliding bench trainers, but unless you’re like me and like moving your equipment inside to outside, you’ll likely just leave your row machine right where it is.
The overall feel of the machine is unique in that it’s not like a Total Gym and it’s not like a traditional indoor rower. It’s basically a combination of the two. Yes, you’re on an incline and it’s somewhat similar to a TG in design, but it is a different experience pulling (and I should say pushing from the feet) instead of working against a pulley behind you on a normal Total Gym.
What’s cool about this machine is that while yes, it’s dominant in pulling, it also really works the legs. You can even just isolate the legs on their own. Which even though this machine differs in design of a traditional indoor rower (which I’d say this is a different category in mechanics) a traditional rower if used correctly is more so leg dominant versus back.
With this TG Incline Row, it’s really up to you how you want to use the machine. The basic row movement is a perfect total body exercise in incorporating the legs with the arms, back, and even lower back. But you can (and I often do) use the machine in a variety of arm and shoulder exercises.
While you certainly can use this machine as a cardio based workout, I really think it shines as a compliment to your other forms of resistance training you may be doing. I have great workouts super-setting from my Total Gym FIT then jumping on the Incline Row.
What I don’t Like
What I ultimately dislike is what I alluded to above, and that’s that the Total Gym Incline Row isn’t the best at what some might believe it’s supposed to be…a cardio based indoor rower. I would not put this on par with a Concept 2 indoor rower. I fact did a comparison video on this if you want more detail, but basically they are two different things.
A Concept 2 rower is one of the best cardio devices one could pick up and the Total Gym Incline Row is more lower intensity resistance training tool. I really couldn’t see myself using this Incline Row for longer than five minutes without wanting to jump off and do something else. It just gets a little uncomfortable and honestly is a pretty hard to do, especially when you incorporate your whole body.
So is it WORTH IT?
I’d narrow this down to if you have extra money to spend, you enjoy the “up and down” motion of a Total Gym, you got the extra space, and you’re viewing it as a supplement resistance training piece, then YES it’s great.
But do not get this if you’re looking for a low impact or just more interesting form of cardiovascular activity. For that I would say there’s much better options.