What I go to scull for

Oar than a feeling

The Hydrow’s frame is cleverly conceived, with smooth lines and contrasting metal surfaces to ensure it looks and feels premium. More importantly, it looks like something you might actually want in your house.

Dancing in the seat Posteriors will also thank the comfort-orientated seat, while the webbing on foot-straps and rowing handles is top-quality. But it doesn’t fold away: you have to tip it on its end, fastening it to a wall via an optional kit. £2295 + £38/m / stuff.tv/hydrow ■ Hydrow has bolted a 22in HD touchscreen display onto a sleek rowing machine and encouraged users to row alongside pro athletes on some of the world’s most stunning bodies of water. This lung-bursting low-impact activity uses 86% of your body’s muscles with every stroke.

■ A patented system uses sensors and an electromagnetic mechanism to digitally adjust drag. The result is a massive reduction in noise – good thing too, because you’ll want to hear your instructors from the front-facing speakers.

■ Everything revolves around a bespoke app from where you can explore training sessions and live classes. It’s very, very similar to Peloton in style. Pair Bluetooth headphones or speakers, sync heart-rate monitors, or even use the Hydrow app with other rowing machines at the gym.

■ Classes are split into Drive, Sweat and Breathe. The first pushes you to the limit, the second builds endurance, the third relaxes mind and body. The instructors are pros, but it takes time to find one you get on with. Most are rife with waffle and motivational guff, and the music isn’t quite there either.

■ If you don’t want the scintillating chat, Journeys mode lets you take a scenic and silent FPV row around somewhere picturesque. It all adds up to something far less drudgey than most rowing machines.

Tech specs

Display 22in 1920x1080 touchscreen Audio 2x 3W front-facing stereo speakers Connectivity Bluetooth 5, Wi-fi, Ethernet Dimensions 2190x1200x640mm, 66kg

Blast away that beer belly in time for summer thanks to a full-body workout on this, the muscle-mashing machine that fancies itself as the Peloton of rowing