The gamified Aviron rower lets you blast monsters while you work out

 

For some of us, squeezing in a workout is a constant struggle — especially since so many workouts are just plain boring. 

Aviron is seeking to change that with their gamified rowing machines — which offer challenging full-body workouts that feel more like games. In fact, you may recognize several of the games from the arcades of your childhood. (And if those don’t keep you interested, you can watch Youtube on the Aviron’s 22-inch HD screen while you row, too.) Aviron rowers(opens in a new tab) start at $2,199.

The rower

Aviron offers two models at the moment: the Impact Series and the Tough Series. I am reviewing the Impact Series, but the Tough Series offers more reinforcement and a higher weight limit. Aviron started out making commercial rowers for gyms, and they still use the same commercial-grade materials now that they’re selling directly to consumers too.

I’m not good at putting things together, but I was actually able to tackle 80 percent of the Aviron’s setup without my husband’s assistance. The directions were straightforward and easy to follow, and we had the rower fully assembled and ready to use in about one hour.

The first thing I noticed about the Impact Series rower once it was fully assembled is that it is long. At just over eight feet long, it takes up almost a whole wall in my tiny home gym/storage room when folded out — so you’ll definitely want to make sure it will fit where you want it before you purchase.

It also comes with a generous, 22-inch stationary touchscreen display.

SEE ALSO: The best new fitness tech we're most excited abouThe rower offers a combination of air and magnetic resistance at 16 different levels. I’m currently sitting at a five to seven, which provides a vigorous half-hour workout. Topped out, the rower provides about 100 pounds of resistance.