The EXR rowing app is a video game-based app that keeps long rowing workouts interesting and fun — even if you aren’t a gamer! I got a year’s free trial from EXR to do this review and I was really impressed with the app!
After testing, I believe the EXR rowing app is a good purchase for any home gym owner wanting to include indoor rowing in their training.
Let’s jump right into this review.
5 Reasons the EXR Rowing App is Great for Home Gyms
The EXR Rowing App is Compatible with Multiple Devices
The number one thing I love about The EXR Rowing App is it is compatible with multiple smart devices and with multiple rowers.
That means that you can use the app across devices in your home. It also means that you can change rowing machines down the road and still use the app.
The EXR Rowing App has Discord
I like the fact that the app has a social aspect. There is an active Discord page with community members and app developers, so you can ask questions.
You can also use Discord to find group rows and work out with other people. You can’t compete yet, but you can use Discord to chat with the group. This takes something that is normally a solo activity and makes it very communal, giving you support during your workout.
You Can Row in a Game Environment
Stationary exercises like rowing can get a little stale, so I love that the EXR app keeps things fun with game environments. It feels like you’re playing a video game as you row.
You can row in beautiful, scenic places like Lake Bled and go on interesting courses like rowing through the Boston Sewers. The graphics in the game are fantastic.
You can earn experience points (XP) when you complete certain challenges. Then, you can use those points to level up your character, change your avatar’s appearance, and modify your rowing boat.
The app also has mini-games. They are usually pretty short, so I like to just use them as a warmup.
Provides Personalized Workouts and Coaching
I really enjoyed the FTP feature that assessed my performance. Based on the assessment, the app custom-tailored my training routine.
It showed me I was rowing too fast for the courses I was doing. I was rowing extended events, so I needed to pace myself. The game gives you on-screen prompts to let you know when you need to speed up or slow down. This is like having a coach tell you what to do and help you improve your workouts.
The camera angles automatically change
Another thing I like about this app is the camera angles automatically change relative to the scenery and everything else going on in the game. This helps you easily track of your character and keeps the scenery changing.
Things That Need to Change About the EXR Rowing App
While I am a big fan of this rowing app for home gym workouts, there are a few things that I don’t like about it.
EXR Rowing App Not Compatible with Apple Health
One major disappointment for me is the EXR rowing app does not sync with Apple Health. Therefore, it doesn’t sync with other tracking apps like MyFitnessPal.
That means that I can’t automatically track my calories burned from my rowing workouts.
I can manually enter that I did a rowing workout and have MyFitnessPal estimate the calories, but this is not very accurate.
Due to the popularity of Apple Health and MyFitnessPal, this is a major con of using this app.
Significant cost if you are trying to share with family
The EXR rowing app costs $9.99 per month for a monthly plan or $7.99 per month for an annual plan. While this isn’t an insignificant cost, I do think this is a fair price for the app, especially if you use it often.
However, this can get expensive and complicated if you’d like to set up family members on the app. Each member will need to purchase their own app subscription. There is no family plan option.
Final Thoughts on the EXR Rowing App
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced rower looking to make your workouts more interesting, I highly recommend this app! It is definitely a great purchase that will help you stay engaged in your workouts and connect with other rowers. It constantly keeps me motivated, challenged, and having fun.
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If you’d like to learn more and see some of the visuals from the app, you can watch my full video review of the EXR Rowing App on my YouTube Channel.
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