Rowing machine or treadmill: If you want to train your whole body without impact, choose the rowing machine. If you mainly want to move more in everyday life and while working from home, choose a Walking Pad. There is no overall winner. The water rowing machine costs CHF 849, while the Walking Pad starts at CHF 399.
- Goal: Full-body workout, back, and muscular endurance: water rowing machine, CHF 849, 210 x 57 x 53 cm, 29.5 kg.
- Goal: Move more throughout the day, use at a desk, low barrier to entry: Walking Pad, from CHF 399, folded from 120 x 54 x 13.5 cm, from 20 kg.
- Space requirements: The rowing machine is almost twice as long as the folded Walking Pad and therefore requires a correspondingly large area during training.
- Rented apartment: Walking Pad rated at 45 dB; with rowing, the seat carriage is the issue, not the motor.
- Assembly: Walking Pad 100% pre-assembled, rowing machine 80% pre-assembled; one person, around 20 minutes.
Contents
- Rowing machine or treadmill: what really matters?
- How do the two devices differ in concrete terms?
- Which piece of equipment trains more muscle groups?
- Which is gentler on your joints and back?
- How much space do a rowing machine and a Walking Pad need?
- How loud is it in a rented apartment?
- Which equipment is right for which goal?
- Which machine will you still be using after six months?
- What can neither machine do, and is using both worthwhile?
- Frequently asked questions
- Our conclusion
Rowing machine or treadmill: what really matters?
The decision isn't about the device, but the goal. Rowing is a seated pulling movement that combines the legs, core, and back. You already know how to walk on a treadmill, so you can start right away—even in the middle of the workday.
For most people, it comes down to two sentences. If you plan two to four dedicated sessions per week and want to get a lot out of them, you're better off with the oak wood water rowing machine. If you spend eight hours at a desk and your fundamental problem is “I don't move enough,” you'll get more out of the oak wood Walking Pad treadmill because you can use it every day.
For this comparison, we measured the manufacturers' specifications for both devices against what a normal living space can accommodate. In the end, the question was never which one was better or worse, but which device had any real chance of fitting into everyday life.
How do the two devices differ in concrete terms?
The key differences lie in muscle engagement, space requirements, and the barrier to getting started. All figures come from the product data, not estimates.
| Criteria | Oak wood water rowing machine | Oak wood Walking Pad treadmill |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles engaged | Legs, core, back, and arms in one movement | Primarily the legs and gluteal muscles |
| Impact load | None, seated movement | Yes, every step lands on the surface |
| Device dimensions | 210 x 57 x 53 cm | Folded: 120 x 54 x 13.5 cm or 126 x 68.5 x 14.5 cm |
| Storage | Upright against the wall, with rubberized transport wheels | Folds flat and fits under a sofa or bed |
| Weight | 29.5 kg | 20 kg or 25 kg depending on the variant |
| Maximum user weight | 180 kg, max. user height 200 cm | 135 kg |
| Noise level | Water noise, no motor | 45 dB, according to the manufacturer |
| Resistance | 7 levels based on the amount of water, 8 to 16 litres | Speed up to 6 km/h or up to 12 km/h, depending on the version |
| Technical demand | High—the movement must be learned | Low—anyone can walk |
| Assembly | 80 percent pre-assembled, one person, approx. 20 minutes | 100 percent pre-assembled—unpack and get started |
| Suitable for multitasking | No, rowing requires your full attention | Yes, typing and making phone calls work |
| Price | CHF 849 | From CHF 399 (6 km/h), CHF 499 (12 km/h) |
| Our recommendation | When training effect per minute and full-body exercise matter | When everyday movement and a low barrier to entry matter |
The final line is intentionally split in two. Declaring a winner here would be dishonest: The devices solve different problems, and if you solve the wrong one, you end up with an expensive piece of furniture.
Which piece of equipment trains more muscle groups?
The rowing machine trains significantly more muscle groups. A rowing stroke starts in the legs, passes through the core and ends in the arms—it is a chain, not an isolated muscle. Walking on a Walking Pad, by contrast, primarily works the legs and glutes, with very little involvement from the upper body.
That is why many people have muscle soreness in unexpected places after their first sessions. The muscle groups involved are explained in detail under which muscles a rowing machine trains.
«bought the whole thing for my wife and now I sit on it myself every day!!! After the second time, I had muscle soreness in places I didn’t even know existed. Well, I should have got one of these twenty years ago»
Kurt Wyss, 5 stars, verified purchase
With a Walking Pad, on the other hand, we almost always hear the same thing: It is the amount that counts, not the intensity. Customers start with ten minutes and, weeks later, walk for almost an hour at a time without perceiving it as training. With rowing, this rarely happens on its own; every session is planned.
Which is gentler on your joints and back?
Rowing is done seated, without impact stress. Many people with sensitive knees or ankles find this more comfortable. Walking creates moderate stress with every step. That is not a disadvantage—stress is a useful stimulus for bones and tendons; it simply needs to match your individual condition.
The catch: Rowing is only as gentle as your technique. If you pull with a rounded back and forget to use your legs, you can develop discomfort on a piece of equipment that is actually back-friendly. Walking is forgiving of almost everything because you have been practising it for decades.
If you have existing back, knee or hip problems, discuss your equipment choice with your doctor or physiotherapist beforehand. We sell equipment; we do not make diagnoses.
How much space do a rowing machine and a Walking Pad need?
The rowing machine requires significantly more space during training, but both take up little space when stored. This is the biggest practical difference and is often the deciding factor in small Swiss apartments.
- Water rowing machine: Equipment dimensions 210 x 57 x 53 cm. After training, stand it upright and roll it against the wall on the transport wheels; it then takes up little floor space. While rowing, allow for more than two metres of length plus space to get on and off.
- Walking Pad: Running surface 107 x 41 cm; folded, 120 x 54 x 13.5 cm or 126 x 68.5 x 14.5 cm, depending on the version. At 13.5 cm high, it fits under most sofas.
- Both: Place a floor protection mat underneath on parquet or laminate flooring to prevent pressure marks and reduce structure-borne sound.
- Weight: 29.5 kg versus 20 to 25 kg. You can move both on your own, although the rowing machine is pushed rather than carried.
If you're still deciding between treadmill types, the comparison Walking Pad vs. classic treadmill provides details on the running surface, speed range and stability.
How loud is it in a rented apartment?
Both devices are suitable for apartments, but they are loud or quiet for different reasons. The Walking Pad is rated at 45 dB, which is equivalent to normal room volume. What the neighbour downstairs hears is rarely the motor, but rather the footsteps: structure-borne sound transmitted through the floor.
The water rowing machine has no motor at all. The noise comes from the water in the tank and sounds more like a wave than a machine. However, the seat carriage moves along the rail, and a hard pull sends an impulse through the floor. You can hear that in an older building with wooden-beam ceilings.
So both require a mat underneath, and should preferably not be placed against the partition wall adjoining the neighbour's bedroom. If you live in a poorly insulated building and train late in the evening, the Walking Pad is less noticeable at a low speed.
Which equipment is right for which goal?
The goal question matters more than any equipment debate. Here are the goals we hear about most often.
| Goal | Our recommendation | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Lose weight, have little time | Rowing machine | More muscle engagement per session, meaning more work in the same amount of time. |
| Lose weight, spend a lot of time sitting | Walking Pad | The sum of many small sessions beats two planned workouts that get skipped. |
| Strengthen your back | Rowing machine | Pulling motion for the upper back, provided your technique is correct. |
| Movement during the workday | Walking Pad | Runs alongside calls and emails, with no need for a second shower. |
| Build endurance | Both possible | Rowing demands more, while walking is manageable every day. |
| Returning to exercise after a break | Walking Pad | Lowest barrier, no technique to learn, ready to use immediately. |
If you want to take a deeper look at treadmills, the guide to treadmills for home covers the points this comparison leaves open: speed ranges, running surface, and motor power.
Which machine will you still be using after six months?
The machine with the lower barrier wins almost every time, and that is the Walking Pad here. It is 100 percent pre-assembled: unpack it and start walking. The rowing machine is 80 percent pre-assembled, requires one person and around 20 minutes to set up, and afterward also requires the willingness to learn a new movement.
It continues this way in everyday use. You step onto the Walking Pad between two appointments for twenty minutes without changing clothes. For a rowing session, you change because you will sweat. This is not an argument against rowing, but rather a reason to assess your own tolerance for friction honestly.
One pattern from our support team fits this: With the rowing machine, we hear much more often that the movement feels different from what people expected. With the Walking Pad, we practically never get this feedback, because no one is surprised by walking.
What can neither machine do, and is using both worthwhile?
Both machines are endurance equipment, not strength equipment. Neither rowing nor walking replaces targeted strength training with progressive loads, and neither builds significant upper-body pushing strength. If you want to get stronger, you also need weights or a cable machine.
Regarding the most common follow-up question: Yes, both make sense, but only once you reach a certain volume. If you have two hours per week, put them into one machine that suits your goal. From six to eight hours, combining them is worthwhile: Walking Pad for daily foundational movement, rowing machine for two to three demanding sessions.
If your budget only stretches to one and you are hesitating, our rule of thumb is: Choose the machine that stays visible and is ready to use in under thirty seconds. That is usually the Walking Pad, and it is the more affordable first choice.
Frequently asked questions
Does rowing burn more calories than walking?
Over the same amount of time, rowing generally demands more because significantly more muscle groups are involved. What matters, though, is the total over the week. Forty minutes of walking on five days adds up to more movement than two rowing sessions you plan to do and then cancel.
Is the Walking Pad also available with 18 km/h?
No. Our Walking Pad is available in two versions, up to 6 km/h and up to 12 km/h. Anyone who wants to do regular fast intervals or tempo runs needs a device with a higher speed range and a correspondingly longer running surface. 12 km/h is sufficient for walking, brisk walking and light jogging.
How heavy are the devices, and can I move them on my own?
The Walking Pad weighs either 20 kg or 25 kg, depending on the version, while the water rower weighs 29.5 kg. Both have transport wheels. You can push the rower against the wall on your own, but it should be carried by two people, if only because it is 210 cm long.
Which device is better for beginners?
For getting back into exercise without prior knowledge, the Walking Pad is easier because you do not have to learn anything. Rowing is just as worthwhile for beginners, but requires focused technique work during the first two to three weeks: legs, torso, arms in that order, then return in reverse.
How much resistance does the water rower have?
Resistance is regulated by the amount of water in the tank, with 7 levels between 8 and 16 litres. More water mainly makes the start of the stroke harder. Unlike a lever, you do not adjust this during a workout, but set it once to suit your level.
Can I view or collect the devices beforehand?
Yes, you can collect your order from our warehouse in Weesen. Support answers questions in German, French, Italian and English at info@twheels.ch or +41 43 508 20 26. Returns are subject to a 120-day exchange policy; the customer covers the return shipping costs.
Our conclusion
There is no overall winner, and anyone who chooses one has misunderstood the question. Rowing delivers more impact in less time and works the whole body, but it requires technique, space and commitment. The Walking Pad provides less muscle work per minute, but enables movement on days when a workout would otherwise have been skipped.
Ready? The oak water rower is available for CHF 849 with 7 resistance levels, while the oak Walking Pad treadmill starts at CHF 399 and comes fully assembled. Both are available from our Weesen warehouse, with a 2-year warranty and a 120-day exchange policy, so you can decide at home.
About the author: Lena Brunner writes and tests for TWHEELS. For this comparison, she checked every row of the table against the verified product data for both devices and deliberately did not name an overall winner. Learn more on the author page.
