Horizon Oxford Rower Review

Quick Take (Discontinued)

The original Oxford Rower is now a discontinued model from the affordable home fitness brand Horizon. Measuring 100″ long (8’4″), it is one of the largest rowers on our site. This is perhaps why it was discontinued; at this size, it won’t be suitable for many home gyms. That said, its long aluminum beam caters to any user height, and it can be folded after use. It uses air resistance to support smooth full-body workouts. This resistance system is suitable for new rowers and more experienced rowers alike. At its debut, the Horizon Oxford rower was originally priced at $1,499. If you can still find one on the market, it will likely be at a sale price of around $999 or less.

Our Review

The Horizon Oxford rower uses air resistance. This means it can work for a wide variety of trainees, as it essentially responds to user effort. The Oxford rower’s data console shows heart rate (when you use it with your own chest strap) and gives a good enough variety of session feedback. That said, it doesn’t have any preset workout programs, so there isn’t much in the way of entertainment here. As for comfort, the Oxford Rower features oversized footpads and has a pivoting console to suit different riders’ heights. An integrated shelf allows you to keep your water bottle within easy reach.

Positives

Here are some selling points for the Horizon Oxford Rower.

• Air Resistance: Air resistance systems are fans with heavy blades. Your rowing action moves the fan blade, producing minimal noise while sending a refreshing breeze. The more intensely you row, the more resistance is generated. This makes the Oxford rower appropriate for novices as well as experienced rowers.
• Comfortable Handlebars: The handlebars are designed for comfortable gripping. Their high density foam covers make it easier to work through long rowing sessions.
• Ergonomic Seat: The Oxford’s seat is ergonomically designed, and molded and cushioned for comfort.
• Oversized Footpads: The extra-large footpads are made to accommodate any shoe size. The pedals have straps to help you stay in position.
• Adjustable Console: The console has an adjustable angle to help this rower fit any rider. The screen is backlit for easy viewing even at night.
• Wireless Heart-Rate Data: The Horizon Oxford rower has a built-in wireless receiver for you to use with your own heart-rate chest strap.
• Water Bottle Holder: An open storage compartment beneath the console can be used to keep a water bottle handy.
• Battery Console: The console is powered by a battery. This makes it more convenient to place the rowing machine; there’s no concern about a power cord.
• Easy Storage: This rower has a large frame, yet it’s easy to handle. You can fold it with a one-step release mechanism, allowing the long beam to be stored vertically. Caster wheels make it easy to roll it into position.
• Compact When Folded: The machine’s folded dimensions are just 44″ x 21″ x 64″ for storage. Unfolded, it measures a hefty 100″ x 21″ x 40″.
• Weight Capacity: The Oxford rowing machine can hold up to 285 pounds. It weighs 103 pounds.

Negatives

Here are a few potential drawbacks of the Horizon Oxford Rower.

• Size: Measuring 100” long, this rower has a very large footprint.
• No Programs: The console does not have any preset exercise programs.
• Price: The sale price of $999 isn’t high for a rowing machine in general, but this machine is very basic and not especially durable.

Our Conclusion

The Horizon Oxford Rower is a mid-quality rowing machine that’s a bit overpriced. Its best points are that it can comfortably fit a wide height range and will challenge a wide range of strength levels. But we are disappointed by the lack of programming. There is a huge variety of similarly sale priced rowers on the market that easily outshine this discontinued model.