Horizon Oxford 6 Rower Review (2024)

When I imagine a perfect all-in-one workout machine, the rower immediately comes to mind. You get a terrific upper and lower body workout which both strengthens and improves flexibility, all the while taxing your cardio system to the max. The Horizon Oxford 6 stands at the top of the brand’s lineup next to the Oxford 3, priced at $1,099 and $899 respectively. Right off the bat, the only difference between these two rowers is the warranty and the number of built-in workout programs, so it’s really just a question of how much stock you place in having 12 built-in programs versus five. Frankly, I see the Oxford 6 as a better match-up against the much pricier NordicTrack RW900. Aside from $900 pricing difference, the big difference between these two machines is seen throughout the two brands, with the NordicTrack machines coming equipped with large, high-definition touchscreens built to work with the paid iFit app, and Horizon coming with much smaller LCD screens which provide data read-out for built-in workout programs.

In my experience, Horizon makes great workout machines. The Oxford 6 measures 82.7″ x 24.5″ x 43″ and weighs 121 pounds, with a maximum user weight of 350 pounds. As a rule, the maximum user weight can be used to gauge machine durability. This rower doesn’t fold up per se, but rather can be stood up on its end and moved about via transport wheels. You’ll get 20 levels of eddy current brake (ECB) resistance, which is one of the best styles of resistance these days, as well as a Polar wireless heart rate receiver and ViaFit connectivity. The rower is built with a 5.4″ blue backlit LCD screen with a profile display and rubber buttons. This screen displays workout metrics including calories, heart rate, meters, Strokes Per Minute, strokes, time, and time/500-meters, as well as watts. You’ll get 12 workout programs which run the typical gamut of rowing routines.

One of the big plusses to the Horizon lineup is the warranty. The Oxford 6 carries a lifetime guarantee on the frame, three years for the electronics, one year for parts, and one year for labor. That’s  about as good as you’ll get for a rower in this price range, with NordicTrack and ProForm products typically offering 10 years on the frame. In my experience, Horizon makes a really great product and chances are you’ll have zero problems with the rower.

Why You Should Trust Our Review: Horizon Oxford 6 Rower

At Fitrated.com, we bring you comprehensive reviews of fitness equipment so you can decide which one is right for you. Our staff thoroughly test all the machines we review. We install them, use them, and try out all of the features. We get to know each and every machine we review extremely well. Our reviewers log miles on the deck. We listen and record the sound, we test and measure the resistance, try out all aspects of the console and try the machine’s features.

Every machine we review undergoes the same rigorous process. That way we can compare and contrast them and give you an honest review of what we think. This particular rower has been around for many years, and we’ve done previous reviews of the Horizon Oxford 6. So, in this review, we also compared it to the previous models.

Our reviewers are fitness experts. Brian, the author of this review, is a competitive bodybuilder, and is a 7-time national qualifier in both men’s bodybuilding and classic physique within the NPC competitions. He has coached and been coached on cardiovascular training, HIIT, and nutrition, particularly as it pertains to weight loss for competitions. He is an expert in the field of exercise, has been on this rower, and you can trust his opinion on all of the equipment he reviews.

In Brief

The Horizon Oxford 6 is a relatively mid-priced rower at $1,099 which matches up well against the $1,999 NordicTrack RW900, and the Echelon Row-s at $1,199.99. What you’re getting here is a solid rower with a lifetime warranty on the frame and 12 built-in workouts that can be managed via a 5.4″ blue backlit LCD screen. This is a standard sized rower with a relatively low machine weight. Measuring 82.7″ x 24.5″ x 43″ at a weight of 121 pounds, it lifts up on its end and can be wheeled about the room pretty easily. Just as a comparison, the RW900 weighs 163 pounds and sports up to 250 pounds in user weight whereas the Oxford 6 can handle 350 pounds. In terms of bang for the buck, the Oxford 6 is a sweet ride. With 20 levels of magnetic resistance, I can’t see anyone outgrowing this model.

Programming is probably where you’ll make your choice, and with the Oxford 6, you’ll get 12 built-in programs. These include: Manual, Fat Burn, Distance, Training Intervals (Time and Distance), Performance Intervals (Endurance, Speed), Race (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced), HR Training (Max HR, Target HR). Purchase also includes a Polar wireless heart rate monitor, one of the best on the market, as well as connectivity to ViaFit. The ViaFit app can be freely downloaded available on Android devices at Google Play or Apple devices at the Apple Store. Whereas other rowers come with apps that provide workout programming, what ViaFit does is allow your rower to wirelessly store data in any of 13 different apps. These include: MapMyFitness, MyFitness Pal, Polar Flow, Preva, Fitbit, Garmin Connect, Misfit, Runkeeper, Strava, Suunto, TomTom, Withings, and Apple Health. I see this as one of the big values to the Horizon products, as this ViaFit connection is available on most of the brand’s machines, from treadmills to ellipticals. Instead of having to pay $39 per month for either iFit or the Echelon Fitness App, Horizon’s deal affords you free connectivity with a plethora of apps of your own choosing. If you’re familiar with those apps then you probably already have a device on which you can store them. If not, they’re all pretty easy to use.

This connects to another point I’ve noticed over the years. One of the values I see in rowers is they provide a high intensity workout in little time. Whereas you might spend 50 minutes jogging five miles on a treadmill, your rower workouts are probably going to be much shorter, say 15 to 30 minutes. The Horizon Oxford 6 is built for people who want a high quality rower and aren’t that interested in an attached television screen. After all, you can always park this rower in front of a television if that’s what you want.

In-Depth Review of the Horizon Oxford 6 Rower

Why I Like It

The Horizon Oxford 6 is a solid rower for just $1,099. It brings 12 built-in workouts and wireless connectivity to 13 other apps. If you’re into high intensity workouts with lower levels of impact on the joints, you really can’t go wrong with rowing. Measuring 82.7″ x 24.5″ x 43″ at a weight of 121 pounds, it’s a standard sized rower which is easy to move about the home. I like the fact that you can basically set this up on day one and just row. You don’t need to hook up to any particular programming, and with 20 levels of magnetic resistance it’s doubtful you’ll ever outgrow this rower.

It Has A User-Friendly 5.4″ LCD Screen

This is a handy little control screen that doesn’t take up much room. Just for comparison, consider that most smartphones are about 7″ in length, so you get the idea of how convenient this unit is. You’ll be able to view the workout metrics including calories, heart rate, meters, Strokes Per Minute, Stroke, Time, Time/500 meters, and watts. The rubber-coated buttons are easy to use and even if you’ve never used one of these units, you’ll figure it out in a snap. One thing I like about this model is how simple it is to use. Very little learning curve here.

20 Levels of ECB Magnetic Resistance

This rower features a manual resistance knob with which you can adjust the resistance. The ECB magnetic system refers to an eddy current brake design, also known as an induction brake. Here the machine uses a magnet to create resistance with eddy currents against a flywheel as it moves. The eddy current opposes the force of the magnet and creates a drag force against it, and this is the resistance you’ll feel when rowing. What’s great about this is how smoothly it works. In fact, the faster the flywheel goes, the stronger and smoother the magnetic resistance. It’s also much quieter than the traditional friction-based whirring sound as the flywheel spins. If you’re in a home with roommates or other family members, this is an asset. With 20 different levels from which to choose, you’ll never run out of resistance really. The great thing about rowers is the more force you use to pull the handle, the faster it goes, and it’s practically unlimited in that sense.

Conveniently Sized

The Oxford 6 rower measures 82.7″ x 24.5″ x 43″ at a weight of 121 pounds. Meanwhile, it can support up to 350 pounds in user weight. This is not a folding rower per se, but rather it can popped up on its end and wheeled about with ease. At only 121 pounds, I see any otherwise able body being able to handle this rower when popped up. Before you have this brought home, be sure to measure out the necessary space. Leave plenty of room around the rower so you can get on and off with ease, and you might want to consider placing a floor mat underneath. I have hardwood floors in my home and the best way to prevent scratching or sliding is an inexpensive exercise mat.

What We Like

• Adjustable Position LCD Screen: Depending on your height, the screen/console can be adjusted to ensure you have a good line of sight and access to controls. The use of a blue backlit screen with white lettering makes it quite easy to read at a quick glance.
• 20 Resistance Levels: Now electronically controlled for a more rapid progression between levels, a total of 20 levels of resistance make the Horizon Oxford 6 Rower a very versatile machine for people of all fitness levels.
• Wireless Heart Rate Monitoring: Through wireless connection, you can monitor your heart rate while rowing on the Oxford 6 Rower, either via the included Polar wireless heart rate monitor, or using your own fitness tracker. I like the fact that purchase includes the heart rate monitor.
• 12 On-Board Workouts: Thanks to the available heart rate tracking, there are a total of 12 available built-in workouts on the Oxford 6 (including a couple of heart rate based training programs).
• Adjustable Cushioned Footrests: Whether you’re a size 6 or a size 12 shoe, the footrests on the Horizon Oxford 6 Rower will easily adjust as needed.
• Space Saver: Rowers although thin are long and can take up much space, but with the space saver design, you can fold it up and store out of the way once you are finished your workout. It won’t fit in a closet, as we noted above, but when standing its footprint is fairly compact.
• Sturdy Construction: With its new non-folding design, the Oxford 6 feels much more solid when compared to the original Oxford rower it replaces.
• Ergonomic molded seat: This is a comfortable seat for users of any size.
• Warranty: For an affordable rower its warranty is at least reasonable, including lifetime on frame, three years on electronics, and one year on parts and labor.
• High Weight Capacity: Max user weight on the Horizon Oxford 3 Rower is 350 lbs, which is 50 lbs higher than the industry standard.

Negatives

• Pretty Basic: You won’t find a lot of extras on this rower, like premium speakers or headphone connectivity.

Our Conclusion

If you’re looking for a great $1,099 rower with all the basics, this is it. Horizon’s warranty speaks for itself and you’ll be able to row for years on this model. I really can’t see anyone outgrowing 20 levels of magnetic resistance, and the fact you have so many free, built-in workout programs is a big plus, as is the wireless connectivity to other apps. All in all, I think Horizon has done a great job with this machine and it’s top buy for the money.