LIT strength machine review | CNN underlined

The LIT Strength Machine is a multi-talented rowing machine that serves as both a Pilates reformer and strength trainer. Yes, you\’ll pay extra for these upgraded features, but if it could deliver on its promise of a full-body workout that\’ll keep you interested at home, we thought it\’d be worth it.

But did this exercise machine bite off more than it could chew? Here\’s what we thought after spending a few weeks with the LIT Strength Machine in our home gym.

The LIT Strength Machine offers a fairly unobtrusive look that\’s useful if it\’s not in a dedicated home gym. It\’s low to the ground and feels sturdy which is an absolute must for some of the workout formats he touts (more on those in a bit) and at 7 feet long and 1.75 feet wide, it has one of the smaller physical footprints than any of the rowing machines we\’ve tested thus far. Plus, it can easily stand upright for convenient storage. And since there\’s no connected screen, the machine doesn\’t need to be plugged in, though you\’ll need a few feet of space either side of the rower and behind it to comfortably perform all workouts.

The rowing machine itself uses water resistance which means that the drum at the front is filled with water and each pull on the handle spins a paddle inside the drum. While not as fluid as the Ergatta Rower\’s water resistance, rowing on the LIT feels supportive, even as you climb through the four resistance levels of 10, 20, 30, and 40 pounds.

But here is where things get interesting. Along with the rowing machine, the LIT Strength Machine comes with resistance bands that clip to one of three positions on the rowing machine (front, center near the foot plates, or at the end of the chute). It\’s the addition of the resistance bands that turns the rowing machine into a Pilates reformer and strength machine. Once you hook up the bands, you can do everything from squats and lunges to handstand rows to oblique twists by holding the handles and using resistance. For Pilates classes, instructors use the seat of the rowing machine as an unstable, mobile surface (similar to the platform on a traditional Pilates reformer), and resistance bands held in the hands or tied around the ankles to create muscle engagement in each direction. While other rowing machines on the market offer strength training and Pilates classes through your monthly membership, none of them use the actual machine or accessories for those classes. And that\’s what sets the LIT apart.

At first, I was bummed that I\’d have to access the 2,500-plus classes on the LIT app (which, like all other home fitness machines, requires a $25-a-month subscription, or $240 a year after one 3 month free trial when you buy the car) using my phone in the attached smartphone holder. However, I quickly realized that the lack of a connected screen was actually a cunning move by the creators of the LIT Strength Machine. Many of the moves you do in Strength and Pilates classes are done from the front or back of the machine, so if a screen was attached to the front, you wouldn\’t be able to see it. By forgoing the addition, it probably makes the car cheaper in the process. You can also cast the app to a compatible smart TV.

The selling point of the LIT Strength Machine is that it\’s a rowing machine, Pilates reformer, and strength trainer all rolled into one, so I was eager to see if it actually lived up to all of these nicknames. Rowing lessons are fun and diverse; while you never untie your feet or get out of the machine, there are frequent breaks in rowing to perform upper-body movements like bicep curls and handle shrugs, which keeps the workout from becoming a slog.

To do the strength classes, you stand up and hook up the resistance bands. (If you order the machine with the basic pack, it comes with basic resistance bands. But if you order one of the two higher packs, which come with more accessories, you\’ll get LIT AXIS, LIT\’s new smart resistance bands, which they track your reps and time under tension.) There are also Rowing X Strength classes, which are a bootcamp-style workout that alternates between rowing and strength movements.

I found the pace of these lessons a bit hectic at times, especially as I often had to stop and turn around to look at my phone to figure out the exercises, but boring they are not. I also like that LIT uses resistance bands in their strength training, which are often underutilized in favor of free weights. Since you\’re fighting resistance throughout the full range of motion of each move, they can provide an even better workout. Plus, it\’s easy to tailor the movements to your fitness level by simply moving towards or away from the rower, creating more or less tension on the bands, which is great for everyone from beginners to experts. (It\’s also worth noting that classes are categorized as Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced, and the difference in pace is quite noticeable from level to level.)

Finally, there are the Pilates classes. A traditional Pilates reformer has a flat platform that rolls back and forth on a frame and then adjustable straps and springs. The Pilates reformer\’s effectiveness comes from the fact that you\’re standing on an unstable surface, so even the simplest movements recruit more muscles, especially in your core, than if you were doing those same movements on firm ground. It\’s also low impact.

I was thrilled with how the Pilates classes on the LIT replicated a Pilates reformer through the use of the seat and resistance bands. The strength and core stability this creates is beneficial to every athlete, at every age and fitness level, but I have seen that these classes are incredibly helpful and effective for people recovering from back injuries or who are they try to rebuild their post-pregnancy core.

While it makes sense that the LIT Strength Machine doesn\’t have a connected screen, it can still be difficult to follow instructors and view workout stats on a phone. I have the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is the largest iPhone on the market right now, and I still had to squint to see the stats tracked by the app. The best way to deal with this would be to use a tablet or smart TV that supports casting, but not everyone has that access.

Because this machine offers a more multidimensional workout, rowing takes a back seat to many other classes. In fact, there aren\’t many that let you row for an entire class. The app offers Scenic Rows, which are instructor-free sessions that track your split (or how long it takes you to row 500m) and your distance rowed. This will allow you to row more stable for resistance. But otherwise, this isn\’t going to inspire anyone looking for a hard-core rowing experience.

LIT offers three different packs when you purchase the Strength Machine, all of which come with a different number of accessories. At $2,000, the Starter Pack comes with resistance bands, handles, and a phone or tablet holder. At $2,599, the Next Pack comes with two sets of smart resistance bands (the LIT AXIS, sold separately for $199), handles, ankle cuffs, an anchor if you want to use the bands outside the machine, a bar of strength and a tablet holder. And at $2,698, the top package includes all of those things, plus battle ropes and an under-car mat. While you\’ll have plenty of training options without the strength bar and battle ropes, there are some classes on the app that use them that you won\’t be able to do without.

Looking at other rowing machines available, the LIT is unique. While Echelon Row-S ($1,600), Hydrow Rower ($2,495), and NordicTrack RW900 ($1,999) also offer workout formats other than rowing, such as strength training and Pilates, none of them use a rowing machine or attachments to the rowing machine in these classes ; they are made with your own body weight or with free weights that you will need to purchase separately. As a water rower, it compares most closely to the Ergatta Rower ($2,499), although the Ergatta has more sophisticated rowing capabilities.

Training on the LIT Strength Machine is dynamic, challenging and fun. The machine is sleek, the LIT app is easy to use, and the lessons will surprise (and probably delight) you. That said, if you\’re a former competitive rower looking to regain the feeling of rowing alongside your boat mates or are looking to log some serious meters every day, this probably isn\’t the machine for you.

However, if you\’re looking for variety, plus a little fun, while getting stronger in your home gym, the LIT Strength Machine literally does it all.