First off, my biggest concern was the resistance: could a 6 inch cubed box really provide a comparable experience to a full sized rower? (eg/ a Concept2/C2 or WaterRower) The answer: kind of; if you are someone used to a C2 rower or similar, you will find the Whipr lacking; for its size the Whipr cannot directly compare to the maximum resistance and power of using a C2 rower (or i suspect a C2 Ski ERG, I haven’t had a chance to try one)(more on this later). But it excels as a versatile home fitness and portable cardio option and that was the goal.
The Whipr is by my account, well built and well designed. The materials and accessories all feel sturdy and solid (there was some slight flaking of the chrome of the attachment loop, but otherwise pristine) under inspection and during workouts. With the modular design of the rower frame there is a slight “click” as the seat rolls over the mid joint; however this is minor, and for the trade-off of being completely collapsible and able to fit in a carry-on with reassembly taking about 5 minutes? Worth it. All of the handles are sufficiently grippy, the ski handles are smooth but have enough of a flare to prevent any slipping (the SUP paddle has a slight carbon fiber feel and is slippery but still grip-able once my hands get sweaty). The ski accessory works well on a door frame but if not vertically aligned with the Whipr base unit, the cord can oscillate somewhat. Apart from that it’s easy to set up, adjust, and use (I’m looking forward to a wall mounting option) The display has a backlit LCD option and can either cycle through metrics (ie. time, distance, projected, average wattage, etc.) or stay - or by using the app you can see all the metrics all the time. The menu is easy to navigate and adjust (again even easier, but not flawless, with the app). The pump (which anchors the Whipr to a closed door) is also easy to use and sturdy, either on it’s own or with the anchor plate for larger floor to door gaps. I haven’t used the supplied outdoor ground anchor or strap anchor yet. When anchored, even to the rower frame, the Whipr base unit does move slightly, but always feels secure.
Using the Whipr is fun! The resistance dial goes from 1-10 and I’ve found for myself, if I’m using both arms (eg/ rowing or skiing), I will always use max resistance (and the rower doubler). Using one arm (eg/ SUP, canoeing, or the handles) I can more easily feel the nuance between resistance levels. And this makes sense: during both rowing and skiing I can utilize my bodyweight to generate a LOT more power than something like supping. I’m excited to play around with different exercises and accessories, as there are infinite ways to use a Whipr! Again the limitation of the Whipr is that it lacks the resistance of a full sized ERG machine; I find that no matter how hard I row or ski I cannot max my body out or get to my full power (versus a C2 or WaterRower). I estimate the max rower resistance is slightly under a WaterRower or about 3-4 on a C2. Plus at my maximum stroke rate and power, the cable retraction cannot fully keep up with my recovery leading to some inconsistent catch resistances. For most people these factors are negated by simply rowing and skiing longer: when skiing or rowing longer than 500m-1000m, the Whipr is a great home option with one of the smallest footprints I’ve ever seen! For the SUP option, it’s a great full-body and lower core workout! And if my workout is longer than 5 minutes using max resistance will only lead to power dropoff and leakage.
The bottom line is I think the Whipr is a great choice if you’re looking for a portable or home cardio option (ie. 10-20 minute sessions or longer), especially for rowing, skiing, or supping (I didn’t opt for a second unit so I can’t speak to kayaking or “swimming”)! There’s a lot of potential here for a variety of great workouts! However if you are serious about your rowing or ERGing (eg/ crossfit, a background in rowing, etc.) you’d be better off ponying up for a C2; this version will leave you wanting more (but maybe future versions will have more resistance!).