Editor’s note: this review first covered an earlier Echo Bike. Rogue now sells the V3.0, and the numbers below are for that version.
Rogue Echo Fitness Bike
Quick Facts
The 80s are back, baby, and they’re taking the fitness world by storm. No, we’re not talking jazzercise or calf warmers (although, if that’s your cup of tea, we pass no judgement). If you’ve stepped foot in any workout facility – particularly a CrossFit gym – in the past few years, you might have noticed something that looks more at home in your grandmother’s basement than in a modern gym: an air bike.
They’re one of the hottest things in fitness, and today, we’re going to be reviewing a model that many claim to be the king of air bikes: the Rogue Echo Bike. Poke around the internet, and you’ll see no shortage of fitness gurus and workout blogs espousing the virtues of what Rogue has positioned as their flagship endurance bike. But is it really all it’s cracked up to be? Can you believe the hype?
My take
Air bikes are super popular with CrossFitters and people who want that high intensity workout that works cardio and gives you a full body workout. It is really not a replacement for a spin bike. These are meant for the high heart rate workout fatiguing your legs, arms, biceps and shoulders.
I like to do 3 days strength training and mix cardio in on opposite days.
Why Ride an Air Bike?
Air bikes were sold for rehab and easy home workouts decades ago, then mostly faded away. CrossFit brought them back once people saw how hard they can push you.
An air bike works your legs and arms together, because you push and pull the handles while you pedal. That hits your quads, glutes, hamstrings, back, chest and shoulders, and it’s a hard cardio workout without much stress on your joints.
If you’ve done CrossFit, you already know an air bike can wear you out fast. It’s a good alternative to rowing machines, and it’s easy on your joints.
They’re a good pick if you want a lot of work done in a short time. So is the Rogue Echo the one to get?
The Rogue Echo Bike
When the Rogue Echo Bike was first released in 2018, it caused a major stir. Fitness insiders and reviewers predicted that it would shake up the industry and increase competition. How could one air bike cause all that fuss?
Unmatched Build Quality
Rogue is one of the biggest names in fitness equipment, and the Echo is built heavy. The V3.0 weighs 123 lb and is rated for 330 lb, and Rogue calls it “overbuilt.” The parts are steel instead of the plastic a lot of air bikes use, including the fan blades, which keeps the resistance steady.
Versatile and Adaptable
It’s 52.25″ tall, 55″ long and 29.5″ wide at the handles, so it fits most home gym spaces and even a living room or bedroom. The weight keeps it from wobbling. Two front wheels let you roll it around, and rubber leveling feet adjust to your floor. The seat has 8 height settings and 5 front-to-back positions.
The Right Tech
It uses a belt drive instead of the chain most air bikes use. A belt is smoother and quieter, and the housing keeps it on track.
The Rogue Echo Bike’s 5″ x 8″ high-contrast LCD screen is refreshingly minimalist, giving you all the stats you need without any of the useless fluff used to woo consumers. It lets athletes track their performance using the metrics like interval, distance, calories burned, heart rate, and more, as well as giving you the ability to set targets. It connects over Bluetooth and ANT+, so a heart rate strap or a training app can link to it.
Price
It costs less than a lot of air bikes that aren’t built this well.
The Verdict
The Rogue Echo Bike is a staple in CrossFit gyms and big-box gyms, and it’s easy to see why.
It is built for short, hard intervals that work your arms and legs at the same time. If what you want is a smooth ride for long steady miles, or a way to keep your cycling legs over the winter, an air bike is the wrong tool. Look at a magnetic spin bike like the Keiser M3i instead.
If you want a tough cardio machine that will last, it’s one of the best air bikes you can buy for the money.
Check the current price: Rogue Echo Bike V3.0 on Rogue Fitness
