KingSmith WR20: a foldable water rower built for small Swiss flats
A triple-folding water rower with a longer rail and a higher weight capacity, designed to squeeze into flats where every square metre counts.
What it is
The KingSmith WR20 is a rowing machine designed for home use, built around a wooden frame and a water-resistance system rather than the more common magnetic or air brakes. It comes in two finishes, Walnut and Red Oak, which suggests KingSmith is aiming this machine at people who don’t want a piece of gym equipment parked in the middle of their living room — something that looks more like furniture than fitness kit.
KingSmith is better known in Europe for its WalkingPad folding treadmills, and the WR20 follows the same logic: a full-size piece of cardio equipment that folds down small enough to live somewhere other than a dedicated gym room.
The O!deal team met KingSmith at IFA Berlin 2026.
Why it exists
Rowing machines have a reputation problem: many are effective but bulky, and end up folded against a wall as a coat rack after the first month. KingSmith’s pitch with the WR20 is that a rower doesn’t have to be a compromise between a proper workout and a piece of equipment you can actually store. The brand also points to rowing itself as a low-impact, full-body exercise — an argument aimed at people who want cardio and strength work without the joint strain of running.
The choice of water resistance instead of magnetic resistance is part of that pitch too. Water rowers are associated with a smoother, more natural pulling motion and a sound closer to actual rowing, which some users find more motivating than the mechanical click of a magnetic brake.
What matters
The maximum resistance is rated at 80 kg (176 lbs), which sets the ceiling for how hard the machine can push back against a pull. For most home users, this is more a question of headroom than a limit they’ll ever hit, but it does confirm the WR20 isn’t a stripped-down entry-level unit — there’s enough resistance capacity to keep progressing over time.
The rail length is 125 cm (49.2 in), longer than on many compact rowers. A longer rail means taller users can extend their legs fully during the drive phase without their knees hitting an artificial stop, which is often the actual limiting factor on cramped machines, not the resistance itself.
User weight capacity is set at 150 kg (330 lbs). This is a practical figure for households: it means the machine is built to a tolerance well above the average adult body weight, which KingSmith frames as suitability for a wider range of body types rather than a narrow target user.
The frame is made of rubber wood, which explains the furniture-like finishes on offer. Net weight is 34 kg (75 lbs), with a gross shipping weight of 38 kg (84 lbs) including packaging — numbers worth knowing before it arrives, since someone will need to carry the box up the stairs if there’s no lift.
Folding is done via a triple-fold mechanism, and once folded, the WR20 measures 74 × 48 × 58 cm (29 × 18.9 × 22.8 in), against 207 × 48 × 58 cm (81.5 × 18.9 × 22.8 in) unfolded. That’s a rowing machine over two metres long shrinking down to roughly the footprint of a bedside table — the whole point of buying a folding rower in the first place.
Day to day
The WR20 folds down using its triple-fold system, and moving it once folded is helped by transport wheels measuring 7 cm (2.75 in), sized to roll across flooring rather than needing to be lifted and carried outright. Given the net weight of 34 kg, wheels aren’t a luxury detail — they’re what makes solo storage realistic after a session.
Progress is tracked on a 3.5-inch LCD screen built into the machine, paired with the KS Fit companion app over Bluetooth. The app also connects with Apple Watch, letting users pull heart rate and other workout data from their watch into their session rather than relying solely on the onboard display.
Resistance comes from water rather than a magnet or flywheel brake, with a stated pulling force of up to 70 kg (154 lbs). In practical terms, this is the resistance felt at the handle during the pull, separate from the maximum resistance rating of the mechanism itself.
Technical specifications
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum resistance | 80 kg (176 lbs) |
| User weight capacity | 150 kg (330 lbs) |
| Frame material | Rubber wood |
| Net weight | 34 kg (75 lbs) |
| Gross shipping weight | 38 kg (84 lbs) |
| Folding method | Triple fold |
| Rail length | 125 cm (49.2 in) |
| Folded dimensions | 74 × 48 × 58 cm (29 × 18.9 × 22.8 in) |
| Unfolded dimensions | 207 × 48 × 58 cm (81.5 × 18.9 × 22.8 in) |
| Transport wheels | 7 cm (2.75 in) |
| Display | 3.5-inch LCD |
| Companion app | KS Fit (Bluetooth) |
| Apple Watch compatibility | Yes |
| Resistance type | Water resistance |
| Pulling force | 70 kg (154 lbs) |
| Product reference | US-KS-RMWR20F-HTM |
| EAN/UPC code | 6970492719404 |
What the brand says
KingSmith states that the WR20 engages 86% of the body’s muscles during use, positioning it as a full-body rather than a leg-only or arm-only machine. The brand also describes the workout as full-body and low-impact on the joints, aimed at people who want cardio without the strain associated with running.
On durability, KingSmith states that the WR20 was verified to withstand more than 300,000 repetitions before showing wear — a figure meant to reassure buyers that a wooden-framed rower isn’t necessarily a fragile one. Finally, KingSmith states that the machine suits a wide range of body types thanks to its longer rail, wider handles and increased weight capacity, tying together several of the specification choices covered above into a single claim about who the WR20 is built for.
Why it caught our eye
We're drawn to the idea of a rowing machine that doesn't look like gym equipment once it's folded away — the wood finishes and triple-fold system suggest KingSmith actually thought about where this thing lives between workouts. We also like that the brand backs its durability claim with a concrete repetition figure rather than a vague promise of longevity.
Exactly the kind of brand we’d love to come across on O!deal one day.
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