Concept2 Rower Overview (2023)

Concept2 created the unique rowing ergometer in 1981 as a coaching software for aggressive athletes. It shortly turned one of many best rowing machines for the athletic inhabitants, and due to CrossFit, it’s an much more widespread coaching machine than ever.

Throughout my years as a private coach, I used the Concept2 rower myself and for dozens of shoppers. Collectively, the Breaking Muscle employees additionally has many years of expertise utilizing this rower of their house gyms, CrossFit bins, and different industrial gyms. We’re well-equipped to offer this in-depth Concept2 rower evaluate and communicate to its key options, execs, cons, specs, and the way it compares to different widespread rowing machines.

Key Takeaways

• The Concept2 rower, now known as the RowErg, is similar machine because the Mannequin D (the rower with a 14-inch seat peak) and Mannequin E (the rower with a 20-inch seat peak). Concept2 modified the machine’s identify in Could 2021. The Mannequin E rower has been discontinued. Nonetheless, the RowErg is on the market with both a 14-inch seat peak or a 20-inch seat peak.
• With a clear and efficient design, the Concept2 Rower is engineered for clean operation, straightforward upkeep, and long-lasting efficiency. This commercial-grade rowing machine incorporates a nickel-plated metal chain, aluminum entrance legs, and metal rear legs to make sure a sturdy, long-lasting construct. 
• The Concept2 Rower comes with a PM5 efficiency monitor that tracks stats reminiscent of tempo, strokes per minute, estimated energy burned, and watts (energy output). The monitor additionally connects by way of Bluetooth to varied apps, together with ErgData.

Concept2 RowErg

4.5

• Body is made of professional quality aluminum
• Ergonomic handlebar and seat
• PM5 monitor comes with Bluetooth capabilities
• Accomodates customers as much as 6’6 and 500 kilos
• Comes with a restricted five-year guarantee

Check Price

Concept2 Rower Execs

• The Concept2 Rower makes use of air resistance, which adjusts to your stroke charge and energy. Air resistance additionally gives smoother motion in comparison with magnetic and water-based rowers. I can attest to this, as I’ve used each air and magnetic rowers. 
• The Concept2 can maintain customers as much as 500 kilos. Different manufacturers like NordicTrack, Peloton, and Hydrow can solely accommodate customers as much as 250 to 375 kilos. 
• You possibly can shortly break down the rower utilizing the quick-release characteristic and even mount it to the wall. Concept2 doesn’t promote a mounting software for the rower, however the Rogue Fitness wall hanger is on the market for round $32.50.

Concept2 Rower Cons

• As a result of it’s an air rower, it may be loud. The more durable you row, the louder the machine turns into. It would deter those that use it of their house gymnasium and don’t wish to disrupt their members of the family or roommates.
• The Concept2 RowErg prices round $990 earlier than taxes and transport. Whereas cheaper than different rowers in the marketplace with numerous high-end tech options (like touchscreen displays and on-screen exercise courses, which Concept2 doesn’t supply), it nonetheless won’t be best for these in search of an ultra-budget-friendly machine.
• The Concept2 rower could be very lengthy, reaching a complete size of 96 inches (eight toes) when assembled. These with restricted exercise area at house may have to take a look at extra compact rowing machines.

Concept2 Rower Overview

The Concept2 rower is arguably the most well-liked rowing machine at the moment obtainable that’s appropriate for each house and industrial use. In 1981, Concept2 turned the primary model to create an indoor rowing machine. Since then, it has turn into an iconic model within the health trade. As a private coach who has labored in numerous industrial gyms reminiscent of Life Time Health and Anytime Health, I can attest to the ubiquitousness of the Concept2 Rower.

In CrossFit, the Concept2 rower is among the preferred cardio machines for each informal and aggressive athletes. CrossFit values the Concept2 rower as a result of it provides a whole full-body exercise, making it an efficient software for assessing general health ranges. It accommodates customers as much as 500 kilos, so it may be appropriate for people of various sizes and health ranges. Plus, its sturdy building and minimal upkeep necessities imply it might stand up to heavy use in CrossFit bins.

The Concept2 rowing machine incorporates a nickel-plated metal chain, aluminum entrance legs, and metal rear legs. Whereas its value of just below $1,000 locations it within the mid-range of rowing machine choices, it provides distinctive worth for its efficiency and sturdiness. It operates on air resistance, so it replicates the texture of open-water rowing and matches your depth as you row.

Who Ought to Purchase a Concept2 Rower

• This indoor rower could possibly be good for individuals who need a full-body exercise to check each muscular and cardiovascular endurance.
• The performance of the Concept2 rower is nice for individuals who are particularly into CrossFit-style coaching. Concept2 is the popular model for rowing machines within the CrossFit group.
• The Concept2 RowErg could possibly be a superb low-impact cardio machine for individuals who undergo from joint ache. Not like operating, rowing doesn’t place an enormous quantity of stress on the knees, hips, and ankles.

Who Ought to Not Purchase a Concept2 Rower

• The Concept2 rower won’t be best for individuals who are frightened about noise. That is an air resistance rower. The more durable you row, the extra air strikes across the flywheel, which makes the machine louder.
• Despite the fact that the Concept2 RowErg provides a 20-inch-high seat, people with extreme mobility restrictions should still discover it too low.
• Utilizing this rower could possibly be powerful for these with restricted area. When totally assembled, the Concept2 rower machine is 96 inches lengthy. Relying in your setup, you won’t have sufficient room to suit the erg comfortably and work out safely.

RELATED: Best Home Gym Equipment

Concept2 Rower In-Depth Overview

The evaluate under is predicated on insights I’ve gathered by my very own use of the Concept2 RowErg and suggestions I’ve obtained from the Breaking Muscle employees, which includes CrossFitters, licensed private trainers, and power and conditioning coaches. We then used a proprietary scoring system to rank the machine on a scale of 1 to 5 in numerous classes, reminiscent of price, the standard of the supplies, monitoring capabilities, and meeting.

Value

The Concept2 RowErg with the 14-inch seat peak prices round $990 earlier than taxes and transport. For those who go for the 20-inch seat peak, it is going to price round $1,155. Whereas the worth could possibly be a disadvantage for anybody on a brilliant strict finances, we nonetheless gave it 4.8 stars. The general worth is excessive because of the machine’s commercial-quality building and sturdiness. Additionally, this rower machine is less expensive than different choices, just like the Peloton or Hydrow rowers, that are double the worth (or extra).

Supplies, Construct, and Building High quality

The Concept2 rower consists of aluminum entrance legs, metal rear legs, a nickel-plated metal chain, an aluminum monorail, and a chrome steel seat observe.

As a result of this heavy-duty building, we rated the construct a 4.9 out of 5. Based mostly on my expertise with the Concept2 rower, it might tackle heavy abuse. Even in industrial gymnasium settings, it’s so robust it could by no means have to get replaced.

Amanda Dvorak, Breaking Muscle’s Evaluations Editor who began CrossFit in 2015 and now makes use of a Concept2 rower in her storage gymnasium, can attest to its sturdiness. She talked about that even after banging it on her squat rack unintentionally (on a number of events) whereas shifting it round her storage, she’s by no means seen a distinction in the way it seems to be or performs. The CrossFit gyms she’s skilled at beforehand additionally by no means had any main points with these rowers, regardless of them getting used six to seven occasions a day for years.

Supply and Meeting

After the erg arrived at our testing facility, our crew ranked the supply and meeting course of a 5 out of 5. There was no injury upon supply.

I’ve constructed many items of house gymnasium gear, together with the Stamina Elite rower I exploit at house. I can truthfully say that one of many largest points with all of my purchases is that it takes ceaselessly to construct them. The Concept2 rower, nonetheless, solely required a couple of minutes of sunshine effort from our testing employees earlier than they had been in a position to hop on and begin rowing.

Amanda Dvorak, an editor on the Breaking Muscle crew, agrees with the product testing employees’s evaluation. There was additionally no injury to her machine when she obtained it at house, and she or he and her husband had been in a position to put the erg collectively in round 10 minutes.

Efficiency

The Concept2 rower’s efficiency is precisely what you’d count on from a commercial-grade piece of kit. The seat slides over the monorail effortlessly, and the chain doesn’t snag for those who preserve it correctly by oiling it after each 50 hours of use.

Subscription Choices

It’s exhausting to present the Concept2 rower a score on subscription choices as a result of it doesn’t present any. This is among the drawbacks to this machine, as different merchandise just like the Peloton or Hydrow rower present subscriptions for entry to reside and on-demand courses. All of the Concept2 provides is a PM5 monitor. As I’ll focus on under, it tracks a whole lot of info, but it surely’s not as fancy as a high-tech monitor that allows you to stream courses.

One benefit of the shortage of subscription choices is that it might prevent cash. The subscriptions you’ll discover on Hydrow, Peloton, or NordicTrack rowers, for instance, can price $30 or extra per thirty days. It’s an added price it’s a must to think about when shopping for a rowing machine.

To make up for the shortage of subscription choices, the Concept2 row erg features a machine holder that may maintain your sensible machine. You possibly can then stream exercises from an app of your alternative — however remember that this can be an additional month-to-month price.

Ergonomics

Our crew rated the ergonomics a 4.5 out of 5. The deal with incorporates a 10-degree bend to permit for a pure grip, and it’s coated with molded rubber to assist soak up sweat. Nonetheless, it might trigger pores and skin discomfort, particularly for brand spanking new rowers.

Amanda Dvorak, Breaking Muscle Evaluations Editor, hadn’t used a rower in over a yr earlier than she purchased a Concept2 erg for her house gymnasium. Regardless of already having calluses on her palms from lifting weights, her fingers blistered continuously as soon as she began rowing once more.

Nonetheless, now that Amanda has been utilizing the rower a minimum of as soon as every week, her tailbone discomfort has lessened, and her fingers now not blister. When you have related experiences while you first begin rowing, we predict it’s secure to say that you simply’ll modify to the rower after a few months of constant use. If not, you possibly can put on exercise gloves or purchase a padded seat cushion on-line to make your rowing expertise extra nice.

Foot Pedals

The pedals accommodate a variety of foot sizes. We’ve seen customers with measurement 13 toes be capable of use the rower comfortably. The pedals don’t pivot like they do on different rowers, such because the NordicTrack RW600. Nonetheless, they’re designed that will help you obtain a vertical shin angle for the catch section of the row (when your knees are bent, your arms are straight, and the seat is nearer to the entrance of the machine). That is particularly helpful for rowers with poor ankle mobility.

Coronary heart Fee Monitoring

I’d charge the center charge monitoring capabilities of this rowing machine a 4 out of 5, because it doesn’t supply a direct manner of monitoring coronary heart charge. The one manner to take action is to have a suitable machine to sync with utilizing ANT+ and Bluetooth, reminiscent of an Apple watch or a digital chest strap.

PM5 Monitor, Show, and Stats Monitoring

Whereas the monitor might seem easy, it gives a ton of information monitoring capabilities. In comparison with the older monitor (the PM4), the PM5 gives Bluetooth connection capabilities to trace your exercises. General, we rated the monitor itself 4.7 out of 5 stars and the show 4 out of 5.

The PM5 monitor tracks a spread of metrics together with time, tempo, distance, strokes per minute (SPM), watts, energy burned, and coronary heart charge (with a suitable machine).

We love its capacity to avoid wasting all of our exercise historical past, so we will see how we’re progressing and bettering over time. And, as talked about, it might hook up with probably 30 completely different suitable apps. ErgData is a favourite amongst the Breaking Muscle employees as a result of it permits us to create customized exercises, program the Concept2 Workout of the Day into the machine, and extra. Nonetheless, you may also use different apps like Regatta, RowHero, and Fiit.

Regardless of the spectacular quantity of knowledge the monitor can present, the precise show is fairly primary. The monitor can be fairly small, measuring simply seven inches diagonally. The dimensions pales compared to the NordicTrack RW900, for instance, which has a 22-inch monitor.

One of many redeeming qualities, although, is the backlit show, which didn’t exist on earlier iterations of the monitor. Breaking Muscle Editor Amanda Dvorak says it’s one among her favourite issues in regards to the PM5 monitor. She trains early in the morning and hates turning on vibrant lights throughout her exercises. The backlit show makes it simpler for her to learn the display when she’s figuring out earlier than dawn.

Included Exercises

For the included exercises, we rank this characteristic a 4.8 out of 5. The Concept2 rower comes with a number of preset exercises, reminiscent of distance coaching for two,000 meters or interval coaching modes with 500 meters of labor and one minute of relaxation. The preset choices are nice for beginner rowers who might not know how one can get began or superior athletes who wish to observe structured applications.

Bluetooth Connectivity

The Concept2 rower’s PM5 monitor helps Bluetooth connectivity to suitable heart rate monitors. You too can sync exercise knowledge to Concept2’s ErgData app or dozens of different apps to trace your exercise historical past.

RELATED: Best Treadmills for Home

Concept2 Rower Specs

When contemplating the Concept2 rower, it’s essential to know the specs and options that make it stand out. From the fundamental dimensions to {the electrical} necessities, we’ll break down the important thing particulars that outline it and set it aside on this planet of rowing machines.

Rower Sort

The Concept2 rower is an air rower. The air resistance works by the usage of the handles and the machine’s fanwheel. While you pull the deal with, the flywheel traps air inside to offer resistance. The resistance then adjusts to your stroke charge and energy output.

Based mostly on our expertise, air rowers emulate the sensation of rowing on open water extra authentically than magnetic rowers. This is among the many the reason why skilled rowers typically full their indoor coaching on a Concept2 erg.

General Dimensions

The Concept2 rower is 96 inches lengthy, 24 inches huge, and both 14 or 20 inches excessive. The peak depends upon whether or not you purchase the usual mannequin or the one with taller legs.

Observe Size

The observe size, also called the monorail size, is 54 inches. This size helps to accommodate athletes as much as 6’6.

Seat Peak

The RowErg comes with a 14-inch seat peak. For those who suppose this will likely be too low for you, you might have the choice of buying an erg with taller legs that elevate the seat to twenty inches. Nonetheless, the taller rower adjustments the associated fee from about $990 to about $1,155.

Weight Capability

The load capability of the Concept2 rower is 500 kilos, which is properly above different rowing machines like those from NordicTrack and Peloton. All three rower fashions from NordicTrack have a weight capability of 250 kilos, whereas the Peloton rower has a weight restrict of 300 kilos.

Resistance Ranges

The Concept2 rower provides variable resistance. The resistance depends on the forcefulness of every row. That is completely different from magnetic rowers, which give mounted resistance ranges, and water rowers, whose resistance ranges change based mostly on how a lot water is in a water tank connected to the machine.

Concept2 rowers additionally make the most of a damper setting. The damper is an adjustment that means that you can present “extra” or “much less” resistance based mostly on the provision of airflow. The damper ranges from one to 10 — one means the flywheel is totally closed, and 10 means it’s totally open. While you improve the damper setting, you open the damper and permit extra air into the flywheel. A better damper setting leads to a quicker deceleration of the flywheel, making the rowing movement more durable to carry out.

Electrical Necessities

This rower machine takes two D-cell batteries, that are included along with your buy. There’s no have to situate the rower close to an outlet, so you possibly can transfer it round any room in your home or take it outside (one thing the Breaking Muscle employees members like to do when the climate permits).

Noise Stage

The Concept2 rower could be loud as a result of it’s an air resistance rower. The rower recruits air from the fan flywheel, and the extra air it recruits, the louder the sound turns into. An internet evaluate signifies that the Concept2 rower has a decibel degree between 67 and 74, barely quieter than a vacuum cleaner.

Amanda Dvorak, one among Breaking Muscle’s editors, typically brings her rower indoors when her storage will get too chilly within the winter. Her husband, who’s a lightweight sleeper and often nonetheless in mattress when Amanda works out within the morning, has claimed that the noise doesn’t trouble him in any respect. Nonetheless, Amanda retains the rower on the primary degree of her house, whereas her husband sleeps of their bed room on the second degree. For those who reside in a one-story house or a small house, the noise could also be extra bothersome to different folks.

Portability

The Concept2 RowErg options two curler wheels on the entrance for portability. There isn’t any deal with on the again, however for the reason that machine weighs simply 57 to 68 kilos (relying on whether or not you get the usual peak or the tall legs), it’s straightforward to position your hand beneath the monorail to elevate it up.

The rower additionally breaks down into two items for those who don’t have sufficient room to depart it totally assembled on a regular basis. The house gymnasium homeowners on the Breaking Muscle employees do that continuously and observe that it takes only a few seconds to disassemble the rail from the flywheel piece and reconnect them once more when wanted.

Guarantee

Each Idea 2 rower features a five-year guarantee for the body and a two-year guarantee for all different parts, which we think about fairly customary for the trade. Some rowers we’ve examined, just like the Echelon Row-S, solely have a 12-month guarantee. Nonetheless, different rowing machines, just like the CITYROW GoMax, supply a five-year body guarantee like Concept2 does.

Concept2 Rower vs. NordicTrack Rower

When evaluating the Concept2 rower and the NordicTrack rowers, a number of key variations stand out. Whereas the Concept2 RowErg has a easy show with no video courses, NordicTrack rowers include interactive displays. These displays vary from 10 to 22 inches and supply instructor-led reside and on-demand courses. These applications could be partaking and motivating for customers who take pleasure in structured exercises and following together with an teacher.

To entry this library of exercises, you’ll need an iFit subscription for about $39 a month. You don’t essentially want the subscription to make use of NordicTrack rowers, however you’ll be very restricted in utilizing all of the options of your interactive display.

Each manufacturers’ rowers additionally use air resistance, which gives a clean and dynamic rowing expertise. Nonetheless, NordicTrack rowers add an additional layer of versatility with 26 digital resistance ranges. Concept2 doesn’t have conventional resistance ranges; the resistance depends upon how a lot air you permit into the flywheel based mostly in your damper setting and the way exhausting you row.

When it comes to measurement, the Concept2 rower is 94 inches lengthy, whereas NordicTrack rowers vary from 82 to 87 inches lengthy. The Concept2 rower excels in power, because it helps customers of as much as 500 kilos. That is twice the burden capability of the NordicTrack rowers.

The Concept2 rower additionally comes at a extra reasonably priced value than the NordicTrack RW700 and RW900, which price round $1,499 and $1,999, respectively. Nonetheless, as of this writing, the NordicTrack RW600 is on sale for round $900, about $90 cheaper than the Concept2 rower.

NordicTrack RW600

Dimensions: 87.02″ L x 22.0″ W x 47.24″ H

Storage: Folds in half for vertical storage

Resistance: Air and magnetic

Weight capability: 250 kilos

Show: 10-inch sensible HD touchscreen

Obtainable programming: Dwell and on-demand exercises, scenic rows

Check Price

Concept2 Rower vs. Peloton

One of many first noticeable variations between the Concept2 rower and the Peloton is the interactive monitor display. Peloton’s rowers characteristic a large 23.8-inch swivel interactive monitor, which lets you interact in video-led classes. Nonetheless, accessing these courses requires a month-to-month subscription payment of round $44.

That is very completely different from the PM5 monitor supplied by Concept2, which doesn’t have video-led classes or subscription necessities. If interactive exercises and entry to an unlimited library of coaching content material are your priorities, the Peloton rowers is likely to be extra interesting.

Each rowers share related dimensions, making certain a constant rowing expertise when it comes to area necessities and general setup. Nonetheless, the Concept2 rower has a outstanding weight capability of as much as 500 kilos. The Peloton rower, in distinction, has a decrease weight capability of 300 kilos, which may restrict its suitability for people with larger physique weight.

When it comes to value, Concept2 is the extra budget-friendly possibility. The Peloton rower prices round $2,995, practically 3 times the price of the Concept2 erg.

Peloton Rower

Dimensions: 7’10” L x 24” W

Storage: Shops upright with the Upright Wall Anchor (included with buy)

Resistance: Electronically managed

Weight capability: 300 kilos

Show: 23.8-inch 1080p HD touchscreen

Obtainable programming: Dwell and on-demand exercises, scenic rows

Check Price

Concept2 Rower vs. Hydrow

One other nice model of rowing machines is Hydrow. Hydrow’s unique rower and the extra compact Wave rower supply an fulfilling trip as a consequence of their use of magnetic resistance. Like Peloton, Hydrow rowers have built-in displays for streaming partaking, motivating exercise courses.

Hydrow’s superior know-how and immersive expertise include a better price ticket. Their rowers begin at just below $1,900. The Concept2 rower provides a extra budget-friendly possibility beginning at about $990. So as to entry Hydrow’s library of exercises, you additionally have to pay a month-to-month subscription of round $42.

Like Concept2, Hydrow’s rowers supply Bluetooth connectivity, permitting you to hook up with coronary heart charge displays and sync with health apps. When it comes to dimensions, the Hydrow rower measures 86 inches in size, 25 inches in width, and 47 inches in peak, making it barely extra compact than the Concept2 rower. It additionally has a lighter weight capability of 375 kilos. This doesn’t come close to the power of the Concept2 rower, which has a weight capability of 500 kilos.

Hydrow Wave Rower

Dimensions: 80″ L x 19″ W x 43″ H

Storage: Shops upright

Resistance: Magnetic

Weight capability: 375 kilos

Show: 16-inch HD touchscreen

Obtainable programming: Dwell and on-demand exercises, scenic rows

Check Price

Concept2 Rower Buyer Evaluations

On 4 websites, together with Amazon, the common score for the Concept2 rower is 4.8 out of 5 stars. Many individuals praised it for its sturdiness, fast setup, and storage capabilities. 

Regardless of the entire reward, some clients did observe just a few drawbacks. A number of clients discovered the noise degree regarding for at-home exercises. Others additionally famous the limitation of the PM5 display and would like to have a bigger monitor that supplied tutorial movies as a substitute.

Closing Verdict: Is the Concept2 Rower Value It?

When you think about all of the options of a top-tier rower, the Concept2 rower is among the greatest. Concept2 has constructed a strong repute of high quality and dependability with aggressive rowers, the CrossFit group, and residential gymnasium customers who need gear that gained’t cease working after just a few months.

By an in depth evaluation by our professional crew, it’s clear that the Concept2 rower could be properly definitely worth the funding. It gives a clean, reasonable rowing expertise. It’s straightforward to construct and may final for years, particularly in a house gymnasium. Realizing that this product exists in lots of properties and a number of industrial gyms, it’s exhausting to search out one other rower that may push the Concept2 rower off the highest of the rostrum.

FAQs