Concept2 created the unique rowing ergometer in 1981 as a coaching device for aggressive athletes. It shortly grew to become one of many best rowing machines for the athletic inhabitants, and because of CrossFit, it’s an much more common 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 a long time of expertise utilizing this rower of their dwelling gyms, CrossFit containers, and different business gyms. We’re well-equipped to offer this in-depth Concept2 rower evaluation and communicate to its key options, professionals, cons, specs, and the way it compares to different common 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 top) and Mannequin E (the rower with a 20-inch seat top). 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 top or a 20-inch seat top.
- With a clear and efficient design, the Concept2 Rower is engineered for easy operation, straightforward upkeep, and long-lasting efficiency. This commercial-grade rowing machine encompasses 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 equivalent to tempo, strokes per minute, estimated energy burned, and watts (energy output). The monitor additionally connects through 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
Concept2 Rower Professionals
- The Concept2 Rower makes use of air resistance, which adjusts to your stroke charge and energy. Air resistance additionally supplies 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’ll be able to shortly break down the rower utilizing the quick-release characteristic and even mount it to the wall. Concept2 doesn’t promote a mounting device 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 tougher you row, the louder the machine turns into. It would deter those that use it of their dwelling fitness center and don’t need to disrupt their relations or roommates.
- The Concept2 RowErg prices round $990 earlier than taxes and delivery. Whereas cheaper than different rowers available on the market with a lot of high-end tech options (like touchscreen displays and on-screen exercise lessons, which Concept2 doesn’t provide), it nonetheless won’t be perfect for these searching for an ultra-budget-friendly machine.
- The Concept2 rower may be very lengthy, reaching a complete size of 96 inches (eight toes) when assembled. These with restricted exercise house at dwelling might have to take a look at extra compact rowing machines.
Concept2 Rower Overview
The Concept2 rower is arguably the preferred rowing machine at present obtainable that’s appropriate for each dwelling and business use. In 1981, Concept2 grew to become 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 business gyms equivalent to 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 gives an entire full-body exercise, making it an efficient device for assessing total 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 will possibly face up to heavy use in CrossFit containers.
The Concept2 rowing machine encompasses 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 gives 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 may very well be good for individuals who desire 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 neighborhood.
- The Concept2 RowErg may very well be a superb low-impact cardio machine for individuals who endure 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 perfect for individuals who are nervous about noise. That is an air resistance rower. The tougher you row, the extra air strikes across the flywheel, which makes the machine louder.
- Regardless that the Concept2 RowErg gives a 20-inch-high seat, people with extreme mobility restrictions should still discover it too low.
- Utilizing this rower may very well be robust for these with restricted house. When absolutely 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.
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Concept2 Rower In-Depth Evaluate
The evaluation beneath relies on insights I’ve gathered via 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 energy and conditioning coaches. We then used a proprietary scoring system to rank the machine on a scale of 1 to 5 in varied classes, equivalent to price, the standard of the supplies, monitoring capabilities, and meeting.
Value
The Concept2 RowErg with the 14-inch seat top prices round $990 earlier than taxes and delivery. In case you go for the 20-inch seat top, it is going to price round $1,155. Whereas the worth may very well be a downside for anybody on a brilliant strict price range, we nonetheless gave it 4.8 stars. The general worth is excessive as a result of 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 stainless-steel seat monitor.
Resulting from this heavy-duty building, we rated the construct a 4.9 out of 5. Based mostly on my expertise with the Concept2 rower, it will possibly tackle heavy abuse. Even in business fitness center settings, it’s so sturdy it might by no means have to get replaced.
Amanda Dvorak, Breaking Muscle’s Opinions Editor who began CrossFit in 2015 and now makes use of a Concept2 rower in her storage fitness center, can attest to its sturdiness. She talked about that even after banging it on her squat rack by accident (on a number of events) whereas shifting it round her storage, she’s by no means observed a distinction in the way it appears or performs. The CrossFit gyms she’s educated at beforehand additionally by no means had any main points with these rowers, regardless of them getting used six to seven instances 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 harm upon supply.
I’ve constructed many items of dwelling fitness center tools, together with the Stamina Elite rower I take advantage of at dwelling. I can actually say that one of many largest points with all of my purchases is that it takes perpetually to construct them. The Concept2 rower, nonetheless, solely required a couple of minutes of sunshine effort from our testing employees earlier than they have 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 harm to her machine when she obtained it at dwelling, and she or he and her husband have been in a position to put the erg collectively in round 10 minutes.
Efficiency
The Concept2 rower’s efficiency is strictly what you’d count on from a commercial-grade piece of apparatus. The seat slides over the monorail effortlessly, and the chain doesn’t snag for those who keep it correctly by oiling it after each 50 hours of use.
Subscription Choices
It’s exhausting to provide the Concept2 rower a ranking 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 dwell and on-demand lessons. All of the Concept2 gives is a PM5 monitor. As I’ll talk about beneath, it tracks loads of info, nevertheless it’s not as fancy as a high-tech monitor that permits you to stream lessons.
One advantage of the dearth of subscription choices is that it will possibly prevent cash. The subscriptions you’ll discover on Hydrow, Peloton, or NordicTrack rowers, for instance, can price $30 or extra per 30 days. It’s an added price you need to take into account when shopping for a rowing machine.
To make up for the dearth of subscription choices, the Concept2 row erg features a machine holder that may maintain your good machine. You’ll be able to then stream exercises from an app of your selection — however understand 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 encompasses a 10-degree bend to permit for a pure grip, and it’s coated with molded rubber to assist soak up sweat. Nonetheless, it will possibly trigger pores and skin discomfort, particularly for brand spanking new rowers.
Amanda Dvorak, Breaking Muscle Opinions Editor, hadn’t used a rower in over a 12 months earlier than she purchased a Concept2 erg for her dwelling fitness center. Regardless of already having calluses on her palms from lifting weights, her fingers blistered often as soon as she began rowing once more.
Nonetheless, now that Amanda has been utilizing the rower at the least as soon as per week, her tailbone discomfort has lessened, and her fingers not blister. When you’ve got related experiences if you first begin rowing, we expect it’s protected to say that you just’ll modify to the rower after a few months of constant use. If not, you’ll be able to 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 dimension 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 can assist you obtain a vertical shin angle for the catch part 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 might charge the center charge monitoring capabilities of this rowing machine a 4 out of 5, because it doesn’t provide 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, equivalent to an Apple watch or a digital chest strap.
PM5 Monitor, Show, and Stats Monitoring
Whereas the monitor might seem easy, it supplies a ton of knowledge monitoring capabilities. In comparison with the older monitor (the PM4), the PM5 supplies Bluetooth connection capabilities to trace your exercises. Total, 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 capability to avoid wasting all of our exercise historical past, so we are able to see how we’re progressing and enhancing over time. And, as talked about, it will possibly connect with doubtlessly 30 totally 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 as well use different apps like Regatta, RowHero, and Fiit.
Regardless of the spectacular quantity of data 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 certainly one of her favourite issues in regards to the PM5 monitor. She trains early in the morning and hates turning on vivid lights throughout her exercises. The backlit show makes it simpler for her to learn the display screen 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, equivalent to 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 the way to get began or superior athletes who need to observe structured applications.
Bluetooth Connectivity
The Concept2 rower’s PM5 monitor helps Bluetooth connectivity to suitable heart rate monitors. You may as well sync exercise knowledge to Concept2’s ErgData app or dozens of different apps to trace your exercise historical past.
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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 via 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 explanation why skilled rowers typically full their indoor coaching on a Concept2 erg.
Total Dimensions
The Concept2 rower is 96 inches lengthy, 24 inches huge, and both 14 or 20 inches excessive. The peak relies on whether or not you purchase the usual mannequin or the one with taller legs.
Observe Size
The monitor size, also referred to as the monorail size, is 54 inches. This size helps to accommodate athletes as much as 6’6.
Seat Top
The RowErg comes with a 14-inch seat top. In case you assume this can be too low for you, you’ve gotten the choice of buying an erg with taller legs that elevate the seat to twenty inches. Nonetheless, the taller rower adjustments the fee from about $990 to about $1,155.
Weight Capability
The load capability of the Concept2 rower is 500 kilos, which is effectively 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 gives variable resistance. The resistance depends on the forcefulness of every row. That is totally different from magnetic rowers, which offer mounted resistance ranges, and water rowers, whose resistance ranges change based mostly on how a lot water is in a water tank hooked up to the machine.
Concept2 rowers additionally make the most of a damper setting. The damper is an adjustment that lets you present “extra” or “much less” resistance based mostly on the supply of airflow. The damper ranges from one to 10 — one means the flywheel is totally closed, and 10 means it’s absolutely open. While you enhance the damper setting, you open the damper and permit extra air into the flywheel. A better damper setting leads to a sooner deceleration of the flywheel, making the rowing movement tougher to carry out.
Electrical Necessities
This rower machine takes two D-cell batteries, that are included together with your buy. There’s no must situate the rower close to an outlet, so you’ll be able to transfer it round any room in your own home or take it outside (one thing the Breaking Muscle employees members like to do when the climate permits).
Noise Stage
The Concept2 rower may 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. A web-based evaluation signifies that the Concept2 rower has a decibel degree between 67 and 74, barely quieter than a vacuum cleaner.
Amanda Dvorak, certainly one of 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 hassle him in any respect. Nonetheless, Amanda retains the rower on the primary degree of her dwelling, whereas her husband sleeps of their bed room on the second degree. In case you dwell in a one-story dwelling or a small condominium, the noise could also be extra bothersome to different folks.
Portability
The Concept2 RowErg options two curler wheels on the entrance for portability. There is no such thing as a 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 top or the tall legs), it’s straightforward to put your hand beneath the monorail to raise it up.
The rower additionally breaks down into two items for those who don’t have sufficient room to depart it absolutely assembled on a regular basis. The house fitness center house owners on the Breaking Muscle employees do that often and be aware that it takes just some 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 take into account fairly commonplace 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, provide 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 lessons, NordicTrack rowers include interactive displays. These displays vary from 10 to 22 inches and provide instructor-led dwell and on-demand lessons. These applications may be participating and motivating for customers who take pleasure in structured exercises and following together with an teacher.
To entry this library of exercises, you have to 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 screen.
Each manufacturers’ rowers additionally use air resistance, which supplies a easy 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 relies on how a lot air you enable into the flywheel based mostly in your damper setting and the way exhausting you row.
By way of dimension, the Concept2 rower is 94 inches lengthy, whereas NordicTrack rowers vary from 82 to 87 inches lengthy. The Concept2 rower excels in energy, because it helps customers of as much as 500 kilos. That is twice the load 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 good HD touchscreen
Obtainable programming: Dwell and on-demand exercises, scenic rows
Concept2 Rower vs. Peloton
One of many first noticeable variations between the Concept2 rower and the Peloton is the interactive monitor display screen. Peloton’s rowers characteristic a large 23.8-inch swivel interactive monitor, which lets you have interaction in video-led classes. Nonetheless, accessing these lessons requires a month-to-month subscription price of round $44.
That is very totally different from the PM5 monitor offered 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, guaranteeing a constant rowing expertise by way of house necessities and total 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 better physique weight.
By way of value, Concept2 is the extra budget-friendly possibility. The Peloton rower prices round $2,995, almost thrice 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
Concept2 Rower vs. Hydrow
One other nice model of rowing machines is Hydrow. Hydrow’s authentic rower and the extra compact Wave rower provide an pleasing trip on account of their use of magnetic resistance. Like Peloton, Hydrow rowers have built-in displays for streaming participating, motivating exercise lessons.
Hydrow’s superior know-how and immersive expertise include the next price ticket. Their rowers begin at just below $1,900. The Concept2 rower gives a extra budget-friendly possibility beginning at about $990. So as to entry Hydrow’s library of exercises, you additionally must pay a month-to-month subscription of round $42.
Like Concept2, Hydrow’s rowers provide Bluetooth connectivity, permitting you to hook up with coronary heart charge displays and sync with health apps. By way of dimensions, the Hydrow rower measures 86 inches in size, 25 inches in width, and 47 inches in top, 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 energy 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
Concept2 Rower Buyer Opinions
On 4 websites, together with Amazon, the typical ranking 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 be aware a number of drawbacks. A number of clients discovered the noise degree regarding for at-home exercises. Others additionally famous the limitation of the PM5 display screen and would like to have a bigger monitor that offered educational movies as an alternative.
Closing Verdict: Is the Concept2 Rower Price 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 stable repute of high quality and dependability with aggressive rowers, the CrossFit neighborhood, and residential fitness center customers who need tools that received’t cease working after a number of months.
By way of an intensive evaluation by our skilled crew, it’s clear that the Concept2 rower may be effectively definitely worth the funding. It supplies a easy, life like rowing expertise. It’s straightforward to construct and may final for years, particularly in a house fitness center. Realizing that this product exists in lots of properties and a number of business gyms, it’s exhausting to seek out one other rower that may push the Concept2 rower off the highest of the rostrum.
FAQs
The Concept2 rowing machine is definitely worth the cash, as this piece of health tools supplies a easy, genuine rowing expertise. Upkeep is simple, and the machine is constructed to final for years. This may probably be the one time you’ll have to buy a rowing machine.
The Concept2 rower is pricey on account of its robust and sturdy design. It features a nickel-plated metal chain, aluminum entrance legs, and metal rear legs to make sure a sturdy and long-lasting construct.
The Concept2 rower is arguably the very best rowing machine obtainable. This model pioneered the primary RowErg that was constructed by rowers, for rowers, to offer a full-body, low-impact exercise. It’s been utilized by informal gym-goers, CrossFitters, Olympians, and elite-level athletes. It’s positively a superb product that many take into account the gold commonplace.
Utilizing a rowing machine just like the Concept2 rower is an effective way to shed some pounds. As a result of it gives a full-body exercise, it has the flexibility to expend extra energy than different types of cardiovascular coaching. Consider, although, that weight reduction can even rely in your eating regimen, your exercise ranges outdoors of the fitness center, and different way of life elements.
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