Concept2 RowErg Review – The Best Rower on the Market

The Concept2 RowErg is without doubt the best rower on the market. It’s not even nearly close. In this Concept2 RowErg review, I’ll tell you why.

So why should you listen to me?

I’ve had a 20+ year career in fitness. I own MyGym, a strength and conditioning gym in Stockport, UK. Over my career I’ve used and bought dozens of rowing machines, but there’s one that stands out. Only one machine that I’ve bought several of. The Concept2 RowErg.

Why? Well, you’ll find out in my Concept2 RowErg review…

Concept2 RowErg – Simplicity and Quality

One of my favourite elements of the Concept2 RowErg is that fundamentally, it remains the same. There’s innovation in terms of design tweaks and subtle improvements, but by and large it’s the same machine that you would have bought 20 years ago.

To competitors, it means they’re trying to innovate to get ahead. They’re missing a trick though, because all of this ‘innovation’ is style over substance, and they add in features that don’t always enhance the user experience, or the effects of the machine on fitness.

The Concept2 RowErg has stuck to task – to make the best quality rowing machine on the market. There’s very little in the way of bells and whistles with it, but that’s what makes it so good.

Feature Light, Quality Heavy

The Concept2 RowErg is a simple machine that has been tweaked and adapted over decades of user feedback.

Here’s the evolution and the history of the Concept2 rowing machines (image from Concept2 archives)…

You’ll see there’s little difference between the Model C (designed in 1993), and the Model E (still in production now). That’s because the essential elements of the rowing machine were right by then.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The ergonomic saddle is comfortable and fits most users. The monorail allows the saddle to glide along. The handlebar is smooth, comfortable and you won’t end up with calluses even after an hour-long row. The damper is reachable from the saddle, and the resistance level is easy to adjust. The PM5 monitor is intuitive and simple.

In a world where competitors keep adding ‘features’ but forgetting the user, Concept2 have done the opposite. It’s very feature-light, but the quality is second to none.

Build Quality as Standard

I couldn’t do a Concept2 RowErg review without mentioning the build quality. Speak to any gym owner or Concept2 RowErg user and they’ll tell you the same thing – the machines are built really well. They’ll go a long time without needing parts replaced, and even then it’s often only batteries.

The chain is metal, rather than cord or plastic. The saddle is made from a single piece, rather than multiples. The foot straps are robust, the fan wheel is solid and the frame is metal. It’s a simple construction, and every part is well made.

You won’t spend hundreds of pounds on the upkeep of your machine, that’s for certain.

How Much Does a RowErg Cost?

I’ve mentioned this before on my BikeErg review post, even though I’m a gym owner and I buy multiple items at a time, I still don’t get a penny of discount from Concept2. It’s their policy, whether you’re buying 1 or 100, you’re paying full price.

At the time of writing, a Concept2 RowErg will cost you £990 ($1235). This sits in the upper mid-range of price, with NordicTrack, Water Rower, Hydrow, NOHRD and ECHelon (plus others) making more expensive machines.

There’s no ongoing subscription with a Concept2 RowErg either, so you don’t have to keep paying. You can access monthly challenges online and via the app, but there’s no classes. That being said, if you wanted something a little more interactive, you could simply follow an online crew class on YouTube!

PM5 Monitor

If there’s a ‘weak point’ in the Concept2 RowErg, it could be the PM5 monitor. It’s fine for me, but some people say they’d like more interaction with the monitor.

I’d argue that the monitor provides all of the data you need. It’s also reliable, connects to your fitness accessories well over bluetooth, and the Concept2 app does a great job of storing workout data and providing challenges.

Whilst the PM5 might look a little dated compared to some screens you’ll see on treadmills, it’s no worse than you’ll get on the majority of cardio equipment. It also has built-in games, giving a little more workout variety and interest.

I like the fact that you can see a lot of performance information from the PM5 – you can track Watts, power curve, split times, calories and the like.

RowErg Data Collection

The PM5 monitor will collect the usual data – time, distance, calories, watts, strokes per minute etc. You can also attach a heart rate monitor to the machine for additional calorie data. There are log cards for data collection, but for most users, the app is perfectly suitable.

There’s discussion about why Concept2 RowErgs are the only ones where indoor rowing records count, and the general opinion is that because they were the original machines on which records were set, they all have to be done on a Concept down to accuracy. There’s no way of knowing whether or not other machines are calibrated the same as a Concept2 RowErg, so it could potentially lead to inaccurate records.

Concept2 RowErgs for Home Use

I’m aware that most of the people reading a Concept2 RowErg review won’t be gym owners, so they’re likely looking at a RowErg for their home gym.

Whether or not a RowErg is suitable for home use depends on where you intend to train. If you’ve got an outdoor home gym, as long as it fits, it’ll be perfect. If you live in a flat with neighbours above, below and either side of you, it’ll likely make you a really annoying neighbour.

The reason is because the Concept2 RowErg is pretty loud, so not exactly neighbour friendly. The flywheel gets louder the faster you row, which can really disturb others. It also moves a lot of air, so can end up blowing paper all over the place if you’ve got any near the machine.

Storage is a plus point though. The machine can be stored on its end, or broken down into two sections, making storage at home easier than alternatives such as treadmills.

The official dimensions of the Concept2 Model D is 96? long, 24? wide and 14? tall. When broken down into the two sections, it’s 33? L x 25? W x 54? H. It comes with wheels at the front, so is really easy to move around.

Concept2 RowErg Maintenance

My RowErgs are used in a commercial setting. They’re used for 90 hours per week, by a huge range of people. People with different sizes, weights and rowing abilities. The point is, they’re taking a heavy beating every day, so you’d think they need a lot of maintaining.

You’d be surprised though. Outside of battery changes and occasional chain oiling, the ongoing maintenance of a Concept2 RowErg extends to cleaning it.

The design of the rower means that the majority of the chain is hidden, protecting it from dust and damage. The flywheel is accessible, so I take the cover off and clean the internals. I don’t think it has a huge impact on performance, but it keeps the machine in good working order.

I’ve owned my machines for years and they’ve endured heavy commercial use. Not once have I had to replace a monitor, a chain or a saddle. The only replacement part I’ve ever ordered for my Concept2 RowErg is a foot strap.

When you consider in that time I’ve replaced barbells, dumbbells, sandbags, dozens of slam balls, suspension trainers, cables on resistance machines and the like, it shows the build quality of the Concept2 RowErg.

Who is the Concept2 RowErg for?

The short answer is anybody. The longer answer is it’s a great tool for most people to use in their fitness.

As cardio workouts go, it’s well balanced. There’s both an upper and lower body element to the workout. There’s no impact, so it’s suitable for people with various types of injuries. It works as a warm up and a full cardio workout on its own.

There’s a huge online community around the RowErg, so you can be part of a global group of like-minded people if you engage in that.

Unlike many other forms of machine-based cardio, there’s a competitive element to it. There’s an indoor rowing world championships, meaning you can actually compete at an international standard if you love the RowErg enough!

RowErg Weaknesses

A Concept2 RowErg review would only be fair if I pointed out the weaknesses. In absolute honesty, I can only think of one.

In a world where interactive home fitness services are on the march, the Concept2 RowErg isn’t present. Companies and services such as Hydrow, iFit, Peloton etc are bringing cardio workouts into the home, and Concept2 haven’t.

Of course you could partner with other interactive rowing services such as Hydrow, Ergatta and the like to make it more interactive, but that’ll come with an additional fee. It’s a shame Concept2 don’t offer their own version and give a year’s subscription with each machine sold. Their marketing department can have idea for free…

Concept2 RowErg Review – Final Thoughts

I’ve made no secret of the fact I think that the Concept2 RowErg is the best rowing machine on the market. Nothing really comes close in terms of user experience.

The price is reasonable, the cost of ownership is minimal, the build quality, ergonomics and the convenience of the machine are second to none. When you buy a RowErg from Concept2, you’re buying an excellent item.

The slight (and it certainly doesn’t bother me) weakness is the lack of interactive workouts when compared with other machines. For the vast majority of users though, they don’t need that feature. If you were bothered about interactive workouts, you could head to YouTube and attach your phone to the RowErg to watch as you train.

Ask yourself why World Rowing, CrossFit and HYROX all partner with Concept2… Because their products are quite clearly the best on the market.

That tells you as much as you need to know about them.

I’ll conclude my Concept2 RowErg review by saying if you’re in the market for a rowing machine, my strong advice to you is to buy a Concept2 RowErg. If you can’t afford it, save up for longer and buy one. You won’t be disappointed.

If you’d like to read my Concept2 BikeErg review, click here. If you’d like to read my review on the Concept2 SKiErg, click here.

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