Should I Buy A Concept 2 Rower -
While other brands have flashy 22-inch HD touchscreens with subscriptions, the Concept2 has the PM5. It looks like a 1990s calculator, but it is incredibly accurate. Because every Concept2 is calibrated the same way, your "2:00 split" is the same as an Olympic rower's "2:00 split." It allows you to compete on global leaderboards with total fairness.
The Concept2 uses air resistance. The harder you pull, the louder the "whoosh" of the flywheel. If you plan to row in a small apartment while your partner sleeps or tries to watch TV in the same room, they are going to hate you. Magnetic or water rowers are much quieter.
The Concept2 is the Toyota Hilux of fitness equipment. These machines are built to withstand 24/7 abuse in commercial gyms. If you buy one for home use and give it even a modicum of oil on the chain, it will likely outlive your interest in exercise. should i buy a concept 2 rower
Unlike Peloton or Hydrow, you don't need to pay $40 a month to make the machine work. You sit down, pull, and the data is there. If you want a fancy experience, you can tablet-mount your iPad and use free apps like ErgData or YouTube workouts. The Case for "Maybe Not"
This is perhaps the biggest selling point. If you buy a Concept2 today for $990 and decide in two years that you’d rather use it as a clothes rack, you can likely sell it on Marketplace for $800+ within hours. It is one of the few pieces of fitness equipment that barely depreciates. While other brands have flashy 22-inch HD touchscreens
You need a near-silent machine, you are motivated primarily by flashy "scenic" screen content, or you just want something that looks like high-end furniture.
In the world of fitness, the Concept2 isn't the sexiest choice, but it is almost always the smartest one. The Concept2 uses air resistance
It’s a tool, not a lounge chair. The seat is firm, and the movement is "mechanical." If you’re looking for the zen-like sloshing of a WaterRower or the boutique-studio vibe of a connected rower, the Concept2 might feel a bit too much like "work."