I would add that the seating position (height) in the waterower is more true to real world rowing. That been said, the concept seat arrangement is a lot more comfortable for the reasons you mentioned. Recently WaterRower have updated their smartphone app to expand functionality beyond the bare minimum (you will need to buy the Bluetooth addon for the machine), but it still way behind anything else. Also, a visit to the water rower youtube channel will show you there isnt much in terms of ongoing workout content for the owners. And yet i prefer waterower over the concept, 1- you just cant imitate water resistant and feel; 2- the sound is great and lets you listen to the tv or music without crap (headset, pods whatever) in your ears...; and 3- i dont have to hide the machine after each use because it just looks awesome (your significant other cannot win this one :). On a final note, i used to have all kinds of gadgets for working out, heart rate sensors etc. but in the end what matters is that you keep discipline and enjoy it, so the concept monitor while superior is no a deal breaker for me, but it might be for others. Great video
What do you think about adding a pillow or Cushing in the seat to rise it to improved the height and the comfort to be like the concept 2? I want buy my first water tower but I am concerned with the seat/feet position in the wr. It don't look so comfy like the concept 2.
I’m looking at getting my first rower and the noise issue really is a deal breaker for me. I’ve got sensitive hearing and couldn’t cope with the racket from a concept 2 (never mind the neighbours, who I’m sure would be annoyed too). Not made the purchase yet, but think I’m going water rower with the Bluetooth add-on for kinomap etc.
I’m one year older (69) and have had my Concept2 since 1990 - and still use mine too 😊 - I also bike, hike, do some upper body free weight training, eat sensibly, and happily fit into the same size 8 jeans I wore in my 30s and have no chronic health issues (that last part is in answer to Arthur Morgan’s question).
I own both, so here’s my advice: if you’re going to keep the rower in a living area of the house and you want a work of art/piece of furniture, then go with the WaterRower. It looks really nice standing up against a wall when you’re not using it. You do have some maintenance with the water tank - you need to add water purification tablets every six months or so to make sure no algae develops, but it’s simple to do. The water sound is soothing and it is quieter but definitely not silent. I know this is subjective, but I find the Concept2 a little more comfortable, and the monitor is far better than the WaterRower. You have maintenance too with the Concept2 (oil the chain every 50 hours or so and keep the fan free of dust buildup - it’s easy to do), but overall if I had to choose just one for the rest of my life, it would be the Concept2. It’s built like a tank, slightly more comfortable, and the monitor is superior in every way. There are lots of accessories for it (phone mount, tablet mount, etc), it breaks apart for easy storage/transport, and it really is the industry standard. You’ll see a Concept2 in almost every gym around the world. Both will kick your butt and make you sweat - a good portion of the decision just comes down to style. So if you’re solely performance based and can care less about pretty wood colors, Concept2 all the way. If you want a piece of furniture that makes you sweat, WaterRower. You really can’t go wrong with either one.
I agree. I would only add that because of the superior programming capability of the PM5 monitor, the C2 is a better fit for intervals of various types. If your standard workout is just to jump on and row, either is fine and some people may prefer the water rowers for longer, steady state sessions.
Can't improve on your comment. If you need the quietest possible rower and pretty wood, go with the WaterRower. But even then, try one first, because I lot of people don't like the stroke feel or the monitor. For everybody else, buy the Concept2. By the way, this video made the Concept2 sound much louder that reality for the main current home use model, the Concept2 Model D. And watch 6:10 about the seat-to-feet issue on the WaterRower, which I don't like but YMMV.
I feel the exact same way. Having gladly used both for almost a decade in gyms and enjoying both thoroughly I ended up buying a Concept II more or less only because I found them a bit more comfortable and they are better for smaller spaces. I would gladly have both if I had more space. Both provide such an excellent work out.
amazingly, the C2 rowers have been the same price for over 10 years (I bought mine in 2009). I'm not sure there is any other piece of top of the line exercise equipment where you can get a high end machine for less than a grand.
I know many people on here have been rowing for a long time and that is awesome but I figured maybe some people would want to hear from a relative newcomer. I am a very overweight woman. I probably need to lose about 100 lbs to be healthy and I really don’t enjoy exercise because being 250lbs makes it hard on my joints and back which are always an issue because I have back problems and fibromyalgia which is how I got to this weight in the first place. I wasn’t really looking for an exercise routine because honestly I had kind of given up. I have depression and motivation is super hard for me. About a year ago they opened a Row House near me and my daughter badgered me into going. I thought I would hate it. Turns out I loved it. It was the first exercise I had found that didn’t cause excruciating pain. I mean I was sore because I hadn’t worked out in years but it didn’t cause a flare up of my back or joints. So after a month or so I went back again and joined. I was consistent until about thanksgiving which ended up being about 3 months after joining. Then I started not really going because my depression was acting up during the holidays and I couldn’t get motivated. Then the stupid pandemic came. I struggled but time with depression until they opened back up in June. I went back for a bit but was having issues with scheduling classes because they had to reduce class sizes and my schedule is all over the place. I watch my grandkids and never know what time my daughter and son in law will be here to get them. I had used a concept2 at RH so I looked at what they cost. I felt for the quality of machine they were affordable. So I signed up for their waitlist in the beginning of July. I just ordered mine on 29th of September although I could have ordered as early as the 21. So it was about 10-11 weeks on the list. I’m super excited for it to get here because I miss rowing. It is the one thing I like. I was always comfortable on the concept 2. I have never used a water tower so I can’t compare but being a bigger person I was ok on the seat. I never felt like it was too small. Of course the catch positions was a little difficult because in short and chubby but overall I think it is as comfortable as a large person can be on an exercise machine. Just wanted to weigh in since most people are super experienced and maybe some newbies wanted to know what it’s like if u r a bigger person.
Weight is lost in the kitchen not the gym. The biggest lie we have been sold is that we have to exercise to lose weight. If you want to lose weight clean up your diet, if you want to have good health exercise. Over weight people killing themselves in a gym listening to a trainer who has no idea what its like to be over weight tell you to do things that make you not want to come back is not how you get results. Figure out how to eat right for you, your body type and lifestyle, the weight will come off. I am not saying you shouldn't exercise, defiantly do exercise but do it for health not weight loss.
@@TravisInCanada1 What a horrible comment. This is not the time & place to vent your opinion about this. This woman was opening up about her health and you took that as an opportunity to lay into a stranger and attempt to ‘educate’ her based on your (weird) viewpoint. I forget where I read this (Numlock News perhaps?), but a reputable scientific source recently reported on a study where, actually, there are lots of *environmental* factors that contribute to weight gain, and that we may be heavier than our ancestors, on average, but it doesn’t necessarily correlate with diet: Think synthetic hormones, pollutants in air & water, etc. Regardless, your comment was in poor taste, hurtful and tone deaf. Not needed on the internet.
Spouse and I just started intermittent fasting. Only been doing it for a few days. I need to lose a lot of weight and didn’t realize that fasting in actually quite beneficial for physical and mental health. I just thought it was some bizarre ritual. It’s at least an interesting thing to investigate. Take care and hope you are doing okay.
Excellent review Elisabeth! Thank you for your comment; you've actually answered the exact question I had about the seat of the Concept 2. I'm on the waiting list for the Concept 2, but started double guessing myself and considering the WaterRower. Congratulations on getting back to rowing! Exercise can be a great help for depression too, keep it up!! May I ask which model you have? I'm on the wait list for the Model E, which is a little higher. I figured it would be a little easier on the knees and back when getting on/off the rower.
You'll know which one is the best choice when it needs parts and maintenance. Every single part of the C2 from the original model to the latest is instantly available at a good price and anyone can strip and rebuild the whole machine.
I just got a WaterRower Club, locally used from a previous owner on Thursday and I love it. It’s in great condition and I’m basically rowing daily for recreation (love boating) and physical rehabilitation (series of injuries last year). I’m also a composer-musician so the auditable level was an important factor for me and love the WaterRower’s ethos overall as well. It’s COVID-19 pandemic year, lockdown in mid-March (SFBA), and my gym is essentially closed indefinitely for my purposes unfortunately which was another definite factor for this investment. My gym offered Concept2 rowers that I like as well but for a home investment, the WaterRower just feels like an instrument too, water and wood, defusing the work stress working from home as well. 😷
I've used a water rower every weekday for 2-3yrs, the wooden construction and sound of the water can be hypnotic and compelling. In my mind I've moved on from reliance on monitors and electronic gadgetry. If you are imaginative, you can row with your eyes closed and just let the water's sound and feel, hypnotize you, works for me everyday.
Hey everyone!! I have a few spots open left in my online coaching program, ROW-20, for October 5th - October 26th! It's 20 days of exclusive live-streamed workouts with me and a handful of others. You get direct access to me as your health & rowing coach where I can chat with you personally on your own individual goals and review YOUR form specifically FOR YOU! This program is for ANYONE using ANY ROWING MACHINE. Check my website (in description) for more info, testimonials, etc! Would love to get to know you more personally this next month - happy rowing!! Hope you enjoy the video - this one took forever!
I've put over 16,000,000 meters on my Waterrower, and I have to agree. That distance has been in spite of a LOT of maintenance, most of which is necessary because of British-style engineering. (If you've ever seen a Lotus with headlamps full of water after a rain, you'll know what I mean.) I mean, who came up with the idea of in-house, custom made rubber belts (Which are often faulty!) to drive the display? Changing one of those little suckers takes about 2 hours each time, and because they're poorly made it's a yearly task. Next, the placement of the water fill hole is uncomfortably close to the rest of the mechanism for no good reason! It could have been ANYWHERE on the top of the tank, but nooooooo. Still, I do enjoy the quiet of the WR, I like to listen to music or watch TV while rowing, and you can't do that with the C2, especially if your wife is sleeping a few rooms away!
Again, I appreciate the advice and consideration for rowers with larger than average midsections. Good to know about the biomechanics of the stroke on the different machines. Thanks, Austin!
I agree. Everything you said is true. I have a water rower. And what I like the most about it is the sound. As I use to row on a boat for years, rowing this machine gives me the feeling I’m outdoors on the lake I used to row. And during these four months of quarantine... it’s really nice.
Same here... I've been doing research for months and I just got the Xterra Water Rower and I think this guy did a review on it awhile back. I love it!!!! Best purchase I've made in years!
I own the WaterRower M1 Hi-Rise and I use the Concept 2 at the gym. I would have to say the WaterRower is a better rower because it's easier to engage the legs and glutes. I have no regrets about my purchase.
@@MsWagons That’s great. Glad we all have options that work best for our needs. I don’t need to move my rower anywhere and prefer the WaterRower as a casual rower not a hardcore rower, not that the WaterRower doesn’t give you great results too and a nicer overall experience. The water motion and quietness are more appealing to me than some monster device but, to each their own.
The Concept 2 wins for me because I've been able to upgrade mine over the years so I have the latest PM5 and I use it with Kinomap. The Concept 2 support and development community is unique in the rowing a equipment world. The company can sell you replacement parts for pretty much everything. You're buying an investment which is cheap per mile rowed & calorie burned.
One thing to note on the monitor comparison, is that the water rower now also comes with a power meter and app from SmartRow as an option and it gives many of the features of the C2.
Really very nice video regarding both machines differences. I already have got a waterrower device about one year ago, and this equípment has changed my body shape during that time!
Just got myself a waterrower and I agree with you on the monitor part - it's not ideal, but by no means does it matter to me. I hop on it do some cardio and don't care if it was showing me laggy data. I opted for the waterrower because of aesthetics - both visual and aural - a nice wooden construction matching my floor + a soothing sound instead of irritating one.
I’m an older rower & have a C2 at home. I’ve used water rowers from time to time & agree the monitor is way less useful. Also agree the setup is a bit different in terms of seat & feet. Also agree the water rower sounds better. The one thing I’d disagree on is which is kinder on the body & the back. I do have back issues & found the water rower was a good deal kinder at the catch than the C2. As such, if buying one for general fitness & had any grumbling injuries, I’d probably go for the water rower. If, on the other hand, you want to do a ‘true’ 1, 2 or 5km, etc, the C2 is the machine.
I used to row at university and we would always train on concept 2, I definitely agree they are better for training. My dad has a water rower, and its beautiful, I love the sound a great for home workouts. The one things I would say is the water rowers position is very similar to being in a boat so it is more realistic and you can get used to the positioning better on a water rower xx
It's interesting that you feel the feet are too high on the WaterRower. Comparing the two, I see what you mean, but I also noticed that the seat is much higher on the Water Rower. The butt to heel height difference seems very close. Is this an illusion?
Austin- great review. I already took the plunge for the WaterRower, only delivered a few weeks ago, and I don't have any regrets. My choice was largely due to the noise difference. I can listen to your instructions on your workouts without blasting the volume or wearing earbuds and the water does make a soothing sound. I have the Xeno Muller model, which is supposed to have a footboard lower to the seat, relatively, than the standard model.I haven't used a standard model, so I've nothing to compare to. I'm not tall, like you, (I'm only 6'4"), but I thought the Xeno model would make sense due to my not being height challenged. I believe that your relative height exaggerates the footboard placement issue. Few viewers have a 37" inseam, like you do. I think it makes the WaterRower footboard placement look worse than it generally is, but it is still a valid point. Again, great review. I'm new to rowing and I'm using your beginner workouts to work on form. I look forward to stepping up to the "grown-up" workouts, and hope that the (admittedly) archaic monitor on the WaterRower won't be an issue. Another person mentioned the upgrade monitor that is available. Does that correct the lag time? Thanks for help keeping me sane w/o my gym!
Yeah that was my question. If the big point is that the monitoring is too limited on the water rower presented, are there other models of water rowers that would compete against the Concept 2 monitoring? I'm very interested in this because my water rower has the same limitations than demonstrated in this video.
Karthik Lakshmi I guess it would depend on the data you're driven by. If it were me, I'd say Apple watch (or any activity tracker) would suffice. But if the goal is power, then add the power pulley/Smart Row will offer more data/stats. However, what changes you are not numbers. Your body has to do the work, your body needs to progress. No matter what those numbers say, your body should always be calling the shots to ensure continued improvement.
Karthik Lakshmi the SmartRow hardware has a companion app for iPhone and Apple Watch. You launch the app on each before your workout. The phone app shows you your power graph and rowing instructions as well as your heart rate which it takes from your watch. The rowing sessions are saved to Health app so it fills your rings and shows workouts in the Activity app.
I prefer the feel of the WR. My competition is myself so the relative speeds don’t matter. Using club machines, I noticed that he C2s around here are really rough. Some are so bad my hands tingle after just a 2k. Now, I know that’s more of a club/Mx issue than the design but I’ve not run into that problem on WRs (yet).
I'm 5'10" and have had the Waterrower Natural for about 5 years. I love my machine. It's very comfortable and gives a great workout. One thing that wasn't mentioned, is its ability to connect via USB to a computer. I've used this for online competitions, making the workout more interactive.
While you called the damper setting inconsequential (more-or-less), since once you set it, you're done; that observation is good if you're in a single user household. The moment you have a spouse whose also rowing, or other family members, the opportunity to easily change the damper resistance starts to become important.
@@bryngarrity5548 I'm curious about your answer. I'm new to rowing, don't even have my rower yet (waiting list), I've only used one a few times at the gym. Would the resistance not change that much between dad (me), and 13 year-old daughter? In a household of 5, I was thinking that we would need to be changing the resistance, but maybe I'm wrong. I really like the sound of the water, and don't really care about competition level workouts or stats, so maybe the inferior monitor on the WaterRower wouldn't bother me, and they look nice. But I'm still undecided between these two machines. The seat has to be big and comfortable for my wife to want to use it, so I'm wondering if the seat-to-feet position mentioned in this video are a deal-breaker for us.
@@luisvilla7 the damper setting adds resistance, but also pulling harder adds resistance. You will pull harder than your daughter and therefore feel more resistance. As my coaches always told me, pull harder if it’s too easy. According to one of my coaches, a world rowing coach who has coached many world and olympic rowers over the years, the feel of water on the concept 2 is between 2-4. Those guys you may see at the gym with the damper up to 10 make my heart hurt. Most people new to rowing equate power to the higher resistance, but proper rowing form is actually hindered the higher the resistance is. In my rowing club, the coaches won’t allow anyone to go above 4 during an erg session. But also, think about actual rowing. How does every rower on a boat get different resistance? We don’t. We pull harder.
I bought SmartRow before my WaterRower arrived. I‘ve used Concept2 machines a lot, fallen off many after hard sessions, but the sound level made them a no go for home use. The SmartRow overcomes the responsiveness issue of the WaterRower Monitor, gives accurate power readings and a power curve. I would love to see the option for intervals by distance and if the software and eco system was as good as that for Concept2. It would also be nice to know how equivalent SmartRow output is to the Concept2 so I can compare to my old training diary. All in all really happy with my choice. All the best from another Austin
I've tried the concept in the gym and it was great, but I'm more inclined towards the Water Rower at home due to noise levels since I live in an apartment. I would go with the cheapest A1 water rower since the foot plates are further apart and closer to to the concept. I want to do HIIT interval training. The water rower monitor looks a bit rubbish but I guess I could just put my Ipad on a clamp, attach it to the rower and play a video of HIIT training sessions whilst checking my speed by the strokes per minute rate. Just my newbie thoughts.
I just bought a used (2012) Concept 2 with the Mark 3 monitor and it runs like it was new. I've also recently learned I can upgrade the monitor to the latest Mark 5 and get bluetooth connectivity to track workouts and progress for a very fair price. Also, I can order any spare parts for the rower. Maintenance of the rower is also very easy. I'm not experienced with WaterRower, but those points alone, along with the monitor and the community being so much better are all fantastic reasons to get the Concept 2 and why I'm totally happy I've gotten one.
Oh, and I did some rowing on a machine many years ago and never remembered it to be such a fantastic workout. The machine I was using must have sucked. The Concept 2 feels very nice and even on the lightest setting, it's a really good workout.
Question: Do you eat burgers, pizza, wings, tacos, so fourth? I know that you can't really lose weight without changing your eating habit, but I at least want to stay in a healthier life style, would this allow me to do that? I don't want to change the way I eat. LOL I'm also not super fat.. I'm like 123lbs and I'm 5'0"
Having used a few different rowers, I have to agree with your point about the Importance of the monitor. In addition to what you mentioned in your video the concept 2 also had Bluetooth connectivity, and a solid phone app which syncs to the C2 website, making automatically logging all your workouts really easy. You can then review your performance, splits etc. and share with training partners online.
I appreciate this review and it has been helpful, but I need to call BS on the last half of it. You have conflated "recreational" and "fitness" rowing. They are very different and are in no way lesser than competitive rowing. I have well over 17,000 miles in real rowing shells and possibly up to 20,000. (Documentation issues.) I've rowed in everything from 99 degree heat in a river beat to a froth with speed boats (and logged my best 10 mile time ever on that day) to 15 degrees and 35 MPH winds. (I didn't take my sweatsuit off that day.) Most of that was when I was younger. And most of that was very hard driving fitness rowing. I never really much cared for competitive rowing - it is way too boring, you spend hours waiting for every minute of rowing - but did very well on the few occasions when I did race. I probably could have beat this guy in rough water even though he is a lot taller than me. I have also done a tremendous number of miles on Concept2 model B and D machines. So what's the BS? It's the notion that the Concept2 is better and/or that it's monitor is better because it's better setup for competition. As if competition is somehow superior to fitness. You don't need all of those fancy features to be a better rower, you only need them to occupy your mind. As a very long time rower of real shells I've never seen ergometer competition as anything but silly. I think it's fine for people who want to compete in the dark of winter or who feel the need for all of those fussy workouts and such do do so. But don't put people down who want to row for fitness. Some of us can probably row circles around the competitive rowers in a head race because we compete every time we row - with ourselves. I recently had the opportunity to row a WaterRower for a few months and now I am about to order one to replace my Concept2. It feels better - even with my old man's belly - and is much quieter. And if you really want all of the fussy workouts and stuff that aren't on the S4 monitor, you can buy an adapter that lets you connect an iPad and choose an app that gives you far more fussy workout options and analysis and so on than the Concept2 can do.
I agree with your points on both rowers. I have a waterower now at home in my garage with limited space, and it works just fine. I guess I am in the recreational category, so the waterower works for me. Time or distance is all I really look at. Been using the waterower for 3 months now, and no back issues.
Hey Austin. That was a great review and everything was spot on. Ive got a Waterrower GX with the very old computer and after almost a year of rowing the lack of programming and the lag is starting to impact my rowing progress. You can get around the shortcomings with a note book, a stopwatch and a spreadsheet but it's quite inconvenient. I am now seriously considering a concept 2. Thanks again. Great honest review 😉👍
got the WaterRower. looks better in my homeroom over the orange one. That s the most important issue, cause like a fitness studio, after 10 times you don't use it anymore and its looks become important
I own both, ask me why... Originally purchased the WR and loved it. I did experience some back issues with the WR and my competitive nature wouldn't allow me to take my eyes of the C2. Eventually broke down and purchased the C2. Have not regretted that decision, back issues solved almost immediately. Should have done better research for my purposes. The rowing community the C2 opens up to you is fantastic. Also I really don't find the C2 to be that loud at all, I think that may be a little overstated. If your prone to being competitive and enjoy that motivation then the C2 is the choice. Both will give you a heck of a workout. I must admit I also wasn't happy that WR kept trying/keeps trying to sell me add-ons to make my WR like a C2. C2 is the standard all others are judged by.
Great video, I’ve gone for a waterrower with Bluetooth connection so hopefully that’ll improve the monitor feedback. I have to have the machine in the house so the aesthetics were a deal breaker plus when my wife took a look at the concept 2 her first reaction was ‘that’s not coming in here!’
I use the Smartrow with force curve and no lags. It‘s not perfect at the moment, but it‘s so much better than the S4 monitor. I think (hope) it could be very comparable to the PM5 in year from now.
Good Video. Concept 2 sounds better. But the sound is a killer. I will go with the water. I want to relax and maybe watch Netflix. Otherwise I would have the"better" device and never use it.
the only thing that keeps me undecided is the noise level.... is it really that loud??? im planning on using this at 18.00h so, legally speaking , noise wouldnt be an issue.... but still i wouldnt want to annoy the hell out of my neighbours...
Water rower it is for me. Thanks for this video it really helped. I use a concept 2 at my gym by I hate the monitor on it and don't really care for that. I like how the water rower has sleek designs, is quiet, and the monitor looks out of the way and not in exactly in my face. My main workouts consist of weight lifting, body weight workouts and mma.
Thanks for the video and all the facts you described. In the end, everyone needs to decide his own preferences and style of training. You clearly described the pros and cons. Precious info was about the ergonomic position, where one machine might feel a bit more comfortable. The other aspect was the noise level and style. Something nobody paid attention to. The video helped me with my decision, ordering a water rowing machine. And I found a manufacturer who elevated the seat position, which makes it more comparable to concept 2. I accept the limitations of the water technique, but I was looking for an entry-level machine. The goal is to get on the machine every day. 15 to 30 minutes, and slowly gain back fitness and reduce weight. Maybe after 12 months, I change my mind.
I've had a C2 Model D for 14 years, (about 18MM meters on this one) and with a little maintenance it's as good as new. I've also raced in crew for years, and I think it's worth noting that any rowing club boathouse I've seen use Concept 2 machines for off-water training and testing.
with all respect to your great experience, and acknowledging all the Concept 2 advantages detailed in the vid, I do think that citing the ubiquity of Concept 2 as evidence of superiority is like saying VHS is better than Betamax because it became more widely used, and eventually won out
@@mattgagan3419 The concept 2 is superior and is more widely (exclusively) used by athletes and rowing clubs because the C2 mechanics is spot-on compared to actual rowing.
Used to row during my student time and always used C2 for indoor training. Now I own my own C2 rower while I have a waterrower at my gym. IMO the C2 rower blows the waterrower out of the water when it comes to any performance metrics or training customization. The only downside is that it does get really loud when you start pumping (and of course the cost.. but any decent rowing machine is going to cost you).
A viable option for people who want the better look of a water rower with more advanced technology would be the machines from First Degree Fitness. Back in March I was looking at a 3 month wait for a C2 or immediate delivery of a FDF machine so I took the leap...I had only used C2's previously. They make water rowers of varying sophistication (Bluetooth, force curves, programmable, etc.), as well as water rowers with adjustable resistance and others with larger tanks that offer even greater resistance. I've put about 500,000 meters on the one I have and my only regret is that I didn't shell out the extra money for one of their Bluetooth enabled models. It eats up meters at about the same rate as a C2; maybe the FDF rowers generate slightly more meters per unit of force than the C2. But definitely a more advanced water rower than the original. Still miss the C2s at the gym...in NYC gyms are still off limits.
Since the site doesn't list the price, what can I expect to pay? My WR is 20 years old and I'm thinking of retiring it, and would rather not have the WR problems again.
Great video. Still deciding - leaning towards Concept2 (sounds like less 'admin') - I wish they would bring out an Oak model, then the decision would be easy for me!! I love the look of the wood water rowers!
Thank you for comparing these models. I am a total noob to rowing. I don't own nor have I ever used a rowing machine. I expect I would use a rowing machine about 30-60 minutes a day 5-6 days a week. And both sound and aesthetic value are important to me, so I am leaning more towards the Water Rower. Moreover, the C2 is impossible to buy online at the moment; sold out everywhere. For somebody who is looking to use the rower to lose weight and tone, do you think the Water Rower is sufficient to meet these goals? Also, what maintenance is involved in both models? Thanks! P.S. Do you have any opinions/thoughts on the NordicTrack RW500? It is slightly cheaper than the WaterRower, albeit with air resistance. But in terms of durability, ease of use, etc.
Excellent comparison video. Very comprehensive, but not to the point it's annoying. I bought the waterrower a few months ago and I really like it. I must say I wanted a Concept2, but the noise was the deal breaker (you mentioned that as one of the main consideration points and it's true). I just couldn't convince myself that it would produce low enough noise to not bother my wife and kids at the time I thought I'd use it more frequently. If someday I manage to have an air conditioned acoustically isolated room where I can have a rowing machine, I'll get the Concept2.
Having researched MANY rowers side by side in a nerdy spreadsheet, I narrowed my choices down to WaterRower and Concept2. Amazing to find a very informative and honest video addressing the choice between them specifically. Thank you!
All I can say is that confirms my belief in the Concept2 although if I won the lottery I would have a Biorower. Excellent comparison Austin for those who are about to take the plunge and good to se you’re well as been a while since your last upload. Stay Safe 😎
assembled the WaterRower yesterday and had my first session this morning - my god i'm out of shape. love the sound of water though and hopefully the screens will eventually get an update and will become upgradable.
The screens are completely upgradable. There is ofcourse a adaptor inwhich you can attach your phone or tablet to the rower and it then becomes a completely immersive experience with a virtual rowing video on a lake, progress reports, workout recordings, watt measurements and way more.
I bought the Fluidrower Neon Plus, highly recommended, the seat is super comfortable and the rowing action/noise is amazing, at £800 it's brilliantly priced too
Concept 2 not that loud really .I jam to music on you tube anyway with a sound bar.also ERG data and monthly challeges with the C2 are a huge +....You get a free tshirt at 1000000 meters also
WaterRower is great for taller rowers (6’ plus) with the extension they offer. Mine is over 15 years old and still works beautifully. Low to zero maintenance. I upgraded the monitor and length for very little directly from WaterRower UK.
What are the main differences? I purchased the D because that is what I had used and was comfortable with but I was curious about the difference. Also right now concept 2 is only making the black d because of pandemic. I would have had to wait far longer for the E. And price.
Some years ago the small company that made the Nordic track ski machine made a good piece of equipment. Then it went to their head. All at once there were a lot of models that did the same thing. They're gone now, bankrupt. If you need to make too many models you're selling cosmetics, not exercise. I suggest the concept 2. Mine is from 1986, shows no sign of quitting.
Air rower tend to have a pause or catch at the beginning. The other significant difference is one is a double rail and the other is monorail. Double is more stable and better longevity in seat movement over time. The monorails rail system tends to get wobbly over time, more maintenance to keep the seat stable
I am 6‘10“ or 208cm tall. Love your content. I’d like to add that you can not just take apart the concept 2 with ease but also purchase an extended slider if you have super long legs. On a regular slider I tend to sit a bit too far back on my seat in order to get that extra leg room. Design and sound points go to waterrower and Kevin Spacey is going to keep rowing that thing in House of Cards. However, every competitive rower is training on concept 2.
I have used all sorts of rowers of my lifetime ( i am 56 ) . Personally I do not like the water rower, I think it sucks for a couple of reason, BUT if you have never rowed before than you may think the water rower is cool and I say then go for it. In MY own opinion, the CONCEPT 2 rower is THE BEST and I have used CONCEPT rowers since the mid 80's and I had used old OLD school rowing apparatus in the mid 70's . I have used Life-fitness rowing computers and the water rower and some other generic type rowing machines almost like the concept 2 but those really fell short also.
Watching the video helped me decide on buying a water rower vs another type of power because: 1. I'm not training for the Olympics, I just wanted to row (so the advanced monitor wasn't an issue). 2. It's closest to real world conditions, in term of positioning. 3. I love the sound it makes as you row. 4. I liked their look. So I went to a local dealer and got to try one but here's a problem I found: I've been using my gym's magnetic rower for the last few months and row about 30-32 strokes/minute. When using the water rower, the water would gain momentum and there was less resistance as I continued to row. Which meant I would either have to slow my place or extend my workout, neither of which were appealing to me. To be fair, i could have tried adding more water to the tank (it was about half full) but even at that level the resistance was low, to me. Also it was a quick trial but for close to $2000 i didn't want to risk it. So maybe other people have encountered and have a fix for this problem but I wanted to mention it for anyone who is considering buying a water rower, I still think they are nice, just pricy. I ended up buying used rower (that was the same machine in my gym) and I love it. Whoever reads this, whether you buy an expensive model or a cheap one, I hope you find one you love. Don't forget to check Facebook marketplace or Ebay, you might get lucky.
I will add a little extra point for shorter people like me. I'm 5ft9, and I tried both the concept 2 and waterrower; the waterrower is far more comfortable at the front of the stroke, I felt I had to stretch quite a lot more on the concept 2 in order to get a comfortable flow on, to the point that it harmed my form. My wife is 6ft1 and found the concept 2 more comfortable as the video showed. So something to keep in mind 😁
I missed the ol’ Concept 2 rower from my workplace (I’m now work-at-home), so I just bought one for home use. 2 months before they could ship it, but welcome to the post Covid supply chain world. Here’s the thing. When I workout, I’m usually listening to music or watching a movie with over-the-ear headphones. So noise isn’t a problem, because I don’t really hear it. Watching a movie helps maintain a long workout also. You know what they say about workouts being more about mind than body, right? Get into a good movie and it’s almost like you forget you’re running or rowing. So, I considered all the pro’s and con’s of each type, and it really was going to be either water rower or concept 2, price wasn’t the driving factor for me, and in the end I have to hand it to Concept 2. My recommendation to Concept 2 if they are concerned about competition, would be to consider selling different attachments or components for their rowers. The rower can already be disassembled. Why not profit from extensions, and have a concept 2 water rower option as well, to cut down on noise. It would address those buyers that want optionality and expandability, particularly for those on the fence between the 2. If you want my opinion, I think the guy in this video was great and I agreed with all his points except for one thing - wear gloves, you’ll prevent blisters, if you’ve ever spent hours at one like I have. Cutting the tips off the gloves can help breathability and preserve grip. I would be curious to know why exactly he doesn’t recommend wearing gloves. If it’s about breathability just cut off the tips, then it’s a great idea. Maybe it’s the water rower handle being more comfortable. Anyway, hope my comment may be helpful for those researching rowers.
Awesome review. Fantastic comparison. The point made about the lower foot position on the Concept II is an excellent observation and probably clinched the decision for me. Thanks.
There is also a Waterrower model with a lower foot position, fyi. It’s a midrange model with exclusive training videos by the Swiss American gold medalist. I was going to get that one because of my long legs, but went with the “normal” one instead. It arrived in the mail this week; not unpacked yet ... Excited! I think the “whoosh” will really do it, for me.
thanks for the video! Feel like you cover everything really well. As someone with lower back problems, I appreciate your comparison focusing on which would be better in that department.
i had a concept 2 and used it everyday...ran into some $$$ difficulty and sold it. BAD, BAD move on my part. now i'm on a waiting list for another new one.
Like the review, but you must have been on an older model of water rower. I bought mine only a month ago and there are two things that were wrong. 1) the water rower has 5 levels of resistance simply changed with a knob on the top. 2) the monitor looks nothing like the one you demonstrated. It has most of the same features you described from the Concept 2. Thanks for your vids....helped me a lot so far.
Love my Waterrower. The sound, the action, stroke--all of it. The Concept2 is excellent too. It is great to choose either one--working on your health is always great!
Tried this myself and results aren’t even close. If you’re even mildly serious about rowing, you’ll pick the Concept2 any time. If you’re after a cool piece of furniture and want to brag about having picked up indoor rowing with your mates when you really train once a month, then go for the waterrower. The monitor’s feedback on the latter is shockingly bad - I’m talking 30sec delay to showing current speed, it’s effectively unusable. My 10k PB is a 39:58.4 on the concept2 while first time on Waterrower I smashed a 36:44.0 (1 week later) - should give you an indication as to reliability of that second reading :) Only neutral comment could be the seat positioning, which I found ok (and nowhere near as bad as on tecnogym aquafeel where I’ve squashed my n*ts a few times)..
Great thanks for the vid. I have Waterrower and I bought it as I have it in one of the bedrooms and watch Netflix as I row. It tends to take my mind off the pain I'm going though and I row a fair bit further. I considered a C2 but the noise was just too much. As you say the S4 monitor is very poor for the money and I contacted the company about this but didn't feel they were really invested in upgrading it. I mentioned things like the ability to upload to Strava, syncing with Garmin equipment, online races .... felt like it fell on deaf ears to be honest. However there are several solutions available now to help a bit. I haven't bought one but the Smartrow mechanism and software looks good and allows you to connect to various other software packages and platforms I think. One thing I will point out about the smartrower is emptying and filling the tank is a total pain in the backside. Why they put the hole where they did is beyond me, it's as if they put thought in to putting it in the least appropriate place. Oh one last thing, I'm 6ft and medium to large build and bought the wider handle and found that this made rowing a lot more comfortable for me. It also allows me to play around with grip width a fair bit and trains the arm and shoulder muscles slightly differently. I used to have fairly major shoulder issues after years of motorcycles crashes and the rower has sorted them all out which is basically why I originally bought it.
If you get the ComModule your monitor can be connected to the Oculus Quest VR headset and the Holofit app which is an amazing experience. It totally transports you to the outdoors where you can race other people.
@@steelsteez6118 yeah I've been using it for several months now. I also use Holofit with an elliptical (feels like you're running in vr) and stationary bike but rowing is the best workout and the most immersive. It now works with any rowing machine since they updated it to use head tracking.
Not sure the price comparison is accurate any more -- currently in Australia I just ordered a brand new Waterrower for A$500, while the Concept2 best price I could find was $1,700. So, more than 3x the price for essentially the equivalent piece of home workout equipment. The display issue is also no longer an issue, as the current waterrower has bluetooth and a smartphone/tablet stand -- so you can merrily do all sorts of fancy 'course' and training modes using Apps like Kenomap, Cityrow etc. etc. The waterrower (in oak) that I ordered will also fit in with the decor of my loungeroom infinitely better than a concept2 would, and being a bit quieter will be great as I want to be able to row late in the evening without disturbing the wife. It will also make it easier to row while watching the TV.
I just got on their waiting list. They sent a email stating it’s going to be about 10-12 weeks. That’s 2-3 months of waiting. I don’t have that tome to wait.
I was on the waitlist about 10.5 weeks. It worked out for me but may not for everyone. I looked at other sources including Craigslist and Facebook marketplace. I also checked local places and amazon and they were all jacking up the prices. Some as much as double. I figured I could wait a few weeks to not get ripped off.
As an about to turn 40 year old typical dad bod guy, I've just bought a concept 2 model B, second hand for £100, no thrills but I can tell its a quality bit of kit, even though its nearly as old as me, and definitely in better shape! I'm an absolute novice/beginner at rowing but really enjoy it because its low impact and actually quite fun. Plus I absolutely love working out on it! Trying to lose the love handles and the beer belly one day at a time.. Ps love the workouts 💪Thanks!
Because the air resistance can create the exact same sensation. And how you row in water when in a boat is different than the dinky propellers on the machine
@@trainingtall I have to disagree. The WR is the closest feel and seating of true rowing. The air and chain gadget feels and sounds like riding a bike with my hands.
One main point missed is the feel if one actually does rowing on waterways in a boat. The water rower has dimensions to a boat seating and the feel of water resistance.
Thanks for your review Austin. the only issue for my pioneer A1 waterrower is the monitor, really is a suck, but I saw a video with new device you can installed and by Bluetooth and mobile app that issue is part of the pass, but really don't know is will work with my model. The concept 2 is an amazing machine as well, but the design and the beautiful noise it is amazing for the waterrower.
