Concept2 vs WaterRower: Air or Water Rowing Machine?

The Concept2 RowErg and the WaterRower are the two rowing machines people buy when they don't want a subscription. Both have been made for decades and both get harder as you pull harder. They feel and sound very different, though, and only one gives you numbers you can compare with anyone else's.

Specs below are from concept2.com and waterrower.com.

The quick answer

• Concept2 RowErg ($990): for training, tracking progress and value.
• WaterRower Original ($1,199–$1,699): for a quiet, good-looking machine in a living space.

Feel

Both use resistance that rises with effort, so neither has a resistance knob in the usual sense.

• Concept2: a fan flywheel. A damper lever (1–10) changes how much air reaches the fan, which changes how heavy each stroke feels. Concept2 recommends a setting of 3–5 for most rowing. The flywheel keeps spinning between strokes, which gives a consistent, lively feel.
• WaterRower: a paddle in a tank of water. There's no damper; the feel is set by the water and your effort. WaterRower pitches it as the closest simulation of rowing on water.

Noise

This is the biggest practical difference. The Concept2 sounds like a big fan, and gets louder as you go harder. The WaterRower makes a whoosh of moving water. If someone will be sleeping, working or watching TV in the same room, that matters.

Numbers and training

The Concept2's PM5 monitor is calibrated so every RowErg reads the same. A 7:30 2K on your machine is a 7:30 2K anywhere, which is why rowing coaches, college recruiters and online challenges use Concept2 scores. Concept2's free online logbook stores every workout.

The WaterRower's S4 monitor shows the same kinds of metrics and connects over Bluetooth to WaterRower's free app, but its pace isn't comparable with Concept2 pace. For general fitness that doesn't matter. For erg benchmarks or recruiting times, it does.

Size and storage

	Concept2 RowErg	WaterRower Original
Length	96 in (allow 9 × 4 ft in use)	82.25 in
Weight	57 lb	67 lb
Storage	Splits in two, no tools	Stands upright on wheels
Power	Two D-cell batteries	Not listed on product page

The WaterRower wins on length and on how easily it disappears when you're done. The Concept2 is lighter and splits apart, which helps if you need to carry it up stairs.

Fit

Concept2 lists a 500 lb maximum user weight in its own testing (300 lb under the European EN 20957-7 standard) and fits inseams up to 38 inches; a tall-legs version raises the seat from 14 to 20 inches. WaterRower lists a 330 lb maximum user weight for the Original Series and doesn't list an inseam limit on that page.

Price

The Concept2 is $990. The WaterRower Original runs from $1,199 (oak) to $1,699 (walnut); the wood is the only difference between models. Neither needs a subscription. Used Concept2s are also easy to find in our classifieds directory.

Which should you buy?

Buy the Concept2 if you want to follow training plans, compare your scores, test for a team, or spend the least. Use our erg pace calculator to see what your splits mean in watts.

Buy the WaterRower if the rower lives in a shared room, noise matters, or you want something that looks like furniture when it's standing in a corner.

Considering a machine with classes instead? See Hydrow vs WaterRower vs Concept2 or best home rowing machine.