Rowing Machine Tier List (RANKED Best & Worst)

This video aims to help you get a better understanding of the quality and value of the variety of rowing machines that exist on the market! I created these rankings based on my own experience and knowledge of the machines & what I believe to be valuable for the consumer (you)!

If you enjoyed the video, please let me know, and check out more resources from me down below!
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BEST Rowing Machine for UNDER $600

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Concept2 Model D with PM5 Performance Monitor

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[sport]

GREAT review! I love the Concept Model D. Bulletproof, light, easy maintenance, smooth feel. The adjustability is awesome, and the ErgData app has been improved by leaps and bounds over the past 6 months. The WOD that integrates into the PM5 with one touch of lets me start super fast. PM5's connectivity with a variety of heart rate monitors is top notch. I have no complaints.

[shawnaharrod]

I'm just a beginner at rowing and during my research of rowers I came across how awesome the concept2 rower is however because I am a beginner and needed something to keep me engaged I chose the Nordictrack RW900 with the free 1yr subscription because the Hydrow rower was costly and subscription was twice as much as the ifit subscription. I hope my decision will benefit me but as I said I really needed the interactive classes and rowing down rivers to keep me coming back and not giving up. I have already lost 90lbs with diet alone and now adding exercise to lose the last 90lbs and rowing seems to be the exercise I like the most. Thanks for your videos, they are really helpful.

[josecunha]

Used a Concept 2 for years, sold my old warrior when I moved from NJ to Florida, looking into another rower now, sounds like the Concept is still the best choice.Great video, thanks.

[PieEater]

just came to make sure there wasnt any concept 2 slander

[rprastein]

I've had a Concept II Model B for over three decades. It's the second piece of home exercise equipment I've purchased, the first being one of the original Nordic Track - PSI legacy skiers. I discovered the Concept II at a hotel fitness center when I was at a conference and loved it. I think it was about $600 when I bought it in the mid 80's, so about $100 more than the Nordic Track that I had purchased a few years earlier. It is heavy, one piece, and has wooden footplates but they have three position settings. :-) And it has an older computer that has all of the basics. It came with a choice of two seat styles, the default being the one that they still have available on their web site, but decided I liked the older Model A seat better and exchanged it. It is narrower from front to back, with deeper impressions for the ischial tuberosities and a wide cutout for the tailbone, and it doesn't chafe my butt and thighs when I'm rowing. I'm not a heavy user (but I am a bit heavy), I go through periods of being active with my home exercise equipment and periods of not using it at all, but I've really liked it.

[higdolini]

Concept 2 - the one and only. Got mine 11 years ago. Oil the chain and use it quite frequently year round, more in the fall/winter months.

[dave]

Concept 2
- Low maintanence & Battery powered monitor
- Light
- Compact for storage
- Durable
- Good feel and not that loud
- Great resistance
- Priced well, and the used market for these is awesome to save some money.

nothing else really ticks these boxes, especially when you stick a tablet on one running the C2 app the display becomes an awesome feature.

[SheilaR.]

I bought a Concept2 last fall, but had to sell it when my dog got really sick. Back on the waiting list, but my sweet pup is well worth it. The shortage of rowers since the pandemic meant that I got full price for mine, which was awesome. I debated getting something else, but have decided to wait. 💜

[dhearing]

I have a Waterrower with Smartrow. Beautiful machine, accurate splits. I love it.

[onemantis]

Just starting rowing last week, I wish I would've seen this video first, ended up getting a Sunny Magnetic :\ we live and learn. However, now I know that I'll be getting a Concept 2 next time. Thanks for this great video! I love coffee flavored ice cream!

[botch]

Pistachio is my favorite. The Sunny Hydraulic is such a waste of money, you'd almost be better off spending the $86 on cake, and getting your workout walking to CVS to pick up your metformin.
Great vid. Nothing beats the start/end position of your hands on the Concept2. If my work gym didn't have a couple, I'd just buy one.

[klovenote]

Chocolate chip cookie dough. Man, such a hard decision. I need one for my apt, but I need one very quiet for my downstairs neighbor. It's mostly to rehab my knee after surgery and strengthen my legs. I used to use a water rover at the gym and it was such an amazing experience.

[thenofxlagwagon]

A note on the Sunny Fitness Phantom Hydro Rower: The monitor does not track distance/pace accurately and does not even claim to do so. It measures your strokes at 8m per stroke whatever power you put into it. Customer service told me "the monitor is not intended to accurately measure pace or distance". If that doesn't matter to you, it's a decent machine, but you won't be able to track anything useful apart from time.

[stocktonrails]

The Concept 2 is (still) the rower for me, 4yrs and counting. It’s built like a tank- professional grade for sure. Replacement parts, should you ever need them, are very reasonably priced. The PM5, though smaller than I would like, is very powerful… i.e. the force-curve display, offering on the fly feedback on the quality of your rowing strokes. And there are no add’l subscriptions you have to pay for… I really like that.

[CarlosOrtiz-sxvn]

Got a concept 2 last month of off someone from Facebook marketplace for $700 which was a steal considering it only had 136, 000 lifetime meters. I was so excited I could grab one because I’m going into my final winter training for my senior year of collegiate rowing so I was able to keep up with my fitness over break! Also, my favorite ice cream flavor of all time has got to be half baked from Ben & Jerry’s

[juliatoljagic]

I love how passionate you got with the Sunny Hydrolic "rower"
Oh and... cookie dough.

[garmack]

As a former equipment manager of a small university rowing program. Concept 2 parts availability was awesome

[Corporal_D]

Just received my Concept 2 today, my first experience with rowing other than going fishing in a rental rowboat. Looking forward to the longevity of this machine.

[arprtr]

I picked the Concept2. Factors involved were the open eco-system, it talks to my Garmin and Strava platforms. If all of the tech on it dies I can still use my watch to record the rowing and the machine itself continues to function. It is an industry-standard and commercial grade piece of equipment. I have used it with the IFIT software that came with my treadmill and even though the ifit is a closed ecosystem I could run both the concept2 and ifit software on my phone at the same time and project it to a Chromecast big screen. I think the IFIT workouts are good but they are indexed poorly and there do not seem to be too many of them. I took delivery of the Concep2 Nov 4th 2020 and have logged 595, 690 meters. I could not be happier with my purchase. Thank you so much for your guidance.

[michaelbrennan]

I've had a Concept2 since 1999. Mine was a Model C. I replaced the handle on it because I liked the newer handles more, and I had to replace the PM2 monitor on it due to a malfunction. My present monitor is a PM3 which I have been using for several years. It does not have all of the wireless features of the PM5, but still can be connected to a phone or computer by wire. Without a doubt, the Concept2 is the gold standard for rowing machines. I have also been involved in organizing indoor rowing competitions where all of the machines were Concept2. These are the machines used for training by the best rowers in the world. My neighbour used her Concept2 while rowing to a silver medal at the Olympics in London.