Concept 2 Indoor Rower

Review Date
November 24, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: MarkBrig ,  Day Hiker

Price Paid:  $950.00 at www.concept2.co.uk

Summary:
I've owned the Concept 2 Rowing machine now for 5 years, originaly used for a crack at a sub 7 minute time at the British championships (6.52 first attemp and 6.48 second attempt) one of the great things about this machine is the fact that whichever variant you choose to own, it has one concept at the heart of your training, you can never BEAT this machine! The harder you pull it always has something in hand. This machine is for any age group, ranging in fitness levels from pensioner to elite olympic athlete.
When you are rowing on this machine, you can set the damper (a 1-10 scale on the side of the flywheel housing)to whatever level you are comfortable with, it does not follow that 10 is best for all training!. When seated on the machine to row, there are footstraps for your feet and a comfortable seat that when you take up the handle to row, you are in a position to start rowing at whatever pace suits you. The display will tell you the rate at which you are rowing, usually based on the time it will take you to cover 500m, so your increase in fitness and strength can be monitored. If you are interested in weight loss, the display will tell you how many calories have been burned. One of the biggest plus points for the Concept rowing machine is the lack of stress and jarring to the body, used properly, you should have a great exercise session with no injury or pain and a clear indication of your increasing levels of health and fitness. In conclusion, this is almost certainly the best exercise machine available, it can be used at any time of the day, it can be used indoors so you are not put off by weather extremes and you don't have to pay a gym membership every month! If you have tried other exercise machines and either got bored or the machine broke move up to the Concept machine and it will serve you and your fitness and wellbeing for years to come. If you realy get into it,their are fantastic forums at the concept website with loads of advice and training and improvement tips.

Review Date
October 8, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Gary in WI ,  Day Hiker

Price Paid:  $850.00 at Concept2 website

Summary:
I purchased a Model D with PM3 about six months ago. The "erg" has proved to be everything I hoped it would be. This is a commercial-grade piece of equipment that should last a lifetime of home use. It has been refined over the past thirty years, so the current model is near bulletproof.

I have a couple of suggestions for anybody thinking of buying a Concept2. Spend some time visiting the forums (especially the product section)on both the US and UK websites. There is a wealth of information for the newbie and you will probably find all the answers to your questions. Also, I heartily recommend one aftermarket option -- the C-Breeze, a nylon shroud the directs the fan breeze back towards the rower. I also bought the seat pad because I found the seat a little uncomfortable after 30 minutes. This surprised me because I bicycle over 2500 miles per year

Resale value is outstanding -- just check out the prices on ebay.

Customer Service:
Excellent. What is especially impressive to me is that they offer repair parts (all the way back to the original Model A)at a reasonable price

Similar Products Used:
Older Concept2 rowers at health clubs. Older piston style rowers

Review Date
July 30, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Bill(Unregistered User) ,  Paddler

Price Paid:  $600.00 at direct form C-2

Summary:
Suffice to say that I have owned my Model B ergometer for 20 years(bought new in 1988! I have upgraded the monitor and the foot stretchers, and replaced the seat rollers, but the rest is stock and going strong. I would love to have a Model D, but I can't break this one and there is no reason to switch. It is, simply, the best workout for the most most muscle groups. Because resistance is progressive and related to effort, this is a brilliant machine for beginners as well as elete rowers. Why aren't the rest of my appliances, cars, fitness equipment built as intelligently?

Customer Service:
First-rate

Similar Products Used:
Kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, surfboards, mountain bikes, running shoes.

Review Date
May 10, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: kididaho ,  Day Hiker

Price Paid:  $850.00 at Direct

Summary:
This is an outstanding rower. After an exhausting search to make sure I bought the best rower for me, I decided on the Concept 2. A couple of times I came very close to a less expensive magnetic rower and a higher-ended hydraulic machine. Then I considered a water rower. Knowing my propensity to hate cleaning stuff, I decided against having a water tank to fill and keep clean. Paying a decent sum of money for a hydraulic rower that would never be symmetrically even on the resistance didn't make much sense. And finally, purchasing a magnetic rower that was at the limit of my weight range seemed risky at best. So I finally had gotten past a review "not" recommending this rower because the author said it was only good if you were a competative rower. Hmmm....I thought to myself....decent price range, very popular, long track record and the fact competative rowers do use it must give it something of value. So I ordered it direct from Concept 2 with the basic computer.

Upon arrival, I was please this unit was very light weight, easy to install, and despite its length, it has a narrow profile making it easy to squeeze in between my futon and the wall. I don't have to worry about folding it up, it stays out of the way, and it's easy to get on and get started.

It's an air rower, and I've been told air rowers do an excellent job of simulating water. Having had experience with rowing in water, I never experienced magnetic resistance or hydraulic motion, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the different levels of resistance on the rower do a remarkable job of doing exactly as advertised.

The manuals are great, the computer has awesome illustrations on proper rowing technique and offeres various workouts, displays and challenges to keep your workout busy. I like to use my stored workouts, because my last workout becomes my pace boat, and uless I kick it into gear, my pace boat beats me.

I find this amusing too. Many "fitness experts" don't recommend a rower for your back. Guess what? I have 4 herniated discs and my back has never felt better. I've gone from 250 to 230 in just a few weeks. I find rowing to be addictive and to offer an excellent cardio workout, as well as a fantastic strength workout for your abdominals, back, shoulders and biceps. There's good movement for your legs, and I can honestly tell you, with the exception of triceps, the rest of your body gets a very good workout. All you have to do is follow the instructions, never compromise on the proper form, and start slow and work your way up. There's nothing complicated about that.

I've also read some reviewers talking about this unit being unstable and wobbly from side to side and having an uncomfortable seat. Either I fell off the turnip truck, or they are not doing something correctly. There's also a possibility they didn't assemble the unit the right way. Or they are just weenies who have never had to workout and don't realize you have to leave your comfort zone a bit to experience some positive benefits. I've also never experienced any tilt or instability. This is a very strong and stable unit despite its light weight for a rower this size. It's also quiet. I have a skier that is way noisier than this, and my bike trainer isn't far behind it. My rower doesn't wobble, is quiet and I don't find the seat uncomfortable at all. Concept 2 also offeres a seat pad for those who don't want their tootsies to improve. You get rid of the lard, provide some movement to the rusty joint, and magic happens, so just be patient.

Long reivew, but I could go on more. Bottom line is this is a great rower, is very competatively priced for its professional quality, had an easy to read computer, which you can sync up to to your PC via the provided USB cable and download workouts and even link up to race other Concept 2 users. What's there not to like? Best of all, I get an incredible workout, my back is happier and so is my heart.

Customer Service:
Excellent. Very prompt shipping, and great with their communication regarding tracking and time of delivery.

Similar Products Used:
I don't care for magnetic rowers. Too much resistance isn't natural and can stress joints. No experience with water rowers, and I hate hydraulics. Compaired to many other products in its price range, this has a high weight limit of 500 lbs.

Review Date
January 28, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: BOB(Unregistered User) ,  Day Hiker

Price Paid:  $800.00 at DIRECT

Summary:
I have fallen in love with my Concept 2 Rower. I did a lot of searching on the web before purchasing. It seemed the best bet. When it arrived, I put it together and started my workouts. I can tell you, nothing is easy about staying in shape, but this machine, so well built and easy to use and store....it's a pleasure! I have been using it for almost a year, and still love it.

Sometimes, I'll cross train on it with my treadmill..or, just the rower alone.

GREAT PRODUCT!!!

Customer Service:
Haven't had to use it.

Similar Products Used:
Treadmill