Concept2 RowErg rowing machines dominate gyms and fitness clubs across the globe and are the choice for the world indoor rowing and Rogue international championship events. Concept2 have been producing durable high quality rowing machines since the 1980’s.
The likely biggest competitor to the Concept2 RowErg, especially when it comes to home fitness equipment is the WaterRower rowing machine which has also been around since the 1980’s. Ergatta came together in 2019 and brought with it a very unique spin on rowing training and created an immersive, engaging online rowing platform. Let’s start by checking out the stats of the Ergatta VS Concept2 RowErg.
Ergatta VS Concept2 RowErg Specs
| Ergatta | Concept2 RowErg | |
| Weight | 103 lbs | 57 lbs |
| Portability | Stands | Stands or splits into 2 |
| Size | 86″ L x 23″ W | 96″ L x 24″ W |
| Resistance Type | Water | Air |
| Resistance Levels | Self-regulated* | 1 – 10 |
| Maximum User Weight | 500 lbs | 500 lbs |
| Monitor | 17.3″ HD Touch Display | PM5 Digital Monitor |
| Power Requirement | Power Outlet | 2 X D Cell Batteries |
| Subscription Cost | $29/Month** | Not Applicable |
| Warranty | 5yr frame, 3yr parts | 5yr frame & 2yr parts |
**Price Current January 2024 | Check Ergatta.com for latest pricing and discounts for pre-purchased subscriptions.
Build Details
The Ergatta rowing machine has to be one of the most aesthetic and beautifully designed rowing machines that exists. It features a stunning American cherry wood frame that is hand made by WaterRower who have been making wooden rowing machines since the 1980’s. WaterRowers are famous for their patented water flywheel technology which gives you a realistic sound of water splashing as you are row along.
The Concept2 RowErg rowing machine comes in a slick black powder coat. The Concept2 RowErg features a smooth stainless steel track, aluminum front, steel rear legs and fanned air resistance flywheel driven by a nickel-plated steel chain.
Great points about both machines:
+ Both machines are made in the USA and are built to last and have been around a long time to prove their durability
+ Both machines offer a comfortable and smooth realistic rowing experience
+ Replacement parts are available for the Ergatta through WaterRower and also for the Concept2 RowErg
+ Both machines have wheels at the front and can be easily moved
+ HiRise adapter kit available as an accessory to raise the height of the Ergatta from WaterRower (great for those that may have hip mobility issues). Or buy taller legs with the Concept2 RowErg (previously standard with the Concept2 Model E)
+ Aftermarket slides can be purchased for both machines making them dynamic for realistic dynamic rowing training
+ FlowRow boards can also add lateral tilting to your machine which help build core stability and add to the realistic feeling of balancing in a skull
Good and bad points of the Ergatta VS Concept2 RowErg build:
+ Beautiful natural wood
+ Handmade
+ Natural soothing, meditative and relaxing water noise whilst rowing
+ Looks like a piece of furniture rather than exercise equipment
+ Quiet to use as wood absorbs noise
+ Easy to move and stand upright to save space
– Foot pedals are close together which can be less comfortable for some users and are higher than the Concept2 which can make it harder to get into the most ideal catch position
– Water tank resistance cannot be changed without removing or adding water
– More maintenance required (tank requires chlorine tablets approx. every 6 months)
– Handle is narrow (can be upgraded)
Good and bad points of the Concept2 RowErg VS Ergatta build:
+ Easily splits into 2 for portability and is lighter to move
+ Low maintenance required
+ Easy to change resistance via damper
– If standing up a higher ceiling is required (96″)
– Air resistance can be rather noisy especially at higher intensity
Display
Ergatta features a slick 17.3″ HD Display which is a great comfortable sized display to have in front of you whilst rowing which gives a great immersive, but not overpowering experience.
The Concept2 PM5’s display looks a little basic and outdated compared to the Ergatta’s modern HD display however, the PM5 gives great functionality and is simple to use. It is also backlit which is useful in darker environments.
The Concept2 RowErg rowing machine does not come with a HD display for viewing content, however you can easily pair your tablet or phone using the tablet holder that comes standard with the Concept2 RowErg.
Both the Ergatta and Concept2 RowErg displays have Bluetooth and ANT+ wireless connectivity for heart rate monitors etc.
The Experience
Ergatta
Ergatta has a beautiful smooth flowing resistance right from the beginning to the end of the stroke which is created by Ergatta’s WaterRower water flywheel. As well as that smooth feeling rowing on a WaterRower there are also psychological benefits of rowing with a water resistance rower. The sound of the water is meditative and can be a relaxing unwind after a busy day of work.
As far as the workout programs that Ergatta offers, Ergatta doesn’t offer instructor led classes but includes unique beautifully designed and constructed games and programs to follow which are tailored to you based on your intensity zone metrics which have been calibrated from your first calibration row when you set up your Ergatta. Workouts constantly evolve based on your progress and performance. This is a unique and powerful form of training and their workouts are fun and engaging.
Ergatta as a connected experience machine is really great for someone that likes to see their metrics and data that is looking to improve their times and progress. Ergatta constantly trains and challenges you. Workouts push you to hit your achievable intervals. It keeps you accountable and progressing. Ergatta provides a great platform for someone competitive that loves to challenge themselves and others.
Ergatta also have ‘open row’ mode where you can program a row for a specific distance or time or free row which includes scenic video footage from locations globally. This makes it also suitable to use as a tool for other types of mixed exercise interval training. Ergatta is great for someone that wants to get fit and progress in their rowing in an efficient and effective way.
Features:
- Race workouts: choose users to race against or race against yourself or let Ergatta select it automatically based on your intensity zone metrics. Race workouts can be chosen based on duration, distance
- Push Programs: Goal based training programs, completing sections of the program unlocks subsequent sections holding you accountable and keeping you progressing toward your goals
- Interval workouts: Use hundreds of different workouts with different lengths, intensity, focus and lengths which help you reach your targets
- Programs are curated based on your calibrated intensity zones
Concept2 RowErg
The Concept2 RowErg dominates gyms and fitness centers worldwide. It is used as the gold standard benchmark for rowing performance. With that makes it the excellent training tool for all serious rowers. As well as being great for rowers it is a great functional tool for fitness.
The PM5 offers and does a great job of simply displaying a range of different metrics as well as tracking your workouts so you can benchmark your progress over time.
Let’s take a look at some of the programs the PM5 monitor offers:
5 pre-programmed workouts:
- single distance
- single time
- intervals for distance
- intervals for time
- variable intervals
The Display button is used to toggle between all data, force curve, pace boat, bar chart or large print
The Units button is used to toggle between meters, pace, watts or calories
Select Just row or setup a pre-programmed workout to get started.
Features:
PaceBoat
PaceBoat is a great feature to set to your goal pace to track against that pace
Games:
Fish game -The fish game is a great warm up exercise and also good for breaking the rowing
technique up into specific parts (e.g. the catch, drive and finish) as well as to modulate your intensity. It gives you a great varied HIIT workout and is a fun way to clock up meters on the rower without even realizing it.
Darts – Darts helps to increase your awareness and focus of your technique and stroke rate as well as bring consistency to your strokes and workout. It is also a great way to warm up.
Target Training – Similar to Darts however you can set targets for pace and tempo
Racing – Your RowErg can be linked to other PM5 monitors for racing so you are able to race against a person on another Concept2 RowErg using time or distance.
Biathlon – Used in actual biathlon events, you can choose intervals and interval length and incorporate other exercises including body weight exercises like push ups or sit-ups etc. or can be used with other machines like the SkiErg or BikErg. It is a great way to mix up your training and also incorporate rowing into your workout circuit.
Concept2 Apps that work with the Concept2 RowErg rowing machine:
- ErgData – Setup workouts, view stats, save results, easily sync them to the Concept2 Online Logbook to compare against your previous times or others. Jump into the live loop and row along with other Concept2 users across the globe.
- ErgRace Online – Connect to other erg’s online and compete in online races.
- Online LogBook – Record and keep track of your workouts, take part in challenges and compare your results against others worldwide.
Other popular third party apps:
– Kinomap
– Asensei
– Regatta
– EXR
Here is a list of 30+ apps that connect with the Concept2 RowErg
Other Apps / Platforms that don’t integrate with the Concept2 RowErg but are good to follow along to:
– Hydrow App
– City Row App
– DarkHorse Rowing, Training Tall, RowAlong Workouts on YouTube
Pricing
At the time of writing this article the Ergatta rowing machine was $2099* and the Concept2 RowErg rowing machine was $990*.
You will also need to factor in the membership costs for the Ergatta which is currently $29* per month or $26.58* per month when committing annually.
For those that may already have a WaterRower, an Ergatta upgrade kit is available for purchase for $549* which includes the monitor and monitor arm as well as the other necessary pieces to connect to your WaterRower. You could also purchase a WaterRower and purchase the Ergatta upgrade which would be cheaper but you will not have the custom Ergatta model of WaterRower.
*prices stated current January 2024 | Check Ergatta.com for latest pricing.
Choosing Your Indoor Rowing Machine
Which one is best for you?
When choosing between the Ergatta and the Concept2 RowErg a big deciding factor is obviously joining the Ergatta community and the unique training platform that they offer. If this is likely to keep you challenged and engaged then choosing the Ergatta and paying a monthly subscription is a great choice for you.
Benefits of both machines:
- Both have a proven track record when it comes to durability
- Both offer a fantastic smooth realistic rowing experience
- Both are simple to use for the average user
- Both are excellent training tools from beginners through to advanced users
Ergatta
Ergatta has great engaging games that include analytics, metrics and stats to keep you motivated and progressing and are modified as you go along in your workouts. This is great for people that like data. This is also why many people traditionally enjoy using a Concept2 with the PM5 vs other rowing machines as having great data and tracking keeps you motivated and progressing as well as being able to compare times against yourself and others. When Choosing the Ergatta VS Concept2 RowErg you are getting a great fun, immersive and engaging training experience.
Where the Ergatta excels is providing a very aesthetic looking piece of fitness equipment that has a very high quality look and feel with the natural relaxing, realistic sound of water matched with a very modern sophisticated training platform. If you enjoy rowing or are also looking at using rowing to keep fit this will be an excellent choice for you.
Considerations for choosing the Ergatta VS Concept2 RowErg:
- Fits nicely into your home like a piece of furniture and takes up less space than the Concept2 RowErg
- Much quieter than a Concept2 RowErg and perhaps the better option if you are sharing your workout space with other people
- Ability to have multiple workout profiles, so you can keep your progress separate to other people you may share your machine with
- Workouts are highly fun, efficient and effective
- You will need to have your machine located near power / internet to complete Ergatta workouts
- You don’t necessarily need to be connected to power or the internet to use this rowing machine. You will not have any display or metrics but you can still jump on for a row and enjoy a natural technology free rowing experience if you so choose
- Ergatta is constantly updating and improving its rowing platform, so your choices of workouts, games and challenges are endless as updates are made
- When choosing the Ergatta VS Concept2 RowErg you will be committing to the Ergatta subscription of $29 per month or $26.58 per month when committing annually
- Functionality is limited if you decide to no longer continue your subscription so if you are not committed to paying a subscription then looking into the WaterRower may be a better choice.
- Aftermarket slides can turn your Ergatta into a dynamic rowing machine, this coupled with the sound of the water resistance gives the closest feeling to actually being on the water in a boat and is a great training tool
- You can also get FlowRow boards to also add lateral tilting to your machine which helps build core stability and adds the realistic feeling of balancing in a skull
Concept2
The Concept2 RowErg excels at being one of the most durable pieces of commercial gym equipment ever made. I have seen Concept2 RowErgs in gyms with over 37 million meters on them with minimal maintenance. If you have ever been into your local CrossFit gym you know these rowing machines (as well as the other equipment Concept2 produce) can take some serious hard use year after year. If you are a rower and your goal is to seriously improve and compare your times then you will probably gravitate more towards this rowing machine. If it is good enough for Olympic rowers to use, it is sure good enough for your average home user too!
- More budget friendly option out of the Ergatta VS Concept2 RowErg
- Can take decades of hard wear and tear with minimal maintenance
- Is simple and quick to hop on for a workout or use in interval training
- No power or internet required, which is also great if you want to take it outside
- Lighter and more portable as it easily splits into two pieces
- Doesn’t require any membership to use and has free apps (ErgData, ErgRace, LogBook)
- Compatible with lots of third party apps, giving you plenty of options for software or training programs
- As you are only investing in a rowing machine, you aren’t locked into a particular app or service
- Using a Concept2 RowErg with your own phone or tablet enables you to be able to watch Netflix, or YouTube or listen to Spotify as well as access other third-party apps whilst you row
Conclusion
Both the Ergatta and the Concept2 RowErg rowing machines are going to be a great investment for your training, health and longevity and you can’t go wrong with either one. Both provide a fantastic high-standard, realistic and enjoyable rowing experience that comes with decades of production. Whether it’s the challenging and engaging Ergatta workouts or the flexibility of having a range of different apps on the Concept2 RowErg, both machines lay a solid foundation with plenty of options to consider. Choosing between these two rowing machines is not an easy decision as they are both top of their class. I hope this article Ergatta VS Concept2 RowErg helped provide some considerations for which one may be right for you. Happy rowing!