Concept2 vs WaterRower: Air vs Water, Decided
The Concept2 vs WaterRower showdown is the oldest debate in indoor rowing. I've coached on Concept2s for over a decade, and I've spent enough time on WaterRowers at fancy hotel gyms to know both sides. Here's the short version: the Concept2 Model D is the better training tool, but the WaterRower is the better living room centerpiece. Which one you should buy depends entirely on which of those you actually need.
The Concept2 Model D is the best rowing machine I've tested for serious training, because it gives you consistent, measurable feedback that no water resistance machine can match. The WaterRower is the best rowing machine I've tested for anyone who wants a beautiful, whisper-quiet workout that feels more like being on the water, and who doesn't need split times to stay motivated.
| Product | Price | Why it won | Why it lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concept2 Model D (B000E11G4S) | ~$1,100 | The gold standard. Split times, drag factor, bulletproof build. It's the machine in every CrossFit box for a reason. | Loud. The fan whoosh is real. It looks like gym equipment because it is gym equipment. |
| WaterRower Natural (B0002UNY4A) | ~$1,200 | Gorgeous hardwood frame, silent water resistance, smooth as glass. It's furniture you can row on. | The monitor is basic, no split time, and the water needs maintenance. It's a workout, not a training tool. |
How I tested
I've been coaching indoor rowing for over a decade. My garage currently holds a Concept2 Model D that's survived years of CrossFit abuse, but I've also spent months at a time on budget magnetic rowers and logged plenty of sessions on WaterRowers at hotels and friends' houses. Mabel, my 55-pound lab mix, has napped on all of them. She's the official seat-tester. If she doesn't roll off mid-stroke, the glide is smooth enough.
For this comparison, I did 20-minute steady-state sessions on both machines back-to-back, ran sprint intervals, and checked the fit for tall and short rowers. I also talked to owners of both machines, because a decade of coaching has taught me that what I think after one session matters less than what people who live with these machines think after a year.
Pros and Cons
Concept2 Model D
- Pros: Split time and pace per 500 meters. Drag factor adjustable by damper setting. Indestructible. Parts available forever. Holds resale value.
- Cons: Loud. The fan noise is a constant whoosh. Not pretty. It looks like it belongs in a gym, because it does.
WaterRower Natural
- Pros: Silent. You can row while someone sleeps in the next room. Beautiful wood frame. Smooth, consistent water resistance that genuinely mimics on-water rowing.
- Cons: No split time. The monitor shows distance, time, and calories, but not pace per 500 meters. Water needs to be conditioned every six months. Heavier than you'd think, especially with water in it.
Compared to
The Concept2 is the machine you see in every CrossFit box, every rowing club, and every hotel gym that takes fitness seriously. It's the benchmark. The WaterRower is the machine you see in a dentist's office waiting room, a wealthy relative's home gym, or a boutique hotel. Both are excellent, but they're excellent at different things.
The closest competitor to the Concept2 is the RowErg, which is the same machine with a different frame, or the older Model E which has a higher seat height. The closest competitor to the WaterRower is the WaterRower Club, which adds a more padded seat and a slightly different wood finish. If you're cross-shopping, the real decision isn't between brands. It's between air resistance and water resistance.
Air resistance gives you a fan that creates drag. The harder you pull, the more air moves, the more resistance you feel. It's responsive, adjustable, and the monitor gives you split times that are directly comparable to every other Concept2 in the world. Water resistance gives you a paddle spinning through a tank of water. It's smoother, quieter, and the resistance curve feels more like an actual boat. But the monitor can't measure your output with the same precision, because water dynamics are harder to quantify than fan speed.
Design
The Concept2 Model D is not trying to be pretty. It's a steel and aluminum frame with a plastic seat and a fan cage. It's utilitarian in the best way. The seat glides on a monorail that's plenty long for my 6-foot frame, and the footrests adjust easily. The handle is a simple wooden dowel, which I actually prefer to the plastic handles on cheaper machines. It's the same design they've been making for decades, and that's the point. It works.
The WaterRower Natural is a piece of furniture. The frame is solid ash wood, and it looks like something you'd see in a high-end furniture catalog. The seat glides on rollers that are surprisingly smooth, and the water tank is a clear plastic drum that you can watch while you row. It's genuinely beautiful. The trade-off is that it's not adjustable in the same way. The footrests move, but the rail length is fixed, and it's not quite as accommodating for very tall or very short rowers. I'm 6-foot, 190 pounds, and it fits me fine. But my 5-foot-2 beginner students have found the foot position more awkward.
One thing that surprised me: the WaterRower is heavier than it looks. Empty, it's around 60 pounds. Filled with water, it's closer to 100. The Concept2 is 75 pounds but has wheels on the front, so it's easier to move around. If you need to tuck it out of the way after each workout, the Concept2 wins.
Performance
The Concept2 is the only machine I've used where the feedback is truly reliable. The PM5 monitor shows me split time, stroke rate, watts, and calories. I can program intervals, connect to apps, and track my progress over years. That's not a luxury. For anyone who's training seriously, that data is the difference between rowing and just pulling. Split time is the truth. Calories are a vanity metric. The Concept2 tells you the truth.
The WaterRower's monitor, by contrast, is basic. It shows time, distance, and calories, but not split time. There's a newer version that connects to an app, but the core display is still limited. For a beginner who just wants to get some cardio in before work, that's fine. You don't need split times to get a good workout. But for anyone who wants to improve, who wants to compare their performance week to week, the lack of a split is a real limitation.
The resistance feel is where the WaterRower shines. Water resistance is smoother than air resistance. There's no dead spot at the catch, and the drive feels more like an actual boat. The Concept2 has a more abrupt feel, especially at high damper settings. It's not bad, but it's different. Water is just more forgiving on the joints.
Durability
The Concept2 is famously indestructible. I've seen machines in CrossFit boxes that have been dropped, slammed, and sweated on for years and still work perfectly. The monitor is built like a tank. The frame doesn't flex. The seat doesn't crack. When my friend's granddaughter dropped the handle on his WaterRower monitor and cracked the screen in three places, the company sent a free replacement within a week. That's exceptional customer service, and it tells you something about the company. But it also tells you something about the monitor. It's fragile.
The WaterRower's wooden frame is solid, but it's wood. It can scratch, dent, and warp if you don't take care of it. The water tank needs to be conditioned every six months with a purification tablet, and the water needs to be replaced eventually. It's not high maintenance, but it's not zero maintenance. The Concept2 needs nothing. You wipe it down, you use it, you put it away.
Value
Here's the thing about price. The Concept2 Model D is around $1,100. The WaterRower Natural is around $1,200. They're in the same ballpark, which makes the decision harder, not easier.
The Concept2 is the better investment for anyone who will actually train. It holds its resale value, parts are available forever, and you can use it for years without it breaking. My current Model D has been in my garage for years, and it still works like the day I bought it. The WaterRower is the better investment for anyone who wants a beautiful machine that they'll use for casual fitness. It's not going to break, but it's not going to give you the data you need to improve.
If you're on a budget, both of these are expensive. But consider this: that's less than a year of a gym membership, and you'll own it for a decade. The budget magnetic rowers I've tested are fine, but they're not in this league. They don't have the durability, the consistency, or the community support. If you can afford it, buy the real thing.
Should you buy it?
Should you buy the Concept2? If you want to get better at rowing, if you want to track your progress with split times, if you want a machine that will survive anything and still work in ten years, yes. This is the machine I coach on, the machine I own, and the machine I recommend to anyone who's serious about the sport.
Should you buy the WaterRower? If you want a beautiful piece of furniture that also gives you a smooth, quiet, low-impact workout, and you don't care about split times or data tracking, yes. This is the machine for people who want to row for fitness, not for competition. It's the machine for people who want to row while their spouse sleeps in the next room.
Both are excellent. They're just excellent at different things. The Concept2 is a training tool. The WaterRower is a wellness device. Know which one you want before you buy.
I'm currently testing a batch of budget magnetic rowers to see which ones actually hold up over months of use. I'm also working on a guide to proper rowing technique for beginners, because I've seen too many people hurt themselves on machines they didn't understand. Check back for updates.