Head to head
Concept2 RowErg vs WaterRower Natural (2027): Data or Feel?
RowErg and WaterRower compared on resistance feel, monitor depth, noise, storage, maintenance, and long-term ownership.
Concept2 RowErg Indoor Rowing Machine vs WaterRower Natural Rowing Machine: the specs, side by side
| Spec | Concept2 RowErg Indoor Rowing Machine | WaterRower Natural Rowing Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance | Air, spiral damper 1-10 | Water, self-scaling |
| Monitor | PM5, Bluetooth and ANT+ | S4 performance monitor |
| Capacity | 500 lb | 700 lb |
| Seat height | 14 in on standard legs, 20 in tall-leg version | About 12 in |
| Storage | Separates in two, or stands upright | Stands upright |
Concept2Concept2 RowErg Indoor Rowing Machine
The air rower every other rower is measured against, with the PM5 monitor as its crown.
- Resistance: Air, spiral damper 1-10
- Monitor: PM5, Bluetooth and ANT+
Sources: Concept2 RowErg product documentation, Amazon listing specifications
Check price on Amazonor add to your Amazon cartWaterRower Natural Rowing Machine
Water resistance in a solid ash frame that stores upright and looks like furniture.
- Resistance: Water, self-scaling
- Monitor: S4 performance monitor
Sources: WaterRower Natural product documentation, Amazon listing specifications
Check price on Amazonor add to your Amazon cartOur recommendation
Choose the Concept2 RowErg to train by numbers and keep a machine for a decade of comparable workouts. Choose the WaterRower Natural to row by feel in a room you also live in, with quieter strokes and upright, furniture-grade storage.
What the stroke tells you
Air resistance reports back through the PM5 in precise, repeatable figures. Water resistance reports back through your hands and ears, in a surge that feels like the activity it copies. Both scale with effort; only one turns effort into data you can race against next month.
Care and company
The RowErg asks for chain oil, fan housing dusting, and almost nothing else, with parts sold openly for years. The WaterRower asks for tank tablets and wood care, through a smaller, premium support channel. Both are long-life machines; they age on different schedules.
Choose Concept2 RowErg Indoor Rowing Machine if…
- You train to pace and watt targets
- You want gym-identical numbers at home
- Resale value and parts access matter
Choose WaterRower Natural Rowing Machine if…
- You row in a finished living space
- Quiet and stroke feel come first
- You prefer training by feel and time
FAQ
Questions, answered straight
Which is better for a beginner's form?
Both reward good form, differently: the PM5 exposes sloppy strokes in the numbers immediately, while water feel exposes them in the hands. Beginners with a coach's eye on data lean Concept2; beginners who need to love the sensation lean WaterRower.