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The Echelon Rower and Concept 2 RowErg are very different rowing machines. Find out what the best option is for your personal situation.
Some of the main differences between the Echelon Rower and the Concept 2 RowErg are that the Echelon Rower has magnetic resistance, comes with a device holder, comes with a 30-Day Echelon Premier Membership, and has handlebar resistance adjustment.
On the other side, the Concept 2 RowErg has air resistance, a higher weight limit, comes with a tracking monitor (with 5 workout programs), connects to more workout apps, and does not need any electricity to fully function.
If you already have a suitable device to connect to the Echelon Rower to see the workout measurements and prefer the more silent magnetic resistance, this rowing machine can be the right choice.
You can still go for the Echelon Rower if you don’t have a device yet but you would have to invest extra to be able to see your exercise stats.
If you don’t care about the extra sound of the air resistance, the sturdy Concept 2 RowErg is a great machine that will offer you many amazing rowing workouts for years to come.
Most important differences Echelon Rower Vs Concept 2
The Echelon Smart Rower and Concept 2 RowErg are two very different rowing machines. This will influence what option is the best choice for you.
At the same time, some differences are more important than others. In the first table below, you can find the ones that are most relevant to most people.
| Feature | Echelon Rower | Concept 2 RowErg |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Limit | 300 Pounds (136 kg) | 500 Pounds (227 kg) |
| Type Of Resistance | Magnetic | Air |
| Screen | Not Included | Small PM5 Monitor |
| Device Holder | Yes, Up To 12.9″ | Optional Paid Addition |
| Workout Programs | 30-Day Echelon Premier Membership Included | 5 Standard Workouts, 5 Custom Workouts |
| Resistance Options | 32 Electronic Resistance Levels | 10 (Damper Settings) |
| Handlebar Resistance Adjustment | Yes | No |
| Requires Electric Power | Yes To Use All Functions | No |
| Inseam Range | 25.5″ – 36″ (65 cm to 91 cm) | Up To 38″ (96.5 cm) |
| Price Category* | $$$ | $$$ |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Price category difference at the time of writing
Other features Echelon Rower and Concept 2 RowErg
You may also want to know the smaller differences and common features before choosing either the Echelon Rower or Concept 2 RowErg.
| Feature | Echelon Rower | Concept 2 RowErg |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Type | Belt | Nickel-Plated Steel Chain |
| Seat Height | Not Mentioned | 14″ |
| Weight | 108 Pounds (49 kg) | 57 Pounds (26 kg) |
| Dimensions | 85” L x 21” W x 44” H | 96” L x 24” W x x” H |
| Recommended Usage Space | Not Mentioned | 108″ x 48″ |
| Foldable | Yes | Yes |
| Folded Storage Space | 40″ L x 21″ W x 61″ H | 25″ L x 33″ W x 54″ H |
| Transport Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Display On Your Own Device With Your Own Bluetooth Measuring Device | Display On Screen With Your Own Bluetooth Measuring Device |
| Bluetooth Function | Yes | Yes |
| Warranties* | 5 Years Frame Warranty, 1 Year Limited Parts And Labor Warranty | 5 Years Frame Parts, 2 Years Other Parts |
| Screen Mobility | Device Holder Swivels 90 Degrees And Flips 180 Degrees | Screen Can Be Moved Up, Down, Forward, And Backward |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
Differences Echelon Rower Vs Concept 2 explained in-depth
If you are familiar with rowing machine features and what you want in them, the overview of differences and a quick look at the prices could be enough to choose between the Echelon Rower and the Concept 2 RowErg.
You may also still be somewhat unsure about what certain features mean, why they matter, and how much they should influence the choice in your personal situation.
Weight limit
Before you can look at other features of a rowing machine, you have to make sure its weight limit is high enough. If not, the machine can break down while using it.
The Echelon Rower has a weight limit of 300 pounds (136 kg). The Concept 2 RowErg is a good amount sturdier with a weight limit of 500 pounds (227 kg).
Even if the machine does not break down, going over the weight limit of a rowing machine can also speed up wear and tear and void the warranty.
Besides these things, even if you are nowhere near the weight limits of the Echelon Rower and Concept 2 RowErg, these numbers are still an indication of the sturdiness of the materials used and the construction.
As you can see, the Concept 2 RowErg is a good amount better in these areas than the Echelon Rower.
Winner: Concept 2 RowErg
Type of resistance
One of the main principles of workout equipment and more specifically rowing machines is making certain movements harder to do.
When movements are challenging enough, you start a variety of internal processes that can make you fitter and happier in the long term.
That being said, rowing machines can achieve this desired resistance in different ways. Your choice will have a few consequences.
The Echelon Rower has magnetic resistance. This type of resistance is helpful in the sense that it is relatively silent. You do need electricity to use the Echelon Rower to its full extent.
On the other hand, the Concept 2 RowErg is an air rower. That means the resistance comes from a fan that moves against the resistance of the air in the room when you row.
Some people really like the feel of air rowers and how they don’t require any electricity to work. The main downside of air rowers is that they can be a bit noisy.
What type of rowing machine resistance is the best varies from person to person and situation to situation.
Winner: Personal preference and situation
Screen
Cardio equipment like rowing machines often one way or another to track certain workout measurements.
The Echelon Rower still allows you to do this but you need a separate device to connect to the Echelon App to see the measurements.
On the other hand, the Concept 2 RowErg comes with a PM5 monitor right out of the box. This device tracks things like pace, watts, and an estimation of calories burned (and heart rate if you connect a measuring device through Bluetooth).
If you already have a phone that is large enough, a tablet, or a smart TV, the difference in screen is not that important. If not, this is something to keep in mind.
Additionally, you may be a gym owner. In that case, having a rowing machine like the Concept 2 RowErg with its own monitor is more customer-friendly.
Winner: Concept 2 RowErg
Workout programs
Using a rowing machine can offer valuable health benefits. Something to keep in mind is that some sequences of intensities and speeds are more effective for this goal.
Additionally, certain workout programs and simply switching between routines can make your exercise sessions more fun.
The Echelon Rower comes with a 30-day free trial to the Echelon Premier Membership app. In this app, you can follow rowing classes, scenic rows, and workouts in other types of exercise.
After this initial trial, the Echelon Premier Membership requires an extra subscription.
The PM5 monitor of the Concept 2 RowErg comes with 5 standard workouts and the ability to create 5 custom workouts.
Additionally, you can also use your Concept 2 RowErg with other workout apps if you get a subscription and device holder. Similar to the Echelon Rower, this can involve an extra subscription cost.
So if you have a device that can run the app, the Echelon Rower has the advantage in terms of workout programs for the first 30 days.
After that, you need to get the paid Echelon Premier Membership app to follow Bluetooth-connected workouts.
The Concept 2 RowErg offers more free functionality and the ability to connect to more different workout apps after these first 30 days.
Winner: Echelon Rower for the first 30 days
Winner: Concept 2 RowErg after that
Price
Both the Echelon Rower and Concept 2 RowErg can be better for certain individuals and situations. Something that could make your decision easier is any difference in price.
Exactly how much each rowing machine costs will depend on where you get them and can change over time. That being said, at the time of writing, the Concept 2 RowErg is slightly more budget-friendlier but only a small amount.
Something to keep in mind is that the premium Echelon Premier Membership requires an extra investment after the initial free trial.
Even so, this extra cost also applies to the Concept 2 RowErg if you want to combine the rowing machine with any premium workout apps.
Winner: Concept 2 RowErg
User reviews
The feature and price differences between the Echelon Rower and Concept 2 RowErg already give you a good idea about what rowing machine is the best choice for you.
However, sometimes customer reviews uncover unexpected downsides or trends in quality control issues.
The first thing to note is that it is hard to compete against the Concept 2 RowErg in terms of customer reviews. There are a few exceptional notes about wanting a bigger monitor and less noise but these are very uncommon.
On the other hand, the Echelon Rower does have a few quality control issues here and there. These tend to be in regards to the resistance not adjusting well.
Some customers also find it challenging to use the rowing machine with the free version of the Echelon app.
That being said, customers tend to be happy with both the Echelon Rower and the Concept 2 RowErg. At the same time, people are definitely more positive about the Concept 2 RowErg.
Is the Echelon Rower or Concept 2 RowErg right for you?
In short, the Echelon Rower has magnetic resistance, comes with a device holder, includes a 30-day free trial to the Echelon workout app, and has handlebar resistance adjustment.
On the flip side, the Concept 2 RowErg has air resistance, is sturdier, comes with a tracking monitor (with 5 workout programs), and does not need any electricity.
People who already have a device that can connect to the Echelon Rower to see workout measurements and prefer the more silent magnetic resistance may find the Echelon rowing machine the right choice.
Individuals who don’t care about the extra sound from the air resistance will find the sturdy Concept 2 rower a great choice that will offer amazing workouts for many years to come.
If you like this last option but find the price a bit too high, you can also consider certain Concept 2 Rower substitutes.
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