The Concept II Indoor Rower has long been established as the world''s best indoor rowing machine. Its unique design allows anybody, from the casual user to the professional... more
Endorsed by Steve redgrave, but not me!!!!!!!!!!!!
A review by Logan33 on Concept II Concept 2 Rower February 24th, 2009
Author's product rating:
Durability
Excellent
Comfort
Good
Value for money
Poor
Advantages:
A perfect rowing machine
Disadvantages:
Expensive
Recommend to potential buyers:
no
Full review
Now when it comes to rowing machines, the concept 2 rower has been a mainstay in gyms over the last 10 to 15 years. However does that make a good piece of home gym equipment? In my opinion no, the machine is way too expensive for the home gym market, and despite is definite perfection as a rowing machine, the buyer with a smaller budget will be ostracized to purchase an inferior but cheaper machine. Logan investigates.
PHYSIOLOGY
Perhaps the biggest misconception of rowing is the fact that people believe it is an upper body sport. Infact most of the power in rowing is dominated by the lower limbs (quads and hamstrings) to generate the power in the stroke. Rowing infact is the perfect balance between the lower body extention in combination with the upper body pull, this is what makes a successful and power rowing stroke. In many ways, this misconception of it being an upper body sport is infact the advantage of rowing as it is the perfect balance between an upperbody AND lower body workout, and in my opinion makes it one of the best exercises to participate in for the home gym gym user. Here's why.....
To perform the action of rowing, the following muscles are triggered.
UPPER BODY
CHEST (pectorials) SHOULDERS (Deltoid) ARMS (bicep and tricep) BACK (trapezious and lats)
MIDDLE BODY
Core (both abdominals, obliques and lower back are worked out)
The ability to work out a number of different muscles within the one exercise, really makes rowing stand out above other peicves of home gym equipment. But its not just the muscles that it works, its the ability to train those muscles in a number of different ways. A rowing machine can be used for strength training, toning, fat burning and muscular and aerobic endurance. This really encompasses every aspect of training for ever type of user.
FUNCTIONALITY
The best explanation of its use functionality is described by its designer......
The Indoor Rower is based on air resistance technology, which captures the rhythm and feel of rowing on the water by using a carefully balanced and calibrated flywheel. The resistance you feel in using the Indoor Rower is the wind resistance generated by the spinning flywheel. With no brake pads to wear out, and no friction mechanism to generate heat, the flywheel motion is smooth, long lasting, and maintenance free. Here's what double Olympic champion James Cracknell had to say about the machine: "Wherever we train we always take a Concept 2; it's brilliant. It registers your power output, monitors the distance rowed, all the stuff you need to know really. It's probably about 80-90 per cent similar to rowing a boat on the river."
Now as a review my job is to critially review how well the makers claims stand up to critisism. Does it do what they are telling us it will? The problem here is I cannot critisize the concept 2 at all. The machine is sturdy, it replicates rowing extremely well, it is smooth, easy to use, robust, shows all the variables you need (Time, distance, calories burned) and is comfortable. I really cannot fault it in terms of design manafacture or useability.
PRICE
Three is one major problem to this piece of equipment. The concept 2 will set you back close to £1000. perfection therefore does not come cheap!!!!!!!
In analysis, there are other rowers on the market that will do an equally good job for a fraction of the price (e.g Beny Sports V Fit Air Magnetic Combination Rower £260 from amazon)
BEST PRICE
Ebay £860 second hand (old model)
Ebay £1000 New
Fitness superstore £974
Amazon £700
In conclusion. The concept 2 rower is faultless in terms of build quality, ease of use and performing the task it sets out to achieve. However at close to £1000 it is ludicrously expensive and would not be a recommendation for home gym use.
Advantages: well made, great water sound, no slip or slack, great seat hight, very solid Disadvantages: Interactive monitor not as advanced as concept 2,
...Why choose a Fluid Indoor Rower when you could have a concept2 ?
I spend most of my life training in the gym, which up until now has been dominated by the Concept2 indoor rower, that is until now !!!!
Compare the concept2 and its air system and the initial resistance is poor you almost get a few inches of stroke before the concept2rower starts to bite, then once you over come that initial force it then peaks and almost turns using its own force, almost free wheeling the large fan wheel. The stroke on the fluid Rower is there no wait, no slip and no slack, just constant force, when you stop your stroke the fluid rower stops.
Im a big guy at 6ft 3" the Fluid Rower is rock steady and even giving the machine a real pounding, it doesnt budge and the seat doesnt lift and rock and roll.
The Fluid Rower seat has got to be the most comfy...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: All the functionality of a much more expensive machine at half the price Disadvantages: Same as any air rower, a touch noisy
...In the interest of balance, I thought I would write a review about another rowing machine I have used during my many hours training people in the gym, namely the Horizon Fitness Oxford II CS Rower. My first review was on the impeccable but expensive conceptIIrower, the benchmark for all rowing machines. The conceptII comes in at over £1000 and is really pitched at the advanced/elite rower. However the Oxford II CS costs in the region of £400 making it a more affordable option, but is it any good? Logan investigates.
PHYSIOLOGY
Perhaps the biggest misconception of rowing is the fact that people believe it is an upper body sport. Infact most of the power in rowing is dominated by the lower limbs (quads and hamstrings) to generate the power in the stroke. Rowing infact is the perfect balance between the lower body extension in...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Ease of use and worlds best Disadvantages: Huge! Very costly.
...I am what you would describe as a fitness freak and have used many pieces of gym equipment. The Concept2Rower is bar far the most superior rower I have used. I use the Model E which is a newer version of the rower and immediately recongised by the frame being higher off the ground allowing a raised seating position which in my opinion is a far more natural and comfortable position.
This rower is fitted with a performance Monitor known as PM4, simply the key pad you enter the distance/time and so forth. Being wireless enabled allows you to actually race another rower using a concept2, as well as wireless heart rate monitoring.
The rower even has a game function which allows you to actually add some enjoyment into your workout, it consists of a simple fish game where you must avoid the larger fish and eat the smaller ones...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
The Concept II Indoor Rower has long been established as the world''s best indoor rowing machine. Its unique design allows anybody, from the casual user to the professional sportsman, to duplicate the motion of on water rowing and benefit from a safe, time efficient workout for the whole body.You work your heart, lungs and circulatory system and at the same time shape and tone the muscles of your legs, back, shoulders, buttocks, arms and stomach. You achieve all this through a wide range of motion that not only improves and maintains your flexibility but also'' protects your joints with an impact free action.The Concept II Indoor Rower is a fundamental feature of most fitness and health clubs not least because indoor rowing has developed into a sport in it''s own right. At one extreme the Indoor Rower is exclusively chosen for national and world championships whilst at the other it is used extensively for club competitions or as a fund raising activity. The Indoor Rower lends itself perfectly to group workouts and will therefore add a new dimension to your training sessions.Such is the reliability of this monitor and the machine that it is the chosen test and training machine of almost every Olympic rowing team. The new Model D builds on our 20 years of experience designing and using rowing machines and incorporates many new features.Box Dimensions: 57'' L x 22'' H x 16'' WBox Dimensions: 0.39 x 0.55 x 1.44 31KgFolded Dimensions: 0.90 x 0.72 x 1.35(0.87 x 0.62 x 1.26 (front half) and 0.40 x 0.34 x 1.35 (monorail)Set Up: 2.40 x 0.60 x 0.90Seat height: 0.36
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