Concept2
Concept2 RowErg
$990Cheaper
Released 2003
Best Rowing Machines · head-to-head
Concept2 RowErg vs NordicTrack RW900
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Concept2 RowErg is cheaper at $990. Every spec and price links to its source.
NordicTrack
NordicTrack RW900
$1999
Which is better: the Concept2 RowErg or NordicTrack RW900?
They split the 2 specs we compare evenly. The Concept2 RowErg is the cheaper at $990.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Concept2 RowErg | NordicTrack RW900 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $990 | $1999 |
| Brand | Concept2 | NordicTrack |
| Released | 2003 | — |
| Resistance type | air | magnetic |
| Max user weight (lb) | 500 | 250 |
| Footprint (in) | 96 x 24 | 82 x 22 |
| Foldable | No | No |
| Monitor or touchscreen | PM5 Performance Monitor (LCD) | 24-inch HD pivoting touchscreen |
| Subscription required | No | Yes |
| Weight (lb) | 57 | 158 |
| Release year | 2003 | — |
Sources — Concept2 RowErg: concept2.com (verified 2026-06-15). NordicTrack RW900: nordictrack.com (verified 2026-06-15).
What's the difference between the Concept2 RowErg and NordicTrack RW900?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (6 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Resistance type: Concept2 RowErg air vs NordicTrack RW900 magnetic
- Max user weight (lb): Concept2 RowErg 500 vs NordicTrack RW900 250
- Footprint (in): Concept2 RowErg 96 x 24 vs NordicTrack RW900 82 x 22
- Monitor or touchscreen: Concept2 RowErg PM5 Performance Monitor (LCD) vs NordicTrack RW900 24-inch HD pivoting touchscreen
- Subscription required: Concept2 RowErg false vs NordicTrack RW900 true
- Weight (lb): Concept2 RowErg 57 vs NordicTrack RW900 158
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Concept2 RowErg
Both whitelisted hands-on testers — Wirecutter and Garage Gym Reviews — rank the Concept2 RowErg the best rower they've tested. Shared praise: a sturdy, commercial-grade build that doesn't feel cheap, clear and reliably accurate PM5 metrics, and strong durability with easy parts replacement. Shared gripe: the roughly $1,000 price and a simple monitor with basic built-in programming. Wirecutter alone credits the secure, non-slip foot holsters and flags loud operation plus having to stop mid-workout to change resistance; Garage Gym Reviews alone notes the seat hardens over long-term use. Noise is the one clear disagreement. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Best rower / best workout experience of all machines tested; Sturdy, commercial-grade build that doesn't feel cheap; PM5 monitor metrics are clear and reliably accurate.
Flagged: Expensive at roughly $1,000; Simple monitor with minimal built-in interactive programming; Loud flywheel — noisiest rower Wirecutter tested.
NordicTrack RW900
Three whitelisted hands-on reviews - Garage Gym Reviews (2023), Reviewed/USA Today (2021), and BarBend (2024) - rate the NordicTrack RW900 a strong-value smart rower. All three praise iFIT's instructor-led and scenic on-water classes, a solid/durable build with a smooth, stable stroke, and the large 22-inch tilting/pivoting HD touchscreen that enables off-rower workouts. GGR and BarBend additionally call the magnetic resistance quiet and the padded, contoured seat comfortable. GGR and Reviewed flag the low 250-lb weight limit; GGR and BarBend note that full functionality effectively requires a paid iFIT subscription and that the current unit is large and does not fold or store vertically. BarBend alone measured the 53-inch monorail, 15-inch seat height, and 13-inch pedals, and alone faulted resistance uniformity across the 26 levels. (3 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: iFIT programming with instructor-led and scenic on-water classes; Solid, durable build with a smooth, stable rowing stroke; Large 22-inch tilting/pivoting HD touchscreen enables off-rower workouts.
Flagged: Low 250-lb user weight capacity; Full functionality effectively requires a paid iFIT subscription; Large footprint that does not fold or store vertically (current version).