Two Philosophies of Home Rowing
The Concept2 RowErg and the Hydrow represent two fundamentally different approaches to indoor rowing. The Concept2 is the purist choice, while the Hydrow is the premium connected experience. Here is how they compare.
Price and Ongoing Costs
The Concept2 RowErg costs $990 with zero monthly fees. The Hydrow costs $2,195 plus a mandatory $44/month All-Access Membership. Over two years, you will spend $990 on the Concept2 versus $3,251 on the Hydrow. That is a difference of $2,261.
The Concept2 wins decisively on cost.
Resistance Feel
The Concept2 uses air resistance that scales naturally with your effort — row harder and the resistance increases. This closely mimics the feel of rowing on water and is why every competitive rowing program in the world uses Concept2.
The Hydrow uses electromagnetic resistance that is computer-controlled and virtually silent. It provides a smooth, consistent feel but lacks the natural variability of air resistance. Some rowers find it feels more like a cable machine than a boat.
Noise Level
This is where the Hydrow shines. Its electromagnetic resistance is nearly silent — you could row at midnight without disturbing anyone. The Concept2 air resistance produces a noticeable whooshing sound, typically around 60-70 decibels during vigorous rowing.
If you live in an apartment or row while others sleep, the Hydrow is significantly quieter.
Workout Content
The Hydrow offers over 5,000 on-demand workouts filmed on real waterways around the globe, plus live classes, yoga, Pilates, and strength training. The immersive on-water content is genuinely impressive and motivating.
The Concept2 has no built-in content. The PM5 monitor tracks your metrics with industry-leading accuracy, and the free ErgData app lets you log workouts and race against others online. Third-party apps can add guided workouts.
Build Quality and Durability
The Concept2 is legendary for its durability. Many units last 10-15+ years with virtually no maintenance. At 57 lbs, it is light, portable, and separates into two pieces for storage.
The Hydrow is well-built but heavier at 145 lbs and has more electronic components that could potentially fail. The 22-inch touchscreen is a point of vulnerability that the Concept2 simply does not have.
Performance Tracking
The Concept2 PM5 monitor is the gold standard for rowing metrics. Split times, watts, stroke rate, and pace are all displayed with accuracy trusted by Olympic training programs. Online logbooks allow you to compare against millions of users worldwide.
The Hydrow provides good metrics but is more focused on the class experience than raw performance data.
Our Verdict
Choose the Concept2 RowErg if you want the best rowing machine ever made at a fair price, value durability, and are self-motivated. Choose the Hydrow if you need immersive guided content to stay motivated, value silent operation, and have the budget for premium connected fitness.
