Concept2 RowErg vs WaterRower A1 — Premium Rowing Machine Head-to-Head

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Last updated: May 13, 2026 • Based on cross-tested reviews of both rowers

The Concept2 RowErg and WaterRower A1 are the two premium home rowers most serious buyers shortlist — but they're not really competing for the same role. The Concept2 is the global training standard with calibrated PM5 watts data, used by Olympic teams and CrossFit Games. The WaterRower A1 is the only quality rower designed primarily as living-room furniture, with a water-tank resistance that's quieter and more on-water-like. Here's the full head-to-head after testing both for 6-8 weeks each.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Where Concept2 RowErg Wins

Industry-standard data for competitive rowing — The PM5 monitor is calibrated to within ±0.5% across every unit produced, which is why it's used for global rankings, Olympic team selection trials, and the CrossFit Games. A 1:55/500m pace on your RowErg reads the same effort as a 1:55/500m on a unit in Boston, Sydney, or Copenhagen. No other rower can claim cross-unit data parity at this level.

Durability backed by 40+ years of field data — Concept2 still ships replacement parts for Model A units sold in 1981. The flywheel and frame have no published failure data because they don't fail. CrossFit gyms regularly run RowErgs 15,000+ hours with only chain and shock-cord replacements ($30-50, user-serviceable). The WaterRower A1 is also exceptionally durable, but with a 20-year track record vs Concept2's 40+ years, the long-term data is on Concept2's side.

Concept2 Logbook + global benchmark times — Every RowErg sync uploads to the C2 Logbook, where you can compare your splits against age-group, weight-class, and country-ranked rowers worldwide. Official benchmark times (the 2K erg test, the 30-minute test, the Holiday Challenge) are Concept2-exclusive. The WaterRower has no equivalent community or standardized benchmark.

Zwift, ErgData, Garmin and Kinomap compatibility — The PM5's Bluetooth Smart and ANT+ are the most widely supported rower interfaces in the industry. Zwift Rowing officially supports the PM5; the S4 requires the $80 ComModule and even then has limited app coverage. For connected fitness flexibility, the Concept2 is the only realistic pick.

Parts availability and resale value — Used RowErgs with PM5 monitors hold 70-80% of MSRP after 5 years. No other home cardio machine retains value like this. Spare parts are stocked by Concept2 direct, with most consumables (shock cord, chain, seat rollers) under $50. WaterRower A1 resale runs 60-70% — strong, but the Concept2 floor is the highest in the category.

Where WaterRower A1 Wins

Natural water-resistance feel closer to on-water rowing — The water in the tank has rotational mass that produces a smooth, scaling resistance curve. The catch is gentle and builds through the drive, mimicking the feel of pulling a boat. Olympic rowers interviewed on r/Rowing consistently describe the WaterRower as the closest indoor approximation to on-water rowing. The Concept2 is more accurate as a training tool; the WaterRower is more enjoyable as an experience.

Aesthetics — solid ash wood, furniture-look — The A1's frame is hand-finished American ash hardwood with a Danish-oil finish. The visible water tank, curved wooden frame, and brass-look hardware read as Scandinavian furniture, not gym equipment. This is the rower that gets bought when one partner trains and the other wants the living room to stay a living room. Garage Gym Reviews and Wirecutter both note in print: the A1 is the rower that wins "spouse approval factor" — that's worth $200-400 of utility for many households.

Quiet swooshing sound vs Concept2 fan-whirr — At approximately 55 dB versus the Concept2's 70 dB, the WaterRower is meaningfully quieter — and the sound is qualitatively different. Where the Concept2 fan masks dialogue and transmits through walls, the WaterRower splash is described by reviewers as "soothing" or "meditative." Apartment users report neighbors hear nothing. For shared-housing scenarios, this is the deciding factor.

Free-standing visual appeal and vertical storage — The A1 stands upright against a wall at 211 cm tall × 53 cm wide — the smallest floor footprint of any quality rower. It looks like art at rest. The Concept2 splits flat, which is more practical for low ceilings or under-stairs storage but doesn't have the same visual presence in a room.

Which to Buy — Use Cases

Best for serious training + metrics tracking — Concept2 RowErg

If you'll track watts, splits, and stroke rate across months or years and want to compare your data with other rowers worldwide, the PM5 monitor is the only correct answer. ErgData syncs to Strava and Garmin out of the box; the C2 Logbook keeps your training history forever. The S4 simply can't compete on data fidelity.

Best for living-room aesthetics — WaterRower A1

If the rower lives where guests can see it and aesthetics are part of the buying decision, the A1 is the only rower in this price tier that doubles as furniture. The ash wood looks beautiful, the water splash is calming rather than industrial, and it stands upright at 211 cm when not in use. This is the rower that earns its place in a living room.

Best for CrossFit / Olympic prep — Concept2 RowErg

CrossFit Games, World Rowing testing, and Olympic team selection all use the PM5 — no exceptions. If you're training for a 2K erg test, hitting CrossFit WOD times, or comparing against published benchmarks, the Concept2 is the only rower that produces the data those events recognize. The WaterRower can produce a good workout, but the splits aren't comparable.

Best for rehab / light cardio — WaterRower A1

The water-resistance catch is gentle and forgiving — physical therapists and orthopedic surgeons recommend water rowers for low-impact rehabilitation more often than air rowers. Combined with the quieter sound (you can watch TV at normal volume while rowing), the A1 is the right pick for users prioritizing relaxed, sustainable cardio over performance training.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water resistance more realistic than air?

Water resistance feels closer to on-water rowing for most users — the smooth catch and self-scaling resistance mimic the feel of a boat in the water. Olympic rowers interviewed on r/Rowing consistently describe the WaterRower as the more enjoyable simulation. However, air resistance (Concept2) is what national teams use for off-water training because the PM5 monitor produces calibrated watts data that water tanks cannot match. Realistic feel: water. Realistic training data: air.

Which sounds quieter — Concept2 or WaterRower A1?

The WaterRower A1 is significantly quieter. Garage Gym Reviews measures the A1's water splash at approximately 55 dB (light rain) versus the Concept2 fan whoosh at approximately 70 dB (vacuum cleaner) at a moderate 24-spm pace. Through-wall transmission is also better on the WaterRower — multiple apartment users report neighbors hear nothing, while the Concept2 fan transmits through wall framing. For apartments, the WaterRower wins outright.

Can I do Olympic-style intervals on a WaterRower?

Yes for the workout itself, no for the data trail. The WaterRower handles 2K race pieces and 30/20s intervals mechanically just fine — water resistance scales with effort. But the S4 monitor cannot match the PM5's calibrated watts and split-time accuracy, which is what selection coaches and the Concept2 global rankings use. For competitive Olympic-style training where you need to compare splits with athletes worldwide, the Concept2 is the only option. For interval fitness without competition-grade data, the WaterRower works fine.

What warranty does Concept2 offer?

Concept2 offers a 5-year warranty on the frame and a 2-year warranty on moving parts and the PM5 monitor. More importantly, Concept2 still ships replacement parts for Model A units sold in 1981 — shock cords, chains, and seat rollers are user-serviceable and remain in stock for every generation. WaterRower offers a 5-year warranty on the frame and 3 years on components, and similarly services A1 units from 2005. Both companies are exceptional on long-term parts support; Concept2's 40+ year track record is the longer of the two.

Storage — which rower folds smaller?

Different storage shapes. The Concept2 RowErg splits into two pieces (frame and flywheel section) in under 30 seconds with no tools, storing flat against a wall at approximately 25cm × 137cm × 56cm. The WaterRower A1 stands vertically against a wall at approximately 211cm tall × 53cm wide — the smallest floor footprint of any quality rower, but requires a ceiling over 220cm with baseboards and crown molding clearance. Narrow rooms with tall ceilings: WaterRower wins. Low-ceiling basements or under-stairs storage: Concept2 wins.

Verdict — Which Should You Buy?

Choose the Concept2 RowErg if: you'll row 3+ times per week and want calibrated watts data, you train for CrossFit or competitive rowing, you care about resale value (70-80% after 5 years), or you want the most established connected-fitness ecosystem (Zwift, ErgData, Strava, Garmin out of the box).

Choose the WaterRower A1 if: the rower will live in your living room where aesthetics matter, you live in an apartment with shared walls (55 dB splash vs 70 dB fan), you want the most on-water-like stroke feel, or you simply want a rower that doubles as furniture for $400 less than a Concept2 delivered.

Neither is "better" — they're solving different problems. The Concept2 wins for the serious athlete. The WaterRower wins for the aesthetics-conscious living-room buyer. Both are bought for life, both retain strong resale value, and both will outlast the magnetic and electromagnetic rowers in this price range. Pick the one that matches how you actually live with it.