Rowing machine recommendation

NuggyBuggy wrote: ↑ I've started getting worried about my cardio, and am considering getting a rowing machine as my wife and I enjoyed using them at the gym. I really wanted a Concept2 (and have for more than 30 years) but found out they're not available. I ordered the NordicTrack RW200 from Canadian Tire for $600 ("on sale" from $999 supposedly) which I haven't picked up yet. I happened by a fitness store and I popped in to see if they had any C2s and the salesman said they sold NordicTrack but would not recommend them as a brand.

Should I stay away ?

I'm happy spending less money but would have coughed up for the C2. Are there other machines I ought to be considering here ? The machine might get 5 or 6 hours of use a week.

Since the summer I've seen C2's come up as a hot deal at least 3-4 times. If you can hold out and set up a forum keyword alert, I can't imagine it will be long until they come up again.

Thanks - I'm already on Rogue's notification list but will add myself here. The guy at the fitness store (Fitness Depot, I think ?) said they are not even allowed to sell C2s anymore because they have no idea when they will come in and suggested it might even be 2022. I'd suspect he was trying to sell me another machine except that they had nothing else in stock anyways !!

You can also try signing up for the wait list on the manufacturer’s site https://shop.concept2.com/indoor-rowers ... h-pm5.html . The conversion from US to CAN works out to be on par with what most sites are selling the Concept2 here in Canada. I ended up ordering one through them less than two weeks ago and will be getting it tomorrow.

ebelis wrote: ↑ You can also try signing up for the wait list on the manufacturer’s site https://shop.concept2.com/indoor-rowers ... h-pm5.html . The conversion from US to CAN works out to be on par with what most sites are selling the Concept2 here in Canada. I ended up ordering one through them less than two weeks ago and will be getting it tomorrow.

Thank you. I just signed up. What did your total price, after shipping and duties, work out to be ?

$1290 CAN after conversion but still waiting what they charge me in brokerage fee and taxes. I will let you know. I got it this morning but awaiting the fees still

ebelis wrote: ↑ $1290 CAN after conversion but still waiting what they charge me in brokerage fee and taxes. I will let you know. I got it this morning but awaiting the fees still

I'm rooting for you. I have gotten seriously screwed in brokerage fees in the past. Crossing my fingers for you.

Concept 2 or bust. Easy to resell too. Don't discount that in the event you might tire of it.

Have you thought about a rogue echo bike? It's my go to for conditioning and you need 10 minutes or less really.

mrpricematch wrote: ↑ Concept 2 or bust. Easy to resell too. Don't discount that in the event you might tire of it.

Have you thought about a rogue echo bike? It's my go to for conditioning and you need 10 minutes or less really.

I didn't really consider a bike. I need something for cardio, but with all the time I spend on my computer and such, can definitely benefit from the way rowers work the back and shoulders. My physiotherapist was always pointing me that way.

Edit: read some articles on that particular bike. I didnt realize it could work upper body as well,. Food for thought. Would the Rogue Echo work out your back and shoulders as well as a rower ?

You have to be sure what you really want cause if you don't like it you will not use it, if you never tried any of those, for cardio there are no better machines than the echo bike,the concept 2, even the skierg or the bikerg, the difference is that with the rower you get a split of a second of rest while setting to pull, with the echo bike there is no rest at all, with skierg is mostly pulling like skiing (duh) and the bikerg like a spinning bike but with the air resistance.

I had the same dilemma and went with the echo bike (well the airdyne pro same as ad7), these machines are mostly intended for small burst at full power then rest with low cadence, and you will hate/love the bike, and like I said the row is more forgiving but still will kick your derriere, even when they say they are not available, you need to be alert cause they put them in stock often and they are gone in seconds, you could also look for them on kijiji or facebook market, just beware of copies and people reselling more expensive, right now there's an Airdyne ad7 for sale in facebook market for $1000 in Toronto, it is top of the line for the airdyne and equal in quality with the echo bike, I have it and really like it.

These machines are mostly for cardio but yes it is a full body workout, but if you want to improve your posture and benefit your back and shoulders, you need to do some stretching and some exercises to target that area.

capogalo wrote: ↑ You have to be sure what you really want cause if you don't like it you will not use it

Thank you for your post ! I've never used an air bike - but regularly used the rower at the gym. My wife loves them too. They had air bikes there but never bothered to try them out because they were in a separate studio - but they sound like pure hell.

NuggyBuggy wrote: ↑ Thank you for your post ! I've never used an air bike - but regularly used the rower at the gym. My wife loves them too. They had air bikes there but never bothered to try them out because they were in a separate studio - but they sound like pure hell.

Certainly they are hell but very effective, ideally you would have every piece of equipment because there are training that go from the air bike to the rower to the skierg lol, a friend of mine never used bikes and liked the rower, after trying the air bike now he use it all the time, I would say space wise go with the air bike, you can just use your legs or just the arms so it has some sort of variation, for what I can see the rower takes too much space if you cannot fold it.

So for those of you waiting for the C2 to get back in stock on the Rogue site: I’ve been checking the webpage periodically even though I registered to be on their notification/wait list. Today, I was lucky to see that it was in stock so I placed my order. I never got a notification that it was back in stock. Two hours later, out of curiosity, I checked the webpage again and sure enough, it was out of stock again.

I hope my order goes through, but for those relying on the notification, I’m just sharing my experience that it might not be all that reliable. Good luck.

From what I remember, when something comes back in stock depending on the amount of people that have signed up for notifications they only notify a certain amount of people from the top of the list and work their way down the list when more stock comes in. But yes, I am on that site by the hour refreshing to see if certain items come back in stock

NuggyBuggy wrote: ↑ I didn't really consider a bike. I need something for cardio, but with all the time I spend on my computer and such, can definitely benefit from the way rowers work the back and shoulders. My physiotherapist was always pointing me that way.

Edit: read some articles on that particular bike. I didnt realize it could work upper body as well,. Food for thought. Would the Rogue Echo work out your back and shoulders as well as a rower ?

The rower will engage your lats, mid back more but both, have a good amount of scapula retraction. But, if you are the typical office worker, I don't think the strategy of a rower for both mobility issues and cardio is a great idea. I am goin to bet, your PT feels you lack thoracic extension and or rotation and some rounding of the shoulders. Some weight training and strategic stretching will go further. I'd strengthen your core first and go from there. Serratus anterior. Your external rotator cuff muscles and mid-back after. Learn to control your pelvic for core drills. Good posture goes along way.

I have had all those machines and for my busy life, the air bike is hard to beat. The echo is so over built. Love it.

NuggyBuggy wrote: ↑ I didn't really consider a bike. I need something for cardio, but with all the time I spend on my computer and such, can definitely benefit from the way rowers work the back and shoulders. My physiotherapist was always pointing me that way.

Edit: read some articles on that particular bike. I didnt realize it could work upper body as well,. Food for thought. Would the Rogue Echo work out your back and shoulders as well as a rower ?

The rower will engage your lats, mid back more but both, have a good amount of scapula retraction. But, if you are the typical office worker, I don't think the strategy of a rower for both mobility issues and cardio is a great idea. I am goin to bet, your PT feels you lack thoracic extension and or rotation and some rounding of the shoulders. Some weight training and strategic stretching will go further. I'd strengthen your core first and go from there. Serratus anterior. Your external rotator cuff muscles and mid-back after. Learn to control your pelvic for core drills. Good posture goes along way.

I have had all those machines and for my busy life, the air bike is hard to beat. The echo is so over built. Love it.

The rower is available on the Rogue site right now

The rower is available on the Rogue site right now

ebelis wrote: ↑ The rower is available on the Rogue site right now

Thanks ebelis ! Order placed ! So much for expecting to be notified by Rogue - I was on their notification list. Thanks again !

Just checked dimensions online. Is it really 96" long when in use ?