Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

After much research I bought the Concept2 Model D rower. Now I am very glad I did. I was comparing the following machines * Concept2 Model D ($900) * Concept2's Model E ($1100) which is higher off the ground and probably Concept2's strongest competitor on quality (but not price)... * BodyCraft VR500 (listed for $1900, usually on sale for $1500-1600) Also high off the ground like the Model E, and with a long monorail (both Concept2 models D and E also have an available longer monorail, for people with inseams of 38 inches/96.5cm or longer) I tested the Concept2 at my local YMCA before buying it (Concept2's website shows a listing of YMCA's with a Concept2 in your zip code). I also tested the BodyCraft VR500 at my local 2nd Wind Exercise Equipment store. I purchased the Polar H7 heart-rate monitor to work with the Concept2 , and the RowPro Software for the Concept2 after trialing it for 3 weekends. Reasons I like the Concept2 a lot: * Available RowPro software for the Concept2 ($100) is cool and highly motivational. The Concept2's PM5 (performance monitor 5) can connect to custom, compatible RowPro software (http://www.digitalrowing.com) which is a huge benefit that you only get with a Concept2. I project the very cool rowing simulator software to my 52" screen TV and compete against my own prior rows, or online with people around the world. The PM5 monitor on the Concept2 saves data on every stroke, so you can compete against yourself or others. I don't believe BodyCraft has a similar software, or even a connection that you can connect to your computer. As you connect your Concept2's PM5 to a computer with a USB A/B cable (a printer style USB cable), you can track your progress with the RowPro software, and/or with Concept2's online tracking software. The free software from Concept2 can upload data from a USB cable connection or a USB thumb drive up to online software. The free Concept2 upload software works, but is not as good as the RowPro software for $100. With Concept2's online free service you can compare your progress to thousands of others around the world, and see their pictures and standings! It feels like going to a global, international, online virtual YMCA where you meet up with others doing the same sport. The online software works great. I did need to buy a Belkin AC powered desktop USB hub for $20 because I was connecting my PM5 with a USB A/B cable to a 15 foot USB extension cable to my desktop computer (most people would use a laptop). With the AC powered USB hub it worked perfectly. The software is very cool to watch !! Plan to buy the RowPro software if you get a Concept2! It's one of the best benefits of a Concept2. * Air resistance only, no magnetic resistance. Much better. Magnetic resistance is boring, constant, and creates the same force of resistance constantly throughout the row stroke. Air resistance is better because you begin your row stroke at one level of force, then momentum builds and you end your row stroke with the flywheel moving fast, making it easier to pull the last bit out of the flywheel, when your arms would get sore with magnetic resistance's constant pressure. Air resistance feels like you accomplished something when you pull back all the way. I have a magnetic resistance stationary bike and it's consistent force is boring. Same old force level all the time. The BodyCraft tries to solve this by letting you change the resistance on the bar that you pull, but that is trying to solve the problem the wrong way, in my humble opinion. Market research from newbie rowers probably requested magnetic resistance, but experienced rowers probably prefer the traditional Air Resistance only. * Wealth of online resources available, due to the dominant market share. Many educational Youtube videos, and even a book, explains in great detail how to get the most out of the Concept2. It's essential to learn good technique in rowing to prevent injury and optimize training. Concept2 itself provides great training videos (http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/training/technique-videos), and many other coaches have their own videos on YouTube as well. Very few resources are available for the BodyCraft. The BodyCraft does have a great user manual (available free online for download) that provides great stretches for rowing. I taped this up on my wall and use it every time. It's excellent. * Built solid to last forever. Has been the market leader for a long time for a reason. Engineered by a former Olympic rower. Most YMCAs buy Concept2 rowers and you can find a local YMCA with a Concept2 that you can test on a guest pass by visiting Concept2's website, put in your zip code, and find the nearest YMCA with a Concept2 (http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/finder) * I love the Concept2 company business model and am proud to support it. You can call and talk or chat to real people who are helpful, kind, professionals, like businesses used to be years ago, before businesses started to outsource their call centers to India. The company values long term employees on their website. They are a model American company. The BodyCraft appears to be the US marketed version of a German company product I found online (google "FINNLO Rudergerät / Ergometer Aquon Pro Plus" or see their product on Amazon.de, the German version of Amazon.com). Germans have received a lot of medals in rowing in the Olympics so they understand rowing. Concept2's are known all around the world as the leading rower machine, and are used by Olympic athletes to compare consistently with each other, so Concept2 is also big in Germany. * Easy to assemble and store. I store it every time after use. It takes about 10 seconds to separate into two pieces, and 10 seconds to roll over into the corner. It takes longer to take off my Polar H7 heartrate strap and rinse the sweat off it, squeeze out the water and hang it to dry. It's also smaller than the BodyCraft so a bit easier to store. Misconceptions about the Concept2, that I read online: * Misconception #1 - "Seat is hard". I heard this on buyer comments and worried needlessly. No the seat is not too hard. My glut was out of shape, when I started rowing. In the beginning I felt pain in my butt, just like lifting weights creates pain in the muscle working. Then I noticed my gluteus maximus muscles started to get strong and bigger, after a few weeks. It feels great to have a strong glut, and it helps with crosstraining for running, and other sports. A rower does an excellent job making your glut strong and firm, because your glut becomes a pivotal muscle in the process of rowing. I even bought a cushion but returned it, when my muscles got stronger. The Concept2 seat has research behind it :-) to make the seat hard enough so your circulation does not get cut off from a soft style seat. Novices may prefer a soft seat at first when they don't know much about rowing. The BodyCraft seat is much softer. I will admit that. But with a stronger glut I don't think I need it. Concept2 does say on their website that some rowers will want a softer seat and they provide a cushion you can buy for it if needed. * Misconception #2 - "Chain is too loud". No the chain is not too loud. The air resistance fan is the loudest thing, but music from my stereo is much louder. When I'm rowing I listen to my Mp3 player. * Misconception #3 - "Concept2 is outdated technology". Absolutely untrue. The BodyCraft looks like better technology with the cool blue colored monitor. But then you learn there is RowPro software you can connect into the Concept2, which you can project to your laptop computer and/or big screen TV, and you can join a vast rowing community all using Concept2 rowers. The concept2 rower flywheel is precision weighted and balanced to provide the exact same resistance as everyone else's Concept2 in the world. So you can be motivated by hundreds and thousands of others on the same technology. * Misconception #4 - "Dual Air/Magnetic Resistance is better than just Air resistance". Not true. With the Concept2 you compete on speed per 500 meters pace. Magenetic resistance creates an artificial feeling resistance. Novices to rowing are probably impressed with magnetic resistance because they don't know about the vast community online that competes on speed. Speed gets your heart-rate going. Magnetic resistance will make super strong "anaerobic" arm muscles. Aerobic workouts are better than anaerobic workouts. Anaerobic (without air) is bad. Aerobic (with air in your lungs) is good. More BodyCraft VR500 Comments: * The BodyCraft VR500 is for sure an excellent rowing machine and a strong competitor to the Concept2. Heavy duty and strong. You can read reviews of the BodyCraft VR500 on Amazon.com like I did. I hope this review on the Concept2 answers questions about the BodyCraft reviews. The Concept2 has more advantages listed above and often ignored in reviews of the BodyCraft, and I'm thankful I bought the Concept2. My Background: I bought a Concept2 Model D rower to provide cross-training of muscles that don't get used when I run on my treadmill. I needed to cross-train after my knee, glut, an other muscles got weaker from atrophy as I got older, working at a desk job and running as my only exercise for 20+ years. Fun facts notes for anyone seriously researching the BodyCraft VR500: I also found the following rower online. It looks like the same as the BodyCraft VR500. * FINNLO Rudergerät / Ergometer Aquon Pro Plus - apparently the German marketed version of the BodyCraft VR500, available on Amazon.de, not Amazon.com, for €1,000+shipping, and requires European 220 volt standards, but still interesting to compare. You can google "FINNLO Rudergerät / Ergometer Aquon Pro Plus" to see well done marketing videos in German.