It's Considered the Best Rower for a Reason
This item is considered a gold standard for a reason when it comes to rowing machine.
I couldn't suggest it more. The construction is sturdy. It separates in the center (seat slide and row bar sections) for easy storage. I don't have high ceilings, that 96" is too long to just stand it up. Ultimately, it takes up slighty more floor space than a kitchen chair when storing it this way. The PM5 connects perfectly to my phone without issue and the ErgData app is great for tracking your progress. You can also use the a UBS drive to do the same tracking and with this there is no chance you accidentally leave it in the Rower at the gym.
The question of whether it's a good value is highly subjective though. This is hands down the single most expensive piece of fitness equipment I have ever purchased. But this is one of the best forms of exercise you can get, so for me it's worth it. But if you aren't sure you like rowing or looking for something new you haven't tried, it may be financially prudent to buy a cheap rower to start. I'm not personally a fan of spending a lot of money on something and having it become a clothing rack that sits in the corner. But if you know you will commit to using this rower on a regular basis, it's easy money to spend.
I got into rowing maybe in the middle of 2019. It's physically demanding, it's easily trackable with this machine so you can see your progress in your distance or strokes per minute metrics, and it's basically no impact on your joints. But then came Covid19 and the gyms shut down for a good portion of the year. During the summer I walked every day and hiked quite a bit on weekend, but since winter has come my ability to stay fit has been greatly diminished. I tried using a rowing machine in the gym but the requirement to wear a mask really hurts it as exercise. Within a few minutes you are gulping for air as the mask completely obstructs your airway when doing anything that makes you breath heavy. So, I took the plunge, and after my first day of using my own Concept2 Rower, I knew I made the right decision. If you could buy it from the manufacturer you would probably save yourself about a third of the cost, but that isn't remotely an option now.
I couldn't suggest it more so long as you actually commit to this form of exercise.
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