Rowing Machine NerdNordicTrack RW200 vs Concept2: Which Rower Is Worth It?
The NordicTrack RW200 is a popular budget choice - quiet, foldable, and around $700 (often nearer $500 on the street) - while the Concept2 Model D is the roughly $990 benchmark. The price gap is modest, which is exactly why this comparison matters: a few hundred dollars is the difference between a starter rower and a machine you'll keep for a decade.
Here's where the RW200 holds up, and where it doesn't.
Verdict: Worth the extra for almost everyone - the RW200's low ceiling and 250 lb limit hold it back.
NordicTrack RW200 vs Concept2 Model D: at a glance
| NordicTrack RW200 | Concept2 Model D | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 3.1/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Price | ~$700 | ~$990 |
| Resistance | Air + adjustable SMR (Silent Magnetic Resistance) | Air (spiral damper, 10 settings) |
| Monitor / screen | Backlit watts display; shows 500m split, calories, strokes/min, time, distance | PM5 (backlit; Bluetooth & ANT+; USB) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth Smart; iFIT-compatible (does not stream classes on the console) | ErgData + 40+ compatible apps |
| Max user weight | 250 lb | 500 lb (227 kg) |
| Footprint / size | 86.5 in L x 22.0 in W x 42.8 in H | 96" × 24" (244 × 61 cm) |
| Storage | — | Separates into two parts; front casters |
| Warranty | 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor | 5-yr frame / 2-yr parts & monitor |
Full NordicTrack RW200 review Full Concept2 Model D review
Resistance and who'll outgrow it
The RW200 combines air and silent magnetic resistance with 24 selectable digital levels, which sounds appealing - quiet, with the convenience of choosing a level. The catch is the ceiling: its top levels lack the load to challenge an intermediate or advanced rower. A fit user will outgrow it.
The Concept2's air resistance has no ceiling - it scales with your effort forever, so a deconditioned beginner and a competitive athlete can both use it fully. That single difference is why the Concept2 remains the machine serious rowers keep buying, and why the RW200 is better seen as a starter.
Data, capacity and build
The Concept2's PM5 is the global data standard; the RW200's console is a basic backlit display that doesn't even stream the iFIT classes its ecosystem is known for (those run on a separate device and subscription). For trustworthy, comparable training data, the Concept2 is far ahead.
Capacity is a real dividing line too: the RW200 caps users at 250 lb, versus the Concept2's 500 lb. And on durability, the Concept2's decade-plus reputation and 75-85% resale value outclass the RW200, even with NordicTrack's 10-year frame warranty (which carries only one year of labour).
Where the RW200 wins
It's not all one-sided. The RW200 is quieter thanks to its magnetic component, it folds via a SpaceSaver design for easier storage (the Concept2 only separates into two pieces), and its selectable levels suit a beginner who likes picking a number rather than self-pacing by effort.
If your priority is quiet, foldable, beginner-friendly rowing and you won't push past its resistance ceiling or weight limit, the RW200 can be a reasonable, cheaper choice - particularly at its frequent street price.
Choose the NordicTrack RW200 if…
- You want quiet magnetic-assisted resistance and selectable levels
- A foldable design for tight storage is important
- You're a beginner or casual rower who won't outgrow it
- You're under the 250 lb capacity and want to spend less
Choose the Concept2 Model D if…
- You want resistance that never runs out as you get fitter
- You want the world's data standard and trustworthy metrics
- You need a higher (500 lb) weight capacity
- You want a machine that lasts a decade-plus and holds resale value
Our verdict
For almost everyone, the Concept2 Model D is worth the modest extra. The RW200's low resistance ceiling and 250 lb capacity make it a starter you may outgrow, while the Concept2 is a buy-for-life machine with better data, durability, and resale that narrows the real price gap.
The RW200 earns consideration only if quiet, foldable convenience and a lower street price matter most, and you're confident you won't outgrow its resistance or weight limit. For a casual beginner in a tight space, it's serviceable - but the Concept2 is the smarter long-term spend.
References
- Understanding Splits - Concept2
- What Damper Setting and Drag Factor to Use on the Concept2 RowErg - Concept2
Frequently asked questions
- Is the NordicTrack RW200 or Concept2 better?
- The Concept2 Model D is better for almost everyone - infinite resistance, world-standard data, a 500 lb capacity, and decade-plus durability with strong resale. The RW200 is quieter and folds, but its low resistance ceiling and 250 lb limit make it a starter you may outgrow.
- Does the NordicTrack RW200 stream iFIT classes on its screen?
- No - the RW200 is iFIT-compatible but doesn't stream classes on its own console, which is a basic backlit display. You'd run iFIT on a separate device with a paid subscription. The Concept2 has no classes built in but a far superior data monitor.
- Can advanced rowers use the NordicTrack RW200?
- Not ideally - its top resistance levels lack the load to challenge intermediate or advanced rowers, so fitter users will outgrow it. The Concept2's air resistance scales infinitely with effort, which is why it suits everyone from beginners to competitors.
Jordan Lockwood (BSc, CPT)
Certified personal trainer (CPT), sports-science graduate, and lifelong rower. Jordan writes and reviews every guide on Rowing Machine Nerd.