BodyCraft VR500 Pro Review

Resistance and feel: the dual system is the whole point

The VR500 Pro pairs a fan with an eddy-current magnetic brake, and the 32 electronic levels are what justify its existence. At low settings the air fan does most of the work, and as you climb the dial the magnet steps in to add load that air alone could not provide. The practical result owners describe is a stroke that feels smoother and more consistent than a pure air rower, with less of the soft, easing-in feel at the catch and a heavier, more controllable pull at the top end.

Whether that consistency is a feature or a flaw depends on what you want from a rower. Air purists value the way fan resistance scales with how hard you yank the handle; the harder you pull, the more it pushes back, which feels alive and self-correcting. The VR500's magnetic component flattens some of that dynamic response in exchange for a setting you can dial in precisely and repeat. For steady-state cardio, mixed-ability households, or anyone who finds raw air rowers harsh, the trade is worth it. For someone chasing the classic erg feel, it is a different animal.

The handlebar-mounted level control is the underrated highlight here. Being able to bump resistance up or down mid-stroke, without breaking rhythm or reaching for a damper, is genuinely useful for intervals and is something the Concept2 simply does not offer.

The monitor is the weak link, and you should price that in

The base console is a backlit LCD that tracks the usual time, distance, calories, strokes per minute, watts and split data, and it ships with a deep program set: auto resistance profiles, interval, race and heart-rate-control modes, plus user profiles, all with no subscription. On paper that is more onboard programming than a Concept2 gives you out of the box.

In daily use, though, the console is the part that feels its age. It is functional but dated next to the app-driven touchscreens on connected rowers, and reviewers are blunt that its data is not in the same league as the Concept2 PM5 for accuracy or trust. There is no native way to pull workouts into third-party apps or race other people online. If you want a real streaming and app experience, you are buying the optional Connect-22 Android tablet, which pushes an already premium machine toward the $2,500 range. That is a meaningful asterisk on the otherwise appealing no-subscription pitch.

Build, comfort and the space it demands

This is where the VR500 earns its keep. The T13 aluminum I-beam mono-rail, steel legs, 350 lb capacity and lifetime frame coverage on the residential warranty signal a machine built to outlast its electronics. The belt drive runs quieter than a chain, and owners consistently report it is quiet enough to use near a TV or in a shared room despite the air component. The contoured seat draws repeated praise for letting people row longer without the lower-back fatigue that plagues thinner seats, and the adjustable heel rests with quick foot straps fit a wide range of users, up to roughly 6 foot 8.

The catch is footprint. At 98.5 inches long this is a big machine, and folding it does not so much save floor space as trade it for height: the folded profile stands around 77 inches tall. Plan for a dedicated spot or a room with ceiling clearance. Also budget time and patience for assembly, which several owners describe as fiddly and on the longer side, and note that a heart-rate chest strap is not included despite the price.

Value: you are paying a comfort-and-build premium

At around $1,799 the VR500 Pro sits roughly $700 to $900 above a Concept2 RowErg, and there is no getting around that gap. What the extra money buys is tangible: a heavier, more commercial-grade frame, a plusher seat, electronically adjustable dual resistance you can change from the handle, and a stronger frame warranty. What it does not buy is a better monitor, app ecosystem or resale value, the three areas where Concept2 quietly dominates.

So the value case is narrow but real. If the things you care about are comfort, quiet operation, adjustable resistance and a tank-like build, the premium is defensible. If you care about data fidelity, online racing, app compatibility or simply getting the most rowing per dollar, the premium is hard to justify and the machine starts to look overpriced for what the console delivers.

How it compares to the Concept2 RowErg

The Concept2 RowErg is the inescapable benchmark, and the honest summary is that it out-points the VR500 on the metrics serious rowers obsess over while losing on the ones casual home users actually feel. The RowErg's PM5 monitor is the gold standard for accuracy, logbook integration and online racing, it is the machine used in competition, and it costs hundreds less. Its resale value is famously strong. If you ever want to compare splits with the rowing world or train against a verified standard, it is the only real answer.

The VR500 counters with comfort and convenience rather than data. Its seat is more forgiving for long sessions, the belt drive is a touch quieter than the RowErg's chain, and the handlebar resistance control plus dual air-magnetic system give it a smoother, more adjustable stroke that some users genuinely prefer. The RowErg's single fan and damper are simpler and more honest, but they ask more of the user. Put simply: buy the Concept2 if you are a data-driven or competitive rower, and consider the VR500 if you are a comfort-driven home user who will pay extra to enjoy the sit.

Our take

The VR500 Pro is a genuinely good rower carrying a price that only some buyers should pay. Buy it if you want a commercial-grade, quiet, supremely comfortable machine for steady home training, if the handlebar-controlled dual resistance appeals to you, and if a dated but capable LCD console plus a lifetime frame warranty matter more to you than competition-grade data. Households where multiple people of different fitness levels share one rower are a particularly good fit, thanks to the precise, repeatable resistance levels.

Skip it if your priorities are data accuracy, online racing, app integration or maximum value per dollar; in those cases the Concept2 RowErg is the smarter, cheaper choice. Also think twice if floor space or ceiling height is tight, or if you assumed app streaming was included, since that really requires the costly Connect-22 add-on. At 3.7 out of 5, this is a strong machine held back from a higher score by its price relative to the benchmark and a console that has not kept pace with the market.