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Head-to-head · Best Rowing Machines Under $1000

Concept2 RowErg (Model D) vs XTERRA Fitness ERG700

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Concept2 RowErg (Model D) comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.9 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about serious rowers, CrossFit athletes, and anyone training for performance rather than entertainment — read the strengths below before deciding.

Concept2 RowErg (Model D)
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Rowing Machines Under $1000
Concept2 RowErg (Model D)
$990

The RowErg Model D is the answer when someone asks 'what rowing machine should I buy.' Forty years of refinement, used by elite rowers and Olympians, with the PM5 monitor that's the de facto standard for tracking work in watts and 500m splits. No subscription cost, no proprietary content lock-in — pair it with a free app like ErgData or pay nothing and just row. The trade-off vs the NordicTrack RW600 and Aviron Strong Go is content: this is a serious training tool, not an entertainment platform. For anyone who treats rowing as exercise rather than as gamified screen time, this is the right buy.

Strengths
  • — Industry gold standard — used by Olympians, college crew teams, and CrossFit gyms for 40+ years
  • — PM5 performance monitor displays watts, pace, split, and 500m times, with Bluetooth + ANT+
  • — No subscription required — 30+ third-party apps (ErgData, Kinomap, Asensei) integrate natively
Watch-outs
  • — Air resistance produces a noticeable whoosh — louder than the magnetic-only NordicTrack RW600 or Sunny SF-RW5515
  • — PM5 is a numbers display, not a touchscreen — no streamed class content like the NordicTrack RW600
  • — $990 is at the price ceiling for this category — only the NordicTrack RW600 and Aviron Strong Go come close
$990 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
XTERRA Fitness ERG700
Ranked #3 in Best Rowing Machines Under $1000
XTERRA Fitness ERG700
$870as of May 20

The ERG700 is the dual-resistance pick under $1,000 without a content subscription. Air-plus-magnetic gives a more nuanced resistance feel than the magnetic-only NordicTrack RW600, and the lifetime frame warranty backstops the long-term investment. Console is basic — this is not a screen-led machine like the NordicTrack RW600 or Aviron Strong Go. Best for users who want resistance authority and durability without locking into a monthly subscription, and who already have a tablet or phone they can prop up for class content if they want it.

Strengths
  • — Dual air + magnetic resistance — only pick here besides the Aviron Strong Go that combines both systems
  • — 16 magnetic resistance levels stack on top of the air-flywheel feel
  • — 350 lb user capacity — higher than the NordicTrack RW600 and Sunny SF-RW5515
Watch-outs
  • — Console is a basic LCD with 10 preset workouts — no streamed content like the NordicTrack RW600 or Aviron Strong Go
  • — Build quality and console refinement trail the Concept2 RowErg's PM5 monitor
  • — Less name recognition than Concept2, NordicTrack, or Sunny
$870 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

Concept2 RowErg (Model D)

The gold-standard pick. Air resistance vs the magnetic NordicTrack RW600, XTERRA ERG700 (combo), Aviron Strong Go (combo), and Sunny SF-RW5515 (magnetic). No content subscription unlike NordicTrack RW600 (iFIT) and Aviron Strong Go (Aviron app). Higher user weight capacity (500 lb) than any other pick here.

XTERRA Fitness ERG700

Dual air + magnetic resistance shared only with the Aviron Strong Go. Best warranty in this lineup (lifetime frame). Higher user capacity (350 lb) than the NordicTrack RW600 and Sunny SF-RW5515. Basic LCD console — no built-in touchscreen like the NordicTrack RW600, no iPad-required gamification like the Aviron Strong Go.

Specs side-by-side

SpecConcept2 RowErg (Model D)XTERRA Fitness ERG700
ResistanceAir (mechanical flywheel)Air + magnetic (16 levels)
User Capacity500 lb350 lb
Warranty5-year frame, 2-year partsLifetime frame, 5-year parts, 1-year labor
StorageSeparates into two piecesFoldable
DisplayPM5 with Bluetooth + ANT+LCD with 10 preset workouts
SubscriptionNone (free ErgData app)None
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