Nordictrack VR21 vs concept 2 model D
This is a comparison between the Nordictrack VR21 and the concept 2 model D including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the Concept 2 Model D
The Concept 2 Model D comes in at $900. In this article you will learn more about the product itself, its Pros and cons and alternatives you might want to consider. This article has originally been published in the overview "Which conditioning equipment to buy from Rogue".
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Overview of the concept 2 Model D
The
concept 2 model D rower is the bread and butter product from concept 2. This rower can be used by athletes of all sizes and ages. From low-intensity rehabilitation work to high-intensity racing between top athletes anything is possible with this machine. This is also a machine which you can most likely test yourself in a gym near you, which can not always be said for the other machines available on the Rogue website. The
concept 2 model D comes with the following specifications:
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Color black/white
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Assembled in America
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57LB weight
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Length 96”
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Width 24”
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Height 14” (seat)
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Foot print 8’ x 2’
The concept 2 rower is the go-to option in the industry. You can not go wrong with this one if you want to stick up on a rower for your home gym or commercial facility.
Pros of the Concept 2 Model D
The pros of the concept 2 rower are
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Little impact
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Scalable workout
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PM5 monitor
Working out with the concept 2 rower will be lighter on your joints compared to other endurance workouts. As you will slide back and forth this machine can also be used when a high impact is not possible due to injury.
With the ten different settings for resistance and multiple workouts to choose from the computer, you can scale it in every direction. From intervals to long distance and races everything is possible.
The PM5 monitor is quickly becoming a standard which other endurance computers have live up to. In the reviews and testing I have done it comes out on top for connectivity to your phone and other machines for racing purposes.
cons
The cons of the concept 2 rower are
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Space requirements
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Specificity
The concept 2 rower is can be hung on a wall or broken up into two pieces for better storage. Still, at full length, it takes up considerable space compared to an Airbike. Especially for home gym arrangements, this might be a killer.
The rowing motion of the concept 2 is not specific to most sports. If you want to ensure that your training is as specific as possible a treadmill or bike might be the better option for you.
Alternatives to the concept 2 Model D
The
model E rower is a great alternative with a higher seat. If you work mainly with the rehab clients or very tall athletes this is a good alternative. In addition, you also get a sturdier hold for your PM5 monitor.
The
Rogue echo bike is a great alternative if you want to save space and money. This machine might even give you an even better workout, especially if you want to do interval training. It also takes up less space than the concept 2 rower unless you mount the rower to a wall.
The
TrueForm runner is the ultimate treadmill. You will need no access to power as it self propelled. The only downside is that it is about five times the price of the concept two rower.
Summary for the concept 2 Model D
The
concept 2 model d is a safe bet for all endurance needs which want to be low impact. You can place it in a big gym with a horde of strong athletes or a boutique gym specialized in rehab of the 50+ women. The pricing is average and it also has been on the market for a long time.
This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack VR21.This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.
The
Nordictrack VR21 is the little brother of the
VR25 in the Nordictrack recumbent bike line up. Its main features are a 5-inch backlit display, 9kg flywheel, and 125kg maximum capacity. The full list of features reads as followed:
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Lumbar Supported Cushioned Seat
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Horizontal Seat Adjustment
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Extra-wide Ergonomic Pedals with Adjustable Straps
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AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
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Front-mounted Transport Wheels
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Water Bottle Holder
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Integrated Tablet Holder
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32 Workouts Apps
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Assembled Dimensions - 155L x 59W cm x 132H cm
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Product Weight 48kg
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Boxed Weight 57kg
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Boxed Dimensions - 153L x 65W x 39H cm
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Warranty - 2 Years parts and labor; 5-year frame guarantee upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.
The
VR21 is the better option for home gym buyers who want to save some money as the 9kg flywheel is more than enough. Commercial buyers might consider this option when they want to buy 5 - 10 units instead of the
VR21. Otherwise the
VR25 might be the better option.
Pros of the NordicTrack VR21
The pros of the
VR21 are:
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Price
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Meshed seat
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Comfortable position
The
VR21 is the cheapest recumbent bike that you can get from Nordictrack. If you want one and like the NordicTrack brand, this is the one to go for. Especially if you are a home gym buyer. Commercial buyers might consider this model when they buy in bulk. If you only want to have one or two on the floor, invest in the
VR25 and the bigger flywheel as they will clock more miles per unit as a fleet of ten
VR21 on the floor.
The meshed seat is a good little design feature to prevent sweating like mad. Other models have hard plastic full seats which can become sticky and unpleasant.
If you only want to moderately exercise and still use the time to go through emails or place some calls, a recumbent bike can be a very good option. They also have the advantage over ellipticals that they are closer to the floor and therefore do not need high ceilings.
Cons of the VR21
The cons of the
VR21 are:
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9kg flywheel
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Space requirements
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Low-calorie burn
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No touch screen
The 9kg flywheel puts the
VR21 at a disadvantage to the
VR25 model which has an 11kg flywheel. For home users this will not be as relevant as for commercial users. The trade-off is that you pay less money.
Compared to a traditional bike a recumbent bike takes more space and burns fewer calories per minute. If you want to optimize your floor space for the maximum amount of people burning the maximum amount of calories this is not the model to go for. Keep your clients and space requirements in mind, especially when shopping for recumbent bikes.
Compared to the
VR25 the
VR21 has no touch screen. If you want to get the full benefit of an easy workout while doing your work or surfing on the internet, the touch screen option will go along way for convenience.
Alternatives to the Nordictrack VR21
Aöternatives to the Nordictrack
VR21 are:
The
Nordictrack VR25 is the big brother of the
VR21. Personally I think that this is a better option for commercial buyers who only want one or two recumbent bikes on their floor. Otherwise, homebuyers can save some money by getting the
VR21. The worse media options can be compensated by just using your own devices on an easy ride.
The
NordicTrack C700 is the treadmill alternative from Nordictrack in the same budget range as the
VR21. The
C700 is a good option for walkers and joggers to get some miles in. If you intend to get your calorie burn in while standing, this might be the better option than the
VR21. The
C700 is not suited for runners who will take their treadmill through a lot of abuse in speed or distance.
The
NordicTrack SE3i elliptical is the cheapest elliptical in the Nordictrack line up. This can be a good compromise for all your clients or the entire family when you think that a recumbent bike does not have enough oomph. Just make sure that you have enough clearance to the ceiling as an elliptical will put you in a higher position than a recumbent bike and is harder to get on and off.
The
concept 2 model D is the industry standard for indoor rowing. If you want to row and turn your cardio into a full-body workout, this might be better option than the
VR21. A rower can also be hung on the wall after your workout to save some space. The only downside is that the calorie burn per minute is also relatively low compared to treadmills and upright bikes.
The
Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite for indoor gyms. This is a straight forward machine to make you sweat. No extra bells and whistles, just pure focus on high-intensity interval training. For some this bike might be intimidating, but I love it and it is also reasonably priced. Still, i would not place this one in an old folk's home or rehab center. The
VR21 might be a better option in those scenarios.
Summary for the Nordictrack VR21
The
Nordictrack VR21 is a good budget option for a recumbent bike from Nordictrack. If you want to relax and still burn some calories, this is the right machine for home use.