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Nordictrack VR25 vs Concept 2 skierg

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Dec 8, 2020 5:00:00 PM

Nordictrack VR25 vs Concept 2 skierg

This is a comparison between the Nordictrack VR25 and the Concept 2 skierg including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

Overview and review of the Concept 2 skiErg

The Concept 2 SkiErg comes in at $770. 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 skiErg

 
The concept 2 skierg is a machine which simulates cross country skiing. The concept 2 rower flywheel has been adapted to keep the athlete in an upright position. This way of going about solves several challenges.
 
The design of the skierg uses a lot less space than bikes, treadmills, and rowers. Mounted to a wall it takes almost no floor space which makes it a great option for home gyms with limited space. Based on the nature of the movement it can also be used by athletes who have disabilities or rehab from injuries. You can still get a great workout in while seated with the skierg. The skierg has the following specifications: 
 
  • Assembled in the us 
  • Color black 
  • Weight 46 LB
  • Length 52”
  • Width 24”
  • Height 85”
 
The concept 2 Skierg is great value for money, especially if you want to mainly focus on your upper body. 
 

Pros of the Cncept 2 skiErg

 
The pros of the concept 2 ski erg are:
 
  • size 
  • Can be used by people with disabilities 
  • Price 
 
The size of the concept 2 skierg is one of its main benefits. Mounted to a wall it takes up no floor space in your gym whatsoever. This is especially good if you want to fit a big rack into a small space and still be able to do cardio. 
 
The concept 2 skierg is one of the few options for endurance training on the market which I know that suits people who can not stand or walk because of their wheels. The only other option I would know is the hand driven ellipticals which are bigger and provide less bang for the buck. 
 
The price is also very attractive to many other cardio options. From the rogue website, it is one of the lowest priced options available. 
 

Cons of the concept 2 skiErg

 
The cons of the concept 2 skierg are
 
  • Specificity 
  • Not a real full body workout 
 
Not many people compete in skiing, at least compared to running which is applicable to almost any team sports. Therefore the skierg will not provide a specific movement relevant to the sport your athletes and clients do, except you live in Norway or Switzerland. This means you will also have to provide another machine apart from the skierg.
 
Even though the marketing claims it is a full body workout I would doubt that you get the same amount of a response from the skierg than a rower or a fan bike. The legs are just too stationary and passive for that. Still a hard workout. 
 

Alternatives to the Concept 2 skiErg

 
Alternatives to the Skierg are
 
 
The Rogue echo bike will probably give you the better full body workout at roughly the same price. You will need minimally more floor space. This is a great option if you want to burn maximum calories per minute per square foot. 
 
The TrueForm runner would be the best option in the market today to simulate real conditions on a treadmill as close as possible. This also comes at a hefty price tag. Based on the reviews I have seen it is worth every penny. 
 
The concept two rower would be the solid option for a full body workout for every age group. I think this one of the best options for home use if you have the space for the entire family. The only downside is that you would have to free up quite some space to fit it into most homes.
 

Summary for the Concept 2 SkiErg

 
The concept 2 skierg is a great machine which fits in any corner. With this, you can train hard and burn your calories. The only downside is that you will mainly focus on your upper body while the legs stay stationary. 
 
 
 
 

Overview and review of the Nordictrack VR25 999 / 1499 (UK/US)

This article discusses the pros, cons, and alternatives for the Nordictrack VR25.This review was originally posted in “Which Nordictrack bike to get”. Follow the links for more details.

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The VR25 is part of the recumbent bike series of Nordictrack. In this product line, it is the flagship of Nordictrack. The main features are an 11kg flywheel, a meshed seat, and a 7-inch touch screen. The full feature list covers:
 
  • 7" Full Colour Capacitive Touch Display
  • iFit Integrated- 1 Years Family Membership Included
  • Smart BlueTooth (BLE) Chestbelt Compatible
  • iPod Compatible Bluetooth Audio (2 - 2" Speaker)
  • Recumbent Frame
  • Step Thru™ Design
  • 11kg Flywheel
  • 26 Digital Resistance Levels
  • Integrated Quick Touch Handle Controls
  • EKG Handgrips
  • 158kg Max User Weight
  • Oversized Lumbar Supported Cushion Sea
  • Easy Glide Seat Adjustment
  • Extra Wide Ergonomic Foot Pedals
  • AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
  • Front-mounted Transport Wheels
  • Water Bottle Holder
  • Pivoting Integrated Tablet Holder
  • Assembled Dimensions - 94L x 63W cm x 156H cm
  • Product Weight 47kg
  • Boxed Weight 52kg
  • Boxed Dimensions - 109L x 37W x 65H cm
  • Warranty - 2 Years parts and labor; 5-year frame guarantee upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.
This is a great choice when you want to be able to burn calories while not being too hard on your joints or work while you are exercising by reading your emails. It might not burn the most calories per minute, but the trade-off is that you can also do some other things while exercising or be easy on yourself after a long day while still burning off some calories.
 

Pros of the Nordictrack VR25

 
Pros of the VR25 include:
 
  • Big flywheel
  • Meshed seat
  • Ipad holder
The 11kg flywheel will last you for a long time and take care of a smooth ride. The bigger the flywheel the smoother the ride and the longer it will last. This is the recumbent bike with the biggest flywheel in the NordicTrack line up. 
 
The meshed seat will make it easier for you to keep the sweat at bay. Other recumbent bikes have solid plastic seats which can become rather disgusting during use. Especially in a professional set up with a lot of turnover a day, a meshed might be good piece of equipment to get with your recumbent bike. 
 
The last benefit you get is a little holder for tablets of most sizes. This way you can stay up to date or just follow your favorite programs and music on your own gadget rather than going through the browser of the VR25. 
 

Cons of the Nordictrack Vr 25

 
The cons of the VR 25 are:
 
  • Low-calorie burn
  • Space requirements
  • Ifit subscription
Recumbent bikes have one of the lowest-calorie burns per minute when it comes to exercise equipment. Why invest a good bit of money into a recumbent while a stiff walk almost has the same effect? Still, that is up to you based on your preferences, possibilities to exercise outside, and who your clientele is. 
 
Compared to traditional bikes a recumbent bike will take up more space. Take this into consideration when you are making your measurements. A bonus compared to ellipticals is that a recumbent bike can tolerate a lower ceiling than an elliptical. 
 
The Ifit subscription might not be for everyone. After the free version is used up you will have to pay 10 - 30 bucks a month to get access to the Ifit subscription for the newest content. You will still be able to have access to a free library, but the latest and greatest content will only be available under the subscription. 
 

Alternatives to the Nordictrack VR25

 
Alternatives to the Nordictrack VR25: 
 
The Nordictrack VR21 is the small sister of the VR25. It has a smaller flywheel and no touch screen display. In return for giving these features up you save 250 pounds or 500 USD. This can be an option for the budget-conscious who are interested in obtaining a recumbent bike. 
 
The Nordictrack C700 treadmill is a great option for joggers and walkers who want to exercise at home rather than outside. If you prefer running over sitting on a recumbent bike, the C700 might be the better option for you. If you are a serious runner who takes his/her treadmill through a lot of abuse, look a little more upmarket than the C700. 
 
The NordicTrack SE5i elliptical is an option for a full-body workout while still being easier on your joints than a treadmill. The SE5i can be a good compromise for the entire family if some want to get a bit harder on their workouts than a recumbent bike will allow. Just make sure that your ceiling is high enough as a dingy garage might be better off with a recumbent bike in it to save you from unnecessary headaches. 
 
The Concept 2 model D is the industry standard for indoor rowing machines. You will save some money compared to the VR25 and still be easy on your joints. Another bonus is that you can hang a rower on the wall after use. The downside is that most concept 2 rowers don't come with a lot of media options. 
 
My personal favorite for a home gym is the uncompromising Rogue echo bike. Rogue maximized stability and metal engineering on this machine while minimizing the entertainment factor and produced a true workhorse. If you are into burning as many calories as possible per minute without breaking the bank or giving up too much space in your home, this is for you. The Echo bike is not for you if you want to be entertained and have it cozy while you burn some calories. 
 

Summary for the VR25

 
The Nordictrack VR25 is a great recumbent bike for professional use in a commercial facility to address people who do not want to go all out on their cardio workout or warmup. The bigger flywheel is especially interesting when the machine is heavily used. Home gym owners might want to save a little money by going for the VR21 instead as they will still get an industry-grade machine for 250 pounds or $500 less. The same goes for commercial facilities that need to buy many recumbent bike units. 
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