Assault Rower vs Concept 2: The Honest Truth About Air Rowers

For decades, there was only one name in the game. If you walked into a CrossFit box, a collegiate boathouse, or a garage gym, you saw a black machine with a nickel-plated chain. But the monopoly is over. The debate of the assault rower vs concept 2 is now one of the most common arguments I hear from athletes building out their home setups.

The Concept 2 RowErg (formerly Model D) is the gold standard. It is the benchmark. However, Assault Fitness—the brand that made us all hate the AirBike—entered the market with a machine built like a tank. Is the challenger worth the investment, or should you stick with the tried-and-true legend?

Key Takeaways: The Quick Comparison

The Standard: If you plan to compete in the CrossFit Open or submit scores to online rowing logs, get the Concept 2. It is the global benchmark for data accuracy.
The Build: The assault rowing machine features a heavy-duty steel frame that feels more planted during sprints, whereas the Concept 2 has a lighter aluminum monorail.
The Connection: Concept 2’s PM5 monitor is superior for connectivity and app integration. The Assault console is high-contrast and functional but lacks the ecosystem of the PM5.
The Feel: Concept 2 offers a distinct, crisp catch. The Assault Rower generally feels smoother on the return but slightly heavier at the start of the pull.

The Battle of the Monitors: PM5 vs. Assault Console

Let’s not bury the lead here. The biggest differentiator isn't the handle or the seat; it's the computer.

The Concept 2 PM5 is the brain of the operation. It self-calibrates. It allows you to compare your 2,000m time with an Olympian in London and know, for a fact, that the effort was measured identically. It connects seamlessly to ErgData, Zwift, and virtually every other training app via Bluetooth.

The Assault Rower console is functional. It gives you watts, heart rate, and distance. It’s backlit and easy to read when you are in the pain cave. However, it lacks the sophisticated self-calibration and massive user community of the PM5. If you are a data nerd, Concept 2 wins this round easily.

Build Quality and Stability

This is where the assault rower pro vs concept 2 conversation gets interesting. If the Concept 2 is a scalpel, the Assault Rower is a sledgehammer.

The Assault Rower sits on a powder-coated steel frame. It is heavy. When you are ripping a 500m sprint at max effort, this machine does not move. It feels grounded and substantial.

The Concept 2 is lighter. It uses aluminum for the front legs and monorail. While it is incredibly durable (I’ve seen 15-year-old units still running smooth), it can "walk" across the floor if you have a violent hip opening during a sprint. However, the lighter weight makes the Concept 2 much easier to store vertically or break down into two pieces.

The "Feel" of the Stroke

Rowing is all about the catch, drive, and recovery. The resistance mechanism matters.

Concept 2 (Air Resistance)

The flywheel on the Concept 2 allows for a variable damper setting (1-10). The chain drive provides a tactile, mechanical feel. You can feel the chain engage the sprocket. It is responsive and crisp.

Assault Rower (Air + Magnetic options)

The Assault Rower Elite uses a dual-stage drive (belt and chain depending on the specific sub-model you are looking at, though the Pro uses a chain). Generally, the Assault feels slightly smoother on the recovery because there is less chain vibration. However, some athletes report the resistance feels "heavier" immediately off the catch compared to the Concept 2.

Seat Comfort and Ergonomics

If you have ever done a marathon row, you know the seat is critical. The Concept 2 seat is relatively hard. It’s designed for performance, not a recliner. Many athletes require a seat pad for sessions longer than 30 minutes.

The Assault Rower seat is slightly softer and contoured differently. For the average garage gym athlete who isn't trying to harden their sit bones for a regatta, the Assault seat often wins on initial comfort.

My Training Log: Real Talk

I’ve spent hundreds of hours on a Concept 2, but I recently spent a month testing the Assault Rower Elite to see if I was missing out.

Here is the unpolished reality: The first thing I noticed wasn't the data—it was the sound pitch. The Concept 2 has a distinct mechanical whir from the chain. The Assault Rower (specifically the belt-driven Elite model) has a deeper "whoosh" sound. It’s less grating on the ears if you aren't wearing headphones.

But here is the detail that made me stick with my Concept 2: The handle texture. The Concept 2 handle is hard rubber. It gets slippery when you sweat, but it holds chalk well. The Assault handle felt a bit foamier to me. When I was deep in a sweaty interval session, I felt like I was losing my grip on the Assault handle more than the rigid C2 handle. Also, the footplates on the Assault felt wider, which was nice for my size 12s, but the heel cups on the Concept 2 are just easier to adjust when you're gasping for air between sets.

Conclusion

If you are training for CrossFit, Hyrox, or on-water rowing, buy the Concept 2. It is the currency of the sport. You need the PM5 to compare apples to apples.

However, if you want a machine that feels bombproof, looks aggressive in a garage gym, and you don't care about global leaderboards, the assault rowing machine is a fantastic piece of engineering. It’s built to survive a nuclear winter, even if it’s not the one you’ll see at the CrossFit Games.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Assault Rower for the CrossFit Open?

Technically, no. The CrossFit Games rulebook typically specifies the Concept 2 Rower for competition. Using an Assault Rower would invalidate your score because the calorie and distance calibration differs between the two machines.

Which rower is quieter?

Air rowers are never silent. However, the belt-driven versions of the Assault Rower are generally quieter and have a lower pitch than the chain-driven Concept 2. The Concept 2 chain can get quite loud if it hasn't been oiled recently.

Is the Assault Rower Pro better than the Elite?

The "Pro" usually refers to the chain-driven model closer to the commercial gym standard, while the "Elite" often features a dual-belt drive for a smoother ride. The Pro is more similar to the Concept 2 in terms of maintenance (chain oiling required), while the Elite is lower maintenance but feels different due to the belt.