The air rower market is extremely competitive, with the Concept2 RowErg dominating the space. However, plenty of rowing athletes are opting for the AssaultRower Elite, and I had to try it out for myself to learn what it has over the Concept2 and other air rowers.
The comfort of the AssaultRower Elite was the first thing that convinced me the AssaultRower Elite deserved some recognition. While many rowing machines have gotten away with very basic seats and handles, the Elite is not one of them. I felt more comfortable and willing to row for longer because of the nice seat and handle on the AssaultRower Elite.
However, comfort alone might not be enough to win all of you over. Luckily, the Elite has more going for it. You should continue reading to learn everything cool about this sturdy air rowing machine.
AssaultRower Elite Review: Bottom Line
AssaultRower Elite vs Similar Rowing Machines
See how the Elite stacks up to the fierce competition from the Concept2 RowErg and other top rowing machines like the Hydrow and NordicTrack heavyweights.
 AssaultRower Elite |  Concept2 RowErg |  Hydrow Wave |  NordicTrack RW900 |  Aviron Strong |  Rogue Echo Rower | |
| Price (MSRP) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Star Rating | ||||||
| Bottom Line | The AssaultRower Elite is one of the most comfortable air rowing machines on the market, but it still packs a punch with its unlimited air resistance for a difficult workout. | The Concept2 is regarded as the best rower with the most accurate monitor and competition-level performance. | The Hydrow Wave’s magnetic resistance and training content create the most realistic on-the-water feel with a lighter frame and lower price than other machines in Hydrow’s lineup. | The NordicTrack RW900 uses iFIT for automatic resistance adjustments that make varying your intensity easier than it is on any other rowing machine. | The Aviron Strong Rower turns your workout into a game, entertains you with streaming apps, and guides you with trainer-led workouts. | This folding air rower from Rogue is for homes, garages, commercial gyms, and competitions |
| Awards Earned | ||||||
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| Product | AssaultRower Elite | Concept2 RowErg | Hydrow Wave | NordicTrack RW900 | Aviron Strong | Rogue Echo Rower |
| Workout Experience | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Specs / Features | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| Dimensions / Storability | 6 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
| On-Board Workouts & Apps | 5 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| Build Quality | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Overall Score | 87 | 92 | 90 | 83 | 82 | 88 |
| # of Onboard Workouts | 8 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| Paid Programming - Cost | N/A | N/A | $44/month | $39/month | $29/month | N/A |
| Netflix / 3rd Party Apps | N/A | N/A | N/A | Netflix, Prime (in beta-testing) | YouTube, Max, Disney+, Hulu, Prime, Spotify, Paramount+, Netflix | N/A |
| Display | Battery-powered digital console | PM5 Console | 16” HD touchscreen | 22” HD touchscreen | 22” HD touchscreen | 4.7” backlit LCD |
| Dimensions (In Use) | 92" x 20" x 49" | 96” L x 24” W x 14” H | 80" L x 19" W 43" H | 82" L x 22" W x 54" H | 84” L x 27” W x 48” H | 99” L x 26” W |
| Pedal Type | ||||||
| Storage | Horizontal, vertical | Vertical, horizontal, in two pieces | Horizontal, vertical | Horizontal, vertical | Vertical, horizontal | Foldable, vertical, horizontal |
| Rower Weight | 157 lbs | 57 lbs | 102 lbs | 163 lbs | 114 lbs | 72.6 lbs |
| Weight Capacity | 350 lbs | 500 lbs | 375 lbs | 250 lbs | 507 lbs | 500 lbs |
| Resistance Type | air | Air | magnetic | magnetic | Hybrid magnet & air | Air |
| Max Resistance | unlimited | Unlimited | 300 (drag factor) | 26 levels | 16 magnetic resistance levels | Unlimited |
| Height Limit | 6’5”+ | 38” (inseam) | 36” (inseam) | 6’5”+ | 6’8” | 38” Inseam |
| Warranty | 5-year frame, 3-year parts, 1-year labor | 5 years on frame; 2 years on moving parts and console | 5-year frame; 12-month parts, screen, and labor | 10-year frame; 2-year parts, 1-year labor | 10-year frame, 1-year parts | 5-year frame, 2-year moving parts & monitor |
| Additional Features | Comfortable seat, single-handed grip option, Bluetooth | 10-level damper, chain drive, device holder | Belt drive, Bluetooth, frame color options | Automatic resistance adjustments, Bluetooth, pivot & tilt screen | Belt drive, air ventilation, tall seat | Quick-release foot straps, turf tires, 10-level damper |
Dimensions/Storability
The Assault Elite requires a bit more assembly than other rowers, but it isn’t too difficult.
There are leveling feet under both the front and rear stabilizers, so you can adjust the legs to the area you decide to use the Elite. This prevents rocking during use.
There are also front-mounted transport wheels so you can lift the backend and pivot the rower to roll when needed. The total footprint is 92″ long by 20″ wide and 49″ high. This frame will support up to 350 pounds and work for anyone from 5 feet to 6 feet 5 inches tall.
The Elite does not fold up, nor does it come apart into two separate pieces for storage. The monorail does not hinge to fold in half at the base of the flywheel. However, the front of the flywheel has a flat spot on the cover, so you can easily store this rowing machine upright to save floor space.
We recommend users plan for the floor space needed for this rower. Since proper rowing form requires that you lean back during the drive and finish, the rower needs plenty of room behind it as well, so do not place the back end of the rower against a wall — you will hit the wall when rowing.
Also, there are some exercises that can be done by using the seat for plank extensions or lateral lunges, so keeping the surrounding area clear and open enables you to use the rower in various ways.
Onboard Workouts & Apps
Console/Controls
The console is relatively easy to use. The tactile buttons are nice because you can feel the button responding when you press it. However, with time, we find that raised, tactile buttons can get dirty and/or stuck.
The console on the AssaultRower Elite is simple but gives you all of the metrics you need.
The functionality of this console doesn’t compare with the PM5, and since the Elite is more expensive than the Concept2 rowers, we would like to see more features and functionality. The ability to upload workouts via USB or other connection would make it so Elite owners could compare workouts and goals. More customizable programs and/or games would be great.
Bluetooth
The Elite console is Bluetooth enabled to sync with heart rate chest straps. A designated box on the console screen will display your heart rate during your row session.
Power
The console requires battery power. Monitor power is supplemented by the spinning flywheel to extend battery life. You do not need to be close to a wall outlet to use the Elite.
Build Quality
Frame
The Assault Elite has an elevated monorail that is straight and does not angle down at the catch, which makes it a little easier to get on and off. The frame is steel, and the whole rower weighs 157 pounds, which is 100 pounds more than the Concept2 Model D! The aluminum monorail feels sturdy under the seat, and there is a fluid feeling throughout the rowing motion.
The flywheel fan is especially impressive, with cool red blades that show through the fan grating. You can see the flywheel spinning as you row, which kicks up a cooling breeze during your workout. As with other resistance rowers, the harder you pull, the more resistance is generated by the fan.
Foot Boards
The pedals can be lengthened or shortened depending on the user’s foot size. A ledge runs along the base and side of the pedal for foot support. Since the pedal itself is separate from the footboard, your heels can lift while you row. These pedals should work with any athletic shoe. An adjustable strap secures the bridge of the foot for security while rowing.
The footboards on the Assault Rower are simple to adjust and are comfortable for your rowing workout.
Handle
The Elite handle is wide and contoured for a comfortable hold. The handle is sweat and moisture-proof and can be wiped down to sanitize. It is just thick enough to work for most sized hands. Assault Fitness recommends keeping your thumb wrapped around the handle at all times, and the width is just right for this.
The handle sits right above the footboards and is in a very comfortable position.
The handle is more contoured than other rower handles, with two side grips and a center area for one-handed rowing. Rather than vents for individual fingers (like on the Concept2 rower), the Elite handle has one large open center section. This probably works better for those with large hands since you don’t have to thread each finger through a specific hole.
Seat
The seat is moisture and sweat-resistant and can be easily wiped down after use. Like other high-end rowers, this seat is gently contoured and just wide enough to provide necessary support without creating friction spots. A divot in the rear of the seat accommodates your tailbone so it doesn’t rub the seat during the drive and finish.
The seat on the Assault Air Rower is extremely comfortable.
Proper seat ergonomics makes a difference when rowing, especially since the user must lean back during the drive and finish. If the seat is uncomfortable or if there are weird contact points, it can cause friction sores while rowing. The seat on the Elite is gently padded with appropriate leg and tailbone contouring.
Flywheel
The steel flywheel is 19″ in diameter, and we personally like the red blades that spin inside the fan. This isn’t a super quiet rower, but the harder you row, the more of a breeze you generate!
One drawback to the Elite is there is no damper, so you cannot change or adjust the amount of air flowing through the fan. While you could argue that a damper isn’t vital for every rower, it is hard to understand why Assault Fitness wouldn’t include this feature, which is on the Concept2 rowers, which are much less expensive.
A damper makes a significant difference in the feel of the rowing stroke, so even though it doesn’t affect resistance, it changes the nature of the rowing session by removing a key variable. Experienced rowers or those who want to compete on a competitive level may find the absence of a damper to be a deal breaker for this rower.
The fan on the Assault Rower Elite includes a wind guard to prevent air from coming towards you.
Air Resistance
The Elite is exclusively an air-resistance rower. There are several advantages to air resistance rowers. First, air resistance is easy to calibrate and measure. Air resistance is also inexpensive and does not require electricity. This type of resistance is also unlimited—which means the harder you pull, the more resistance is generated by the flywheel.
As mentioned above, one drawback to air resistance is it is noisy. The Elite is not a quiet machine, and we recommend it be placed in a designated workout space or other area where its use won’t negatively affect those in close proximity. The advantages of air rowers are well documented, but users need to be aware of the tradeoff in overall noise output.
Noise Level
As mentioned, all air rowers create noise as air passes through the fan blades. The Assault Fitness Elite chain is quieter than the others we’ve used due to the hybrid chain belt drive.
However, the rush of air moving through the fan blades is quite noticeable. As more people begin to exercise at home, noise volume matters. If the Elite is placed in a designated workout area, such as a separate room or home gym, the noise is not an issue.
We wouldn’t recommend placing this in a central location with the idea that you’ll watch Netflix while rowing. It would be a bit too loud for that. In general, though, the Elite isn’t much louder than comparable air-resistance rowers.
The Assault Rower Elite is one our favorite rowing machines.
Should You Buy the AssaultRower Elite
The AssaultRower Elite is a large, rugged air rower designed for commercial or residential use. It has a steel 19″ flywheel that generates significant air resistance and provides a cooling breeze while rowing. The aluminum monorail is sleek, and the seat slides smoothly back and forth along the rail. The seat is contoured and slightly padded, and the handle has multiple grips.
The overall look is impressive, with powder-coated steel legs and stabilizers. Front-mounted transport wheels allow you to roll it when needed, and there are four leveling feet (two under each stabilizer) for you to adjust the rower for your floor. We like the overall design of the rower but have a few concerns about the console and the lack of a damper on the flywheel.
For a rower at this price point, we’d expect to see a bit more functionality in the console, and the addition of a damper would reintroduce a valuable training variable. However, we love that the console, chain, and flywheel have all been customized for HIIT training.
This is a great rower for conditioned athletes who want to improve their strength and rowing performance by adding high-intensity intervals to their regimen. Air rowers are the gold standard for rowing resistance since the rower will generate power commiserate with each rowing stroke. The stronger you pull, the harder the resistance. Thus, Elite is for new and conditioned athletes.
AssaultRower Elite Q&A / FAQ
What are the disadvantages of the AssaultRower Elite?
The AssaultRower Elite is loud and does not have guided video training content. It has a low-tech console. Despite its disadvantages, the AssaultRower Elite has a lot of advantages for athletes looking for a high-quality, sturdy air rower.
Is the AssaultRower Elite better than a water rower?
The AssailtRower Elite is an air rower. Air rowers have the advantage of having an unlimited amount of air to move around compared to the limited reservoir of a water rower. Air rowers are often more affordable and won’t leak. Water rowers, however, are much quieter.
Is the AssaultRower Elite good?
Yes, the AssaultRower Elite is a good rower for users of all abilities. It does not require electricity or a subscription service. It has a high-quality build and comfortable features. The AssaultRower Elite is powerful and versatile.
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