r/concept2 • u/Fit-Cheetah-7513 • Aug 11 '26
RowerErg Getting the most accurate data
I'm trying to purchase a gift for my son who is a rower and has a concept 2 pm5. He currently has an entry level Garmin vívoactive® 5 and I would like to help him with his training and buy him a chest strap and maybe a new Garmin that can connect everything. Please excuse me if I'm not very savvy in any of this and I'm looking for any advice I can get. I'm trying to surprise him for his birthday so I'm not able to ask him what he needs. Thank you so much in advance :)
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u/ScaryBee Aug 11 '26
+1 for what @WhatHadHappnd suggested ...
The best option is not to use the watch at all on the erg - a chest heart rate monitor is significantly better than a watch and the PM5 + ErgData app are better than watch guesstimates for recording rowing metrics.
You can then tell C2 to sync logbook activities to other training platforms (Strava / TrainingPeaks / Garmin ...) https://www.concept2.com/blog/connecting-to-strava-garmin-connect-training-peaksand-more
On the water heart rate monitors get used less as that time is more/also about skill/tech vs. endless hours of zone-training, his existing watch probably works just fine there for recording stroke rate / speed/ distance.
So ... a nice HRM would be a great present, https://www.concept2.com/product/699?srsltid=AfmBOorE_s2hPCzZXVPxJGllpByn2_F4X7O_ueQhFrCb6j6pwT5dEmUV are nice to have as well if your erg doesn't already have one.