Premium PickRank #1 in Rowing Machines
Concept2 RowErg
by Concept2Buy next
Score
The default home rower: air resistance that scales with every stroke, a PM5 monitor in the box, and splits you can compare with any RowErg. Plan for a 9 × 4 ft use area.
- Anyone training for indoor rowing benchmarks or CrossFit-style metcon work
- Buyers who want a single piece of cardio equipment they will own for 20 years
- Households tracking watts and split times with global standardized data
- Hybrid athletes who want full-body cardio that doubles as conditioning
- You need a near-silent machine for an apartment with thin walls
- You want trainer-led on-screen classes with video instruction
- You have no storage space and cannot break it apart for vertical storage
- You prefer the smoother feel of water or magnetic resistance
Concept2 lists a 96 × 24 inch frame and recommends 9 × 4 ft with clearance for use. Standard-leg split storage dimensions are 25 × 33 × 54 inches; follow the manual for storage.
easy — Eight bolts, no wiring, no software setup. Most owners report 20 to 30 minutes start to finish. Comes with the only tool needed.
A rower is one of the highest-value cardio pieces for a small home gym since it doubles as conditioning and full-body warmup, and the Concept2 holds value so well that resale risk is near zero.
Strengths
- ↑PM5 monitor included, with splits comparable across every RowErg
- ↑Air resistance scales with how hard you pull
- ↑Separates into two pieces for storage
- ↑Concept2 sells replacement parts and publishes maintenance guides
Weaknesses
- ↓Fan noise carries in a shared room or thin-walled apartment
- ↓No built-in class screen; workouts run through the PM5 or apps
- ↓Needs a 9 × 4 ft use area, more than its 8 × 2 ft frame
What owners actually complain about
Synthesized from owner reviews and community threads. Paraphrased, not quoted.
- Air resistance produces a whoosh-and-fan sound that is audible through walls and floors at hard splits
- Not sold on Amazon, so Prime shipping and easy returns are not available; ships factory-direct with a multi-week wait
- Monorail can creak if not periodically wiped down with the included cloth; dust on the rail is the most common service issue
- Seat is firm and many owners add a gel pad for sessions longer than 30 minutes
- Damper setting confuses new owners who think higher is better; it is a feel preference, not a difficulty knob
Buyer sentiment
Based on 6,084 user mentionsBuyers praise quality, assembly, workout and value for money.
Verdict: The category default for home rowing: air resistance, the PM5 monitor and splits that compare across every RowErg, for anyone who wants to train on numbers.
Specs that matter
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Resistance | Air flywheel, damper 1–10 |
| Monitor | PM5, included |
| User cap | 500 lb |
| Fits | Inseams up to 38 in (extra-long rail beyond that) |
| Use area | 9 × 4 ft with clearance |
| Storage | Separates into two pieces; 25 × 33 × 54 in with standard legs |
What you get
- Comparable data — PM5 splits and watts line up with every other RowErg, so a plan or a coach's targets transfer directly
- Resistance that scales — the harder you pull, the more the fan resists, much as a boat does on water
- Repairability — Concept2 sells parts and publishes maintenance guides; five-year frame and two-year parts and monitor warranty
What you give up
- Noise — air whoosh carries through walls and floors
- No trainer-led classes — workouts run through the PM5, ErgData or third-party apps
Buy it if you value data, durability and lifetime cost per workout. Skip it if you need quiet resistance (a magnetic rower) or studio-style classes (Hydrow).
Standard legs give a 14-inch seat height and tall legs 20 inches on the same rail, so pick legs for mounting comfort and check inseam separately. Concept2 recommends a damper setting of 3 to 5.
Full specs
- Resistance Type
- Air
- Monitor
- PM5
- Max User Weight
- 500 lb
- Damper
- 1-10 setting
Common questions
What damper setting should I use?
Concept2 recommends a damper setting of 3 to 5 for most workouts. The damper changes how much air reaches the flywheel, so a higher number feels heavier per stroke but is not a harder-workout dial, and Concept2 warns that high settings can raise injury risk. Check the drag factor on the PM5 to compare machines.
How loud is it for an apartment?
It is a fan rower, so the whoosh rises with effort and carries through thin walls and floors. A mat cuts vibration and protects the floor, but not the air noise. If you share a wall with a light sleeper, a magnetic rower is the quieter choice.
What does the PM5 monitor add?
The PM5 comes with every new RowErg. It pairs over Bluetooth with Concept2's free ErgData app to log workouts, and connects to Bluetooth or ANT+ heart-rate straps. The current ErgData app does not work with the older PM3 or PM4 monitors.
Where can I buy a RowErg?
Concept2 sells direct and through resellers, and the RowErg is also listed on Amazon. Check the seller and warranty terms on whichever listing you use; Concept2 can confirm whether a company is an authorized reseller.
How long does it last?
It is built to be repaired: Concept2 sells replacement parts and publishes maintenance guides, and the warranty covers the frame for five years and moving parts and the monitor for two.
Sources & references
- ManufacturerRowErg specifications— Concept2
- ManufacturerOrdering and resellers— Concept2
- ManufacturerLimited warranty— Concept2
Full buying guide
Best Rowing Machines for Home Use in 2026
Read the full ranking →Other rowing machines we rate
Ranked alternatives from the same category, with our score and the current price.
The rower your designer friend will approve of. Real water tank, ash wood frame, genuinely stunning. Stroke feel is smoother than air, tracking is less precise than Concept2.
The premium guided experience. Magnetic resistance, 22" HD touchscreen, filmed-on-water workouts. Worth it if you'll use the classes — the content is the product.
Every other rower ranked here is a four-figure machine, which left the category with nothing to point a first-time buyer at. This is that machine: a dual-rail magnetic rower with sixteen resistance levels, a 45.7-inch slide rail and a 300 lb frame rating, at roughly a fifth of what the top of this page costs. Magnetic resistance does not load harder the faster you pull, so it will never feel like a RowErg and it cannot give you a comparable split — but it is quiet enough for an apartment, it stores on end, and the stroke is smooth. Treat it as the honest entry point, not as a cheaper Concept2.
Game-ified rowing with a water-resistance base. Workouts feel like boat races against AI opponents. Fun for people who hate structured classes.