In-depth review
Concept2 RowErg Review (2027): The Measuring Instrument of Rowing
Full research review of the Concept2 RowErg: PM5 data, air resistance, standard versus tall legs, storage, noise, and long-term ownership.
Concept2 RowErg Indoor Rowing Machine
The air rower every other rower is measured against, with the PM5 monitor as its crown.
- Air, spiral damper 1-10
- Resistance
- PM5, Bluetooth and ANT+
- Monitor
- 500 lb
- Capacity
Our verdict
The RowErg is less a product than a standard. Its PM5 reports the same honest numbers in a home gym as in a boathouse, its air flywheel has no ceiling for a growing athlete, and its maker sells parts with a seriousness the rest of the industry should copy. The compromises are sensory: fan noise on hard work, a firm seat on long work, and looks that belong in a training hall. If your rowing will be measured, repeated, and kept for years, this remains the default answer for good reason.
What we like
- PM5 monitor gives accurate pace, watts, and stroke data that matches machines in gyms worldwide
- Air resistance scales naturally with effort, no settings to outgrow
- Separates into two pieces and stands up for storage, with parts support that never seems to end
What to watch out for
- Fan noise is the loudest here apart from other air models
- No built-in entertainment; you bring a tablet or your own discipline
- Industrial looks will not blend into a living room
Who it is for
Serious home trainers, former and current rowers, and anyone who wants workout data they can trust and compare for years.
The PM5 is the product
Other monitors estimate a workout; the PM5 measures one, in pace, watts, stroke rate, and force data that can be logged, exported, and compared with any other PM5 on earth. That comparability turns solitary home rows into training with a history, and it is the main reason owners keep these machines for a decade.
Air resistance, damper honesty
The fan gets heavier as you pull harder, so the machine never caps your effort. The damper lever changes air flow and stroke feel, not a fixed resistance level, and learning to set it by drag factor rather than by the 1 to 10 label is the RowErg's one real lesson. Everything after that lesson is just rowing.
Fit, legs, and storage
The standard machine sits at a 14-inch seat height; the tall-leg version at 20 inches suits rowers who struggle with low seats, at a higher price and a different listing, so match the version at checkout. In use it needs a 9 by 4 ft working area, then it splits at the framelock into two carryable pieces or stands on end, which is how a 96-inch machine lives in normal homes.
Noise and the household
Each hard stroke draws a whoosh from the fan housing. Easy rowing is living-room civil; interval rowing is garage behavior. Owners in apartments row early on mats, row hard at midday, and almost universally say the data was worth the scheduling.
Key specifications
- Resistance
- Air, spiral damper 1-10
- Monitor
- PM5, Bluetooth and ANT+
- Capacity
- 500 lb
- Seat height
- 14 in on standard legs, 20 in tall-leg version
- Storage
- Separates in two, or stands upright
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Numbers feel trustworthy year after year
- Still supported and repairable long after purchase
- Holds resale value like no rival
Common complaints
- Seat comfort on very long rows needs a pad for many owners
- Fan sound carries in small homes
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: Concept2 RowErg product documentation, Amazon listing specifications
Also consider
WaterRower Natural Rowing Machine
Water resistance in a solid ash frame that stores upright and looks like furniture.
- Resistance: Water, self-scaling
- Monitor: S4 performance monitor
Sources: WaterRower Natural product documentation, Amazon listing specifications
Check price on Amazonor add to your Amazon cartChoose the WaterRower for a smoother, quieter stroke and furniture looks, giving up PM5-grade data. Read our WaterRower Natural Rowing Machine review
HydrowHydrow Rowing Machine
Electromagnetic rower built around a 22-inch screen and instructor-led rows on the water.
- Resistance: Electromagnetic, computer controlled
- Monitor: 22 in HD touchscreen, membership for content
Sources: Hydrow product documentation, Amazon listing specifications
Check price on Amazonor add to your Amazon cartChoose the Hydrow if coached classes on a big screen are what will keep you consistent, accepting a membership. Read our Hydrow Rowing Machine review
Research-based assessment: manufacturer specifications and documentation, cross-checked against retailer listings and recurring themes in published owner feedback. We do not claim hands-on testing we have not performed.
FAQ
Questions, answered straight
Standard legs or tall legs?
Standard 14-inch legs for most rowers. The 20-inch tall version helps anyone who finds low seats hard to get down to and up from, and it is a distinct version with its own listing and price, so verify which one is in your cart.
Does the RowErg need a subscription for its best features?
No. The PM5, workouts, and logging work without one. Free and paid apps can connect to it, but the machine's core value never sits behind a paywall.