Concept2 RowErg review
A PM5 monitor whose numbers are the sport's standard, and a machine that outlasts the room it is in.
An air resistance indoor rowing machine with the Performance Monitor 5 giving accurate comparable data, Bluetooth and ANT plus connectivity, an integrated device holder, a 14 inch seat height and adjustable footrests.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Monitor | Performance Monitor 5, accurate and comparable data |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth and ANT plus, compatible with over 40 apps |
| Resistance | Adjustable air resistance via flywheel |
| Seat height | 14 inches |
| Adjustment | Adjustable footrests and ergonomic handle |
| Extras | Integrated device holder for a phone or tablet |
Specifications above come from Concept2's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- The PM5 produces the standard measurement in rowing. A 2,000 metre time on this machine means the same thing anywhere in the world, which no treadmill or bike can claim.
- Air resistance is self scaling: pull harder and the resistance rises, so the machine never runs out and never needs a setting for a hard effort.
- It separates into two pieces for storage, which for a machine this capable is unusual and is why they fit in ordinary houses.
- Low impact full body work is the ideal cross training for runners carrying an impact injury, because it maintains aerobic fitness without loading the legs the same way.
Where it falls short
- Air resistance is loud, and the noise is proportional to effort. In a flat above neighbours a hard interval session is antisocial in a way a magnetic rower is not.
- Rowing technique is genuinely learnable and genuinely easy to do badly, and bad technique puts load through the lower back. Watch Concept2's own technique videos before starting hard sessions.
- The 14 inch seat height suits most people and can be low for anyone with knee or hip restrictions, which is what the Model E with tall legs exists for.
- It is nearly a thousand dollars, and a runner who will use it twice a month is better served by a gym membership.
What owners report
Published owner reports are close to unanimous, and the striking pattern is longevity: machines twenty years old with the original chain still in service are routinely described. Resale value is unusually strong for fitness equipment, which reflects that.
The consistent criticism is noise, which follows directly from air resistance. Technique also recurs: owners who learned properly describe a superb workout, and those who did not describe back discomfort. That is a coaching issue rather than a machine one and it is worth a session with a coach or a careful hour with the manufacturer's videos.
Who it suits
- Runners wanting low impact aerobic cross training, especially while injured.
- Anyone who wants performance data comparable with everyone else in the world.
- Households wanting one machine that will still be working in twenty years.
Who should skip it
- Flats above neighbours, where air resistance noise is a genuine problem.
- Anyone with a lower back issue who will not learn technique properly.
- People who will use it occasionally, where a gym membership costs less.
Alternatives worth considering
Twice the price, and it trains the movement you actually race. A rower is cross training; a treadmill is running. If you are healthy and training for a running event, the treadmill is the specific tool.
Check price on AmazonFour hundred and forty dollars less if you already own a bike, and it gives low impact aerobic work with structured resistance control. The better cross training choice if cycling is your second sport.
Check Backcountry → Check price on AmazonCommon questions
Is rowing good cross training for runners?
It is among the best options, because it is low impact and full body while still allowing genuinely hard aerobic work. That combination is exactly what a runner with an impact injury needs to hold fitness. Our aerobic and anaerobic calculator helps set the intensities.
How loud is a Concept2?
Loud enough to be a consideration. Air resistance means the flywheel noise rises with effort, so a hard interval session is genuinely noisy. Magnetic and water rowers are quieter. If you live above someone, this is the single most important thing to weigh.
RowErg or Model E?
The standard RowErg has a 14 inch seat height; the Model E sits at 20 inches on taller legs, which suits anyone who finds getting up from a low seat difficult. The rowing and the monitor are identical. Choose on seat height and on price.
Do I need to learn technique?
Yes, and it takes less time than people expect. Rowing is a leg drive followed by a body swing and an arm pull, and doing it in the wrong order loads the lower back. Concept2 publish good technique videos, and an hour with them before your first hard session is the best investment you can make.
What is a good 2,000 metre time?
It depends entirely on your size, sex and training age, which is why the PM5 reports split time per 500 metres rather than a ranking. Because every Concept2 measures the same way, your time is directly comparable with anyone else's, which is the machine's real advantage.
Keep reading
- Best rowing machines
- Treadmill vs bike trainer
- Aerobic and anaerobic calculator
- NordicTrack Commercial 1750 review
- Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 review
- Recovery calculator
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.