Updated 1 Nov 2026
Is the Concept2 RowErg worth it?
Yes — the rower to get if you just want to row.
It's a fan rower, so the harder you pull, the harder it pushes back, and a lever on the fan (the damper, 1 to 10) sets how heavy each stroke feels. The PM5 monitor shows pace per 500m, watts, calories and stroke rate, runs set workouts, and links by Bluetooth to apps and heart-rate straps. It splits in two without tools for storage and rolls on wheels. The fan whooshes loudly when you row hard, the screen is plain, and there are no built-in classes.
100%of 1,606 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Smooth air resistance with a 1–10 damper
- PM5 monitor: pace, watts, workouts, Bluetooth
- Splits in two for storage
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What owners say
Almost every owner is happy: they praise how solid it is, the tracking on the monitor and how quickly it goes together. The few unhappy ones each had a different gripe.
Good to know
- The fan makes a loud whoosh when you row hard.
- The seat sits low, 36 cm off the floor; the tall-legs version lifts it to 51 cm for more money.
- The monitor is plain numbers: no videos or classes.
- Even on tall legs the seat may be too low for people with very stiff knees or hips.
From 1,606 buyer ratings at Rogue Fitness and Rebel Sport (Australia), every complaint read by us, November 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Solid and well built, made to last for yearsMentioned a lot
- The monitor tracks every workout and links to phone apps and watchesMentioned a lot
- The same machine gyms and rowing clubs useMentioned a lot
- Quick and easy to put togetherMentioned often
What they complain about
Hardly any: just 4 of 1,606 owners gave it 3 stars or fewer, and no complaint came up often enough to list.
Get it if…
- You want a rower that lasts for years with little upkeep.
- You train for fitness, CrossFit or Hyrox, where it's the standard machine.
- You'd rather use your own apps than pay a monthly fee.
Skip it if…
- You need a quiet machine for a flat.
- You want coached classes on a big screen.
- You want it to look like furniture.
More on the Concept2 RowErg
How we reached this verdict
Breaking Muscle, whose staff have tested more than 20 rowers, scores it near the top for build, performance and value, with noise, a seat that can be too low for people with stiff joints, and no classes on screen as its drawbacks. Live Science names it its best rower overall for performance, durability and price, and T3 also puts it first, noting it's a little noisy.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: Breaking Muscle, Live Science, T3, Concept2 (specs), Expert Reviews, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 1 Nov 2026How we decide