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If you’ve ever rowed on a machine at a CrossFit box, a college boathouse, or a commercial gym, there’s a good chance it was a Concept2 — the company that’s been making the same basic air-resistance rowing machine (formerly called the Model D/E, now sold simply as the RowErg) since the 1980s, refined rather than reinvented. This review is for anyone deciding between the Concept2 and the newer wave of screen-first rowers like Hydrow and Peloton Row: is the RowErg’s no-subscription, function-over-flash approach still the smarter buy in 2026, or has it been left behind?
What you’re actually buying
The RowErg uses air resistance: a flywheel with a spiral damper (adjustable 1-10, though the damper setting changes how the resistance feels, not how hard the workout is — that’s on you) spun by a nickel-plated steel chain. Pull harder, and the fan spins faster and pushes back harder, which is why rowers describe Concept2’s resistance curve as the closest thing to real on-water rowing feel among consumer machines.
It ships with the PM5 Performance Monitor — a simple, monochrome LCD screen, not a tablet — that displays pace (split time per 500m), stroke rate, calories, distance, and heart rate if you pair a strap. The PM5 draws its power from your rowing stroke itself, only pulling from its two D-cell batteries when the machine is sitting idle, so battery life is essentially a non-issue. It connects via Bluetooth and ANT+ to Concept2’s free ErgData app and to most third-party platforms — Garmin Connect, Rowsandall, and others — for logging and structured workouts.
Concept2 sells the RowErg in two leg-height configurations: standard legs (14″ seat height) and tall legs (20″ seat height, better for anyone with knee or hip mobility issues who finds getting down to a low seat uncomfortable) — check current pricing for each configuration, since retail prices shift. It’s rated for users up to 500 lbs by Concept2’s own testing (300 lbs under stricter European standards), and it breaks down into two pieces for storage — a real advantage over one-piece rowers if you don’t have a dedicated home-gym room.
Performance and feel
The air-resistance flywheel means the harder and faster you pull, the more resistance you feel — there’s no motor smoothing things out or artificially capping intensity, which is exactly why it’s the machine used in the CrossFit Open and most competitive indoor-rowing races. The tradeoff is noise: it’s louder than a magnetic or water rower, closer to a box fan running at a moderate-to-high setting, though nowhere near disruptive in a normal home.
The PM5’s data is genuinely trusted by competitive rowers and coaches — Concept2’s calorie and pace numbers are the reference standard the rowing world calibrates against, not an estimate dressed up to look precise. What it doesn’t do is stream instructor-led classes or show you a scenic row down a river; the screen is functional, not entertaining, and that’s the whole point of buying this machine over a Hydrow or Peloton.
Comparison table
| Rower | Price (new) | Resistance | Screen/monitor | Subscription required | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concept2 RowErg | Check current price (standard vs. tall-leg models) | Air | PM5 (data-only LCD) | No | Serious data, no ongoing cost, competition-standard feel |
| Hydrow Wave | Check current price | Electromagnetic | 17″ touchscreen | Yes (check current membership price) | Instructor-led classes, compact frame |
| Peloton Row | Check current price | Electromagnetic (Strength Bands) | 23.8″ touchscreen | Yes (check current membership price) | Peloton ecosystem users, combined cardio + strength |
| WaterRower (Classic) | Check current price | Water | Add-on S4 monitor | No | Quiet, natural feel, furniture-grade wood aesthetic |
Honest drawbacks
- The PM5 screen is small, monochrome, and purely functional — if you want streamed classes, scenery videos, or a “big touchscreen” experience, the RowErg will feel plain next to a Hydrow or Peloton.
- It’s genuinely loud under hard effort — not disruptive, but noticeably more mechanical-sounding than a water rower’s “swoosh” or a magnetic rower’s near-silence.
- No built-in coaching or structured programming out of the box; ErgData logs your data, but you have to bring your own workout plan or pull one from Concept2’s free online workout library separately.
- At 57-68 lbs and 8 feet assembled, it’s not a small piece of furniture — it disassembles into two pieces for storage, but you still need floor space to row.
Who should buy it
Anyone who wants rowing-specific fitness — real conditioning, not entertainment — and would rather pay once than commit to a monthly subscription for the machine to be useful. It’s the default recommendation for CrossFit athletes, competitive or ex-competitive rowers, and anyone who’s used one at a gym and knows they like the feel. If streamed classes and a big screen matter more to you than data accuracy and long-term cost, Hydrow or Peloton Row will feel more worth their price; if you want the quietest, most furniture-like option and don’t mind adding a separate monitor, look at a WaterRower instead.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Concept2 membership or subscription to use the RowErg?
No — this is one of its biggest advantages over Hydrow and Peloton Row. The PM5 and ErgData app are free to use for life; there’s no recurring fee required to see your data or log workouts.
Is the RowErg quiet enough for an apartment?
It’s louder than a water or magnetic rower — comparable to a box fan on a moderate-to-high setting during hard pulls — but it’s not disruptive for typical apartment use at normal hours. If noise is your top concern, a WaterRower will be quieter.
Should I get the standard legs or tall legs version?
Standard legs (14″ seat height) work for most users. Tall legs (20″ seat height) are worth the extra cost specifically for people with knee, hip, or back issues who find getting in and out of a low seat difficult — it’s a mobility feature, not a performance upgrade. Check current pricing for the difference between the two.
