Concept2 RowErg Review
The Concept2 RowErg is the plain, air-resistance rower that outlets use as their yardstick. Concept2's page showed $990 with standard legs and $1,155 with tall legs on 2026-11-02, with no membership named. Over three years it costs $990, far below the machines with memberships.
This page is the comparison anchor for the hub, best rowing machines for home. The site names Concept2 and does not promote it, so there is no buy button on this page, and the page applies the same five criteria as the others. MudderElla did not test the rower. What follows is what Concept2 states on its own page, read as page text in a browser on 2026-11-02, plus what named outlets report on pages dated as shown. Where the page read did not state something, this review says so rather than fill the gap.
Why it is the yardstick
Outlets use the RowErg as the machine other rowers are compared with. Garage Gym Reviews titles its review of the Hydrow Wave "The Concept2 of Smart Rowers," and the same site's review of the RowErg, updated 2026-06-01, names it the strongest rower the site has covered. That is an outlet's verdict and not a finding on this site. The practical reason the RowErg serves as a yardstick is simple: it is a flywheel rower with a monitor, a price near $1,000 and no membership, so every connected rower can be measured against what a plain one costs and does.
That framing is also why this page exists. Hydrow and Ergatta each charge or offer a membership, and the Bowflex Revolution is a strength machine. A plain rower shows what you are paying for when you choose one of them.
Facts at a glance
Facts are as Concept2's page words them, read on 2026-11-02.
| Fact | Concept2 RowErg |
|---|---|
| Price, standard legs | $990 |
| Price, tall legs | $1,155 |
| Three-year cost | $990, since no membership is named on the page |
| Resistance | Flywheel; Concept2 says the design puts you in control of workout intensity |
| Monitor | PM5, included; two D cell batteries; draws power from the flywheel during workouts |
| Length and width | 96 x 24 in |
| Monorail | 54 in; an inseam of 38 in or more may need an extra-long monorail |
| Seat height | 14 in standard legs, 20 in tall legs |
| Weight | 57 lb standard legs, 68 lb tall legs |
| Maximum user weight | 500 lb as tested by Concept2; 300 lb as tested to the European standard EN 20957-7 |
| Storage | Separates into two parts with no tools: 25 x 33 x 54 in with standard legs, 27 x 47 x 54 in with tall legs |
| Space needed | 8 ft x 2 ft assembled; 9 ft x 4 ft with clearance, per Concept2 |
| App | ErgData, free for iOS and Android; the page also says "over 40 other apps" |
| Shipping | $55 to the lower 48 with standard legs; $85 with tall legs |
| Noise figure | Not on the page read |
| Warranty and return window | Not printed here; see below |
The maximum user weight carries two numbers because Concept2's page gives both. The 500 lb figure is Concept2's own testing, and the 300 lb figure is what the European standard test produced. Both are printed so a reader can decide which applies.
What Concept2 says the rower is
Concept2's page describes a flywheel design that puts you in control of your workout intensity, and a PM5 monitor and device holder in the box. The page does not give a number of resistance levels. In a flywheel rower you set how hard to pull, and the machine answers with matching resistance; the page's own wording is that the flywheel design puts the rower in control of intensity.
The page says the monitor draws power from the flywheel during workouts, and it also lists two D cell batteries. The free ErgData app connects the monitor to a phone. The app and the monitor are what Concept2 offers where Hydrow and Ergatta offer subscription content, and Concept2's page names no subscription. Outlets add their own views of the programming, covered below.
Warranty and return: not printed on this page
Concept2's RowErg page, as read in a browser on 2026-11-02, does not state a warranty or a return window. Search and summary results gave figures for both, but they could not be confirmed against Concept2's own warranty page as raw text, so this review prints neither. If these matter to your decision, read Concept2's warranty and returns pages directly before buying.
Scorecard
| Criterion | Cell | What the page says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Three-year cost with membership | STATED | $990 or $1,155 by leg height; no membership named |
| 2. Works without a membership | NOT STATED | The page names no membership; it lists a free app |
| 3. Resistance and noise | MIXED | Flywheel is stated; no noise figure; outlets call it loud |
| 4. Footprint and storage | STATED | Length, width, two-part storage and space needed are listed |
| 5. Warranty and return window | CAN'T BE CHECKED | Not on the page read, and not confirmed elsewhere |
| User height | MIXED | Inseam of 38 in or more may need an extra-long monorail |
Criterion 2 is NOT STATED because Concept2's page does not say whether a membership exists; it simply names none. The cost row follows from that, and a buyer who wants it confirmed should ask Concept2.
Noise: what outlets report
Concept2's page states no noise figure, and this review prints none either. Outlets agree on the direction, if not on a number:
- Breaking Muscle (page lists a last update of 2023-11-14) calls it loud and says it gets louder as you row harder.
- Expert Reviews (2022-12-14) calls it noisy.
- BoxRox (2025-09-17) says it is louder than magnetic machines.
Outlets and search results also quote a range of decibel figures, but they come from unnamed sources and do not agree, so none is reported here. The fair summary is that the RowErg is described as louder than magnetic and water rowers, with no figure to compare.
Who it is wrong for
- Anyone who wants an instructor on screen. The RowErg shows data on its PM5 monitor and works with apps, and it does not coach. See the Hydrow review for a rower with coached video.
- Anyone who wants game-style workouts. The Ergatta review covers a rower built around them, with an optional membership per Ergatta.
- Anyone who needs near-silence. Outlets call the RowErg loud, and the air vs magnetic vs water rowing machines comparison explains why.
- Anyone short on floor space. It is 96 inches long and needs about 8 ft x 2 ft assembled, though it separates into two parts for storage.
- Anyone who wants a stated warranty or return window on the page before buying, since this page does not print one.
Where it is cheaper or simpler
On price, the RowErg is the least expensive machine this site covers closely. Over three years it costs $990 against $3,603 for the Ergatta Luxe on monthly membership and $3,795 for the Hydrow Wave. That is a gap of $1,209 against the Ergatta Luxe's price alone and $1,005 against the Wave's price alone. It is also simpler: no screen subscription, no account decision, and no membership tiers to read. The cost of that simplicity is the coaching or games a membership adds. The budget rowing machines guide says what a lower price leaves out, and the beginner rowing machine guide says where a plain rower suits a first buyer.
What outlets report
Outlets are named with the date their page shows, and the site did not test the machine.
- Garage Gym Reviews (updated 2026-06-01) names it the strongest rower the site has covered, and says its price is justified by durability, workout quality and resale value. It lists basic built-in programming as a drawback.
- BoxRox (2025-09-17) calls it worth the investment, durable and accurate, and best for beginners through elite rowers. It notes the length of over 8 ft and the extra noise.
- Breaking Muscle (last updated 2023-11-14) calls it one of the strongest rowers, with a smooth feel, easy assembly and a long life. It lists loudness as a drawback.
- Expert Reviews (2022-12-14) says it remains among the top-regarded rowers, durable but noisy and basic digitally. Its reviewer found the Hydrow "more rewarding for complete novices."
Where outlets differ:
- Digital content. Garage Gym Reviews and Expert Reviews describe basic programming or little digital integration. The app and monitor on Concept2's page are what Concept2 states; outlets differ on how much they add.
- Price. Outlets quote slightly different prices because their pages are from different dates. This review uses Concept2's page.
- Against Hydrow. Expert Reviews says Hydrow was more rewarding for complete novices, and Garage Gym Reviews calls the RowErg the strongest rower it covers.
Two other outlet entries, from Fit&Well and Coach, could not be confirmed against the right page and are not cited.
Versus the alternatives
The Hydrow vs Concept2 page compares the RowErg with a coached rower and a required membership. The Ergatta vs Concept2 page compares an air rower with a water rower. For where the RowErg sits among cheaper picks, see the budget guide above, and for where it sits among beginner picks, see the beginner guide above.
FAQ
How much is a Concept2 RowErg?
Concept2's page showed $990 with standard legs and $1,155 with tall legs on 2026-11-02. Shipping to the lower 48 is $55 for standard legs and $85 for tall legs, per the same page. No membership is named, so the three-year cost is the purchase price.
How loud is a Concept2 RowErg?
Concept2's page gives no noise figure. Breaking Muscle, Expert Reviews and BoxRox describe it as loud or louder than magnetic machines. Decibel figures from unnamed sources do not agree, so none is reported on this page.
What is the Concept2 RowErg weight limit?
Concept2's page gives two: 500 lb as tested by Concept2, and 300 lb as tested to the European standard EN 20957-7.
Does the RowErg need a subscription?
Concept2's page names no subscription. It lists a PM5 monitor and the free ErgData app for iOS and Android, and says over 40 other apps work with it.
What is the Concept2 warranty?
This page does not print one. The RowErg page read on 2026-11-02 did not state a warranty or a return window, and figures from summaries could not be confirmed. Read Concept2's warranty page directly.