The Concept2 RowErg is the rowing machine used in competitive rowing and most serious gyms. Resistance comes from a flywheel with a damper setting rather than magnets or hydraulics, so the harder you pull, the more it pushes back, and a nickel-plated steel chain drives the system.

The PM5 performance monitor is included, not an upgrade. It connects over Bluetooth to Concept2’s free ErgData app and online logbook, and the monitor is an open platform, so it also works with more than forty third-party apps for classes, virtual racing and training programs. It runs on two D cells, which the flywheel recharges while you row.

Two versions are available, and the choice is about getting on and off, not your height. Standard legs set the seat at 14″ and the machine weighs 57 lb. Tall legs raise it to 20″ and add 11 lb, which suits anyone who finds a low seat awkward. Both fit inseams up to 38 inches.

Assembled, it is 96″ long and 24″ wide, and Concept2 suggests leaving 9 ft by 4 ft of space to use it properly. It separates into two pieces without tools for storage, stands 33″ by 25″ by 54″ on standard legs, and rolls on caster wheels. The box includes a device holder, manual, PM5 quick start guide, and the tools needed. Concept2 offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, plus a 2- or 5-year warranty.

Full details on our RowErg page.