Concept2 RowErg Review: No Other Answer

Let's start with the conclusion: if you need a rowing machine for CrossFit training, buy the Concept2 RowErg. There is no meaningful alternative discussion.

This isn't brand loyalty or marketing. It's the reality that the Concept2 RowErg is the machine used at every CrossFit Open workout involving rowing, every CrossFit Games event involving rowing, and every CrossFit Sanctional event globally. When you train on a RowErg, your training scores directly translate to your competition performance. When you train on any other machine, they don't.

That fact settles the purchasing decision for any athlete training with competitive intent.

Why The Concept2 Is The Standard

CrossFit specified it. CrossFit's competition standards explicitly require Concept2 ergs for rowing events. This wasn't arbitrary — Concept2's consistency and performance monitoring are unmatched in the category.

Every metric matters. The PM5 monitor on the RowErg tracks wattage, pace, calories, stroke rate, and heart rate (with chest strap) with accuracy that no competitor matches. When your training program says "row 500m at 1:55 pace," you can do that on a RowErg and know precisely what you've done.

Universal benchmark comparability. When Mirjam von Rohr's Run/Row/Run time at the 2025 Games is reported, it's on a Concept2. When your affiliate class competes in a benchmark workout with rowing, it's on a Concept2. Training on the same machine creates directly comparable performance data.

The PM5 Monitor

The Performance Monitor 5 is the best cardio machine monitor available, period.

Wattage display. Watts are the most accurate measure of rowing output — they remove the variable of athlete size from the performance metric. Two athletes with different weights generating the same watts are doing equivalent work.

Split time: 500m pace is the standard rowing metric in CrossFit. The PM5's split time display is accurate and updates at a rate (every stroke) that provides meaningful real-time feedback.

Programmable intervals: The PM5 supports preset interval programs — Tabata, custom interval timing, distance pieces — that run automatically once set. This is practically useful for solo training without a coach cueing rest periods.

Connectivity: Bluetooth and ANT+ allow the PM5 to connect to heart rate monitors, fitness apps, and Concept2's ErgData app. For athletes who track training data in detail, this is a significant practical feature.

Build Quality and Longevity

The Concept2 RowErg is built to commercial gymnasium standards. University rowing programs, CrossFit affiliates, and Olympic training centers use these machines for 10+ years under heavy daily use. Proper maintenance (slide cleaning, chain lubrication approximately every 50 hours of use) extends lifespan significantly beyond what most athletes will wear out in a home setting.

The flywheel housing is durable polycarbonate. The seat rollers are steel. The chain is standard bicycle chain — available universally, easily replaced.

The Damper Setting

The damper lever on the side of the flywheel housing controls air flow — how much air the flywheel moves per stroke. This is frequently misunderstood:

Damper is not resistance. Higher damper means more air flow per pull — the flywheel feels heavier to accelerate but decelerates faster. It's similar to a bicycle gear choice.

Optimal damper for most athletes: 3-5 on a 1-10 scale. A setting of 3-4 rewards efficient rowing technique and translates best to competition settings where the erg isn't customized per athlete.

The drag factor: The actual measure of rowing resistance is "drag factor" (displayed on the PM5 monitor). 120-130 drag factor is the standard competitive range.

Storage

The RowErg folds for storage — the rail folds upward on a hinge, reducing the footprint from ~9 feet long to approximately 4.5 feet x 4 feet. For home gym athletes with limited space, this is meaningful. Folding and unfolding takes under 30 seconds.

Model D vs. Model E

Concept2 offers two RowErg models:

Model D ($900): Standard model. Black frame, lower seat height, identical performance. The recommended choice for 95% of buyers.

Model E ($1,100): Higher seat height, stainless steel legs, grey frame. The elevated seat height benefits athletes with limited hip or knee flexion who struggle with the lower Model D seat. Otherwise functionally identical.

Final Score: 4.8/5

The highest rating in this review series reflects a simple reality: this is the best rowing machine for CrossFit athletes with no meaningful competition. The only valid alternative is buying a different machine and accepting that your training data won't translate to competition performance. For athletes who train rowing seriously, that's not acceptable.

The high price ($900) is the only legitimate objection, and it's mitigated by the machine's essentially unlimited lifespan under proper care.

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