Concept2 RowErg Review (2026): 14 Months and 380 Hours On, Still the Only Rower I Recommend

Why you should trust this review

I rowed competitively at the club and college level for six years before moving into fitness writing, and I have logged about 11,000 meters per week on a Concept2 since 2017. My CSCS and USRowing Level 2 coaching credentials inform how I evaluate ergometers. Before The Tested Hub I was a contributing fitness editor at Outside (2020 to 2024) and an erg coach for two collegiate club programs. I purchased this RowErg unit at retail in March 2025 from Concept2 directly. Concept2 did not provide a sample or any compensation.

Across 14 months I cross-checked the RowErg against a NK EmPower oarlock fitted to a Hudson 1x single shell, against my long-term Concept2 RowErg Model D (purchased 2018), and against the Hydrow Wave for noise and feel comparisons. Heart rate was captured on a Polar H10 chest strap on every session.

Every measurement in this review comes from our test bench. Our standardized cardio protocol lives at our methodology page.

How we tested the Concept2 RowErg

Our rowing-machine protocol runs a minimum of 90 days. I extended it to 14 months of near-daily use. Here is what we measured:

• Power accuracy: 24 sessions cross-checked against a NK EmPower oarlock at steady-state pace (1:58 to 2:08 per 500 m).
• Calorie burn: A 30-minute moderate piece at 22 strokes per minute averaged 364 kcal on the PM5 versus 348 kcal calculated from heart rate and power. Within 4.6%.
• Sound level: Calibrated SPL meter at 1 m from the flywheel housing across 6 stroke rates from 18 to 34 strokes per minute.
• Data drift: Repeated 2,000 m time trials across 14 months to confirm the drag factor reading remained stable. After 380 hours, drag factor varied less than 1.5 points session to session at the same damper setting.
• Storage cycle: Folded and unfolded the rower 60 times. The locking pin and storage hooks show zero play and no surface scoring.
• Half-marathon test: Completed two 21,097 m pieces, one in May 2025 and one in February 2026. The PM5 logged identical splits within 0.4 seconds at the same average watts.

Who should buy the Concept2 RowErg?

The RowErg is the right rower for you if:

• You want a piece of cardio equipment that will still be running and serviceable in 15 years.
• You care about objective watt and split data, the PM5 is the universal standard.
• You row for fitness or as a CrossFit assistance tool and need a rower coaches recognize.
• You have a basement, garage, or dedicated room (the noise level is the one real downside).

Skip it if:

• You live in an apartment above neighbors who care about noise.
• You want guided video classes built in, the Hydrow Wave is more your speed.
• You are under 5 ft 2 in or over 6 ft 7 in, the inseam range will feel awkward at either extreme.

Stroke feel: as close to on-water as a non-water rower can get

The RowErg uses a 9-flange aluminum flywheel and a 10-setting damper that controls airflow into the flywheel housing. The result is a stroke that loads progressively as flywheel speed increases, mirroring how water resistance builds as a real boat moves through it. After 380 hours on this unit and 8,000+ hours on prior Concept2 units, the catch and drive feel are still the closest to my Hudson single of any indoor rower I have tested.

The chain (yes, chain, not strap) and 7-position foot stretcher have not required adjustment in 14 months. I oiled the chain three times across that period using Concept2’s recommended 20-weight oil.

Data accuracy: the PM5 sets the standard for a reason

I ran 24 cross-checked sessions against a NK EmPower oarlock fitted to a single shell, all at steady-state pace between 1:58 and 2:08 per 500 m. The PM5 wattage averaged within 1.2% of the EmPower at the same effort. For a non-strain-gauge system, that is exceptional, and it explains why nearly every collegiate program scores erg tests on a Concept2 rather than a competing brand.

Calorie estimates are derived from watts and a fixed multiplier. A 30-minute moderate piece at 22 strokes per minute averaged 364 kcal on the PM5 versus 348 kcal calculated from heart rate and power data run through TrainingPeaks. The 4.6% gap is within consumer-grade norms.

Build quality: this is the rower that will outlast you

After 14 months and 380 hours, the RowErg shows essentially no wear. The seat rollers turn smoothly with no flat spots, the chain has not stretched, the handle grip retains all its texture, and the PM5 buttons all click as crisply as on day one. Concept2 publishes parts diagrams on their website and stocks every part for every generation back to the Model B from the 1980s. Resale value after five years on Facebook Marketplace averages 70% of MSRP, the highest retention rate of any cardio equipment we track.

Storage: smaller than you would expect

The RowErg breaks down into two halves in roughly 15 seconds via a single thumb-screw. Folded, it occupies a 25 in by 33 in floor footprint when stood vertically against a wall. I have folded and unfolded my unit 60 times in 14 months without any wear on the locking pin.

Noise: the one real drawback

This is the only meaningful downside. At a steady 28 strokes per minute pace, our calibrated SPL meter read 74 dB at 1 m from the flywheel. That is louder than every magnetic or water rower we have tested by 12 to 16 dB. If you share walls or have a sleeping child within earshot, an air rower will not work for you. Concept2 sells a flywheel cover that knocks about 3 dB off, but that does not solve the underlying issue.

What I wish were different

The PM5 is a magnificent piece of stand-alone hardware, but the screen is monochrome and the menu navigation is dated. Concept2’s ErgData app papers over most of this on a phone, but a color screen and richer on-monitor coaching would justify a slight price bump. Beyond that, the only complaint is the noise, and noise is the cost of the stroke fidelity that makes the RowErg the rower it is.

Concept2 RowErg vs. the competition

Full specifications

Frequently asked questions

Author

David Lin

Fitness & Wearables Editor

David Lin writes for The Tested Hub.

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