Concept2 RowErg Review (UK, 2026)

The Concept2 RowErg is the benchmark home rowing machine, and at around £990 (checked 30 Oct 2026) with no subscription to pay it is also one of the better-value ones. This is a research-based review: it works from Concept2’s published specs and my knowledge of how rowing machines are used, not from time spent on one. More on that on the about page.

The short version is in the verdict box above. This page explains the reasoning.

What the RowErg is

An air rower. You pull a handle, a chain turns a flywheel inside a cage, and the fan on the flywheel pushes against the air. Pull harder and the resistance rises. There is no motor, no resistance dial that sets a fixed load and no screen tied to a platform.

What it has instead is the PM5 performance monitor, which shows pace per 500 m, distance, time, stroke rate, calories and power. A damper lever on the flywheel housing changes how much air flows in, which changes the feel. The drag factor guide explains why that setting is not the same as “difficulty level”.

Price and running costs

Version	Price	Seat height	Weight
Standard legs	£990	Low	26 kg
Tall legs	Around £1,149	Raised	31 kg

Concept2 UK sells standard legs at £990 with free mainland GB delivery, and Fitness Superstore matches that. Tall legs are around £1,149 at Fitness Superstore (checked 30 Oct 2026).

There is no subscription. Running costs are two D cells in the monitor. Compare that with a Hydrow Wave, which is around £1,435 at Fitshop plus a monthly membership. The RowErg stays at around £990. An Echelon Row with Premier also adds a monthly fee. See Concept2 vs WaterRower vs Hydrow for the full comparison, and our guide to rowing machines without a subscription for other machines with no fee.

Build and storage

On the spec sheet:

• 244 x 61 cm footprint. Concept2 recommends 274 x 122 cm of clear space.
• Splits in two without tools into 63.5 x 83.8 x 137.2 cm.
• 26 kg with standard legs, 31 kg with tall legs.
• 135 kg under the EN standard. Concept2 says it tested to 227 kg.
• 2 years on moving parts and the monitor, 5 years on the frame, 30-day return.

Splitting in two is a useful feature that is easy to overlook. Each half is a bulky piece, not a flat folder, but the stored size is in the same range as the folded sizes of many “folding” rowers. It is also easier to carry up stairs one half at a time.

A long machine does not suit everyone. 244 cm is more than many UK living rooms can spare without moving the sofa. Measure the room with the 274 x 122 cm clearance in mind, not just the footprint.

The monitor and data

The PM5 comes with a device holder. ErgData is Concept2’s free app, and it connects to the PM5 by Bluetooth. The monitor also supports ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart wireless heart-rate monitoring with compatible equipment, so check the Concept2 page for anything specific you want to connect before you buy.

The PM5 is not a pretty screen. It does not play a video or give you a scoreboard of strangers. It gives you numbers, and its numbers are the same numbers every Concept2 owner sees. That is the point:

• A 2k test means something on a RowErg because every club uses the same machine.
• A 2k erg programme gives you a target and a way to measure it.
• Advice on stroke rate and pace translates directly, because the monitor measures them the same way for everyone.

If you want classes, coaching or scenery, the RowErg is the wrong machine, or at least needs a plan alongside it. The site’s training plans are one option, such as the 12-week beginner to fit programme.

Standard or tall legs

Standard legs put the seat low. For most people that is fine and it is the cheaper version. Tall legs raise the machine so that sitting down and standing up are easier on knees and backs. They cost about £159 more (around £1,149 against £990) and weigh 5 kg more (31 kg against 26 kg).

My advice: get tall legs if you find getting to the floor or standing from a low seat difficult. If you don’t, the standard height is fine. It is not a reason to spend more on its own.

Trade-offs

Noise. A fan at speed is not quiet. I cannot give a figure, and I would not trust any number I had not measured myself. If you live in a flat with a thin floor, or row early while others sleep, consider a magnetic rower. The air vs water vs magnetic guide goes into this.

Length. The 244 cm footprint is long. It splits, but it does not tuck.

Motivation. Some people need a screen with a person on it. The RowErg gives you data and nothing else. If you know you need coaching, a Hydrow is the other end of the spectrum, with the costs shown above.

Technique. Because it does not coach, you need to learn technique elsewhere. Start with the first month on the erg and the common technique faults.

Weight limit. The EN figure is 135 kg. If you are over that, check the WaterRower Original, which Fitshop lists at 315 kg, though John Lewis says 200 kg.

Using it well from day one

A machine with no coaching rewards a little preparation. These are the habits I would build in the first few sessions, drawn from standard rowing practice rather than anything specific to this model.

Start with the damper low. Many coaches suggest the lower-middle of the range, not the top. A high damper setting makes the stroke feel heavy and encourages hauling with the arms and back. The monitor can show you your drag factor, and the drag factor guide explains how to read it.

Row by feel before you row by number. The PM5 will show a pace per 500 m from your first stroke. Resist the urge to chase it. Work on the sequence of legs, then body, then arms, and recover in reverse. The common technique faults page lists the usual errors, such as shooting the slide and opening the back too early.

Keep the rate low. A rate of 18 to 22 strokes per minute is a sensible range for steady rowing while you learn. Pulling at 30 with poor technique is a quick route to a sore back. See the stroke rate guide.

Record sessions in ErgData. The app is included, so there is nothing to lose. A log of steady sessions is the simplest way to see progress over the 12 weeks of a plan.

Test once you have a base. After a month or two, a 2k test gives you a benchmark. It is the number most rowers quote, and it is the reason a Concept2 earns its place in a club.

How it fits different households

• Single person in a flat. Measure the 274 x 122 cm clearance. If you can store the two halves, it works. If you cannot, look at an upright water rower.
• Couple or family. There is no per-user subscription to share out. Hydrow is one membership per household, which also works, but costs more.
• Rowing club member. This is the closest thing to what you already use, so your numbers carry over. It is the most obvious choice.
• Someone returning from injury. Talk to a physio about seat height and range. The tall-legs version raises the seat, which may help, but I am not a medical source.
• Garage or spare room. The fan noise matters less, and the length is easy to accommodate. This is where the RowErg is at its best.

Who should not buy it

• Anyone who wants guided classes on a screen. Look at the Hydrow review.
• Anyone who needs a very quiet machine.
• Anyone with a small flat and no way to store 63.5 x 83.8 x 137.2 cm of split frame.
• Anyone heavier than 135 kg who wants a comfortable margin.
• Anyone whose budget is well under £990. Try the under £500 guide.

Alternatives

The WaterRower Original is the nearest premium alternative, with a calmer feel and an upright store. The Xterra ERG780 is the budget air alternative at around £449 to £499. The comparison with the big three is in Concept2 vs WaterRower vs Hydrow, and the wider ranking is in the best rowing machine guide. If your budget is exactly £1,000 or below, the under £1,000 guide lays out the rest.

Questions to ask yourself before buying

1. Do I have 274 x 122 cm of clearance, or space to store two pieces?
2. Would I row without a screen telling me what to do?
3. Is the noise of a fan acceptable where I live?
4. Am I at or under 135 kg?
5. Do I plan to compare my scores with other rowers?

If the answers are yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, the RowErg is hard to beat. If the answers include no to two or more, look at the alternatives above before spending £990.