Concept2 RowErg (standard and tall legs) Review
The air rower clubs and races use, at $990 with a 500 lb rating and a five-year frame warranty.
✓ Pros
- $990 list price with standard legs on concept2.com as of October 2026, and no membership needed for the PM5 monitor
- 500 lb maximum user weight as tested by Concept2, with inseams up to 38 in. on both leg heights
- 5-year warranty on frame parts and 2 years on moving parts and the monitor, plus a 30-day money-back period
- Separates into two parts without tools and rolls on caster wheels
- PM5 connects to the free ErgData app and, per Concept2, more than 40 other apps
✗ Cons
- Assembled length of 96 in. and a recommended 9 by 4 ft of clearance in use
- Air resistance is audible; Concept2 does not publish a decibel figure
- The European EN 20957-7 rating is 300 lb, not 500 lb, so the headline figure depends on whose test you read
- Return shipping on the money-back offer is the buyer's cost
At a glance
| List price | $990 standard legs; $1,155 tall legs (concept2.com, October 21, 2026) |
| Pricing note | $990.00 with standard legs on concept2.com, checked October 21, 2026; tall legs listed at $1,155; ground shipping to the lower 48 states $55 (standard) or $85 (tall) |
| Resistance | Air flywheel with damper; nickel-plated steel chain |
| Assembled size | 96 in. L x 24 in. W; space for use 9 ft x 4 ft |
| Seat height | 14 in. (standard legs) or 20 in. (tall legs) |
| Machine weight | 57 lb (standard), 68 lb (tall) |
| Maximum user weight | 500 lb as tested by Concept2; 300 lb per EN 20957-7 |
| Inseam limit | Up to 38 in. on the standard monorail |
| Monitor | PM5, two D-cell batteries, powered partly by the flywheel |
| Storage | Splits into two parts; standard-leg pieces 25 x 33 x 54 in. |
| Warranty | 5 years frame, 2 years moving parts and monitor; 30-day money-back (US and Canada, factory direct) |
What the RowErg actually is
The RowErg is Concept2's air-resistance rowing machine, the model formerly sold as the Model D. Concept2's product page, checked October 21, 2026, says the standard version is the Model D under a new name, and the tall-leg version replaces the discontinued Model E.
Resistance comes from a spinning flywheel inside a fan housing. The harder the stroke, the more air the fan moves and the more resistance you feel. A damper lever changes how much air reaches the flywheel, which changes the feel of each stroke rather than a fixed level.
The monitor is the PM5. Concept2 states it draws power from the flywheel during a workout to extend the life of its two D-cell batteries, and that it works with the free ErgData app and more than 40 other apps.
This is a documentation review. We graded the RowErg on Concept2's product, specification and warranty pages and on its published customer rating. We did not row on it, and nothing here describes a session of our own.
Who the RowErg is best for
The RowErg suits buyers who care more about measurement and longevity than about a screen.
- Data-first rowers who want split times that compare directly with gym machines and online rankings
- Heavier users, since Concept2 rates the machine to 500 lb on its own test, the highest figure in this cluster
- Tall users with inseams up to 38 in., which Concept2 says both leg heights accommodate
- Buyers with knee or mobility limits who want the tall-leg option and its 20 in. seat height
- Anyone avoiding subscriptions, because the PM5 and ErgData cost nothing beyond the machine
- Multi-sport households that already track training with a watch such as the Garmin Forerunner 55 and want heart-rate pairing
Who should skip it
Three groups will be better served elsewhere.
- Apartment rowers with thin walls: an air flywheel is the loudest resistance type in this cluster, and Concept2 publishes no noise figure
- Class-driven exercisers who will only train with an instructor on a screen; the RowErg has no built-in display beyond the PM5
- Very small rooms: Concept2 recommends 9 by 4 ft of clear floor in use, larger than many spare bedrooms allow once furniture is counted
The specifications that decide the purchase
All figures below come from Concept2's specification table, checked October 21, 2026.
The assembled machine is 96 in. long and 24 in. wide. Concept2 recommends a space of 8 by 2 ft for the machine itself and 9 by 4 ft with clearance for use. Measure that rectangle before ordering.
The monorail is 54 in. long. Concept2 says users with an inseam of 38 in. or more may need an extra-long monorail and should contact the company.
The machine weighs 57 lb with standard legs and 68 lb with tall legs. Construction is an aluminum frame with aluminum front legs and steel rear legs on the standard version, and steel front and rear legs on the tall version.
Maximum user weight is listed as 500 lb as tested by Concept2, with a footnote giving 300 lb as tested to the European standard EN 20957-7. Both numbers are on the same page, and buyers near the upper end should read both.
Our spec-sheet explainer covers why a maker's own load test and a published standard can give different numbers for the same frame.
How the pricing is structured
Concept2 sells direct. As of October 21, 2026, the RowErg lists at $990.00 with standard legs. The volume-pricing table on the same page gives the tall-leg version a retail price of $1,155.
Ground shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 for the standard model in one box and $85 for the tall model in two boxes, per the shipping table. Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico cost $175 or $250.
By our arithmetic, a standard RowErg delivered to the lower 48 costs $1,045 before tax. The page marks the machine as HSA/FSA eligible through a third-party service.
There is no subscription. The PM5 and ErgData are included, and paid third-party apps are optional. Concept2 lists add-ons such as a $12 seat pad, a $40 floor mat and a $65 to $85 cover.
Quantity pricing starts at five machines, which matters to gyms rather than households.
Ease of use: what the 4.5 is built from
The ease score rests on setup, storage and the monitor.
In favour: Concept2 states the machine separates into two pieces for storage with no tools required and has caster wheels for moving it. Tools and illustrated assembly instructions ship in the box. The PM5 monitor arm pivots for storage and height.
The tall-leg option is a genuine accessibility feature. Concept2 says the 20 in. seat makes getting on and off easier for people with tired knees or mobility limits, while noting it is not required for tall users.
Against: length. At 96 in. assembled, the RowErg is the longest machine in this cluster, and splitting it is a storage step rather than a quick fold.
Air noise also counts against ease in shared homes. Concept2 does not publish a decibel figure, so we do not print one. Ease scores 4.5.
Features: what the 4.4 is built from
The RowErg's feature set is narrow on purpose. The PM5 records time, distance, pace and stroke rate, and Concept2 states it connects to ErgData for iOS and Android and to more than 40 other apps that offer classes, racing and programs.
Concept2's own ecosystem is the differentiator. The page describes a free Online Logbook, the Real Time Loop virtual course inside ErgData, a Workout of the Day and an online ranking with more than a million results.
What it lacks is a built-in screen with video classes. Buyers who want that pay for it either in a third-party app subscription or in a different machine.
The box includes a device holder, user manual and monitor quick-start guide. Features scores 4.4: complete for measurement, thin for entertainment.
Value: what the 4.6 is built from
At $990 list, the RowErg costs $209 less than the WaterRower Original Oak at $1,199 on NOHRD's US store and $1,005 less than the Hydrow Wave at $1,995, all checked October 21, 2026.
The gap widens over time. The Hydrow's guided content runs on a $50 per month membership, per Hydrow's page, which is $600 a year by our arithmetic. The RowErg's monitor and app cost nothing after purchase.
Running costs are low but not zero: Concept2 lists the PM5 as running on two D-cell batteries, and its maintenance pages cover chain oiling.
Resale and parts are part of value too. Concept2's page quotes an owner of a Model C bought used in 2009 who could still buy a replacement chain and an upgrade kit. That is one customer letter, not data, and we did not price individual parts. Value scores 4.6.
Support: what the 4.7 is built from
Concept2's warranty page, checked October 21, 2026, states a limited 2-year and 5-year warranty from the date of purchase from Concept2: two years on moving parts and on the monitor, five years on frame parts. The full terms are in a linked PDF.
The same page offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on factory-direct sales in the US and Canada. Shipping costs are the buyer's responsibility, and Concept2 suggests keeping the original box during the return window.
Orders typically ship within one to three business days, with ground transit of one to eight business days depending on region, per the shipping table.
Support is the RowErg's strongest pillar. Concept2's RowErg support menu links assembly videos, maintenance, troubleshooting and repair, and manuals and schematics in one place. Support scores 4.7.
What published owner ratings say
Concept2's product page showed a 4.9 average from 264 customer reviews on October 21, 2026, with 256 five-star ratings and no one-star ratings in the breakdown.
Those reviews are collected on the seller's own site, which tends to skew positive, so we treat the number as a floor on satisfaction rather than proof of durability. We could not read independent retailer review counts on the same day.
The themes Concept2 chooses to quote are consistency, the logbook and the community features. Treat those as marketing selections; the rating distribution is the more useful figure.
Alternatives worth a look
Two other rowers sit in this cluster, and both trade something the RowErg does well for something it lacks.
WaterRower Original Oak: $1,199 with standard rails on NOHRD's US store, solid oak frame, water-tank resistance, stores upright, 5-year frame and 3-year parts warranty. Choose it if quiet and appearance in a living room matter more than comparable data. Otherwise choose the RowErg for the lower price and higher user-weight rating on Concept2's test.
Hydrow Wave: $1,995, 16 in. touchscreen, electromagnetic resistance, 375 lb limit, guided classes on a $50 per month membership. Choose it if classes are what will get you on the machine. Otherwise choose the RowErg, which costs about half before any membership.
If rowing is one of several cardio options, our WalkingPad folding treadmill review covers a machine that hides under a sofa, and the small-space home gym guide weighs floor area across categories.
Where a rower fits in a home gym
A rower is a conditioning tool, not a strength tool, and the best home setups pair one with something that loads muscle.
The Bowflex SelectTech 552 review and our adjustable dumbbells vs kettlebells comparison cover the strength side in a footprint smaller than the rower's. A TRX suspension trainer adds bodyweight work that hangs from a door.
Recovery gear rounds it out: the TriggerPoint GRID foam roller is the cheapest addition. Plan the floor plan around the rower first, because at 8 by 2 ft it is the largest item on that list.
Buy it if / Skip it if
The decision in one list.
- Buy it if you want split times that match gym and race machines
- Buy it if you are over 375 lb or have an inseam near 38 in., where the RowErg's limits are the most generous here
- Buy it if you refuse monthly fees for fitness equipment
- Skip it if noise will bother a neighbour or a sleeping household
- Skip it if you will not train without a video instructor
- Skip it if you cannot clear a 9 by 4 ft rectangle of floor
Frequently asked
Short answers to the questions people search before buying a RowErg.
Bottom line
The RowErg is the safe default in home rowing. At $990 list on concept2.com as of October 2026, it carries the highest user-weight rating in this cluster on its maker's test, the longest inseam limit, a 5-year frame warranty and a monitor that never asks for a subscription.
Its weaknesses are physical: it is long, and air resistance is not quiet. If those two facts fit your room and household, there is little reason to pay more. If they do not, the WaterRower and the Hydrow Wave answer those problems at a higher price.
Best for
Home rowers who want a machine that measures the same way as every gym and race erg, with no subscription and a long warranty.
Who should buy it
✓ Buy it if
- You want split times that match gym and race machines
- You are a heavier or taller user who needs generous limits
- You refuse monthly fees for fitness equipment
✗ Skip it if
- Noise will bother a neighbour or a sleeping household
- You will not train without a video instructor
- You cannot clear a 9 by 4 ft rectangle of floor
We have no affiliate relationship with Concept2 RowErg (standard and tall legs) - this link is the plain vendor site and earns us nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the pages below, read on the date shown. Prices and specifications change - confirm at checkout.
- Concept2: RowErg product page (price, specifications, shipping table, ratings) · checked 2026-10-21
- Concept2: RowErg warranty and money-back guarantee · checked 2026-10-21
- NOHRD US: WaterRower Original Oak product page (price for comparison) · checked 2026-10-21
- Hydrow: Wave rower product page (price and membership for comparison) · checked 2026-10-21
Community discussion
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