Concept2

The gold standard of indoor rowing — the competition-grade erg with no subscription and decades-long durability

Worth It

Founded: 1976
Country: United States
Warranty: A 5-year warranty on frame parts and 2 years on all other parts including the PM5 monitor — and, unusually, the warranty is fully transferable to later owners, reflecting how long these machines last.
Support: Cheap, widely available, user-installable replacement parts (a chain costs around $40) and a free app-and-logbook ecosystem with no required subscription; resale value is among the highest in home fitness.

Overview

Concept2, founded in 1976 in Vermont, makes the indoor rower against which all others are measured. Its RowErg is the official machine of competitive erging, found in virtually every CrossFit box and rowing program, prized for pinpoint-accurate data, near-indestructible build, and — crucially — no subscription. It trades a big touchscreen and on-screen classes for durability, accuracy, and freedom.

Is it worth it?

Concept2 is worth it for almost anyone who wants the most durable, accurate rower with zero ongoing cost — performance athletes and value buyers alike. The only buyers better served elsewhere are those who specifically need a big touchscreen and instructor-led classes to stay motivated.

Concept2 reports

All reports

Best Overall

9.3

Concept2

Concept2 RowErg

The Concept2 RowErg is our Editor’s Choice and the best rowing machine for almost everyone — the gold standard that every competitive gym, CrossFit box, and rowing program uses, and the rare premium fitness machine with no subscription at all. It’s near-indestructible (units from the 1980s are still in service), delivers the most accurate performance data in the category, and holds its value better than anything else in home fitness. The one honest trade-off: it has a small, utilitarian PM5 monitor rather than a big touchscreen with on-screen classes — so if guided, instructor-led workouts are what get you moving, you’ll want a connected rower instead. For everyone else, nothing else comes close on durability, accuracy, and value.

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