CONCEPT 2

Concept 2 Fitness Equipment for Home and Commercial Gyms

Concept 2 fitness equipment covers four air-resistance machines—the RowErg, BikeErg, SkiErg, and StrengthErg—all sharing the same flywheel and PM5 data platform. Hamilton Home Fitness stocks all four, priced from $850 to $1,350, for home gyms, commercial floors, and rehab spaces across all 50 states.

Most people arrive here looking for the rower. Fair enough — it's the machine that made the company. But the flywheel that made the RowErg famous now drives three other machines, and the buyer who only compares rowers often walks away with the wrong one.

What Makes Concept 2 Different

The short version: these machines are boring in the best possible way. They were built in 1981 to survive rowing teams, and the design has barely needed to change since.

Concept 2 has been building in Morrisville, Vermont, since 1976, when brothers Dick and Pete Dreissigacker started making carbon fiber oars after missing the Olympic team. That engineering-first instinct still shows. Air resistance means no motors, no magnets, and no proprietary subscription screen that goes dark when a company folds.

Resistance scales with your effort, not with a setting. Pull harder; the flywheel fights back harder. The damper lever from 1 to 10 changes airflow—closer to shifting gears than to picking a weight—which is why a 65-year-old and a collegiate athlete can share one machine without touching a thing.

Is Concept 2 worth the money? For anyone training more than twice a week, usually yes. The frame carries a five-year limited warranty; moving parts and the PM5 carry two years, and coverage transfers to the next owner. That last detail matters more than it sounds: it's why used Concept 2 machines hold resale value that most cardio equipment simply doesn't.

The Four Ergs, Compared

Four machines, one monitor, four very different jobs. Here's what we stock and who each one actually suits.

The RowErg works your legs, back, core, and arms in one stroke, with a 500 lb maximum user weight as tested by Concept 2 and a 300 lb rating under the European EN 20957-7 standard. It fits inseams up to 38 inches. The only real decision is seat height: standard legs sit 14 inches off the floor; tall legs sit at 20 inches. Tall legs aren't about your height — they're about your knees. If getting up off a low seat is a daily annoyance, pay the extra $165.

The BikeErg has something almost no stationary bike offers: a clutch. Stop pedaling, and the flywheel keeps spinning, exactly like a real bike freewheeling downhill. It also accepts standard bicycle saddles, pedals, and handlebars, so a cyclist can transplant their outdoor fit indoors instead of tolerating a stock saddle for two hours a week.

The SkiErg is the quiet problem-solver in this lineup. Wall-mounted at $850, it takes almost no floor space at all. Paired with the wide floor stand, it can be used seated or from a wheelchair — which is why it turns up in rehab settings and adaptive training programs far more than its sales numbers suggest. Machine weight is 46 lb; the standard stand adds 35 lb and the wide stand, 42 lb.

The StrengthErg brings leg press, chest press, and seated row into a 61 × 26 in footprint, using the same flywheel instead of plates. Because resistance is concentric only, there's no eccentric loading on the return—so recovery is faster and nobody gets stuck under a bar. Worth knowing before you order: our variant ships with a device holder rather than a PM5, so you'll run ErgData on your own phone or tablet. That's the honest trade behind the price.

Matching an Erg to Your Space

Measure before you buy. This is where most home gym purchases go wrong, and it's the one mistake we can't fix after delivery.

Does the Concept2 RowErg fold up? No — and plenty of listings get this wrong. It separates into two pieces in seconds without tools, and the separated halves stand at roughly 33 in long, 25 in wide, and 54 in high. Caster wheels handle the moving. It's genuinely storable, just not foldable.

The StrengthErg is the opposite case: it must stay fully assembled and cannot be stood on end. Assembled, it occupies 61 × 26 × 48 in, and you'll want 80 × 38 × 48 in of clearance to actually train on it. Caster wheels come standard, so relocating it is easy—shrinking it is not.

Can you use a SkiErg at home? Yes, and it's often the best choice for apartments and small garages. Wall mounting needs about 85 inches of vertical clearance and a wall that can take the anchors. If drilling isn't an option, the floor-stand version rolls on casters instead.

Key Features

✅ Air resistance scales with your effort
✅ PM5 monitor across the full range
✅ Bluetooth and ANT+ device connectivity
✅ Free ErgData app, no subscription
✅ Damper settings 1 through 10
✅ Five-year limited frame warranty
✅ Two-year parts and monitor warranty
✅ Warranty transfers to the next owner
✅ Aluminum frame, nickel-plated steel chain
✅ Caster wheels on rower and StrengthErg
✅ RowErg splits in two; no tools needed
✅ SkiErg wall-mounts for tight spaces
✅ BikeErg fits standard bike components
✅ Built in Morrisville, Vermont since 1976

Browse the full Concept 2 range below, or compare it against the rest of our cardio equipment before you commit.

Ordering From Hamilton Home Fitness

We're a Tennessee-based dealer shipping to all 50 states, and we'd rather talk you out of the wrong machine than process a return.

Returns run 30 days from purchase, on undamaged equipment in original packaging with proof of purchase. Full terms, including restocking and return shipping, are on our shipping and returns page — read it before ordering, not after. Concept 2's manufacturer warranty runs alongside it.

If you're outfitting a facility rather than a spare room, our commercial equipment range and gym design service handle floor planning and multi-unit orders. For clinical and recovery settings, the SkiErg and StrengthErg sit naturally alongside our rehab equipment.

Call 423-458-2453 if you want a second opinion on which erg fits your ceiling height, your floor, or your knees. Genuinely — that call takes five minutes and saves a lot of regret.

Concept 2 Questions, Answered

Which Concept 2 machine should I buy first?
The RowErg, for most people. It trains the widest range of muscle groups per minute and has the deepest support ecosystem. Choose the BikeErg instead if you already cycle, or the SkiErg if floor space is your binding constraint.

Is the RowErg the same as the Model D?
Effectively yes. The RowErg with standard legs replaced the Model D name—same 14-inch seat height, same machine. The tall-leg RowErg corresponds to the 20-inch seat height. Our Concept 2 model comparison guide covers the differences in detail.

Do all four machines use the same monitor?
The RowErg, BikeErg, and SkiErg all ship with the PM5 and a device holder. The StrengthErg variant we stock ships without the PM5 and uses ergData on your own device instead.

How long do these machines actually last?
Concept 2 designs them for decades of use, and the aluminum frame plus nickel-plated chain need very little upkeep. Longevity depends on maintenance, not luck—our assembly and setup guide covers the routine that keeps a rower running quietly.

Are these suitable for rehabilitation?
The low-impact, guided movement patterns suit many recovery contexts, and the SkiErg with a wide floor stand supports seated and wheelchair use. Confirm suitability with your physician or physical therapist before starting any program after injury or surgery.

How much power does the PM5 need?
Two D cell batteries. During a workout the monitor draws power from the spinning flywheel, which extends battery life considerably.

Can I get a Concept 2 machine shipped outside Tennessee?
Yes—we ship nationwide to all 50 states from our Tennessee base. Contact us for freight timing on floor stands and the StrengthErg, which travels as larger items.

Ready to Choose Your Erg?

Pick the machine you'll still be using in five years, not the one that looks best in the photo.

Every Concept 2 model we carry is listed below with current pricing and options. Compare the RowErg, the StrengthErg, the BikeErg, and the SkiErg side by side—then order online, or call 423-458-2453, and we'll help you match one to your ceiling height, your floor, and your training goals. Hamilton Home Fitness ships to all 50 states and backs every order with Concept 2's transferable manufacturer warranty.