Which rowing machine suits your training?
If you want familiar gym training measurements, a Concept2 with a PM5 monitor is our first option to consider. If your priority is home cardio within a tighter budget or noise constraint, a magnetic rower may be more suitable. These meet different needs: the latter does not automatically reproduce the former’s feel or measurements.
Choose a machine you can install, use regularly and maintain. Before comparing screens or resistance levels, measure your room and decide whether you want specific CrossFit and HYROX practice or a convenient way to row at home.
This selection uses published specifications and retailer information. We have not carried out a hands-on comparison of these three machines. The offers below can change in price and availability.
Compare three rowing machines and their offers
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The selection includes one air rower and two magnetic alternatives. Resistance levels are not a shared scale across brands: 16 levels does not mean twice the resistance of eight. Check the exact version before ordering.
Concept2 with PM5: familiar gym training measurements
The selected offer is for a black Concept2 Model D with a PM5 monitor. Listings may use either Model D or the newer RowErg name. Check the seat height and what is included: PM5 identifies the monitor and does not establish that two offers have identical frames.
This option is particularly relevant if you want to track metres, pace per 500 metres and intervals using the same measurement system as your regular gym sessions. Our recommendation concerns that consistency of use, rather than superior performance established in a Wodball test.
Concept2 lists the standard RowErg at approximately 244 × 61 cm, with a recommended training area of 274 × 122 cm. Standard seat height is around 36 cm, compared with 51 cm for tall legs. Use these figures to plan your space and confirm the dimensions of the version you buy.
Consider the noise: the air flywheel is audible, especially during accelerations. For an apartment, try a machine at your intended intensity and consider how vibration travels through your floor. A mat can protect the floor without guaranteeing sound insulation.
SportPlus magnetic rower: an alternative for home cardio
The selected SportPlus is advertised as a folding magnetic rower with eight resistance levels. Consider it if your priority is a regular home cardio routine rather than reproducing gym scores exactly.
Check seat travel, foot position and the practicalities of storage. A folding machine still needs to be moved and set up without blocking access through your home. Read the instructions for the version you receive before deciding where to put it.
The trade-off: do not transfer your Concept2 pace or calories directly to this monitor. Compare repeated sessions on the same machine with consistent settings. Check connectivity separately, because it varies across the SportPlus range.
MERACH grey magnetic rower: budget and useful functions
The selected grey MERACH has a dual-rail design and is advertised with 16 resistance levels and an app. Check what the onboard display provides without a phone and which services require an app or subscription.
Consider it for home cardio, while checking the power supply, dimensions and storage instructions for the exact version. MERACH sells several generations and systems; specifications for a newer Q1S should not automatically be applied to another machine.
The trade-off: extra settings or an app do not establish measurement accuracy or durability during repeated sprints. If short, intense efforts are your main use, try the upper resistance range and stability before buying where possible, or choose suitable return terms.
Air, magnetic or water: what should you compare?
On the Concept2, airflow and flywheel speed influence the feel of the pull. The damper controls airflow rather than providing a difficulty score you should always maximise. Our rowing technique and settings guide explains the distinction.
For a magnetic machine, examine its usable resistance range, smooth return and display readability during exercise. For a water rower, include reservoir care and storage instructions. Resistance type alone does not establish the quality of a particular machine.
- Intervals: can you quickly programme work and recovery by time or distance?
- Shared use: can different people adjust the footrests and monitor easily?
- Small spaces: how much room is needed during use and storage, including access?
- Long-term ownership: who supplies parts, instructions and servicing in your country?
CrossFit and HYROX: training is not automatic equivalence
A home rower can support cardio training, but a displayed 1,000 metres on different brands does not necessarily represent the same task. Treat calories similarly: they are calculated by the monitor and are not a universal interchangeable score.
If a workout specifies calories on a different machine, agree an adaptation with your coach, considering duration, intended effort and the following exercises. Record it as an adapted session rather than a result completed as originally prescribed.
For HYROX, combine rowing with transitions and the other race stations. Buying a machine does not replace checking your division’s rules or practising after running. See our HYROX training guide.
Total cost and delivery checks
Compare the delivered price, any assembly service and the cost of returning a heavy item. Measure doors, stairs and lifts. A lower advertised price may be less attractive if upstairs delivery or a return shipment costs extra.
Add only accessories you need: floor protection, a device holder if necessary and any subscription. Check what is included. For a used machine, ask for a demonstration, inspect the rail, seat and drive system, and check parts availability.
Concept2 recommends separating the RowErg into its two parts for storage. It advises against leaving the complete machine standing on end because it can tip over. Follow the individual instructions for other machines.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to buy a Concept2?
No. It is relevant if you want consistent measurements with your sessions on that machine. For general home cardio, another rower can be suitable if its fit, settings and installation support regular use.
Can a magnetic rower be used for every WOD?
It can be used in an adapted session, but the monitor and resistance do not guarantee equivalence with the prescribed machine. Define the intended adaptation before starting.
Which rower suits an apartment?
Start with noise, flooring and storage constraints. Compare machines in operation and measure the space needed for your rowing stroke. An advertised claim of quiet operation is not an acoustic measurement in your home.
Should I prioritise a large connected screen?
Only if you will use its functions. For intervals, readability, programming and quick access to data may matter more. Check operation without a subscription and long-term service availability.
Sources and selection method
Product information and Amazon.fr offers checked on 22 October 2026. This is a comparison of published features and intended uses, without hands-on testing. Confirm the version, included items and current purchase terms before ordering.
The eight HYROX stations: movements, preparation and running transitions
HYROX training: running, strength, stations and recovery