Training more does not necessarily mean improving more. For an athlete, a personal trainer, or a performance coach, the key question is: is the performance truly progressing, or is it just the sensation of effort?
This is where Concept2 stands out. The brand built its reputation around a simple idea: turning physical effort into data that can be measured, repeated, and compared over time. This logic is behind the RowErg, SkiErg, and BikeErg, and now extends to strength training with the StrengthErg.
With the arrival of Concept2 at the BOOMFIT Marketplace, gyms, boxes, clubs, and trainers can now integrate these solutions within the same professional equipment ecosystem.
What Makes Concept2 Different
To understand the brand, it’s worth starting with the concept at its core: the ergometer, a device designed to measure the work performed during exercise.
When Concept2's founders developed the first rowing ergometer, the goal was to give rowers a reliable way to track progress and compare results under similar conditions. A session is no longer just "twenty minutes rowing" but provides concrete information about the work done.
For a coach, this has a direct practical use: you can set a test, record the result, repeat it weeks later, and precisely assess if the athlete has improved.
The PM5 and Air Resistance
At the heart of all this measurement is the Performance Monitor 5, the PM5, found on the RowErg, SkiErg, and BikeErg. Throughout a session, it displays time, distance, pace, power in watts, cadence, and estimated calories burned, and it allows comparing these values across different sessions because the data are consistent across devices.
Here’s a concrete example: a coach sets a 2000-meter test on the RowErg and uses the first result as a reference. Weeks later, the same protocol is repeated and numbers compared under the same conditions. This capability to create reliable benchmarks makes the PM5 especially useful in physical preparation and athlete monitoring contexts.
The three cardio ergometers (RowErg, SkiErg, and BikeErg) also share an air resistance system that responds directly to the user’s effort: the harder and faster you move, the greater the resistance felt. Therefore, the same equipment suits both long endurance sessions and short high-intensity intervals.
A common question concerns the damper, which controls air intake to the flywheel: increasing its setting does not mean training more intensely. Intensity depends on the user’s effort; the damper only changes the feel of the movement. To clarify this, the PM5 calculates the Drag Factor, a value that helps replicate the same resistance conditions across sessions.
RowErg: the Most Versatile in the Range
The RowErg is the equipment most associated with the brand and the most comprehensive. The rowing motion engages legs, trunk, and arms, enabling cardiovascular work without relying solely on the legs as most traditional cardio equipment does. This makes it adaptable to very different contexts throughout the day: a long session in the morning, a functional circuit in the afternoon, a physical evaluation test over the weekend.
On the BOOMFIT Marketplace, the RowErg PM5 Standard and RowErg PM5 Long Legs are available, which maintain the same training logic but raise the seat position for easier mounting and dismounting. A practical detail for professional spaces: the RowErg can be separated into two parts without tools, facilitating space reorganization during the day.
SkiErg: a Stimulus Gyms Usually Lack
Inspired by cross-country skiing, the SkiErg introduces a rarely seen vertical movement pattern in gyms, with strong arm and core involvement. If a space already has bikes, treadmills, and rowers, adding more equipment with the same stimulus might offer little benefit. The SkiErg, on the other hand, allows workout variation without leaving cardiovascular work behind.
It can be wall-mounted to occupy minimal space or mounted on a free-standing support frame, avoiding permanent installation and facilitating relocation in boxes and studios where space changes with classes. The Marketplace offers the SkiErg PM5 and SkiErg PM5 with Support Frame, as well as the support frame sold separately.
BikeErg: Indoor Cycling with the Same Measurement Logic
The BikeErg applies the same air resistance and data system to indoor cycling. Suitable for long endurance sessions, intense intervals, or even recovery sessions where controlling effort precisely is important. For a space that already has RowErg or SkiErg, the BikeErg offers not just another cardio option but a different movement pattern focused on legs, all within the same data-driven training methodology.
StrengthErg: Bringing Measurement to Strength Training
The StrengthErg is the newest, and perhaps most interesting, addition to the brand: it applies the same Concept2 logic used for decades in cardio to strength training. Instead of a traditional weight stack, it uses flywheel-generated resistance and allows training from three main exercise positions.
It doesn’t require replacing existing strength equipment in a gym — it works well as a complement, especially for those already using metrics to guide cardio training and wanting to apply the same approach to strength.
Five Questions to Ask Before Buying
If you’re equipping a gym, studio, or performance center, these questions help decide where to start:
👉 What physical capacity do you want to prioritize?
General cardio, endurance, power, leg work, or strength — the answer guides you to the right equipment.
👉 How many people will use the equipment?
In a professional setting, usage frequency and durability matter more than for occasional home use.
👉 Do you need to measure and compare results?
If tests and athlete monitoring are part of your service, the PM5’s data component is much more relevant.
👉 How much space is available?
The ability to separate the RowErg for storage or mount the SkiErg on a movable frame may influence your decision.
👉 Do you want isolated equipment or an ecosystem?
If the plan is to combine cardio, power, and strength over time, it may be worthwhile to think of Concept2 equipment as a set, not independent purchases.
❌ Who it's not the right choice for
Concept2 equipment is professional grade and priced accordingly. For those seeking cardio for occasional home use without advanced metrics or capable of withstanding daily intensive use, it may be better to consider ranges more oriented to domestic use first and reserve Concept2 for when long-term precision and reliability are priorities.
✅ Why it makes sense in a professional space
In a gym, equipment choice depends not only on training experience but on reliability, maintenance, and the capacity to endure frequent use over years. This is where Concept2 builds another pillar of its reputation: the equipment is designed for demanding environments, and the brand continues to provide parts and repair documentation. On the BOOMFIT Marketplace, Concept2 range, warranty and technical support are also available in Portugal.
Data that Accompanies the Athlete Beyond the Session
The experience isn’t limited to the monitor. Via the ErgData app, users can log sessions and track results over time, and the PM5 also offers Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity to link to other compatible apps. For a coach, this shifts the question from "how much did the athlete train" to "what performance was produced, and how is it evolving."
Concept2 at BOOMFIT Marketplace
At the Marketplace, you’ll find the complete range: RowErg PM5 Standard, RowErg PM5 Long Legs, SkiErg PM5, SkiErg PM5 with Support Frame, BikeErg PM5, StrengthErg PM5, and the separate SkiErg Support Frame. Four different ways to train, united by one idea: when you can measure work better, you understand performance better.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Concept2 ergometer?
Equipment designed to measure the work done during exercise, allowing performance metrics tracking and comparison of results between sessions.
What is the difference between RowErg, SkiErg, and BikeErg?
RowErg uses rowing motion and works the whole body. SkiErg introduces a vertical pattern with strong arm and core use. BikeErg applies the same technology to indoor cycling, focusing on the legs.
Is Concept2 suitable for gyms?
Yes. The equipment is designed for demanding professional use, and the brand ensures good availability of parts and maintenance.
Can SkiErg be used without wall mounting?
Yes, using the independent support frame, also available in the Marketplace.
Is Concept2 suitable for home use?
It can be, but it depends on the needs. For occasional use without advanced metrics, there may be better options. Concept2 makes sense where precision, reliability, and performance tracking are real priorities.
