Concept 2 SkiErg Review

What this review can establish

Concept2 supplies SkiErgs and RowErgs for HYROX^® through its global partnership. In Singles 26/27, the SkiErg is station 1, after run 1; rowing is station 5. The race has eight running segments, each followed by a station. SkiErg is therefore not the only machine used on the course.

This review uses manufacturer documentation and the current rulebook. It does not report our own equipment test, a measured noise comparison or an athlete-cohort study. It assesses practical features without promising a race-time improvement from ownership.

HYROX^® Singles 26/27 · §1 / §8.1 · Concept2 · HYROX^® partnership

Hardware and maintenance

Concept2 introduced the SkiErg in 2009 and its current second generation in 2014. Do not confuse that history with the longer history of its rowing machines. The SkiErg uses handles and cords to drive an air-resistance flywheel.

Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule: check and untwist cords regularly; at 500,000 metres, approximately 50 hours of use, inspect cords, fasteners and upper pulleys. Clean accumulated dust and lint from the flywheel as needed. The 50-hour instruction is an inspection, not an instruction to lubricate the cords. These requirements do not support a ten-year wear-free guarantee.

Concept2 · SkiErg (US) · Concept2 · Maintenance

What the PM5 records

The PM5 displays pace per 500 m, stroke rate and other workout data. Distance, time and interval workouts can be configured; simply starting in Just Ski is different from programming a target distance. Its internal memory holds more than 1,000 workouts, not just 35.

For a 1,000 m target, average pace per 500 m is half the target time: 4:30 corresponds to 2:15/500 m. This arithmetic is not a division benchmark or a personalised target. Use the pace chart to compare times.

Concept2 · PM5

ErgData connection and past workouts

The current ErgData app requires a PM5 and connects through Bluetooth. ANT+ support for compatible heart-rate sensors does not make ANT+ an alternative connection for ErgData.

A workout completed in PM memory does not transfer directly to ErgData merely because you connect later. For real-time recording, connect the app during the workout and wait for the final result before disconnecting. For older workouts, use Concept2 Utility or manual entry into the Online Logbook, then sync ErgData. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for the required cable or storage device.

Concept2 · ErgData · Concept2 · ErgData / Online Logbook · Concept2 · Utility · Concept2 · PM5

Damper setting in training and competition

The damper changes airflow; effort determines workout intensity. The same damper number can produce different drag factors on different machines, so 3–5 is not a guaranteed drag factor of 90–115. Concept2 suggests trying 3–5 when starting, then adjusting with experience.

The Singles 26/27 rulebook specifies a starting setting of 6, which athletes may change. At the end of the 1,000 m, raise an arm with both feet on the base and wait for the judge’s confirmation before leaving. A higher setting does not by itself prove that technique will fail at 400 m.

Concept2 · Damper Setting · Concept2 · Getting Started · HYROX^® Singles 26/27 · §1 / §8.1

Mounting, dimensions and price

Checked on 17 September 2026: the US SkiErg with PM5 is listed at USD 850. The standard floor stand is an optional USD 220 accessory, making USD 1,070 before applicable taxes and delivery. These are US prices, not EUR or CHF quotes. Confirm the exact bundle and local delivered cost.

The assembly document gives the wall-mounted unit as 52 × 40.6 × 216 cm, excluding the user, and the training area as 60 × 127 × 216 cm. The standard stand installation is also 60 × 127 × 216 cm: width × depth × height. Follow the instructions for your wall construction; a generic two-screw or plywood recipe is not a substitute. The stand allows use without wall mounting. Check the exact variant before measuring your space.

Concept2 · SkiErg (US) · Concept2 · Floor Stand (US) · Concept2 · Assembly instructions, p. 4

Deciding whether to buy

Compare existing gym access, room dimensions, installation, total cost and the sessions you realistically expect to do. Test the grip and sound in person if these affect your decision. This review provides no measured noise ranking, hearing-protection assessment, fixed adaptation period for the handles or guaranteed lifespan.

Neither entering two races a year nor owning the equipment establishes a two-year payback or faster progress at equal training volume. The four-week example offers two optional sessions per week; it is not proof that three home sessions outperform one gym session. Plan for running and the other stations too, rather than treating SkiErg frequency as the only performance variable.

Concept2 · SkiErg (US) · Concept2 · Maintenance · HYROX^® Singles 26/27 · §1 / §8.1

FAQ

Does the standard SkiErg price include the floor stand?

No. The current US product offer includes the PM5, while the floor stand is optional. Check the exact bundle when comparing sellers.

Concept2 · SkiErg (US) · Concept2 · Floor Stand (US)

Can ErgData connect using ANT+?

No. Current ErgData connects to the PM5 by Bluetooth. ANT+ heart-rate sensor support is a separate PM5 feature.

Concept2 · ErgData · Concept2 · PM5

Will old PM5 workouts automatically appear when I connect ErgData?

No. Completed memory workouts do not transfer directly that way. Use the Online Logbook via manual entry or Concept2 Utility, then sync the app.

Concept2 · ErgData / Online Logbook · Concept2 · Utility

Should I lubricate the cords every 50 hours?

That is not the manufacturer’s maintenance instruction. At roughly 50 hours or 500,000 m it specifies inspection of cords, fasteners and pulleys; follow the full maintenance guide.

Concept2 · Maintenance

Is SkiErg the only ergometer used in HYROX^®?

No. Singles 26/27 includes 1,000 m SkiErg at station 1 and 1,000 m rowing at station 5, with eight running segments across the race.

HYROX^® Singles 26/27 · §1 / §8.1 · Concept2 · HYROX^® partnership