Concept2 SkiErg

The Concept2 SkiErg brings the poling motion of cross-country skiing indoors, using a pair of retractable cord handles that pull down against an air-resistance flywheel – the same drive system as Concept2’s RowErg and BikeErg. It’s a low-impact, full-body cardio tool that engages the core, back, and arms far more than a typical rower or bike, and reviewers consistently rate it as one of the most effective machines for short, brutal HIIT intervals. The included PM5 Performance Monitor self-calibrates and tracks distance, pace, and calories, and it’s the same console used at HYROX races, so owners training for that event get identical practice on their own unit. At just 19-20.5” wide by 16” deep, it’s the most space-efficient cardio machine Concept2 makes – it can be wall-mounted to occupy almost no floor space, or set on an optional floor stand for freestanding use. Build quality draws the strongest praise across sources: an aluminum frame backed by a 5-year warranty, replacement parts sold individually so the machine can be repaired indefinitely, and reported durability in commercial gyms and competitions. The tradeoffs reviewers flag most: it’s a one-trick machine – there’s really only one movement pattern to train, so it doesn’t offer the exercise variety of a functional trainer or cable machine – the fan-based flywheel is loud enough that some call it apartment-unfriendly, and at roughly 85 inches tall it needs real ceiling clearance. A few owners also note it feels like more effort for a given calorie burn than the BikeErg, so it’s better suited to HIIT intervals than long steady-state sessions.