Concept2
ActiveOverview
Concept2 manufactures rowing equipment and ergometers including the RowErg, SkiErg, BikeErg, and StrengthErg, focused on air resistance and flywheel-based full-body workouts. Based in Vermont, it supplies indoor rowers standard in competition training, gyms, boathouses, and rehab facilities, alongside oars for sculling and sweep rowing. The company sells directly in the US and Canada, through international dealers, and online, with a community platform for logging workouts and rankings.123
History
Concept2 was founded in 1976 by brothers Dick and Pete Dreissigacker, who began making carbon fiber racing oars from a bread truck after trialing for the US Olympic team. They introduced the Concept2 Indoor Rower in 1981, which became the world's best-selling model, followed by the SkiErg in 2009 and BikeErg in 2017. The company moved to a farm in Morrisville, Vermont, and in 2025 transferred 100% ownership to the Concept2 Perpetual Purpose Trust for perpetual employee stewardship.123
Product Lines
| Product Line | Positioning | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| RowErg (Indoor Rower) | Air resistance full-body rowing machine | $900 - $1,100 |
| SkiErg (Nordic Ski Trainer) | Dual-independent ski ergometer | $800 - $1,000 |
| BikeErg (Air Bike) | Sport-specific cycling ergometer | $1,200 - $1,400 |
| StrengthErg (Strength Trainer) | Flywheel-based strength training device | $800 - $1,000 |
| Indoor Oars & Blades | Carbon fiber sculling and sweep oars | $300 - $600 |
| Performance Monitors (PM5) | Digital monitor for ergometers | $200 - $300 |
Manufacturing
Products are manufactured in-house at the company's facility in Morrisville, Vermont, United States. The company began production in a Vermont barn and farm, emphasizing innovative composite materials for oars and ergometers.123
Notable Products
- Model D RowErg - Air resistance indoor rower, standard for competition training and widely used in gyms.
- Model E RowErg - Low-profile version of the dynamic rowing machine for rehab and home use.
- SkiErg - Wall-mounted Nordic ski trainer introduced in 2009 for upper-body workouts.
- BikeErg - Air resistance bike ergometer released in 2017 for cycling training.
- StrengthErg - Versatile strength training ergometer with flywheel resistance.
- Carbon Fiber Oars - Composite racing oars for sculling and sweep rowing.
Reputation
Concept2 ergometers like the RowErg are regarded as the gold standard by competition rowers, coaches, and fitness professionals for durability and accurate performance monitoring. Enthusiasts value the online logging community and direct sales model for accessibility and value. Some note higher upfront costs compared to basic cardio equipment, though longevity offsets this for serious users.123