Best for training data
Concept2 RowErg
FitScore for Air Rowing
- ResistanceAir
- Max user weight500 lb
- Fit (rail / inseam / height)54-in rail; inseam up to…
- Length × width (in use)96 × 24 in
Choose it if you train by splits or watts and want a light, proven rower.
Best for games and a big screen
Aviron Strong Series
FitScore for Air Rowing
- ResistanceAir + Magnetic
- Max user weight507 lb
- Fit (rail / inseam / height)Users up to 6 ft 8 in
- Length × width (in use)84 × 27 in
Choose it if games, races and a 22-inch screen will keep you on the rower.
Overall winner for air rowing: Concept2 RowErg. It leads on performance and durability: the PM5 shows watts and the 500 m split, it is rated for 500 lb and it is light to move. The Aviron Strong Series is the better fit if a big screen with games keeps you rowing: it combines air and magnetic resistance, takes up to 507 lb and carries a 10-year frame warranty.
Concept2 RowErg wins 5 rounds- Aviron Strong Series wins 3 rounds
Product photos from Amazon. FitScore weights are explained below.
Concept2 vs Aviron: the Concept2 RowErg is the benchmark air rower with the PM5 monitor; the Aviron Strong Series adds a magnetic brake to the fan, a 22-inch screen with games and races, and a 507-lb rating.
The RowErg ranks #1 in our best air rowing machine guide, and the Strong Series ranks #2.
Head-to-Head Specs
Here are the two rowers side by side. A check mark shows the stronger spec on each line. Check both warranties before you order: the FTC explains how to read a product warranty. The CDC physical activity guidelines for adults recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week, and steady rowing sessions count toward it. In a study of 107 adults aged 20 to 74, rowing on an ergometer used more energy than cycling at the same power output.
| Specification | Concept2 RowErgFitScore 87.1 | Aviron Strong SeriesFitScore 80.6 |
|---|---|---|
| Resistance | Air | Air + Magnetic |
| Resistance levels | No preset levels: the pull gets heavier the harder you row | Not stated |
| Max user weight | 500 lb | 507 lb✓ |
| Fit (rail / inseam / height) | 54-in rail; inseam up to 38 in | Users up to 6 ft 8 in |
| Length × width (in use) | 96 × 24 in | 84 × 27 in✓ |
| Storage | Separates in two | Stands upright |
| Product weight | 57.3 lb✓ | 114 lb |
| Monitor and metrics | Time, distance, strokes, calories, stroke rate, 500 m split, watts, heart rate✓ | 22-in touchscreen; time, distance, strokes, calories, heart rate |
| Bluetooth and apps | Bluetooth; ErgData and 40+ compatible apps | Bluetooth; Aviron (games, streaming) |
| Subscription | None required✓ | Optional |
| Warranty | 5 years frame, 2 years parts | 10 years frame, 1 year parts✓ |
| Specs won | 3 of 11 | 3 of 11 |
Check Amazon for current pricing and availability.
FitScore Duel
Both scores use the weights of our best air rowing machine guide (how we score): performance 35%, durability 25%, comfort 15%, practicality and features 10% each, affordability 5%. People who choose an air rower usually want hard, measurable training, so the stroke and the data come first. The RowErg leads performance (100 to 81) and durability (90.9 to 88.56); the Strong Series leads comfort (95 to 92), practicality (71 to 62) and features (80 to 70).
Key Differences
- The RowErg uses the PM5 monitor with watts and the 500 m split; the Strong Series uses a 22-inch screen with games, races and streaming, and shows time, distance, strokes, calories and heart rate.
- The RowErg is a pure air rower with a damper; the Strong Series combines a fan with a magnetic brake.
- The Strong Series is rated for 507 lb and users up to 6 ft 8 in; the RowErg for 500 lb, with a 54-inch rail.
- The RowErg weighs 57.3 lb and separates into two pieces; the Strong Series weighs 114 lb and stands upright.
- The Strong Series carries a 10-year frame warranty; the RowErg 5 years on the frame and 2 years on parts.
Round 1 of 8
Resistance and Training Data
Concept2 RowErg wins this round
Both rowers push back harder the harder you pull. The RowErg changes the feel with a damper on the fan; the Strong Series adds a magnetic brake on top of the fan, so you can raise the base load.
Data is the clear gap. The PM5 shows the 500 m split, watts, stroke rate and heart rate, the numbers most training plans use. The Strong Series shows time, distance, strokes, calories and heart rate on its screen.
Round 2 of 8
Screen and Motivation
Aviron Strong Series wins this round
The Strong Series has a 22-inch screen with games, races and streaming; owners say the games and races are what keep them rowing. The membership is optional, but most of the interactive content is tied to it.
The RowErg has no screen: a device holder takes your phone or tablet, and the PM5 connects to ErgData and more than 40 apps, with no paid plan required.
Round 3 of 8
Fit, Comfort and Build
Aviron Strong Series wins this round
The Strong Series is rated for 507 lb and users up to 6 ft 8 in. The RowErg is rated for 500 lb, with a 54-inch rail and an inseam of up to 38 inches.
Owners describe the RowErg as solidly built over many years; the Strong Series carries the longer frame warranty.
Comfort over a long session comes from the seat, the rail and the handle. The RowErg has a 54-inch rail and fits an inseam of up to 38 inches, and its seat sits about 14 inches high, which suits most adults. The Strong Series lists users up to 6 ft 8 in and 507 lb, a wider range for very tall or heavy rowers.
Owners of both describe a smooth stroke. If you are near the upper limits of height or weight, the Strong Series gives more margin; otherwise, both will feel comfortable once the foot straps and the damper or magnet level are set for you.
Round 4 of 8
Footprint, Setup and Storage
Concept2 RowErg wins this round
The RowErg is 96 × 24 inches in use and separates into two pieces to store; at 57.3 lb it is easy to move.
The Strong Series is 84 × 27 inches in use and stands upright on wheels, but at 114 lb owners find it heavy to move.
The RowErg arrives in two boxes and goes together quickly; at 57.3 lb it moves easily on its front wheels and separates into two pieces for storage. It needs no outlet, since the PM5 runs on batteries and the flywheel powers it as you row.
The Strong Series needs an outlet for its screen and Wi-Fi for streaming and online races. It stands upright as sold, which saves floor space between sessions, but at 114 lb it is a two-person job to move. Plan its spot near a socket and with clear space behind the seat rail.
Round 5 of 8
Workouts and Programs
Concept2 RowErg wins this round
The RowErg is built around measurable workouts. The PM5 stores intervals, pieces such as a 2,000-meter test and custom plans, and its split and watts make each session easy to compare with the last one. Free apps add structured programs, and many rowing plans are written for this machine.
The Strong Series is built around variety. Games, races against other rowers, scenic routes and streaming on its 22-inch screen turn a session into something closer to play. Owners say that mix keeps them rowing on days they would skip a plain workout, which is a real advantage if motivation is the hard part.
Round 6 of 8
Concept2 vs Aviron for Beginners
Concept2 RowErg wins this round
Both are friendly to beginners in different ways. The RowErg is simple: sit, strap in and row, with the damper set low and the split telling you how hard you are working. Its large community and free technique videos make it easy to learn the stroke.
The Strong Series adds a screen that guides you through games and classes, which takes the guesswork out of early sessions. Start at a low magnetic level so the fan does most of the work, and keep sessions short until the leg-body-arms sequence feels natural.
Round 7 of 8
Noise in a Shared Home
Concept2 RowErg wins this round
Both use a fan, so both make a whoosh that rises with your effort. The RowErg is open-flywheel air only; the Strong Series pairs its fan with a magnetic brake, but you still hear the fan at hard efforts.
In an apartment, a rubber mat under either machine cuts vibration through the floor, and easy steady rows are far quieter than sprints. If silence matters most, a magnetic or water rower fits better than either; see our best rowing machine for small spaces guide.
Round 8 of 8
Warranty, Membership and Long-Term Value
Aviron Strong Series wins this round
The Strong Series carries a 10-year frame and 1-year parts warranty; the RowErg 5 years on the frame and 2 years on parts.
The RowErg needs no plan. The Strong Series membership is optional, but the games and races are what you pay for.
The RowErg has a long record in homes, gyms and clubs, which shows in its resale demand and in the wide availability of parts. Its training value does not depend on a subscription, so the machine you buy is the whole cost of ownership, plus the occasional chain oiling and a clean monorail.
The Strong Series puts more of its value into the screen and its content. Without the membership it still rows well, with a 10-year frame warranty behind it, but the games and races are the reason most owners choose it. Count on keeping the plan if those features are why you buy it.
Who Should Buy Each
Pace and power training
Choose the Concept2 RowErg if you follow plans by split or watts, want a light rower and no membership.
Rowing for fun and motivation
Choose the Aviron Strong Series if games, races and a 22-inch screen will keep you training, or if you need the 507-lb rating.
Consider Instead
For a big screen on an air rower at a lower price, see our Merach R50 vs Concept 2 comparison. For a quiet rower with classes, see Aviron vs Hydrow.
Final Verdict
For air rowing, the Concept2 RowErg is the better buy. Its PM5 data with watts, 500-lb rating and light, proven frame put it ahead in our weighting. The Aviron Strong Series makes sense if the screen is the point: games and races, air plus magnetic resistance, a 507-lb rating and a 10-year frame warranty.
Concept2 RowErg vs Aviron Strong Series FAQ
Not in our air rower weighting: the RowErg scores 87.1 against 80.6 for the Strong Series. The RowErg leads on training data and durability; the Strong Series adds a 22-inch screen with games, a magnetic brake and a 507-lb rating.
It is optional, but most of the games, races and streaming are tied to it. The Concept2 RowErg needs no plan.
Both rise with your effort. The Strong Series adds a magnetic brake to its fan, so the base load can be set higher; the RowErg uses a damper on the fan.
Both take heavy users: 507 lb on the Strong Series and 500 lb on the RowErg. The Strong Series lists users up to 6 ft 8 in; the RowErg has a 54-inch rail and an inseam of up to 38 inches.
Both burn calories well because rowing works the legs, back and arms together. The better choice is the one you will use most: the RowErg for structured, measurable sessions, the Strong Series if games and races keep you coming back.
The Concept2 RowErg. It is the standard machine for rowing tests and rankings, and the PM5 measures the split and watts most plans use.
No. The PM5 monitor runs on batteries, and the flywheel generates power as you row, so you can place it anywhere. The Aviron Strong Series needs an outlet for its screen.
Wipe the rail after each session and check the strap and handle. On the RowErg, clean and lubricate the chain regularly, following the Concept2 maintenance guide. On the Aviron, keep the screen clean and the software updated, and follow the maker care guide for the rail and seat.
Yes. Its fan adds load the harder you pull and the magnetic brake raises the base level, which suits short, hard intervals; the games and races also push you into hard efforts without a timer.
Yes. Both adjust in seconds through the foot straps, so a household can share one machine; keep a separate log for each person so progress stays comparable.
The Concept2 RowErg. It is widely used in homes, gyms and clubs, so it is easy to resell and parts are easy to find, and its value does not depend on a subscription.
In use, the Strong Series is shorter at 84 inches against 96. To store, the Strong Series stands upright and the RowErg separates into two pieces.
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