Concept2 SkiErg Review for HYROX: Is It Worth $1,070 at Home?

The SkiErg is the first thing you do in a HYROX race after the opening run, so a bad 1,000 m sets the tone for the next hour. That’s why so many home-gym racers end up wondering whether to buy one.

This review is based on Concept2’s published specs and prices and on independent reviews, listed under Sources. We have not tested the SkiErg ourselves. Prices were checked on October 24, 2026.

Concept2 SkiErg review: the short version

Buy it if you train mostly at home, the SkiErg is a weak station, and you have the ceiling height. Skip it if your gym already has one or space is tight. A RowErg is the better first machine for most home gyms.

What it costs

Setup	Price
SkiErg, wall mount (PM5 included)	$850
Floor stand, standard	+$220 (total $1,070)
Floor stand, wide	+$250 (total $1,100)
Shipping, lower 48 states	$55 wall mount, $100 with stand

Prices are from Concept2’s SkiErg page. Rogue Fitness lists the same $850 price and $220 stand. Concept2 includes a 30-day money-back guarantee and a limited 2-year and 5-year warranty.

Most home buyers need the floor stand. Wall mounting only works if you have a solid wall and want it permanently fixed.

Will it fit?

• Height: 85 inches (216 cm) in every setup.
• Floor stand footprint: about 23.5 × 50 inches. The wide stand is about 32 × 52 inches.
• Training area: REPZ suggests allowing about 60 × 127 × 216 cm for your stance and pull.

In a standard 8-foot (96-inch) garage, that leaves about 11 inches above the top. Measure before you buy, especially under garage door tracks.

Why it’s the HYROX standard

The SkiErg is station 1 of every HYROX race: 1,000 m, right after your first kilometre run. Station 5 is the rower. Owning one means you can drill the stroke, the pacing and run-to-ski transitions as often as you want, instead of waiting for a free machine at the gym.

What reviewers like

• The PM5 monitor. It’s backlit and connects over Bluetooth and ANT+. Garage Gym Reviews called it durable and well built and found Concept2’s support quick when a monitor was damaged. REPZ notes it stores over 1,000 workouts and syncs with the ErgData app.
• Handles and cords. GGR liked the textured, strapless handles, which “don’t soak up sweat,” and the high-strength cords.
• Flexible setup. Floor stand or wall mount.

The drawbacks

• Price. $1,070 with a stand is a lot for a machine you’ll use for one station.
• Height. At 85 inches, it won’t fit some basements and garages.
• Limited handle options. GGR wanted more handle choices and pulleys.
• Data quirks. REPZ notes past PM5 workouts don’t automatically import into ErgData.

Damper settings for HYROX

The damper lever runs from 1 to 10. A higher setting adds air resistance, so each pull is heavier.

• Concept2’s starting point: about 3–5, according to REPZ.
• HYROX: REPZ reports the 2026/27 Singles rulebook sets a starting damper of 6, which athletes may change.
• Machines differ. The same number can feel different on two SkiErgs. Check the drag factor on the PM5 and train at the setting you plan to race.

How to use it for HYROX training

Coaches commonly suggest treating the race SkiErg as a controlled effort, not a sprint. Our station guide flags the same mistake: going out too hard over the first 250 m. A simple progression:

1. Learn the stroke. Hinge at the hips and drive down with your lats, not your arms.
2. Run-ski bricks. 1 km run straight into 1,000 m ski, three to four rounds.
3. Race pace. Set your 500 m target with our pacing splits. A 4:30 1,000 m is 2:15 per 500 m.

The verdict

The Concept2 SkiErg is the machine you’ll race on, and reviewers rate its build and monitor highly. At $1,070 with a stand, it’s worth it for home-gym racers who need the station work. Everyone else should start with a rower and ski at the gym.

See the SkiErg and the rest of our HYROX home gym picks.

Shopping for a rower too? Read our Concept2 RowErg review.