6 Best Rowing Ergs For Youth Training That Top Coaches Recommend
Discover the 6 best rowing ergs for youth training, as recommended by top coaches. Our guide covers key features for durability, safety, and development.
Your teenager comes home from crew practice, energized and talking about "erging" and "split times." They’re hooked, and now the question of a home rowing machine—an ergometer or "erg"—has come up for off-season training. This moment feels familiar to so many parents: how do you support a burgeoning passion without investing in something that might gather dust in six months? Making the right choice is about more than just the machine; it’s about investing wisely in their development, health, and commitment.
Key Erg Features for Youth Rower Development
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you!
When your child’s coach talks about an erg, they’re not just talking about a piece of exercise equipment. They are referring to a specific tool for building technique, power, and mental toughness. The key is finding a machine that provides consistent, measurable feedback that translates directly to performance in the boat.
For a developing rower, typically in the 13-18 age range, the most critical features are a smooth, reliable resistance mechanism and an accurate performance monitor. This monitor must track key metrics like split time (the pace per 500 meters), stroke rate, and distance. This data is the language of rowing; it’s how they track progress and how their coach will guide them from afar.
Finally, think about durability and fit. A youth rower is still growing, so adjustability in the foot stretchers is important. And let’s be honest, these machines take a beating from determined teenagers. Look for a robust frame and a resistance system that can handle thousands of hard strokes without failing. Resale value is also a huge factor, as a high-quality erg can often be sold for a good portion of its original price if your child’s interests shift.
Concept2 RowErg: The Gold Standard for Teams
If you’ve walked into any boathouse or high school crew room in the country, you’ve seen a fleet of Concept2s. There’s a simple reason for this: it’s the undisputed standard for the sport. Coaches trust it, indoor competitions are run on it, and the data it produces is comparable worldwide.
The Concept2 uses air resistance, which closely mimics the feel of pulling an oar through water—the harder you pull, the more resistance you feel. Its Performance Monitor (the PM5) is the industry benchmark, providing accurate, reliable data that your rower’s coach will understand and use for training plans. This direct comparability is crucial. When your child does a 2k test at home, the score is directly transferable to their team’s rankings.
While not the cheapest option, the Concept2 holds its value better than almost any other piece of fitness equipment. Think of it less like a treadmill and more like a quality musical instrument. It’s a durable, long-term investment that can be passed down to a younger sibling or sold easily if rowing doesn’t stick. For any rower considering competing at the high school or collegiate level, this is the default choice.
WaterRower Natural for a Quieter Home Workout
The whirring sound of an air-resistance erg can be… a lot. Especially in a shared living space or an apartment where someone might be on a work call. If your family needs a quieter solution that won’t disrupt the household, the WaterRower is a fantastic and aesthetically pleasing alternative.
The WaterRower uses a patented WaterFlywheel that consists of paddles in an enclosed tank of water to create resistance. This not only makes for a much quieter, "whooshing" sound but also provides an incredibly smooth, fluid stroke that many find feels even more like being on the water. It’s a different feel from the Concept2, but one that many rowers love for long, steady-state workouts.
The main consideration here is data comparability. While the WaterRower’s monitor tracks progress effectively, the numbers are not directly equivalent to Concept2 scores. This can be a hurdle if your rower’s coach sets training targets based on C2 times. This erg is an excellent choice for general fitness and technique, but less ideal for a rower focused on competitive benchmarking.
Hydrow Wave Rower for Tech-Motivated Training
Does your teen live on their phone and respond best to interactive, screen-based experiences? The traditional, data-heavy monitor of a standard erg might feel a bit dry to them. This is where connected fitness rowers like the Hydrow Wave can be a game-changer for motivation.
The Hydrow Wave uses computer-controlled magnetic resistance, which is quiet and smooth. Its main draw is the immersive experience: a large screen streams live and on-demand workouts led by real athletes on beautiful waterways. This can be incredibly motivating, turning a solitary basement workout into a guided, engaging session that gamifies fitness and keeps them coming back.
The big question for a parent is whether this aligns with their team’s training. The experience is fantastic for building fitness and endurance, but like the WaterRower, its metrics aren’t directly comparable to the Concept2 standard. It also requires a monthly subscription. Consider this a great tool for the athlete who needs extra motivation to stay active, but have a conversation with their coach first about how to integrate it with team goals.
Xebex Air Rower: A Durable, Value Alternative
You want to support your child, but the price tag on the top-tier models is daunting, especially if you’re not yet sure this is a long-term passion. The Xebex Air Rower offers a compelling middle ground, providing many of the core features of a standard air rower at a more accessible price point.
Xebex has built a reputation for creating durable, heavy-duty equipment often seen in CrossFit gyms. Their air rower uses a similar air resistance system and provides a solid, stable feel during hard workouts. The monitor tracks all the essential metrics—time, distance, strokes, calories, and watts—and is generally considered reliable for personal tracking.
The crucial difference lies in the calibration. While the feel is similar to a Concept2, the monitor and drag factor are not identical, meaning a 2k time on a Xebex isn’t a 2k time on a Concept2. For a middle schooler just starting out or for general fitness, this is perfectly fine. However, for a competitive high school rower whose ranking depends on precise, standardized scores, this gap can be a significant issue.
NordicTrack RW600 With iFit for Guided Fitness
Maybe your rower isn’t the only one in the house who wants to get fit. If you’re looking for a machine that can serve your teen’s rowing needs while also offering variety for other family members, the NordicTrack line with iFit integration is worth a look.
Similar to Hydrow, the RW600 is built around a screen and a subscription service (iFit). It offers a huge library of trainer-led rowing workouts, but also cross-training options like yoga, strength, and mindfulness classes that the whole family can use. The machine uses a combination of air and silent magnetic resistance, allowing trainers to automatically adjust the difficulty during a class, which is a neat feature for guided workouts.
This is a fantastic fitness rower, but it’s not a dedicated training erg for a competitive team rower. The focus is on the guided workout experience, not on the standardized, comparable data that coaches rely on. If the goal is general conditioning and keeping your teen active in a fun way, it’s a strong contender. If the goal is to improve their 2k time for seat racing, another model is a better fit.
Concept2 Dynamic for Advanced On-Water Feel
Your rower is serious. They’re talking about college recruitment, training year-round, and perfecting every nuance of their stroke. For this highly dedicated athlete, the Concept2 Dynamic offers the closest simulation to rowing in a boat that you can get on dry land.
Unlike a standard "static" erg where the body moves back and forth, on the Dynamic the foot stretchers also move. This requires the rower to control their body mass more effectively, just as they would in a tippy racing shell. It coordinates body and leg movements in a way that translates more directly to on-water performance and can help refine technique at a very high level.
The Dynamic is a specialized tool. It’s more expensive and has a steeper learning curve than the standard RowErg. This is not a machine for a novice or even most intermediate youth rowers. It is a purchase to consider only after a direct conversation with a coach for an athlete who is already technically proficient and looking for that extra edge in their development.
Erg Maintenance and Supporting Your Rower’s Growth
Buying the erg is just the first step. Like any piece of quality equipment, from a violin to a hockey stick, it needs a little care to perform its best. Thankfully, most top-tier ergs are built like tanks and require minimal maintenance.
For air rowers, this usually means wiping down the monorail after each use to keep the seat rolling smoothly and occasionally cleaning dust from the flywheel cage with a vacuum. For water rowers, it involves adding a purification tablet to the tank every six months. These are five-minute tasks that protect your investment and ensure the machine is always ready for a tough workout.
Remember, the erg is a tool, not the whole story. The best way to support your rower’s growth is to foster their love for the sport itself. Encourage them, celebrate their hard work (not just their scores), and help them maintain a healthy balance between training and the rest of their life. Your consistent, positive support is the most important piece of equipment they’ll ever have.
Choosing the right erg can feel like a big decision, but it boils down to understanding your child’s current goals and commitment level. Whether you opt for the team standard, a quiet home-friendly model, or a tech-forward motivator, you’re providing a powerful tool for their athletic journey. The most important thing is to keep the conversation open with your rower and their coach, ensuring the investment you make truly supports their passion and development.