The StrengthErg is basically a “smart barbell with a brain,” built to give you heavy, explosive, low-impact strength work without any plates, racks, or spotters. It uses a flywheel and air resistance, so the machine automatically gets heavier the harder and faster you push, and lighter when you back off.

What the StrengthErg is

The StrengthErg is a compact strength machine from Concept2 that uses air resistance (like their rower and SkiErg) instead of weight stacks. You only do the “lifting” phase of each rep (the concentric part), and the return is unloaded, which means less soreness and faster recovery between sessions.

Movements you can do

Think of it as a whole mini gym on one frame: you can do big compound moves and plenty of variations. Common patterns include:

• Leg press for quads, glutes, and hamstrings

• Chest press and horizontal pushes

• Seated row and upper pulls for back and biceps

• Other hinge, squat, and press patterns depending on handle and setup

Because resistance auto-adjusts to your force, the same setup works for beginners, heavy lifters, and group circuits without changing pins or plates.

Speed, strength, or power?

You can actually train all three—strength, speed, and power—by playing with intent and damper settings. Lower damper and fast drives feel more like explosive power or speed-strength work, while higher damper and slower, grindy pushes feel closer to heavy strength sets. The monitor and app then show rep-by-rep data like drive speed, force, and time under tension, so you can literally “see” your power output, not just guess.

Why it feels fun and different

Traditional weights are limited by your weakest point in the lift, but the StrengthErg lets you push hard through the whole range, so every rep feels athletic instead of awkward. There’s no fear of failing a rep or getting pinned; if you’re tired, you just push less and the machine instantly “gets lighter,” which makes it perfect for playful challenges, group workouts, and sport-style training.