Concept2 damper settings and drag factor explained

What the damper lever actually does

A Concept2 RowErg is an air rower. When you pull, the chain spins a fan flywheel inside a housing. The damper is a set of vents on that housing. Moving the lever from 1 to 10 opens the vents further and lets more air flow through the fan.

More air means the fan has to push more air with every turn, so it slows down more quickly between strokes. At a high setting each stroke feels heavier and slower, a bit like rowing a heavy, slow boat. At a low setting the flywheel keeps spinning, so each stroke feels lighter and quicker, more like a light, fast boat.

Why 10 is not the hardest workout

On an air rower, effort comes from you. The faster you spin the fan, the more air it has to move and the harder it pushes back. That is true at every damper setting. So a hard piece at damper 3 can be just as demanding as a hard piece at damper 10. The work is measured in watts and split on the monitor, not in damper numbers.

Higher settings shift the load onto each stroke rather than adding more total work. Many people find that a very high damper makes the stroke feel slow and heavy, which can pull their stroke rate down and upset their rhythm. Concept2's own guidance suggests most people start in the lower to middle range, often around 3 to 5, and adjust from there. Check the coaching pages on the Concept2 website for their current advice.

If you want to understand the numbers on the monitor, our explainer on rowing split times and watts shows how split, watts and stroke rate fit together.

What drag factor means

Two RowErgs set to the same damper number can feel different. A dusty fan cage, a newer or older machine, temperature and altitude all change how much air the flywheel meets. Drag factor solves this. The PM5 measures how quickly the flywheel slows during each recovery and turns that into a single number.

A higher drag factor means the flywheel slows faster, which feels heavier. A lower number feels lighter. Damper 1 usually gives a drag factor somewhere around the 70s to 90s and damper 10 somewhere around the 200s, but the exact figures vary between machines, which is the whole point of measuring it. If you want the same feel on a club machine and your home machine, match the drag factor, not the damper number.

How to see drag factor on the PM5

On most PM5 firmware versions the drag factor display sits in the menu rather than on the main workout screen. The steps below are a general guide. Menus can change with firmware updates, so check your PM5 manual or Concept2's support pages if your screen looks different.

1. 1

   Wake the monitor by pressing a button or taking a stroke.

2. 2

   From the main menu, go to More Options.

3. 3

   Choose Display Drag Factor.

4. 4

   Row a few easy strokes, then let the flywheel spin down.

5. 5

   Read the number on screen, adjust the damper lever and repeat until it shows the value you want.

Note:Do not put fingers near the fan housing vents or the chain while the flywheel is moving. If the monitor will not wake or shows errors, see our guide to a Concept2 PM5 that is not working and Concept2's support pages.

Keeping drag factor consistent

Dust builds up on the fan cage over time, which restricts airflow and lowers drag factor at the same damper setting. Concept2's maintenance guidance includes cleaning the flywheel housing and oiling the chain at set intervals. Follow the schedule in your manual, and switch off and unplug any accessories first.

If you share a rower, write your chosen drag factor on a note by the machine. Each person can set it before a session in a few strokes. For buying advice on air and other rowers, see our best rowing machine UK guide or the air rowers section.

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Frequently asked questions

What damper setting should I use on a Concept2? Concept2 suggests most people start around 3 to 5. Try a few settings at the same effort and pick the one where your stroke feels smooth and connected. Check Concept2's coaching pages for their current advice.

Is a higher damper setting harder? Each stroke feels heavier, but the total work depends on how hard you pull. You can work just as hard at a low setting by pulling harder and at a higher stroke rate.

Why is my drag factor different at the same damper? Dust in the fan cage, room temperature, altitude and machine age all change airflow. That is why drag factor is the better number to match between sessions or machines.

Does the damper affect my split? Indirectly. The PM5 accounts for drag factor when it works out split and watts, so a given effort should give similar numbers at different settings, though your technique may change with the feel.