Is the Ski Erg giving you the workout you wanted?

[Skjchaney]

I'm enjoying my workouts now with this machine. The interval settings on the PM5 that I set up on the rower and Ski Erg have enough rest time on them so I can do leg lifts and something else in-between sets. My arms lose power on the Ski Erg and the first time that happened I started laughing. It was surprised walking away from the erg feeling jacked without doing one push up or lifting anything. Pretty much all my cardio up to this point has been something involving the legs like running, elliptical or the rower. I know the erg uses some legs but not enough for me to consider them worked out although they may be getting what they need. I can have a conversation with my wife while we take turns on it. You can casually use the machine in your normal clothes to get the blood moving and not get sweaty. Thumbs up so far for the Ski Erg!

[hjs]

Certainly can,t talk when using the skierg and sweat so need sports clothing. Its indeed very much upperbody, legs don,t get tired.

[che9sw]

If you had to choose between the rowing machine and the skierg, which would you go for based on the quality of the workout?

Not interested in entering competitions, space is not a factor as I have a large garage, and price is roughly comparable.

Which of the two ergs hits more muscle groups?

[hjs]

If you had to choose between the rowing machine and the skierg, which would you go for based on the quality of the workout?

Not interested in entering competitions, space is not a factor as I have a large garage, and price is roughly comparable.

Which of the two ergs hits more muscle groups?

Rower hits more muscle. Legs and pulling muscle in the upperbody.

Ski hits upperbody, lats, triceps, chest abs. Legs and back do work, but not during the drive, getting up after the stroke makes them work.

My 2 cents, ski is more alround and maybe closer to daily life. Rower is more specific but does work the bigger muscle in the body more.

[Skjchaney]

Which of the two ergs hits more muscle groups?

For me, I am getting an upper body pump when I just use the Ski Erg and when I use just the rower it feels like an overall workout. But both will get your heart rate up. If your in good shape already then it takes a while to get your heart rate up on the rower. I used to use the elliptical for 15 minutes before getting on the rower so I could get my heart rate up to 130-140bpm to row for 3000m or so. Overall that was a 30min workout for me. But it takes hardly any time to get your heart rate up using the Ski Erg. While using both machines together I can say that rowing is more difficult now (you can feel your back and core more) I think because of that they compliment each other. Now that I have a Ski Erg I can't say which one is the better machine. I do like the upper body pump though. I am totally relaxed after that.

[MrHollick]

well at the very affordable price points these two machines sell for I think having to make a decision between one or the other isn't a fair question, to begin with.

Plus they compliment each other very nicely one working out the front of your body the other the back pretty much

[swingshiftworker]

FWIW, I was thinking about buying a SkiErg but have decided not to get one after tying out an older version out at a gym near me.

The SkiErg obviously gives more of an upper body workout but I don't think I'd use it that much and I don't see the advantage of getting it on top of already having a rower and a full weight lifting gym in my garage.

The only movement unique to the SkiErg that I can identify is the double hand pull down, which could be replicated w/a cable pull-down set up. There may be some additional benefits to the SkiErg that I don't/can't recognize but I think that doing upper body lifts -- including but not limited to the bench press, overhead press, rows and power cleans -- in combo w/the rower should be sufficient to develop full body strength and endurance.

[Cant Climb]

SkiErg is the best abdominal core workout i've ever gotten in my life.
I don't think anything else compares to it in that sense.

I love rowing, running, biking but since i've been doing SkiErg i just feel like i have better functional movement.
I always thought i had a strong abdominal core but the SkieErg has put that into a new perspective.

[brentwilson29]

Avid fan of both the C2 rower and ski erg. I would say if I had to choose one it would be the skierg. Nothing provides the cardiovascular as well as anterior workout like the skierg. My abdominal and core have never been as strong as they are now since adding the skierg.... But don't get me wrong, I think the rower and skierg work perfectly together to provide full body benefits, just if I HAD TO pick one, ill go ski

[kris-o]

I would get Skierg - it takes me above 140 BPM in no time.
BUT i also have rower Starting with 20 min row and switching to skierg intervals is my workout of choice now

I have some back and knee problems and cannot do too long rowing sessions - skierg is better.

When i was starting with C2 stuff i was not even considering Skierg - seemed "strange". Now i wish i had an option to test if before my first purchase (who knows - maybe i wouldn have gotten rower at all)

[dr3do]

If you had to choose between the rowing machine and the skierg, which would you go for based on the quality of the workout?

If would be forced to choose between both, for a single workout/exercise all over the year, I would go maybe with the SkiErg, but I find it a very hard choice, TBH. I find the RowErg (subjectively) a more complete exercise, than the SkiErg. On the other hand I can use the SkiErg for longer time… more exercise time, more fitness. My time on the RowErg is quite limited – it feels like sand running through my fingers. But… when forced to choose between both, as complementary to something like Running or Biking, I'd definitely choose the SkiErg.

[T_M]

Just saw this thread...I recently joined a new fancy gym in town and have been giving the skierg a ride. Like the rower, it is an incredibly efficient training device and I love how it complements the muscle groups worked by the rower. However, if I had to pick one over the other, I would pick the rower especially with regards to long aerobic sessions. My reason is that the rower allows you to take in more visual distractions to get you through a long session...you can watch TV or take in some of the eye candy. The body's position when training on the skierg is less conducive to looking around. A man's got to be practical about his training!

[Dreadnought]

It seems to me that the ski erg works primarily the upper body and the core flexors. There is minimal leg involvement.
One does use the legs to rise up in the recovery stroke, but that’s without any resistance other than body weight.

I would expect real cross country skiing to use the legs a lot more than that.

[johnlvs2run]

I use the skiing style, and the Skierg works my whole body, in particular my hips and legs, as the hips and legs are the
constant drivers of the motion, followed up by the back, abs, shoulders, and lastly the arms, all of which are getting good
exercise. I think for this reason, I haven't been sore in the least since beginning to use the machine. Whenever I make a change
to intensity, this first is driven by the hips and the legs, and there's a pendulum type motion throughout - but no squatting or hanging.

After my first 10000m a week ago, due to the full body exercise and being worn out, I had to lay down and have a nice nap.

I love the Skierg. It's the best exercise machine that I've ever used.

[hjs]

It seems to me that the ski erg works primarily the upper body and the core flexors. There is minimal leg involvement.
One does use the legs to rise up in the recovery stroke, but that’s without any resistance other than body weight.

I would expect real cross country skiing to use the legs a lot more than that.

True, legs are not the main driver, the trunk movement is. I feel the most stress on the shoulders.
There is not much knee bending involved, its mostly a good morning plus a partly triceps extension. And fast skierg users very much rely on high drag and high rating and keep the fan spinning.