For hybrid & fitness racing
For hybrid & fitness racing, rowing machine and SkiErg score the same on every criterion, so use whichever is free, or both.
Both are good choices that work the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.
The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work
Rowing Machine. A race station. Train it at race pace.
SkiErg. A race station. Train it at race pace.
For functional fitness, rowing machine rates higher on our research criteria: easier to learn and fit in.
For hybrid & fitness racing, rowing machine and SkiErg score the same on every criterion, so use whichever is free, or both. Both are good choices that work the same way, so they swap freely. Rotating between them every few weeks is an easy way to vary your training.
About the same: both are easy to learn.
Rowing machine needs a rower or SkiErg, so for most people it’s a gym exercise. SkiErg needs a rower or SkiErg, so for most people it’s a gym exercise.
About the same: both rate Fair for injury protection in our research rubric.