Damper Setting

By the Watta Team · Updated

Damper Setting: The damper setting is the adjustable lever (1-10) on the side of a Concept2 rowing ergometer that controls airflow to the flywheel and affects resistance.

What is Damper Setting?

The damper is a physical lever on the side of the Concept2 ergometer that controls how much air enters the flywheel housing. Settings range from 1 (least air, least resistance feel) to 10 (most air, heaviest resistance feel). A common mistake is setting the damper to 10 thinking it will produce a harder workout. In reality, the damper affects the feel of the stroke, not the difficulty. You can achieve the same wattage at any damper setting — lower damper requires faster stroke speed, while higher damper allows more force per stroke at lower rates. Concept2 recommends settings of 3-5 for most training, which corresponds to a drag factor of approximately 120-140.

How Watta Uses Damper Setting

When visible on your erg screen photo, Watta captures the damper setting alongside drag factor to provide complete machine setup context for each workout.

Further Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

What damper setting should beginners use?
Beginners should start at damper 3-5. This provides a comfortable resistance that encourages good technique. Setting it too high can lead to back strain and reinforce poor movement patterns.
What damper setting do Olympic rowers use?
Most Olympic and elite rowers train at damper 3-5 for the majority of their sessions. Some may go higher for specific power work, but the emphasis is on technique and drive force rather than resistance.
Does changing the damper setting affect calories burned?
No. The damper setting does not affect calories burned for a given power output. Calories on the Concept2 are calculated from watts, which are independent of damper setting.

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