Damper Setting

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

Further Reading

• Concept2 Training Resources — Official training guides and workout plans from Concept2.
• Concept2 RowErg Specifications — Technical specifications and performance monitor details.
• World Rowing — The international governing body for the sport of rowing.