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We’re excited to say we’ve tested the newest ski machine on the home gym equipment market. For years, the only worthwhile ski machine was the Concept2 SkiErg, but after our Torque Relentless Ripper review you may be considering otherwise. Plus, I’ll have a side-by-side comparison later in this review.
If you’re not familiar with ski machines, you’re not alone—they are not quite as popular as the best treadmills for home gyms, elliptical trainers, or rowing machines. Ski machines mimic the upper-body dynamics of Nordic skiing (specifically double poling and skate skiing techniques) and offer a killer workout. I can say that with full confidence because I was on my high school’s Nordic racing team and still ski recreationally as an adult—it’s a taxing full-body sport.
You Can Trust Our Cardio Experts
Our team of expert product testers at Garage Gym Reviews have decades of experience in the fitness industry. We’re a group of athletes, certified personal trainers, and nutrition coaches. We’re also a group of people committed to finding the best deals and investments in health and wellness.
For this Torque Relentless Ripper review, GGR founder and OG product tester Coop Mitchell assessed, scored, and reviewed the ski machine using our in-depth fitness equipment testing methodology. He was tasked with scoring a variety of categories on a scale of 1 to 5 including durability, ergonomics, and assembly, to name a few.
Torque Relentless Ripper
Torque Relentless Ripper
Product Highlights
- Ski machine
- Wall or rack mounting options
- Durable design
- 10 levels of magnetic resistance
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Does not take up any floor space
- Rack and wall mounting options
- Durable design
- Full-body workout
- Resistance levels make it ideal for all fitness levels
Cons
- Not super versatile
- Pulley shrouding may rub on cables
- More expensive than the competition
Bottom Line
The Torque Relentless Ripper is ski machine with 10 levels of magnetic resistance. The motion mimics Nordic skiing and is a full-body workout with effort from both your legs and upper body.
A Quick Look at the Torque Relentless Ripper
Torque Fitness has a ton of strength and conditioning equipment to outfit your home or garage gym. You can find all the essentials like squat racks, barbells, and functional trainers.
However, you may be most familiar with Torque from the brand’s more unique and innovative pieces of gym equipment like the cutting-edge sled we featured in our Torque TANK Sled review, TANK M1 review, or the endless rope trainer we tested for the Relentless Rope Trainer review.
Before You Buy
- The Relentless Ripper ski machine can be mounted to a squat rack or wall, but the wall mount is an extra $100.
- The monitor on the Ripper is simple and straightforward but doesn’t offer connectivity like the PM5 monitor on the Concept2 SkiErg.
- Watch Coop’s full video review for his callout on the sharp edge to the pulley when returning to the top range of motion.
Torque Relentless Ripper Full Video Review
Is the Torque Relentless Ripper Worth It?
The Torque Relentless Ripper ski machine is worth it for folks who want a low-impact cardio machine that won’t eat up any of your valuable floor space. The Ripper ski machine is a power rack-mounted (or wall mounted for an additional $100) cardio machine that does not have a floor stand or floor mount.
RELATED: Power Rack Attachment Guide
It’s priced very similarly to the Concept2 SkiErg, which is the most comparable workout experience we’ve had to the Torque Relentless Ripper. The Ripper is $999 and the SkiErg is $850. While there is a slight price difference, Coop thinks the Torque option is worth it for folks truly limited on space or who don’t want to sacrifice more floor space.
Additionally, speaking from personal on-snow skiing experience, the Torque Relentless Ripper could be worth it for competitive high school or college Nordic skiers. In the off season, you’ll be able to practice your double poling position for classic (or V2 and V2 alternate technique for skate), producing force from the floor, and increasing endurance during this up-and-down movement.
Double poling is certainly not the most-used technique in Nordic skiing, but it’s an area many skiers struggle with. It’s typically used on downhills, flat areas, or slight uphills with fast conditions. Double poling is sort of like a high gear and many athletes lose speed while utilizing this technique.
Great for:
- An alternative to the Concept2 SkiErg
- Folks in need of a space-saving cardio machine
- Off-season Nordic ski training
- Athletes of all levels
Not recommended for:
- Folks looking for a ton of versatility from one machine
- Anyone who needs to focus on posterior chain
- Athletes wanting to focus on lower-body cardio training
Torque Relentless Ripper Specs
| Price | $999 |
| Footprint | 24.5” L x 21.0” W x 39.1” H |
| Weight | 50 lbs |
| Resistance | 10 levels of magnetic resistance settings |
| Display | LED screen |
| Compatibility | Racks, rigs, or wall mounting |
| Warranty | 10 year frame, 5 year welds and structural moving parts, 2 year miscellaneous, 1 year finish, 6 months ropes and bungees, 90 days grips |
Working Out on the Torque Relentless Ripper
Coop says his favorite and preferred piece of conditioning equipment is the Concept2 SkiErg. “If I had to choose just one piece of cardio equipment at my house, I’d probably choose the ski machine. I like it that much and use it the most,” says Coop.
Overall, Coop had a positive experience testing the Torque Relentless Ripper for a handful of short workouts. He notes the SkiErg being the gold standard for ski machines, but the Torque is a close competitor.
“Ski machines don’t have a ton of competition in the fitness space, so I was excited to test the Torque ski machine” he says. “It takes up no floor space, the pull is smooth, and the resistance is more customizable for all fitness levels.”
Footprint and Portability
When it comes to footprint, the Torque Relentless Ripper won’t be taking up an inch of floor space in your home gym. It measures 24 inches long, 21 inches wide, and 39 inches tall, but it will be either mounted on your power rack or on a wall using the wall mounting bracket. The Ripper ski machine earns a 5-out-of-5-star rating in our footprint and portability category.
RELATED: Best Compact Exercise Equipment
Durability and Construction
For durability and construction, Coop was impressed during his trial workouts with the Relentless Ripper. He scored this category 4.5 out of 5 stars. “It feels very similar to the Concept2, which is a beast,” he says.
Coop likes the heavy-duty powder coat finish and over-built construction. “I have no doubt this thing is going to last,” he says.
It’s a simple device, which we think is good. In Coop’s full video review, he opens the shrouding of the machine to reveal shock cords (which control the return of the handles) and the belt drive system. In our experience, belt drive systems last a long time and have little to no maintenance.
Additionally, the magnetic resistance on this is super smooth, which means you’re not going to get a ton of jostling or feedback from each pull. “The smoothness from the magnetic resistance is really nice and a bit different than the Concept2,” says Coop.
RELATED: Air vs Magnetic Rowing Machine
Adjustments and Ergonomics
When we judge a cardio machine on ergonomics and adjustments, we’re looking at a product to see if it can be used by a wide variety of people (both weight and height).
Coop found that mounting the Relentless Ripper to the top of his power rack gave him plenty of overhead space to work out on the ski machine with full range of motion. He notes that the Concept2 SkiErg is about 8 feet tall, so home gym owners may want to consider mounting their Torque ski machines around the same height to mimic the feel of the gold standard skier.
The Torque scored high at 4.5 out of 5 stars in this category because home gym owners won’t be limited by the equipment itself—you’ll be limited by your own ceiling height.
Plus, there is a manual lever to adjust the magnetic resistance on the ski machine. Coop says compared to the Concept2 SkiErg, the Torque offers a larger range of resistance (both at the lower and top end of resistance).
That means beginners, kids, and teenagers will be accommodated on this ski machine with lighter starting resistances and stronger folks will also have enough resistance at the top end of the spectrum to get a challenging workout.
RELATED: 6-Week Beginner Workout Plan
Technology and Conveniences
Don’t expect a ton of tech features on the Torque Relentless Ripper. It earns a 3.5 out of 5 stars in this category. The monitor is simple and displays workout metrics like time, strokes per minute, watts, calories, and distance. Coop likes the fact the simple LCD screen has an orange backlight, two easy-to-use buttons, and it folds away when not in use.
Torque Relentless Ripper vs Concept2 SkiErg
Concept2 SkiErg
Concept 2 SkiErg
Product Highlights
- Textured, strapless handles don't soak up sweat
- State-of-the-art monitor
- High-strength cords
- Free-standing or wall-mounted
- For serious athletes
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strapless handles with texture that doesn’t soak up sweat
- Durable and well-built monitor
- High-strength cords provide options for different pulling methods
- Can be free-standing or wall-mounted
Cons
- Geared more towards serious athletes
- Would like to see additional handle options
- Would like to see more pulleys
Bottom Line
Adapting key rowing machine elements like flywheel resistance and a state-of-the-art PM5 Performance Monitor, the SkiErg turns the athlete’s orientation vertical, simulating the movements of real cross-country skiing with both double-pole and classic alternating arm technique.
Now that you’ve heard all about the Torque Relentless Ripper, let’s compare it to the Concept2 SkiErg. For a long time, the SkiErg was the only solid ski machine on the market. The Torque ski machine is certainly the only competitor our team has tested that has come close.
Concept2 is a well-known and well-respected company. The brand manufactures heavy-duty and long-lasting conditioning equipment and doesn’t even dabble with strength equipment like barbells and dumbbells.
In addition to Concept2 making quality equipment, you can also buy individual replacement parts for nearly every single component on the SkiErg if something were to happen. The frame has a 5-year warranty, but folks appreciate being able to make quick fixes themselves (especially when the warranty runs up).
The way both machines function is quite similar, but it’s worth noting the handful of differences in the specs: The Concept2 SkiErg is quite a bit larger and will take up some amount of floor space. The monitor on the SkiErg has more functionality—it’s compatible with third-party training apps like Strava and you can upload your training results to a Concept2 community leaderboard.
Lastly, the resistance is different: The Toque ski machine uses magnetic resistance (which is typically silent and smooth) while the Concept2 SkiErg is designed with air resistance (which is quite a bit louder and not as smooth). If you want to read more about the gold standard machine, check out our Concept2 SkiErg in-depth review.
| Torque Relentless Ripper | Concept2 SkiErg | |
| Price | $999 | $850 |
| Footprint | 24.5” L x 21.0” W x 39.1” H | Wall mounted: 16” L x 20.5” W x 85” H Mounted on floor stand: 23.5” L x 50” W x 85” H |
| Weight | 50 lbs | 46 lbs (without floor stand) |
| Resistance | Magnetic resistance; 10 levels | Unlimited air resistance; 10 levels using manual damper |
| Display | LED screen | PM5 with LED screen |
| Compatibility | Racks, rigs, wall mounted | Floor stand or wall mounted |
| Warranty | 10 year frame, 5 year welds and structural moving parts, 2 year miscellaneous, 1 year finish, 6 months ropes and bungees, 90 days grips | 2 years on moving parts and the monitor, 5 years on frame parts |
Customer Experience
Torque earns a 3.5-star rating for overall customer experience. There are a few different methods to contact the company including email, phone, general contact form, and a live chat function.
The brand offers a standard 30-day return policy but you will be on the hook for return shipping and a 15% restocking fee. You’ll also have to return your equipment in the original packaging.
Ordering and Assembling the Torque Relentless Ripper
Ordering from Torque Fitness is easy and you’ll have financing options through Affirm or PayPal Credit. Both choices have variable interest rates based on your credit history.
Shipping was quick and easy to GGR HQ with no issues. However, once it was out of the box, there were some complications trying to put it together and our assembly experts didn’t think the instructions were super clear.
There are a few main pieces including the strut, lower triangle with the console, the adjustment lever, and the ergonomic grip handles with tie-offs. Keep in mind the assembly process includes threading the ropes through the pulleys.
Customer Reviews
At the time of writing this review, the Torque Relentless Ripper has two customer reviews, both of which were awarded 5 out of 5 stars. We plan to update this section when more customers share their input and real experience with the ski machine.
Final Verdict of Our Torque Relentless Ripper Review
If we’re going to be honest—which is baked into our code of ethics at GGR—the Concept2 SkiErg is the gold standard for ski machines. That said, if you’ve been wanting a ski machine but just can’t compromise the floor space in a small home gym, the Torque Relentless Ripper is an excellent choice for people who are limited on floor space.
The Torque ski machines function a lot like the Concept2 SkiErg and are a worthy competitor—Coop thinks it comes down to how much space you have in your gym.
Full Rating
Torque Relentless Ripper
The Torque Relentless Ripper is ski machine with 10 levels of magnetic resistance. The motion mimics Nordic skiing and is a full-body workout with effort from both your legs and upper body.
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 999
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.25
Torque Relentless Ripper: FAQs
What muscles do the Torque Relentless Ripper ski machine work?
When you use a ski machine, prepare to use your lats, shoulders, triceps, and biceps. You’ll also be utilizing your core every time you bend into the pull of the cords in addition to your legs helping you stabilize and drive force into the floor.
What muscles do the Torque Relentless Rope machine work?
The Torque Relentless Rope (formerly known as the Endless Rope) primarily works your shoulders and biceps. You’ll also feel the burn in your chest, forearms, lats, traps, and triceps.
Is the Torque Endless Rope good cardio?
The Torque Relentless Rope machine (formerly known as the Endless Rope) can make an excellent cardio machine to supplement your strength workouts. However, if you’re an athlete training for speed and endurance, the Torque Relentless Ripper is a more dynamic and full-body option for cardiovascular training.
Further reading
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