Torque Relentless Ripper Review: Six Months in a Low-Ceiling Home Gym

The short version: the Torque Relentless Ripper solves a problem most conditioning machines do not. It delivers a ski-style pulling movement without demanding the ceiling height or floor footprint of a traditional SkiErg setup. It is not quite the same experience as a SkiErg, but after roughly six months of testing, it stands out as a genuinely good buy for the right home gym.

How we tested the Torque Relentless Ripper

This review is based on use in a low-ceiling home gym, including standing and kneeling pulls and circuits that move between the Ripper and other exercises. We assessed installation, range of motion, resistance adjustment, monitor behavior and wear during use. The score reflects this setup and training experience; it is not a laboratory performance measurement.

Check Torque’s current Ripper specifications and mounting options →

Why we tested it

Traditional ski machines can be surprisingly difficult to accommodate in a basement gym. In our test space, the low ceiling ruled out every traditional SkiErg configuration we considered.

The Ripper offered a different solution. Its mounting height can be adapted to the space: mount it higher when ceiling height allows for a longer ski-style range of motion, or lower when overhead clearance is tight. It can also mount to a compatible rack, which is useful for consolidating conditioning equipment around a rack instead of giving another machine permanent floor space.

What surprised us

The Ripper is more versatile than its simple design suggests. Testing it from both standing and kneeling positions produced noticeably different ranges of motion and training feel. Changing stance becomes another way to vary the movement, and in a compact gym that versatility is genuinely useful rather than gimmicky.

Low-ceiling fit and wall mounting

The biggest advantage is space. For low ceilings, the Ripper can fit where a traditional SkiErg setup may not. Adjustable mounting height makes it easier to adapt to the room, while compatible rack mounting creates another option for compact or rack-centered gyms.

Installation will depend on the space. Our wall does not have traditional stud spacing, so the test setup uses a wood backer for wall mounting. With standard stud spacing, that may be a non-issue. It is best treated as a planning consideration for the specific mounting location rather than a flaw in the Ripper itself.

What could be better

The small toggle used to change resistance does not feel as substantial as the rest of the machine. It has held up during testing, but it is the component that inspires the least confidence and warrants a little care when moving through resistance levels. That is also worth noting in a shared home gym where children may occasionally be around the equipment.

The monitor is the clearer weak point. It is basic: metrics can be cycled and a workout can be reset or ended, but there is no useful pause-and-resume workflow for hybrid training. During interval testing, moving from the Ripper to another exercise and back can mean returning to a display that has shut off, effectively starting the session over. For a conditioning machine that fits circuits so naturally, a more capable monitor would materially improve the experience.

Six months later

Durability has been reassuring. After roughly six months, the test unit has required no maintenance, shows no significant wear issues and remains smooth in use. The resistance toggle is still the component we would handle most carefully, but the machine itself has held up well.

Torque Ripper vs. SkiErg: is it a replacement?

Not exactly. The resistance and overall experience do not feel identical to a traditional SkiErg, and anyone accustomed to using a SkiErg with a floor platform should expect a different setup. If ceiling height and floor space are not constraints, a traditional SkiErg would still be our first comparison and may be the better choice.

That distinction is important: the Ripper does not need to beat a SkiErg at being a SkiErg. Its advantage appears when a traditional SkiErg does not work for the space.

Is it worth the money?

For the right gym, yes. The value proposition is strongest with a low ceiling, limited floor space, a rack-centered setup or a preference for training the movement from multiple positions. Shoppers with plenty of room for a traditional SkiErg, a strong preference for the classic SkiErg feel or a need for detailed workout tracking should compare alternatives closely.

RESEVVOR verdict

The Relentless Ripper earns its place by solving a real space problem without feeling like a throwaway compromise. Flexible mounting height, wall-or-compatible-rack installation and multiple useful training positions make it unusually adaptable. The resistance adjustment could feel more substantial, and the monitor is easily the weakest part of the experience. But after roughly six months of testing, it remains smooth, maintenance-free and effective at the job it was chosen to do. For a low-ceiling or space-conscious home gym: A Keeper.