Customer Reviews

Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine

5 star:		(150)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I own the Concept 2 Model D. I purchased it last year after an exhausting field and internet search. I "casually" used it for several months until a few months ago when I became very serious about losing weight. I now use the rower 5 to 6 times a week 30 minutes minimum- with an average of 45 minutes and occasionally (usually Saturday mornings) a 60 minute workout. I do not overdue the individual workouts, and maintain about a 23 stroke per minute rhythm.

I chose this rower for several reasons. First, the great reviews on internet websites. Secondly, I was very impressed with the sales associate. He did not try to "oversell" me, instead he convinced me that for my needs the model D was more than sufficient. Third, I was fortunate enough to try one out at a friends home gym- I was impressed. Lastly- this is a high quality machine- very sturdy and well designed.

I utilize this machine, along with a low carb diet and walking 3-4 miles 2 to 3 times a week, to lose 75 pounds! I started this last September 2008- weighing in at nearly 300 pounds at 6'1". As of now, end of March 2009, I am down to 225 and feel great! That's it, no magic other than consistency! If it were not for this rower, my efforts would have been much, much less successful. (I tried walking alone on previous attempts and walking by itself as the main exercise did not cut it for me for drastic weight loss.)

This rower offers a full body workout! I ordered the machine and it arrived inside of a week. The rower literally snaps together. I did call customer service with a couple questions, and they were very helpful and walked me through the set-up. It is sturdy for big guys like me. The only maintenance I have done is an occasional wiping of light oil on the pull chain- that's it. The machine is not so noisy that I can't watch TV while working out. I strongly recommend this rower!


TWO YEAR UPDATE (2/12/11)- I still use the rower and it is still in PERFECT condition! The seat is a bit softer but no wear or tear. 4 friends have purchased this rower after trying out mine. About a year ago I reached 215 pounds using the same program described above. Then, totally unrelated to the rower, I pinched a nerve in my right shoulder from an old dislocation I had as a kid. I had to stop rowing because of the discomfort. Within 6 months I gained 10 pounds and was up to 225 again. My shoulder had healed so I tried this rower again, only this time instead of extended cardio several times a week, I incorporated the rower with Dr. Al Sears high intensity interval training, three times a week for about 12-15 minutes. All I can say is "wow", within 6 weeks I blasted 25 pounds off with no discomfort. The rower was perfect for his method! I also experimented with a powerlung, and used it for once a week, 10 minutes at low intensity. My lung power greatly improved. Although I have not religiously used the powerlung once a week, I try to use it whenever I am in the mood- about once every two weeks. The result has been great.

You need go no further than a major crew regatta such as the Head of the Charles to understand why Concept2 rowers are regarded as the best available. Generally there are only a few rower manufacturers represented in vendor alley, and the one with the crowd will be Concept2. Found in crew boathouses everywhere, not only are they well-built and smooth, but can even be linked together to work in unison for training purposes. It's actually quite amazing to see in action. Concept2 also has an enormously enthusiastic user base that competes across the world. That's indoor rower competition! You'll also find Concept2 rowers in gyms everywhere - they're very tough.

Concept2 makes two models. They are actually fairly close in specs and the pricing difference is a few hundred dollars. This listing is for Concept2's D model with their PM3 electronics module. I view the principal difference between the D and E models as height (the E is a bit taller). The E also comes standard with the PM4 module, while the D is available with either the PM3 or PM4. For most people the major difference between the 2 modules is that the PM4 comes with heart rate monitoring and a chest strap. If you don't need HR monitoring or already have a standalone monitor, you'll be quite happy with the item presented here - the D model with the PM3.

I bought a Model D with the PM3 monitor in August, 2009. I have been overweight my entire life and in November of 2008 I finally decided to change my life. I started a new way of eating with Nutrisystem and I started exercising. I bought an elliptical and treadmill to join my stationary bike and started losing weight. As I slowly became more fit, I kept researching other things I could do to keep my interest in exercise going. I'd never seen an indoor rower, but read about them as being terrific exercise in various places. I started looking really hard at them when I realized just how great a workout they offered at a low impact. Concept 2 is considered the standard in rowing machines. I was very pleased with the price point as well. I'd already spent a lot of money on the treadmill and elliptical and didn't want to drop a lot more. One very nice thing about Concept 2 machines is that they hold their value very well. I couldn't find a used Model D in my area on Craigslist, but the Model C's and B's were still selling for great prices. That helped solidify my decision to purchase a Concept 2.

Ordering was easy. I got the PM3 monitor because I already have a polar watch/monitor and because it was slightly cheaper. I initially didn't get the polar receiver, but have since bought it as it is much easier to look at the monitor and see my HR than having to try and peer at my watch. I chose the Model D versus the Model E again because of price. The only difference between them (other than the Model E only comes with the PM4 monitor) is that the Model E sits up higher off the ground. I'm still pretty spry, so I didn't care about this. And I find that I have no problem sitting on the rower or getting off of it. It was delivered in one big box (but the whole thing is much, much lighter than most other fitness machines like my treadmill and elliptical which required common freight shipping). I opened the box, removed the 2 pieces, screwed in the 4 feet and was rowing within a half hour. Very, very easy to set up.

I really like the ability to track the distance and time that I row and trying to improve my times. The software that comes with it includes an online log book that you can upload your data to and even rank yourself compared to others in your class [male/female, age and weight (lightweight vs. heavyweight)]. The Concept 2 following is huge; there is a forum for people in the U.S. and a more active one for people in the U.K. There are several training programs developed by different people that you can follow. There is third party software that you can buy (limited versions ship with the rower for you to try) like RowPro where you can actually link online and race people from around the world! There are even indoor rowing championships/contests all over the U.S. using...what else? Concept 2 rowers, of course! Once you row 1,000,000 meters on your machine, the company will send you a t-shirt. There are also rewards for people rowing longer distances. There are contests as well. Right now, I am aiming to row >100,000 meters between Thanksgiving and Christmas. For everyone who does accomplish this, Concept 2 will donate a certain amount of money to one of 3 charities (you get to decide which one receives the donation for your part). What a great company!

I row while I watch TV; usually a sporting event (Pittsburgh Penguins hockey is my fave!) I have no trouble hearing the TV. I row a combination of intervals and longer distances. I've definitely seen improvements in my cardiovascular fitness. I still do a variety of exercise, including using my treadmill and my elliptical. Of all these activities, I think rowing wins hands down in terms of how effective a workout it is. I've enjoyed it so much that I bought a Model D for my dad to use at his house (and I can use it when I visit!). He is recovering from bypass surgery and started rowing in rehab. He really likes it too. I recommend using some sort of gloves for your hands; I've developed calluses where the bar is held, but I wear some weightlifting gloves while I row so I can keep a good hook on it (I sweat a lot). I bought the dust cover for it too as I have animals and lot's of dust in my house. If it is set up, you can put the dust cover on, but if it is taken apart the cover won't fit it. When it is taken apart, it takes up very little room. I just set it in a corner. Putting it back together is very easy, but I have learned to be careful as you can pinch your finger if you don't pay attention.

Overall, I think this is one of my best fitness purchases. It is a very solid machine and I know there are many people out there who have had their machine for many, many years. I can't see my much more complicated elliptical or treadmill lasting that long. It provides a fabulous workout and I love the ability to rank myself against other women in my age and weight class from around the world. I like seeing if I can improve my times. And I love the ability to break it apart and stick it in a corner when I have people over. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to get fit. I've lost over 100 pounds so far, feel great and look great. A priceless combination!

The Concept2 Indoor Rowing Machine is the universal standard for quality rowing machines. If you want to perform this indoor exercise correctly, this is the machine to use. If you visit any high school, college, or club rowing program you will find Concept2 rowing machines are likely the only rowing machines they use. It is good for sweep rowers and scullers, gives you lots of workout feedback, and requires very little maintenance. My model D has over 2,000,000 meters on it and neither of us show any sign of slowing down. Older, used Model A, B, and C indoor rowers still retain their value, work well, and have faithful and dedicated users. If you're going to purchase an indoor rower, make an investment for the long-term because this machine (or the Model E) is the only one to consider.

I love my Concept 2, it is a great rower. I heartily give this product a 5 star review. I would not extend that rating to the shipping from Amazon, however.

The rower arrived on time but one piece (the plastic arm that holds the connects the monitor to the rower) was snapped in half. After reading the reviews here and seeing that at least one other person had the same experience in ordering from Amazon, I believe that somewhere in Amazon's supply chain they are handling these boxes (which are marked "fragile") improperly. The extensive styrofoam inserts in the box designed to cushion the machine were broken as well. It must have taken no small amount of force to accomplish that.

The story has a happy ending though. I was truly dreading having to send this back to Amazon, and my one limited experience with Amazon's customer support was not promising. However, I contacted Concept 2 directly, and they were an absolute pleasure to deal with. They explained to me how to remove the broken piece (which turned out to be extremely easy)and they shipped a new piece via UPS that same afternoon, no questions asked.

Concept 2 was fantastic and the machine is great, and I would strongly recommend the product to anyone thinking about purchasing a rowing machine. The only thing I would do differently is I would buy the machine directly from Concept 2 rather than Amazon.

Generally, I love Amazon, I use Amazon Prime, and I purchase everything I can through them. I have never been disappointed before by Amazon, though I have never had anything this large delivered by them, either. The damage combined with the poor experience with customer support leads me to summarize the transaction:

Buy this rower, but buy it direct from Concept 2.

45 years ago I rowed with the University of Washington crew. I stopped rowing in 1970 and only this last January I discovered a Concept 2 rower at our recreation center. I climbed on and thought, I'll just row a couple of thousand meters. I made it to 800 before becoming winded, struggled on to 1200 meters and gave it up. Five months later I routinely row 8 to 10 thousand meter workouts, am losing weight, and seeing something I have not seen for years; muscle definition in arms and legs. I have rowed almost 300,000 meters and have a goal of 1,000,000 meters this year. This machine is amazing. It feels like being on the water. The action is smooth, and the monitor keeps the user updated on pace, distance rowed, power generated by each stroke, and how power is being applied throughout the stroke. I wish I had had one of these when I was in college, but discovering it at age 65 has benefits as well.

The machine is built for heavy use by rowing or health clubs and I believe will last an individual a lifetime. The company supplies free instructional videos, motivational challenges, and online tracking of your progress, I would strongly suggest finding one of these machines near you and trying it out before you buy. No Concept 2 machine is manufactured to gather dust in a garage or attic!

This is the most perfect and dependable piece of exercise equipment that I own. It's used by the Oarsome Foursome, as well as Xeno Muller (in his workout DVD series and his rowing gym). The Concept2 website is very informative, and has goal-oriented plans (the concept2 UK site has a bit more in this regard, oddly). The company sends a free t-shirt once you've rowed 1,000,000 meters (there's a Million Meter Club) and continues to motivate you with pins and such. I've never received a nagging phone call from them (like Bowflex, etc.). And does it work? Do you get fit and feel better? If you actually use it :) ... yes, of course you do. However, I recommend that you get yourself a pair of neoprene padded gloves, because if you row often, you may be bothered initially by some small blisters.

My family works out at a CrossFit gym regularly, so there was really no need for us to get this rower, except to supplement our training. We use it mostly for sprints (500m to 2000m) to work on building power, though I have been known to row a 5000m every now and then to work on technique and pacing for longer distances.

Every time my 8 year old son wants to play video games, I tell him that he has to row 1000m first. It's great watching his times go down and seeing the pride in his face as he huffs and puffs and says, "Dad, I just rowed a PR (personal record)!" Although there is a data card that tracks this info, we also keep a separate training log that we can look at anywhere. He's knocking so much time off the 1000m that soon I'm going to have to up the ante to 2000m to offset the video game time.

The Concept2 Rower is a solid, solid piece of equipment. One of my CrossFit coaches was not lying when she said that if there is one piece of equipment to own at home, it was this.

I ordered this item several weeks ago. It actually came a day sooner than expected. It was a snap to put together. I had been going to the gym several times a week to use their concept2 and since getting my own. I haven't been back to the gym. Maybe when the pool opens in the summer. Anyway. I use this every day. THere is no better piece of exercise equipment. I am rowing 5x a week and loving it. I can't say enough great things about it. If you want a strong core and overall excellent cardiac health. This is the machine. Most under used or misunderstood piece of equipment in the gym. But those of us who discover it. Love it. Anyway, buy one you won't regret it.

This review is coming from a dumpy middle-aged woman with a hip replacement who *thought* she was going to buy a treadmill. I started comparison shopping for treadmills even though spending $1000 or more on a machine instead of just going outside for a walk seemed kind of ridiculous, even in the snow. Then I ran across an article that mentioned rowing machines as the best overall piece of home exercise equipment. Some of my college dorm mates rowed on the women's 8 and it was like the light went on. The unanimous glowing reviews for the Concept2 Model D sold me on this machine and I ordered it direct from Concept2.

After about a month I can recommend rowing without reservation. The machine itself is built like a tank. It took about 20 minutes to put it together and about 2 minutes to figure out how to separate the parts for storage. It takes about 20 seconds to actually pull the machine apart and tuck it away in a corner when I'm not using it, which I do every day. Separated, it takes up the floor space of a medium-sized refrigerator. Together, it's about 9 feet long and a possible trip hazard. I use it on a carpeted floor and haven't noticed any problems with slipping and the machine doesn't need to be leveled. Gunk tends to accumulate on the rollers under the seat, which would probably go unnoticed if you don't pull the sled off and tip it up, but it's easy to clean.

I spent the first week focusing on correct technique and not killing myself. The machine comes with two booklets, a memory card, and a bottle of chain oil. The Indoor Rowing booklet has a lot of good information on proper form and suggested workouts starting from your very first day. There are also videos and active user forums on the Concept2 website. I've been following the suggestions, started slowly, set the damper at 3 and have left it there. Most nights I row from 25 to 40 minutes followed by stretching (recommended: AM/PM Stretch with Madeleine Lewis or AM Yoga for Your Week with Rodney Yee). I spent a lot of time on form and kept my stroke rate at about 18-19 spm. Slow, right? But I don't get sloppy and as I get stronger it seems that upping the stroke rate doesn't really improve my performance all that much. Before I started rowing, the morning routine was to get out of bed with cramping in my thigh and buttocks that nearly put me in tears. No joke: this disappeared overnight as soon as I started rowing. I felt a little soreness, mostly in my upper back, but zero lower back pain and no cramping AT ALL. One week of this was worth the $900.

The rowing machine puts you in total control of your workout in terms of how hard and how fast you want to work, and doesn't require you to do anything other than row harder or faster - there's no incline or speed buttons to push like with a treadmill. The rowing motion feels quite natural to me and time slides by. I actually look forward to my rowing time, and even though I'm still just getting started there is nothing about this that makes me feel like I won't be looking forward to my rowing time any less by next year. Plus, I expect by then I will be getting a lot more competitive about upping my pace. Update: Concept2 has a 100,000m between Thanksgiving and Christmas challenge. UPS delivered the Monday after Thanksgiving and without even trying I'm within 15K with 4 days to go. That's how cool rowing is.

If you're on the fence about which home exercise machine to buy, do yourself a favor and buy a rowing machine. Do yourself an additional favor and buy a Concept2.