Concept2 Model D with PM5 Rowing Machine Review
Shop NowThe Concept 2 Rower is jam-packed with features, particularly technological ones. Its performance monitor allows riders to track data as well as play fitness games. Concept2 has made their website as interactive and information as possible, providing workout tips and giving rowers a chance to compete with and learn from each other.
Overview & Ratings
If you’re looking for a way to get a reliable and uncomplicated full-body workout, or you’re a rower in need of a trainer for off-seasons, then an indoor rowing machine, like the Concept 2 Rower, is a perfect choice. The Concept 2 Model D, in particular, is one of your better options. The Concept2 website lets you sign up for workout emails and battle it out with your fellow indoor rowers. The performance monitor not only lets you track your workout data, but also comes preloaded with games that give you the motivation to complete your fitness sessions. Bluetooth and ANT+ compatibility helps you connect to several fitness apps and heart rate monitors. The amount of technology the Concept 2 Rower uses is impressive. This rowing machine is practical as well, aside from being advanced. It’s easy to move around your house and store away when you’re not using it.
Based on our extensive analysis, we’re giving the Concept 2 Rower a rating of 9.8 out of 10.
For more information on the Concept 2 Model D, check out this video: Concept 2 Rower review.
Features and Specs
Intro
Dimensions
- Dimensions: 8’ L x 2’ W x 3’7” H
- Weight: 57 lbs
Features
Concept2 is using all available technology to make your workouts on the Concept 2 Rower as beneficial as possible. Their website is full of useful info and completely user-friendly. The performance monitor serves both a practical and entertaining purpose.
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Performance Monitor
The performance monitor 5 (or PM5) on your Concept 2 Rower provides you with the option of tracking your distance, speed, pace, calories burned, and watts. You can also access preset workouts and games on the PM5. Store workout data with a USB (not included) and change settings to display your data in one of the multiple available languages.
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ANT+ and Bluetooth Connectivity
The Concept 2 Model D is compatible with ANT+ and Bluetooth. Use ANT+ to connect to apps that monitor your heart rate. Use Bluetooth to synchronize with a variety of fitness apps and compete in machine-to-machine races with other riders online.
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Workout of the Day Emails
You can sign up for an email subscription on the Concept2 website and receive instructions for the Workout of the Day in your inbox every morning. You can choose between short (max. 30 minutes), medium, and long workouts (60+ minutes).
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Compete with Other Riders
Join online challenges to race against other owners of the Concept 2 Rower. Log on to compare your statistics to other riders’.
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Games
Play motivating workout games right on the performance monitor. These games include the Fish Game, Darts, Target Training, and Biathlon. Add variety and fun to your daily workouts.
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Flywheel and Air Resistance
The Concept 2 Rower uses an air-resistance flywheel for a powerful workout that’s also silent and smooth.
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1 to 10 Damper Settings
Make your workouts more challenging with the adjustable damper settings. The higher the setting you choose, the more air flows into the flywheel housing, making it harder for the flywheel to spin.
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Olympic-Level Training
The Concept 2 Rowing Machine is the same machine Olympic-level rowers use to train on off-seasons. It’s a heavy-duty piece of equipment for serious athletes.
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Easy Assembly
You only need eight screws to put the Concept II Rower together. The tools you need also come with the machine.
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Easy transportation and Storage
The Concept 2 Model D can easily be kept in any size home. The machine can be split into two parts and each part can be pushed forward on portability wheels. The two parts can then be stored upright against walls or in corners.
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Durable and Dependable
The sturdy, solid Concept Two Rower provides a dependable full-body workout.
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Warranty
The Concept2 Model D PM5 comes with a limited 5-year warranty on the frame, as well as a 2-year warranty on the performance monitor (PM) and all moveable parts.
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Shipping and Assembly
The Concept 2 Rower can be shipped within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. Shipping weight is 67.9 lbs. In your package you’ll receive the Concept 2 Model D, a user manual, PM guidebook, assembly tools, assembly instructions, and 2 D batteries.
Exercises
The Concept 2 Rower may give riders a full-body workout, but the range of exercises you can do is still limited to a simple rowing motion. However, on the Concept 2 Rower Model D, you can play one of four games in conjunction with your workout:
Fish Game
Try to get the larger fish on the screen to eat the smaller fish. Change and regulate your intensity to move your fish around.
Darts
Send darts into a target. The only way to hit bull’s-eye is to make sure the pace of your strokes is consistent and steady. The darts will begin to drop if you can’t maintain your pace.
Target Training
This game is similar to darts, but in this one you get the option of customizing your tempo and pace settings.
Biathlon
Compete in a virtual biathlon. Complete three to five laps of Nordic skiing and finish each lap with target shooting.
Our Likes
Finding things to like about the Concept 2 Model D Rowing Machine is definitely not a hard task. With indoor rowers, you get an uncomplicated workout that’s still capable of targeting your whole body. The Concept 2 Rower goes a step further than that by being one of the most heavy-duty rowers on the market and coming loaded with technological bonus features.
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PM5
The Performance Monitor 5 is a lot like the typical backlit computer you’ll find on many other pieces of exercise equipment. It lets you keep track of standard fitness data while you’re working out: distance, speed, pace, calories burned, and watts. But the PM5 is also more advanced than average data tracking equipment. It comes with four games. The games are not complex, but great ways to make your workouts more interesting. The PM5 can be set in one of multiple different languages, in case English isn’t your first or preferred language. There’s already an app that synchs up with the computer via Bluetooth, but if you can’t find your way into the app for whatever reason then you can upload your data to a USB directly from the PM5.
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Interactive Online Community
If you visit the Concept2 website and sign up, you’ll be granted access to a whole online community of fellow rowers (as well as all the information you could possibly need to make good use of your Concept 2 Rower). You can log on to the website and compare your data to other rowers’ and use it as motivation to increase your rowing speed and precision, plus participate in machine-to-machine races. You may even want to sign up for Workout of the Day emails. Once you do, an email suggesting ways to get the most out of your Concept 2 Rower exercise sessions will show up in your inbox every morning. You can pick between tips for short workouts (max. 30 minutes), medium workouts, and long workouts (60+ minutes).
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Connectivity
The Concept 2 Rower is equipped with Bluetooth to help you connect with data tracking apps, such as the Concept2 ErgData (for iOS and Android), and take advantage of all those special perks from the Concept2 site, like machine-to-machine racing and data comparison charts. ANT+ lets you hook up third-party heart rate apps and monitors to your machine. With access to apps, you won’t struggle as much trying to keep records of your fitness progress. Technology also keeps your workouts fresh and exciting.
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Games
The Concept 2 Rower didn’t need to come with games preloaded into its computer system, but it does. You get four games to choose from, including a Fish game, Darts, Target Practice, and Biathlon. Though a few games are similar in that they all include some variation of shooting a sharp object into a target, they’re all still an incredibly useful way of adding fun and variety to your workouts. You can more easily motivate yourself to get better at rowing by trying to raise your score on the games. Increasing your motivation becomes a simpler task when you’re competing with yourself (and even other people) and trying to beat your last best score.
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Heavy Duty
The Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine with PM5 is at the top of the heap when it comes to best indoor rowing machine standards. It’s the indoor training machine Olympic-level rowers and other professionals turn to when they can’t practice outside. It’s powerful, heavy-duty, durable, and reliable. You can most likely trust the Concept 2 Rower to give you the type of serious workout you’re expecting.
Our Dislikes
The Concept 2 Rower is not a budget piece of equipment (unless you’re lucky enough to stumble upon a page advertising “concept 2 rower for sale; concept 2 model d best price”) – but other than its rather large price tag, there isn’t much to complain about.
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The Concept II rowing machine is a formidable piece of machinery that provides a full-body workout, comes with games and the option to compete with other riders, and has a good reputation (enough of a good reputation to be relied on by top athletes).
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The Concept2 website is good too. From here, you have access to a whole community of other rowers and stand a chance of becoming a better athlete through your interactions with them.
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If money is tight, this machine probably isn’t right for you. But if you can afford it, you’ll be getting a proper product for your money.
Our Verdict
The Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine is one of the better indoor rowers you can buy. It may be a bit expensive, but it’s a top-of-the-line product that comes with a lot of technological bonus features. You would be buying a piece of exercise equipment that’s trusted by the world’s best athletes, that’s known for its power and stability. The Concept 2 Rower even comes with its own custom games, which is not a common feature often seen on exercise machinery. The Concept2 website may not be a direct feature of the rower itself, but is something worth mentioning. It’s here where you can compete with other rowers and compare data. Having that interactive online community to turn to can be a strong motivator for getting into and staying in shape. Also check out Best Rowing Machine Reviews 2018.
Our initial rating hasn’t changed. The Concept 2 Rower still gets a 9.8 out of 10. It would be a great rower to bring into your home. You might need a fair amount of extra space to set it up for use (it’s eight feet long, after all), but it can be conveniently stored away when you’re done exercising. Overall, your money would be going to good use, especially if you’re an off-season professional rower or a seasoned health and fitness enthusiast.
Price & Shop
Question & Answers
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Q. Does the flywheel cool you down like a fan as you row?
A. No, you won’t feel any air from the flywheel. The air current goes up and forward.
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Q. What kind of maintenance does the Concept 2 Rower Model D need?
A. Minimal maintenance, but the rail should be wiped regularly with a cloth and cleaner (like a stainless steel spray).
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Q. Will the computer track the data of two or more people? Can you make separate accounts?
A. Yes, two or more people can download the app onto their phones and track data off the same Concept 2 Model D indoor rower.
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Last updated on December 17th, 2018
Luke Miles
Luke Miles is a freelance writer. When he isn’t writing articles and tweaking weird sci-fi novels, he can often be found practicing mindfulness through meditation and doing cardio workouts, with the occasional try at weight training or martial arts. He hopes to take up fencing one day. Luke is currently completing a BA in Writing and a minor in Linguistics. He lives in Toronto, Canada.