Fitness Equipment

Concept2 RowErg Model D Indoor Rowing Machine

Name: Concept2 RowErg Model D Indoor Rowing Machine
Rating: 9.2 (1 reviews)

Best Home Rowing Machine for Serious Training

The Concept2 RowErg has been the #1 rowing machine for serious athletes for over 30 years. Olympic teams, CrossFit gyms, and competitive rowers worldwide use it because the PM5 monitor produces competition-accurate data no other home rower can match. At $659 CAD with a 20+ year lifespan, the cost-per-year math is hard to argue with — but the noise and lack of interactive content mean it's not the right machine for everyone.

ClearPick Score

9.2 / 10

Excellent

Build & Durability

10.0

Performance & Accuracy

10.0

Ease of Use & Setup

8.5

Storage & Footprint

8.5

Value for Money

8.0

Full Specs

Resistance Type	Air (flywheel)
Monitor	PM5 (LCD, Bluetooth/ANT+)
Weight Capacity	500 lbs
Max User Height	6'6"
Machine Weight	57 lbs
Footprint	96" L x 24" W
Storage	Separates into 2 pieces, stores vertically (24" D x 56" H)
Warranty	5-year frame, 2-year parts

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🏆 Best Home Rowing Machine for Serious Training

Concept2 RowErg Model D Indoor Rowing Machine

~$659 CAD est. on Amazon.ca

View on Amazon.ca → Opens Amazon.ca · Affiliate link

✅ Ships to Canada

✅ Prime eligible (most orders)

✅ 30-day Amazon returns

✅ No extra cost to you

✅ What Works

Essentially indestructible: verified users report 20+ years of heavy use with zero part replacements — one gym owner confirmed 'never replaced a monitor, chain, or saddle' across multiple commercial machines
PM5 monitor gives competition-accurate metrics: your times and splits are directly comparable to world records and CrossFit standards — no other home rower matches this
No subscription, ever: free ErgData app, free online logbook, compatible with Zwift Row and Ergatta — you own this machine outright with no ongoing fees
Splits into two pieces in seconds and stores vertically — footprint when stored is smaller than a typical IKEA bookshelf

⚠️ Worth Knowing

Legitimately loud: air resistance generates 78-82 dB during use — vacuum cleaner level — which means apartment dwellers with downstairs neighbours will have real problems
Seat is hard by design and gets uncomfortable after 20+ minutes of continuous rowing for some users, particularly those over 200 lbs — a $12 gel cushion from Amazon is the standard fix
PM5 monitor is purely functional: no touchscreen, no built-in classes, no Peloton-style content — if you need instructor motivation to stay consistent, this machine won't provide it
Resale value holds at 70-80% — which means buying used is common and smart, but also means you won't recover much if you buy new and quit rowing

What Real Buyers Are Saying

What buyers love

"They last forever. I bought mine at 50 and I expect it to outlive me."
Source: Amazon.ca reviewer

"20+ years of heavy use across multiple machines — never once replaced a monitor, chain, or saddle. The durability isn't marketing, it's real."
Source: Gym owner, r/homegym

"The noise is not a small thing if you're in an apartment. I had to sell mine after three months because my downstairs neighbour complained twice. Great machine, wrong living situation."
Source: r/rowing

Common complaints

Noise is the most-cited dealbreaker: 15-20%…

Noise is the most-cited dealbreaker: 15-20% of reviewers mention it. At 78-82 dB, early morning or late night rows in apartments are genuinely inconsiderate to neighbours.

Source: Amazon.ca reviews + r/homegym

Seat discomfort on sessions over 20…

Seat discomfort on sessions over 20 minutes is real, especially for heavier users — the official Concept2 foam pad reportedly makes no difference; third-party gel cushions work better.

Source: Concept2 Forum + Amazon 3-star reviews

No interactive content and the PM5…

No interactive content and the PM5 screen feels dated compared to Hydrow or NordicTrack RW900 — users who need motivation beyond raw data numbers report lower consistency.

Source: r/rowing + Garage Gym Reviews

ClearPick Verdict

The Concept2 RowErg is the correct answer for anyone serious about rowing. It is used by Olympic teams, CrossFit gyms, and competitive athletes worldwide because no other machine comes close to its accuracy and durability. At $659 CAD, the math is simple: divide by 20 years and it costs $33/year. The only people who should look elsewhere are apartment dwellers with thin walls (get a magnetic rower instead) and people who genuinely need instructor-led classes to stay motivated (get a Hydrow).