Life doesn’t always give you time for a real meal. Some days you’re running from one thing to the next and grabbing whatever’s in reach just to keep moving. That’s where a solid meal replacement shake can be a lifesaver.
The trouble is, most of them are either loaded with junk, taste like sweetened drywall, or leave you starving before your next stop. You don’t need that. You need something that actually fuels you, keeps you full, and tastes good enough to look forward to.
This list cuts through the clutter to bring you the shakes that deliver on nutrition, flavor, and convenience. Whether you’re aiming to lose weight, build muscle, or just stay consistent when life gets chaotic, these are the 13 best meal replacement shakes to keep you going.
We Know Rowing Machines
With extensive experience rowing on over a dozen machines, we confidently declare the Concept2 RowErg as the industry standard. Our crew comprises CrossFit Trainers, certified personal trainers, and competitive triathletes who have covered hundreds, if not thousands, of miles on various rowing machines, including the Concept2.
The most popular rowing machine by far and the choice of almost every college rowing team as well as the Olympic teams.
Easy to assemble
Sturdy build
Folds up for easy storage
Superior performance monitor
Lifetime warranty
What Is A Rowing Machine?
A rowing machine, or “erg” if you want to sound like you’ve been around a boathouse, puts you in that classic, knees-bent, handle-pulled position you’ve probably seen in college crew races. But here’s the thing, it’s not just for people in matching unis pulling on the water at sunrise.
Rowing is one of the rare workouts that actually uses both your upper and lower body in one smooth motion. Glutes, quads, abs, pecs, arms, legs… it all gets a turn. Your heart and lungs join the party too, which is why a good row can leave you feeling like you just did cardio and strength training at the same time.
The best part? You get all those benefits without the usual aches that come from pounding away on a treadmill or grinding it out on an elliptical. Rowers don’t hog much space, they’re easy on the joints, and they’re just plain fun to use, even for people who swore they’d never touch one.
Now, there are a ton of rowers out there, but one machine keeps coming up in conversations with coaches, athletes, and gym rats alike, the Concept 2 Model D. It’s built like a tank, offers multiple resistance settings, and has a performance monitor that’s basically a personal trainer with a screen. Whether you’re brand new, a seasoned rower, or a bodybuilder chasing conditioning, this thing delivers one of the best workouts you can get.
So let’s break it down and see if the Model D is the kind of machine you’ll keep coming back to… or the kind that collects dust next to the exercise bike you “had to have.”
Concept 2 Model D Rowerg Review
Build & Design
Features
Pros & Cons
Final Verdict
FAQs
Build & Design of the Rowerg
The Concept 2 Model D is one of those machines you spot in a serious gym and instantly know it means business. It’s built in the US, has that rock-solid feel when you sit down, and just… looks like it could outlast most of the equipment around it. You’ll find it in college training centers, CrossFit boxes, and big-name health clubs, same machine, same build quality, no matter where you are in the world.
Initial Setup
When mine showed up, I was bracing for the usual “half an afternoon and three YouTube videos” assembly job. Turns out, it wasn’t like that at all. My teenage daughter put it together in about 15 minutes, and yeah, she rows competitively, but still.
If you’ve built any sort of fitness equipment before, you’ll breeze through it in the same time. Even if you’ve never touched an allen wrench in your life, you’re looking at maybe 25 to 30 minutes tops.
It’s really just eight screws to connect the monorail. Click them into place, tighten them down, and you’re ready to row. That’s it. No mystery bolts left over, no “why is this piece not fitting” moment. Just a quick build and straight into your first workout.
Build Quality
When you first get your hands on the Model D Rowerg, the build hits you right away. This thing feels like it was put together by people who actually care if it lasts. Nothing rattles. Nothing feels hollow. You sit down and it just feels solid under you, like it’s ready to take whatever you throw at it.
That’s not just for home use either. This is commercial-grade gear. The kind of machine you’ll see in a college boathouse, a CrossFit box, or a serious training facility. You could have people on it all day, every day, and it’s not going to start squeaking or coming apart.
The frame is built with steel rear legs, aluminum front legs, and an aluminum I-beam monorail. The seat track? Stainless steel, smooth every time you slide back. It’s 96 inches long, 24 inches wide, and will handle rowers up to seven feet tall and as heavy as 500 pounds without blinking. At 57 pounds, it’s light enough to lift or roll around if you need to move it.
Even the chain is overbuilt. Nickel-plated steel that glides clean without a lot of noise or shake. It barely needs any oil, and the plating keeps it from freezing up on you. You’ll spend more time rowing than you ever will maintaining it, which is exactly how it should be.
Design
The Model D doesn’t just feel good when you row, it’s designed so you actually want to stay on it. The seat is shaped right, padded just enough, and you notice it the second you sit down. The handle has a slight 10-degree bend that feels natural in your grip, like it’s meeting your hands halfway. The molded rubber covering soaks up sweat so it doesn’t feel like you’re trying to hang onto a wet bar of soap halfway through a hard interval.
The footrests are built with a little more thought than most machines bother with. They’re not over-padded, which is great if you like to row barefoot. The flexible design lets you dig in deeper, get those shins vertical, and pull a stronger stroke without feeling locked in. You can tweak them to fit just about any foot size, so you’re not stuck with a “one size fits no one” setup.
Looks-wise, you get two options. Matte or black. The black has that “serious equipment” vibe, the kind of finish you’d see in a pro training room. The matte is clean and sharp too, but if I had to pick, the black wins. It just looks fast even when it’s sitting still.
The Concept 2 Model D Rowerg is really kind of impressive when you look at just how much it offers. Seriously, it may share a lot of similarities to other rowing machines on a surface level, but when you start to peel back the different layers, it becomes clear that the Model 2 is in a class of its own.
Air-Resistance Rower
When it comes to rowing machines, resistance is everything. You’ve basically got two main styles. Air and water. Most people will tell you water rowers feel more “real” and give you that authentic on-the-water pull. Air rowers usually get tossed in the “cheaper and less exciting” pile.
But Concept 2 didn’t get the memo. They took the air rower and built it to play in the same league as the best water rowers out there. It’s not some flimsy $300 knock-off either. It’s a machine that gives you the smooth, controlled resistance you’d expect from a premium water rower, without the maintenance or constant tank refills.
Here’s how it works. Every stroke you take spins a flywheel fan. That fan pushes against the air, and the harder and faster you pull, the more it pushes back. It’s self-adjusting in a way, because the resistance ramps up with your effort. Row easy, it’s smooth. Row hard, it’s like dragging the oar through heavy water.
It’s simple, but the execution is what makes it so good. You’re not just rowing against air. You’re rowing against a system built to challenge you at every level, whether you’re warming up or emptying the tank in your last 500 meters.
Damper Resistance Settings
The Model D doesn’t just give you one way to row. You can fine-tune the feel with its damper settings, and that’s where things get interesting. Settings 1 through 5 give you a lighter, faster stroke. Settings 6 through 10 slow things down and make every pull feel heavier, more deliberate.
Here’s the thing though, the actual resistance still adjusts to your effort. The damper just changes the personality of the row. It’s more about how it feels in your hands and legs than how much work you’re doing. Your brain will swear some settings are harder, but your body’s still putting in the same effort.
It’s a simple tweak that makes a big difference. Newer rowers can start with that smooth, quick glide and build confidence. Seasoned rowers can crank it up and grind through a heavier, more powerful stroke. Either way, it keeps the workout fresh and keeps you in control of how the machine pushes back.
PM5 Performance Monitor
The PM5 Performance Monitor isn’t some throwaway screen bolted onto the Model D. It’s the same brain Concept 2 uses across their top machines, and they’ve had years to fine-tune it. They know exactly how to make it work in a way that’s useful without feeling overcomplicated. And people actually like using it, which you can’t say for a lot of fitness tech.
You’ll see the PM5 everywhere, in home gyms, on rowing decks, in big commercial facilities. It tracks all the stuff you want to know when you row. Distance, calories, strokes per minute, your 500-meter split. That’s just the surface. It can dig deeper, track trends, and even give you an overall average so you can see if you’re actually improving or just convincing yourself you are.
Now here’s the nice surprise, it looks like something you’d need a manual for, but you don’t. A couple minutes of messing around with the buttons and you’ve got it. Even if it’s your first time. It’s got wireless connectivity too, so you can sync your numbers and stare at your progress on a spreadsheet later if that’s your thing. It’s straightforward, it’s accurate, and it makes tracking your grind almost as satisfying as the workout itself.
Easy Storage & Mobility
One thing that caught me off guard with the Model D was how easy it is to move. I figured once I set it down, that’s where it would live forever. But it’s under 60 pounds, and the big, sturdy wheels make rolling it around almost too easy.
If you feel like picking it up, you can. If you’d rather not, just split it into its two main pieces and carry them wherever you want. The whole process takes almost no time, and putting it back together is just as quick.
You could stash it in a closet after every workout if space is tight. Sure, that might get old fast, but it’s nice knowing you can. For anyone without a full-time home gym setup, that kind of flexibility is a game changer.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Very Easy To Put Together: As mentioned in the beginning, this is a very straightforward and easy-to-set-up rowing machine. It’s made up of two parts and a couple of screws. You can literally be a complete novice and put it together.
High-Quality Build: From the steel and aluminum aspects of the frame to its nickel-plated steel chain, the Model D is an exceptionally high-quality build. When you consider the fact that this was made for commercial gyms, and their constant guests, it’s obvious that this is something that can go the distance.
Easy To Move & Store: Despite its impressive materials, the Model D is very easy to move around as well as store away when you’re done. Not only does it not weigh a ton like other gym equipment, but it has wheels to help move it, and it’s very easy to take apart and put together.
Multiple Resistance Settings: If you’re someone that likes to get a good row in but also wants it to feel different from time to time, this is a super useful feature. It’s actually what many Olympic rowers use when not actually on the water, so I’d say that’s a strong selling point. Plus, sometimes it’s just great to have different rowing experiences outside of just the standard variable resistance.
PM5 Performance Monitor: The PM5 Performance Monitor is easily one of the best software fitness trackers out there. As mentioned before, it not only covers a pretty extensive list of things while you’re rowing, but it can also form an average once you’ve been doing it for a while. I used it for about three or so months regularly and getting my weekly averages were actually great since I got to see my fitness improving along a tangible upward trend.
Includes Complete Warranty: While not a lifetime warranty, the Model D has a warranty on both the rowing machine’s body as well as on the moving parts, and the computer. For the frame itself, there is a five-year warranty, whereas the computer and small parts have a two-year warranty.
Cons
Seating & Handlebars Can Chafe: This is more of a personal preference as well as something that will vary from person to person. I know a lot of people that love the Model D’s seats and handlebars. For me, I have to admit that, though they were great initially, after a couple of days I did start experiencing some chafing. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, and the solution was pretty simple overall (just wear some gloves and sit on a towel). Still, when you consider that these were meant to be selling points and they didn’t really “sell”, it is worth talking about.
PM5 Performance Monitor May Need Updating: While it’s obvious that the PM5 Monitor is an incredible device, that doesn’t make it necessarily perfect. Even though there’s a lot of love there, it is a bit simplistic when squared against other home gyms workout options like Peloton and their software. Again, this isn’t to say that the PM5 is bad, more so that, at this point, there are other software options out there that are superior, even if that number isn’t exceptionally high yet.
Pricier Than The Competition: When you consider the fact that this is an air row and not a water row, yet the price is where it’s at, it’s easy to get a bit flabbergasted. Normally, air rows cap out at around $700, and that’s for a high-quality device. The Model D goes well above that price point and hangs around with the superior water row equipment. While we can go on and on about the quality, from a pricing standpoint, it is enough to give anyone at least “some” consideration.
Photo credit: The Colgate Maroon-News
Final Verdict
No piece of gym equipment is perfect, but the Model D gets about as close as you’re going to find. Call it 97 percent. There’s a reason you see it in college boathouses and Olympic training centers instead of the other guys. Concept 2 built it to be the standard, and it’s been wearing the crown ever since.
Line it up against a Hydrow, a Stamina, or a NordicTrack, and it’s not even a fair fight. The build, the feel, the PM5 monitor, it just stacks the deck in its favor. You don’t have to be a competitive rower to appreciate that.
If you want the best rowing workout you can get without actually being on the water, this is the machine. Sure, it costs more than some air rowers, but you’re paying for something that performs like a high-end water rower and will still be running strong years from now. In the long game, that’s a win.
#1. How Much Rowing Time Do You Need For A Full-Body Workout?
While it can vary from person to person based on their starting weight and health goals, generally, you can expect a great workout after only about 15 minutes.
#2. What Benefits Does Rowing Offer?
Rowing helps reduce muscle stiffness, improved physical flexibility, improves endurance & stamina, is easy on the joints, and is very low impact. It is also known for being quite meditative, for those that like to zone out while exercising.
#3. Is Rowing Good For Elderlies?
For men and women over the age of 50, rowing is an excellent workout option. This is because, for many older individuals, stiffness and joint pain can be a real issue. Because rowing alleviates these issues, it is one of the few exercises one can do at an older age.
Ryan is a former college wrestler and lifelong fitness fanatic with over 25 years in the industry. He’s run half marathons, tackled mud runs, placed in body transformation contests, and coached everything from wrestling to girls’ soccer.
Along the way, he’s tested hundreds of supplements and built a deep well of supplement knowledge. His work has appeared in Muscle & Strength, Testosterone Junkie, The Sport Review, and more. Today, he’s the editor-in-chief of this site, still training hard and helping others reach their goals. Connect with him on LinkedIn below.
