Seat cushioning for Model D Rower

[dmusicant]

Don't know if this is the best forum, there are many here, but it says this is a good place to start if you don't know.

I've had my Model D (bought new) for a year, used it some, gotten some chops with it, checked out some good videos, gotten some good guidance here. However, my go to aerobic workout (weather permitting!) is my now up to 10-miles-per-day quad street skating. Exceptional drought conditions here but we've had two monster rain storms, one ending this morning, more to come this week.

I have found in my more recent rowing that my butt is hurting more. I could do much much better, go longer if that weren't so. It becomes torture (I'm having a similar problem with my upper middle back in skating, TBH, but it's apples and oranges).

So, I searched and found a couple threads, one here one elsewhere, on seat cushions, particularly for the Model D. They're old threads, not very long and don't go into much detail. One devolved into internet squabbling.

So...

1. Is this the right forum to ask this?

2. Are there some threads here (or elsewhere) you can link me to?

3. What are your experiences with seat cushions with the Model D (or analogous machines)?

I know that Concept2 sells a cushion now for $3.95 + (for me) $10 shipping. I saw comments IIRC that it is excessively thin (I think 10mm?), found one modeled after it on Ebay that's said to be 1/2" thick, so ordered it. Also ordered this off of Amazon:

2K Fit Rowing Machine Seat Cushion (Model 1) for The Concept 2 Rowing Machine with Medium Thickness Dual Density Memory Foam

Haven't received them yet.

I imagine there's some real good advice to be had here regarding butt comfort on the Model D, but a search on "cushion" on the first 12 pages of this, the General Forum, got nothing.

My 10 mile quad skates take me over 70 minutes. I'd prefer to row at least 30 minutes, I'd go an hour, I figure, if comfortable. Thanks for advice, help!

[Tsnor]

You'll find a bunch of other threads like this one "Good experience using the EndureRow seat!"
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=200318&p=541420&hilit=pads#p541420
over on the indoor rowers forum. viewforum.php?f=10

[nysaag]

Masters Rowing recently mentioned the ProW at easygoingrowing.com. Not an endorsement…I do not own one.

[Cyclist2]

You won't need much thickness if you get the shape correct. I have about three thicknesses of yoga mat but there are holes cut out for my sit bones, and a notch for the tailbone. Look at pictures of rowing shell seats - they've had it figured out for about a century (and there is no padding on those). C2's pad should work fine. I would consider it a starting point; modify to fit your particular butt dimensions.

If you get one that is too cushiony, your glutes will get tired and sore. Thickness is not the answer, the correct shape is.

[Ombrax]

OP, what shorts are you using when you row?

Whatever they are, be sure you don't have any seams near your sit bones (or anywhere else that might lead to chafing).

I used to use old, thin, worn-out cycling shorts, but most folks say those aren't any good for rowing. They worked for me. However, I've since moved on to "real" rowing trou (which have no padding at all) and they also work on the D seats.

I've gotten most of mine from these guys: (no connection, other than being a satisfied customer)

https://jlathletics.com/collections/mens-trou

[dmusicant]

I don't recall wearing shorts when rowing in my concept2 Model D. I've just been wearing my everyday pants, which are convertible cargo pants (i.e. I can zip off just above the knees to make them into shorts, which I've only done a time or two, playing golf).

Received both the cushions I ordered a few days ago and just tried them out for a few minutes, not enough time to make any judgements. The one I got off Ebay, that was supposed to be 1/2" thick is actually 7/16" thick. It looks (from images) just like the one Concept2 sells, which is supposedly 3/8" thick. Feels good, though, will see. A BIG rain storm is moving in in 3 days that should park over me for 3 plus days, so I should definitely have a chance to feel these cushions. Today it was chilly but sunny and I skated my 10 miles.

I'll look into those suggestions above in this thread, thanks for the ideas.

Edit: Found an additional thread on the Endurerow seat and related info. I did just receive the 2K Fit seat mentioned positively there: viewtopic.php?t=71384

[Yankeerunner]

For the most part the butt gets used to the seat over time and padding becomes unnecessary, if you can tough it out long enough. I'm about as bony as can be (145 lbs at 5'10"), but got to the point of being able to do full marathons on the Model C and D without padding.

That said, before I got to that point I tried a number of different pads, including a $40 sorbothane pad made especially for the C2 seat. What turned out to be the most comfortable BY FAR was simple bubble wrap that sometimes comes as packing material for fragile items. The small cell bubbles. The larger ones just pop as soon as you sit on them.

[RR]

I have always used the seat pad sold by concept 2 for around £20 and find it to be the best around.
Having said that in France there is a silicon seat pad that covers the whole seat. Cost is around 38 euros which I may invest in and give it a go
RR

[dmusicant]

For the most part the butt gets used to the seat over time and padding becomes unnecessary, if you can tough it out long enough. I'm about as bony as can be (145 lbs at 5'10"), but got to the point of being able to do full marathons on the Model C and D without padding.

That said, before I got to that point I tried a number of different pads, including a $40 sorbothane pad made especially for the C2 seat. What turned out to be the most comfortable BY FAR was simple bubble wrap that sometimes comes as packing material for fragile items. The small cell bubbles. The larger ones just pop as soon as you sit on them.

I'm your height, have to lose 31 lb. to get as bony as you (which I do aspire to). Have done some rowing the last week because we're in a rainy pattern. Meantime, during the week I received my two seat pads. One is or is very like the Concept2 seat pad, the other is the 2K Fit seat pad (I think designed for the Concept2 rowers) sold at Amazon, which is almost 10x as thick and doesn't have cut-outs for the tail bones. With either I'm getting quite sore after 15+ minutes of rowing. Yesterday I rowed 20 minutes with the Concept2 pad on top of the 2K Fit pad. Maybe somewhat better but not great, the last few minutes were getting pretty tough. Maybe sticking with it, I'll get used to it, even with no pad. I was doing a lot better last year, I think, shortly after receiving the Model D, and with no seat pad. However, skating is still way more comfortable. If it weren't for the upper-middle back soreness that I battle (it varies a lot, depending seemingly on how much rest and sleep I get), quad skating would be a total blast. I always wear a heart rate monitor skating, did so yesterday rowing, got similar stats as my recent skates. Winter's a time for adjustments.

[nates]

There's definitely a max allowable padding factor which includes foam and fat combined. If you're a rail and your sit bones are sore, it's a good idea. As uncomfortable as it seems if you're well padded you don't want to add more.

[ukaserex]

I use bubble wrap, combined with the c2 seat.

I had read/heard that the "seat" problem may actually be a technique/form issue, having to do with how we move from the 11:00 position to 1:00.
If technique is off, the glutes will be rubbed by the bone, resulting in the discomfort, increasing over time.

I haven't had any further issues since using the bubble wrap, so I didn't look any further into it, as I've no mirror to really assess my own form.