Does RowErg seat "break in"?

[jct23]

Hi folks,

I recently bought a RowErg (yay!), and the seat is much harder than the well-used machines at the gym. I am in pain after five minutes. I never understood why people bought cushions for these, and boy howdy I do now. Did Concept2 change the seat padding or shape for the most recent model or two, or do they just take a lot of meters to break in?

[MPx]

Never experienced a softer erg seat on any age of machine - they all feel the same to me, and they all hurt after a while. The "while" does increase in length with accumulated seat time, but has never gone away entirely for me. I always use a C2 seatpad which stops any pain up to 10k or so. For an hour or HM (the only longer workouts I do very infrequently) I use 2x C2 seatpads stacked.

[JaapvanE]

There are no better aftermarket seats are they (softer or more rounded like the ones found in real boats)?

[Carl Watts]

The seat material changed from black on the Model C which was pretty hard to a softer material on the Model D which is grey.

The seat will likely get harder with age and not softer. You don't really need a seat pad you just build up the meters and you backside gets used to it.

The rower was nothing compared to the bike, took me months to build up and finally change to a race seat.

[Ombrax]

Welcome to the forum JCT.

I wouldn't expect a significant change in the seat in any reasonable period of time quick enough to provide you with any relief. The quickest simple solution is a towel or sheet of bubble wrap (small bubble size) folded as many as you prefer. Another option is the foam pad C2 sells. I use one of those and it works well.

Good Luck

[Carl Watts]

One other thing, just double check the seat is on the right way around.

Pretty rare that's its wrong but I have seen rowers for sale with the seat the wrong way around.

If its wrong its really uncomfortable.

[JaapvanE]

Pretty rare that's its wrong but I have seen rowers for sale with the seat the wrong way around.

Nowadays they come preassembled on new Ergs. So I guess the C2 people have seen the same issue as you Carl.

[Willy.VdW]

I also found the seat painful and bought a C2 pad. That was better,
but now, after I changed my position on the seat, sitting farther to
the rear (contrary to what is sometimes advised), I don't need the
pad anymore. I still feel it after a while, but it doesn't become painful.

[Dangerscouse]

Have you had a notable break from rowing? I'm surprised that it feels different, and, at least in my case, I have adapted to the seat and now never suffer from any butt ache no matter how many metres I do. Hopefully this will happen with you too

[mict450]

Welcome to the campfire. The erg seat is not meant to be broken in like a pair of hiking boots. One either "gets used to it" or finds some padding if one can't. I was lucky enough to get my hands on an old Model B seat & for me, the comfort problem was solved.

Do a search on "seats". This has been a popular subject with no end of solutions.

[Joebasscat]

I believe it’s the other way around. The seat doesn’t “break in”, we do.

[hikeplusrow]

You'll just adapt to it over time - going progressively longer without discomfort. When I first started, 10k was uncomfortable, but now I'll do a HM with no issues whatsoever. I've never used a pad, despite being pretty skinny and having no natural padding in the bum area.

[hikeplusrow]

I believe it’s the other way around. The seat doesn’t “break in”, we do.

Spot on

[HornetMaX]

I tried the bare stock seat, the c2 pad, the Vapor Fitness silicon seat cover (alone and in a combo with the c2 pad). These helped, but not much.
The I tried the Citius Remex and that did it for me. I even bring it on holiday if I know there's a c2 rower around. It's a bit expensive for what it is, but I've found a second hand one and went for it.

Of course, YMMV as we're all different.

[hikeplusrow]

I tried the bare stock seat, the c2 pad, the Vapor Fitness silicon seat cover (alone and in a combo with the c2 pad). These helped, but not much.
The I tried the Citius Remex and that did it for me. I even bring it on holiday if I know there's a c2 rower around. It's a bit expensive for what it is, but I've found a second hand one and went for it.

Of course, YMMV as we're all different.

The Citius Remex looks interesting (though expensive, as you mentioned). I tend to sit slightly askew on the C2 seat (no idea why), and I think the Citius' sit bone indentations might help to keep me 'centred'.