SAVE 35%: The Merach NovaRow R50 rowing machine is on sale at Amazon for $476.99, down from the list price at Merach of $729.99. That’s a savings of $253.
High schoolers have a knack for making decisions without thinking. Occasionally, that does not spell trouble and ends up with a great result. That’s exactly what happened to me the summer before entering my sophomore year. I signed up for a rowing class with the city of Seattle at the Green Lake Small Craft Center. I had no idea it would alter the trajectory of my entire life. I was just a silly high schooler who thought rowing might get me in better shape for cross country season in the fall.
I never went back to running cross country and instead rowed through high school. With a few exceptions, I’ve never stopped rowing since that first class. I’ve even joined the Masters Crew at Green Lake. But there’s always been something missing in my rower life, and that was my very own rowing machine to keep at home.
Winters in Seattle are not particularly friendly to being out on the water. The rain hits your face sideways and that stings, not to mention you cannot feel your hands. Those are kind of important when it comes to rowing. Green Lake has a collection of rowing machines we use to train inside instead of dealing with the elements. In fact, all rowing clubs do. The gold standard is the Concept2, a perfect piece of training equipment that is not cheap to purchase ($990 if you’re not super tall).
Instead, I went with the Merach NovaRow R50 which is a less expensive model with a similar design. I’ve used this machine everyday since it arrived on my doorstep, and I’m incredibly happy I made the investment. If you’re on the same page and hope for a full-body workout machine that’s not $1,000+, you can score a steep discount at Amazon on the R50.
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We have an enormous selection when it comes to at-home fitness equipment these days, but it’s hard to tell if a high price will get you better quality. Sure, you could dish out well over $1,000 for a Peloton bike or you could get the Merach R50 for under $500 and get a full-body workout. I promise you’ll discover soreness in muscles you didn’t know previously existed, but in a good way.
The build of the Merach R50 rowing machine
Similar to much more expensive rowing machines, the Merach R50 focuses on a solid build while adding in a few comfort elements. For starters, the steel slide rail can support users who weigh up to 350 pounds, and it’s also designed to accommodate taller folks up to 6 feet 10 inches.
Set-up is also a breeze, and I’ll admit I didn’t even look at the instructions. Of course, one probably should, but it’s an incredibly simple process that involves just eight screws. The Merach then sits on two caster wheels which makes it easy to roll the machine from one room to another, or roll it away into the corner for storage. Speaking of storage, you can disconnect the slide rail from the resistance wheel to essentially store the rowing machine in halves and standing upright.
A major benefit of the Merach R50 is its nickel-plated steel chain that connects to the resistance wheel’s fan. Many budget-friendly rowing machines go with a cheap material for the chain or even use rope. Neither of those are especially durable materials so you’re likely to run into longevity issues.
The resistance wheel on the R50 comes with 10 intensity levels that reach up to 110 pounds of resistance, so you can pump it up to level 10 intensity on go-hard days or keep it low for easier days.
Comfort features on the Merach R50
Since you’ll be rowing from a seated position, Merach went with a cushioned seat with an ergonomic design. The adjustable foot plates also create a more customized fit. The rowing machine’s monitor sits on an adjustable arm so you can move it to the perfect angle to get your stats like time per 500 meters, stroke rate, and time spent rowing. The monitor also has a convenient slot for your phone to stay safely put while you row. Connect to the Merach app to get guided workouts or check out scenic race courses.
A meditative workout with novelty
If you’ve never been on a rowing machine before, get ready for an experience. Not only does rowing target 86% of all muscles in the body, according to Merach, there’s something wonderfully meditative about the motion. Legs, arms, back, slide to the front, legs, arms, back, and on and on. You get to zone out entirely and it doesn’t come with the constant wonder of if you’ll fall off like running on a treadmill does.
There’s also something novel about rowing as a workout rather than say riding a stationary bike or running on a treadmill. No one’s gonna come over to your house, spot your dusty treadmill, and ask to give it a go. But every visitor I’ve had over to my house since getting the Merach R50 has sat down and taken a few strokes. It’s a unique workout that not everyone has experienced before. And in my opinion, it’s genuinely fun.
Where to buy the Merach NovaRow R50
If you’re not in the mood to drop $1,000+ to add a rowing machine to your at-home gym, you can snag the Merach R50 directly from the Merach website. But if you hurry, you can snag the rowing machine while it’s on sale at Amazon. At the time of writing, it’s just $476.99 at Amazon which includes free shipping. That’s a 35% discount compared to the list price at Merach of $729.99. While we can’t put a price on fitness, under $500 is a great deal for a machine that strengthens almost every muscle in the body.
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