MERACH · Air Rower Review
MERACH Nova Row R50 Review
The MERACH Nova Row R50 is the Amazon pick among air rowers, a 32-blade machine with a proper steel chain and an extended rail, pitched openly as a budget Concept2 alternative.
MERACH Nova Row R50 Air
Budget air rower
Price shown on Amazon
The verdict
It offers 10 levels of air resistance set by a manual lever, up to 50kg peak, driven by a nickel-plated steel chain rather than the cheap rope some budget rowers use. Reviewers regularly note how close it looks and feels to a Concept2, and its extended 1365mm rail suits taller users up to 2.1m.
It takes users up to 160kg, the highest of the air rowers we cover, and splits into two pieces for storage. At around £484 on Amazon it is strong value, with the usual budget-brand and Amazon-support caveats.
Strengths
- Effort-scaling air resistance, 32-blade fan, 10 levels
- Nickel-plated steel chain, not rope
- Extended 1365mm rail suits users up to 2.1m tall
- 160kg user weight limit, the highest air rower here
- FTMS Bluetooth with MERACH and Kinomap, iPad holder
- Splits into two pieces for storage, two-year frame warranty
Watch-outs
- Budget-brand build and Amazon-based support
- No built-in workout programmes
- Air resistance is loud, as with any fan rower
- Manual lever rather than handlebar resistance control
The row
The R50’s pitch is Concept2 performance for roughly half the price, and while that is a bold claim, the fundamentals are sound. A 32-blade fan gives the effort-scaling air feel that suits interval training, with 10 levels set by a manual lever, and crucially it uses a nickel-plated steel chain rather than the rope some budget rowers cut corners with, which matters for durability and feel.
The extended 1365mm rail is a genuine advantage for taller rowers, supporting heights up to 2.1m, and the 160kg weight limit is the highest of any air rower we cover. It is a lot of usable machine for the money.
Console and the Amazon caveat
The LCD covers time, 500m splits, distance, calories, stroke rate, watts and pulse, and FTMS Bluetooth connects it to the MERACH and Kinomap apps, with an iPad holder fitted. There are no built-in workout programmes, so structure comes from the apps rather than the console.
As with the MERACH water rower, the machine is sold through Amazon, so the two-year frame warranty and support are Amazon and seller based rather than through a specialist retailer. For the price and specification, that is a trade many buyers will happily make.
Who it is for
Buy the MERACH Nova Row R50 if you want a Concept2-style air rower at a lower price, or you are a taller or heavier rower who needs the extended rail and 160kg limit. If you want a specialist brand’s build and warranty, the JTX Ignite AirX or Xterra ERG780 are the alternatives, and if quiet matters, choose a magnetic rower.
Specifications
| Resistance | Air, 32-blade fan, 10 levels (manual lever), 50kg peak |
|---|---|
| Drive | Nickel-plated steel chain |
| Frame | Iron and aluminium, extended 1365mm rail |
| Suitable heights | 1.19m to 2.10m |
| Console | LCD, time, 500m, distance, calories, SPM, watts, strokes, pulse |
| Connectivity | FTMS Bluetooth, MERACH and Kinomap, iPad holder |
| Max user weight | 160kg |
| Storage | Splits into two pieces, transport wheels |
FitRank breakdown
Performance 3.9
Effort-scaling air from a 32-blade fan with 10 levels and a proper steel chain, close to a Concept2 in feel.
Build quality 3.7
An iron-and-aluminium frame with an extended rail and a 160kg limit, sound value though not a specialist-brand build.
Value 4.1
Strong. Concept2-style air rowing for around £484, with a longer rail and higher weight limit than many rivals.
Features 3.5
A full metric LCD, FTMS Bluetooth apps and an iPad holder, held back by no built-in programmes and a manual lever.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MERACH Nova Row R50 a good air rower?
Is the MERACH R50 really like a Concept2?
Is the MERACH R50 suitable for tall users?
Where do you buy the MERACH Nova Row R50?
Related rowing machines
Compare it against the field in our best home rowing machines guide, or narrow it down in our best air rowing machines guide. You might also consider the JTX Ignite AirX Rower, adidas R-21x and Xterra ERG780.
Chris writes the home fitness reviews across our sites, including our sister site HomeTreadmill.co.uk. He compares every machine against its rivals on UK pricing and specs, and scores each one with FitRank.
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