Merach R50 Rowing Machine Review: Cheap Concept2 Copy or Worth £400 ($500)?

If you ask most rowers what rowing machine to buy, the answer is usually: Concept2.
But what if you can’t afford one? Is there a cheaper option that still gives you the same workout?

In this video, I take a deep, honest look at the Merach R50 rowing machine, a budget air rower clearly inspired by the Concept2 design — and costing less than half the price. If you're interested in buying one, they gave me a link, which give you 15% off (I also get 15%).
https://uk.merachfit.com/?ref=JOHNSTE...

I've been very critical of the adverts for Merach's R50 rowing machine. So Merach sent me this machine to review, and I approached it with one simple question:
👉 Is it usable… as bad as I expected, or given that it's half the cost of a Concept2 - it is better than half as good?

I cover:

How the Merach R50 feels compared to a Concept2

Seat, handle, footplates & build quality

The biggest weakness: the monitor

Why the data cannot be trusted for serious training

I chat about optimizing your *indoor rowing* experience with various *rowing apps* to boost your training. 💪

A SmartRow handle test vs Concept2 accuracy

Who this machine is for — and who should avoid it

⚠️ Spoiler:
This is not a Concept2 killer — but that doesn’t mean it’s useless.

💰 Price & Discount
If you catch it on sale and use code JOHN15, the Merach R50 can be around £400, making it one of the cheapest air rowers in this category.

🧠 Bottom line:
If you care about accurate data, racing, or performance tracking, this machine will frustrate you.
If you just want to get fitter, sweat, and move, it might be good enough.

📩 Got questions? Drop them in the comments.
If you want a dedicated video comparing SmartRow vs Concept2 vs Merach, let me know below.

👉 Check out my channel for hundreds of follow-along rowing workouts to get fitter, faster, and stronger.

0:00 - Introduction: Why Everyone Recommends Concept2
1:50 - Merach Sends Me Their R50 Rowing Machine
2:45 - Unboxing & Assembly
4:55 - First Rowing Test: Initial Impressions
6:00 - Stroke Feel Compared to Concept2
8:42 - The Monitor Problem
12:00 - Testing the Merach App (Major Flaw)
13:09 - ErgZone App Solution
15:04 - EXR App Testing
16:08 - Smart Row Handle: The Game Changer
18:30 - Smart Row vs Merach Monitor Comparison
21:27 - The Resistance Algorithm Problem
24:26 - Final Verdict: Who Should Buy This?


👉 Check out my channel for hundreds of follow-along rowing workouts to get fitter, faster, and stronger.