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 referall links, which give you % off. https://uk.merachfit.com/?ref=JOHNSTE... (for UK Shoppers) Use Code John15 (or John10 - they may have reduced it...) https://merachfit.eu/?ref=JOHNSTEVENTON (for EU shoppers) Use Code John8 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.