MERACH Water Rowing Machines for Home, Wood Rower Machine with 12 Enhanced Resistance Blades, Upgraded Handle, Adjustable Footpad, Dedicated Monitor & Bluetooth App

I am super happy with this purchase. My only regret is waiting so long. I went back and forth between this model, the R-28, the R50, and the 950 Oak Luxe model - I was concerned that there really did not seem to be many YouTube reviews of this model (there are lots on the other models!), but I ultimately decided on this model and am really thrilled with the purchase. I'll list below my pro's and cons of this model vs. the others. 1) Weight - could be a pro or con, I guess! I have this in my office on the 3rd floor of my townhouse. When I am not working, I can push my desk chair in and get my rowing workout in. It was heavy for me as a 50+ year old woman to get up the stairs, so I brought it up piece by piece. The main piece with the water tank was a challenge to get up the steps (even empty) and I needed help just for that part. That said, once assembled, the weight is not an issue and it's very easy to get set up to row and then stand up to store out of the way against the wall when I am done. If you are worried about the machine being too heavy, don't be. It takes just a tiny footprint of my office space and is very stable when I am rowing - the weight of the oak wood helps with that stability. 2) Aesthetics - This is gorgeous. It looks like a piece of furniture and the oak wood matches other furniture in my space - it doesn't make my office look like a gym. 3) Ease of use - no need for a power outlet - I thought the Merach 950 would be great to grow with as it has the optional magnetic resistance, but you have to plug that in to use it, and the monitor of your rowing metrics won't work unless you plug it in. That was a deal breaker for me. I don't want to have to think about plugging it in each time. For some that may not be an issue, but for me, part of the attraction was the lack of needing a power outlet. 4) Easy to assemble. If you've ever assembled anything from Ikea or used an Allen Wrench, you will not need to spring for the professional assembly. I did this by myself with no issues at all. I can't speak yet to the free Merach app. I will probably try it at some point, but I really prefer to exercise to TV or Podcasts, not fitness apps. That said, right now I have been doing pick drills / beginner workouts from YouTube to learn proper form (I really like Dark Horse Rowing's Beginner Playlist to learn proper technique!).

I've been using this M17 Water Rower for three weeks now and really like it. I'm very glad I went with this rower over the many others I was considering. Every part feels high quality, and it didn't take more than 30 mins to finish the assembly. The seat slide is smooth, and the whoosh sound of the water is so lovely - not too loud. I have it filled up to the third resistance level and I always get a good workout after 10-20min classes. Reasons to pick this rower over many of the other budget options: -Fixed foot plates. Many of the cheap rowers seem to have footplates that can swivel nearly 360 degrees. These ones are stationary and are akin to the ones on the Concept 2 or other more expensive rowers. They have adjustments for footsizes and the foot holders allow you to pivot your heels slightly up as you come forward. -The metrics screen isn't covered when you use the device holder. I saw many designs that had a device holder for your own phone or tablet but doing so would cover the machine's metrics readout. That seems silly. If I'm taking a class via my ipad, I still want to be able to see my stroke rate. The metrics screen works pretty well and the stroke count and stroke rate always seem accurate. I can't comment on bluetooth functionality, I dont use that. -For me as a 5' 7" person, I can get a pretty full stroke where my arms can come all the way forward at the catch. There are alot of budget magnetic machines which seem to have the handle catch even farther forward than this one, which means you're only getting a partial stroke. If you're taller than me, your arms may need to extend further forward than this machine allows to really be getting a full stroke.

However, I did not receive the order on the designated time, it took 5 extra days. The first time that I logged into the MERACH app it worked great it connected to the rower perfectly, but since it has not connect to the app on my phone even though my phone shows 3 bars. In the app with the display on, new batteries installed, and with the MERACH app, it does not connect to the rowing machine, it can not find it. The first time using this machine, it did connect and the app was enjoyable to watch and see my progress against others. The display I placed the batteries as stated in the manual and after finishing my workout, the next day I went in to use it and the display was very dim, so had to put in new batteries. Now I remove the batteries after each use. The rest of the rowing parts work great, and it is a great workout.

This rowing machine offers an incredible workout and is overall a fantastic addition to my home gym. The rowing motion is smooth, the build feels solid, and the machine is very quiet, making it perfect for indoor use. However, I noticed some downsides: the straps started to show signs of wear and tear much sooner than expected (less than 1 month), even with normal use. Additionally, the screen for tracking rowing stats feels quite cheap and doesn’t match the quality of the rest of the machine. If the manufacturer addresses these minor issues, this rower would be nearly perfect. For now, I’d still recommend it for its performance and value, but be prepared for some minor compromises.

Excellent product, my wife and I are very happy with the purchase. It is easy to assemble. I workout with a Concept 2 at my local gym and this one at home. I have no issues with either the air resistance at the gym or water resistance at home with no particular favorite of one over the other. So far my wife and I have over 50 sessions with this rower to date and we are both extremely satisfied. The seat is very comfortable. The glide and rails are super smooth and my feet are secure with the large webbing. I do not have a smart phone and I am satisfied with the minimalist monitor as video is unimportant to me. It seems sturdy and I foresee no issues.