Merach NovaRow R50 Pro Air Rower Review: A Real Concept2 Alternative

If you are looking at adding a rower to your home gym but don’t want to drop a ton of money, the Merach NovaRow R50 Pro could be the answer. With a smooth air-resistance system, a comfortable seat, straps, and a bar, plus a backlit display and app workouts, the R50 Pro offers more for less. I’ve wanted to add a rower to my home gym for a while but didn’t want to spend $1,000 on a Concept2, so when Merach asked me to test their new NovaRow R50 Pro, I jumped (rowed?) at the chance. Let’s see how it does.

What’s in the Box and Specifications

The Merach NovaRow R50 Pro includes 4 AA batteries, a user manual, a warranty card, tools, and the parts needed for assembly.

Specifications

• Resistance System: Pure wind resistance
• Resistance Levels: 10 levels
• Resistance Adjustment: Manual lever adjustment
• Fan Blades: 32 blades
• Flywheel Weight: 3.5 kg, 7.7 lbs
• Total Weight: 33.3 kg, 73.4 lbs
• Max Weight Capacity: 158 kg, 348.3 lbs
• Suitable User Height: 3’ 11” – 6’ 10”
• Storage Dimensions: 635 x 835 x 1372 mm, 12 x 32.87 x 54.01 in
• Unfolded Dimensions: 2380 x 610 x 1022 mm, 93.7 x 24.01 x 40.23 in
• Frame Material: Iron + Aluminum
• Folding Mechanism: Track disassembly
• Power Supply: Battery
• Handle Material: Plastic
• Pull Rope Material: Nickel-plated steel
• Handle Size: 510 mm, 20.07 in
• Foot Pedal Adjustment: 6 adjustable lengths
• Foot Pedal Spacing: 90 mm, 3.54 in
• Track Type: Single rail
• Track Material: Aluminum
• Sliding Rail Material: Stainless steel
• Track Length: 1365 mm, 53.74 in
• Inseam Length: 1200 mm, 47.24 in
• Track Incline: None
• Seat Material: Foam leather (ergonomic)
• Seat Height from Floor: 380 mm, 14.96 in
• Seat Roller Material: PU
• Display Type: LCD backlit display
• Display Information: Time, Distance, Calories, Strokes, Pulse, Avg. Pulse, SPM, Avg.SPM, Time/500m, Watt, Avg.  Watt, SPM Waveform, Drag Factor
• Display Size: 5.3 inch
• Tablet Stand: Yes
• Adjustable Stand Angle: Yes
• Heart Rate Monitoring: Supported
• Communication Method: Bluetooth 5.0
• App: MERACH, Kinomap

Setup

The Merach NovaRow R50 Pro comes with paper instructions and a video, so it was easy to put together.

Total weight is 73 lbs, so the two main pieces are manageable to move on their own, but the fan part makes it a little awkward to lift by yourself. I found picking it up and carrying it this way to be the easiest way to move it around.

The tiny wheels work fine on hard surfaces, but on carpet or turf they tend to sink down. You can leave the two pieces together so that the rower can be stored vertically, or split apart without tools to store in a smaller space. Merach recommends taking it apart for safety, but I have a feeling most people like me will just leave it together.

Performance

At my local gym, I have used a Concept2 RowErg many times, so I wanted something similar for home. The Merach NovaRow R50 Pro is very similar when you look at them side by side and compare specs, but at $990, the Merach is $430.01 cheaper, so it got my attention.

The cushioned seat is way more comfortable on longer workouts than the hard plastic seats on rowers I’ve used. The chain is quiet, and the fan isn’t too loud either. You’ll need headphones if you’re trying to watch a show or follow a workout.

At resistance 10 and even when I pull hard, I can still hear the commentators when I’m watching disc golf with open earphones on. I like the phone/tablet holder right above the display so I can keep an eye on my progress. The drawstring keeper on top only opens to about 7 ¼ inches; however, you can place a tablet on the holder and lean the screen back, and it will stay in place.

The foot straps are 2-inch-wide Velcro straps and are very comfortable as long as you keep the metal buckle off the top of your foot and to the side. The heel cups are more flexible than the Concept2, and the heel raises up a bit more during rowing. The handle is comfortable and also feels similar to the Concept2.

The Merach NovaRow R50 Pro can be used with the Merach workout app that has free workouts, but you’ll have to pay to get more. The R50 Pro does connect via Bluetooth to your phone for live stats and to track workouts, so that is cool, but you still can’t see your stats on the display at the same time.

I’ll mainly watch a video or catch up on shows while rowing, so I don’t think I will use the app much. It’s too bad they don’t have any strength classes on the app. It does have vibration plate workouts, though, so I’m not sure why it doesn’t have any strength workouts.

I will say I am not sure I am a fan of the backlit display. It shows a lot of data, including drag factor and waveform. It is perfectly readable when you look straight at it, but if you tilt it slightly up or down, the display shifts a bit, like a 3D image. It’s fine once you adjust it, though.

The screen also rotates the data that it displays every few seconds, but you can press the Enter button to stop the screen rotation. You have to do that every time, though. I would prefer an option to keep all the stats on one screen.

One thing I didn’t like is that when you stop in manual mode, and you stop; the screen blanks out after a few minutes, which resets your progress. So, if you want to do a circuit while rowing to a certain distance, you will lose your progress when you hop off to do your next exercise. I would rather the screen save your progress and let you reset it manually when you want.

For specific time- or distance-based workouts or interval training, you will need to remember to use those programs, but if you’re gone long enough, the screen resets.

The Bottom Line

If you want to add a rower to your home workouts without breaking the bank, the $559.99 Merach NovaRow R50 Pro is a great option that feels very similar to a gym rower. The app needs a little work to be worthwhile, and the screen display and programming have some shortfalls, but overall, I am very impressed with the R50 Pro.

The Merach NovaRow R50 Pro Air Rower retails for $559.99; it is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon.

Source: Manufacturer-supplied review sample.

What I Like: Rowing feels similar to expensive gym rowers; Easy to use, move around, and store; Reasonably priced for what you get

What Needs Improvement: The backlit screen may not be an upgrade after all; The app needs more workouts to be a realistic option