If you’ve ever shopped for an air rower, you already know how this usually goes. Everything gets compared to the Concept2. It’s the benchmark, it’s everywhere, and for good reason. But it’s also expensive, and that price alone sends a lot of home gym owners looking for alternatives.
That’s where the MERACH NovaRow R50 enters the conversation.
| Model | Pros & Cons | Rating |
|---|---|---|
MERACH NovaRow R50 Air Rower | Pros:
| Rated 4.0 out of 5 |
On the surface, the MERACH R50 rower is clearly built around the same general design philosophy as the Concept2. The big differentiator is price. The R50 typically comes in at about half the cost, which raises a very practical question:
Are you actually giving up anything that matters?
I’ve been using the MERACH R50 in my home gym, and this review breaks down how it performs in real use, where it holds up surprisingly well, where it cuts corners, and who it makes sense for—and who should still save up for the Concept2.
Table of Contents
MERACH NovaRow R50 Review Video
Watch my in-depth MERACH NovaRow R50 review video on YouTube:
Assembly & First Impressions
Assembly is straightforward and took me roughly 20 minutes. It’s a one-person job, and the process is mostly just lining up frame components with the main body and tightening the hardware. Nothing complicated, nothing frustrating.
One thing that stood out immediately is that the hardware itself feels fairly basic. It’s not oversized or premium-looking. That said, once the rower is fully assembled, it feels much stronger than the hardware alone would suggest. The stability seems to come more from the frame geometry and base structure than from heavy-duty fasteners.
I did run into one minor shipping-related issue. The metal mesh surrounding the fan had popped slightly out of place inside its plastic housing. At first, it wasn’t obvious what was going on, but I used a flathead screwdriver to gently pry it back into position, and it snapped right in. It ended up being a non-issue, but better packing could have prevented it.
Overall, my first impression was that the MERACH R50 doesn’t scream “cheap.” It’s also clearly not premium. I’d describe it as mid-tier, with the biggest compromises showing up later in the console and mounting hardware rather than in the rowing mechanics themselves.
Footprint, Storage, and Mobility
With rowers, width is never the problem—length is.
The MERACH NovaRow R50 is 95 inches long when set up for use, which makes it nearly identical to the Concept2 in terms of footprint.
However, the R50 is actually a full 16 pounds heavier, which can make it slightly more challenging to fold or carry around.
For storage, the rower folds and separates into two pieces using the locking hinge between the rail and flywheel portion.
You can stand it upright while it’s still connected. I’ve done this for long periods without issues, but MERACH does not recommend upright storage in that configuration.
If you want to follow the manufacturer’s guidance, separating it into two pieces is still very space-efficient.
The MERACH R50 also includes transport wheels at the base. The unit isn’t feather-light, but it’s light enough that lifting one end and rolling it around the gym is easy. In my own setup, I usually keep it fully extended and ready to go, but it’s nice knowing that moving it around isn’t a hassle.
Rowing Feel & Air Resistance Performance
Performance is where the MERACH NovaRow R50 really delivers.
The air resistance feels excellent. The stroke is smooth from catch to finish, with no noticeable friction, catching, vibration, or rattling. It feels exactly how a good air rower should feel.
The resistance scales correctly, too. That is, the harder you pull, the more resistance you get. And the different resistance levels work as expected. There are ten damper settings, just like on the Concept2, and the higher you go, the more resistance you feel at a given stroke speed. Again, it’s smooth regardless of the resistance level.
I’ve used the Concept2 extensively in the past, and purely from a rowing-feel standpoint, I don’t notice a meaningful difference. That’s a big deal. If the fan system and stroke feel were compromised, none of the other details would matter. Fortunately, that’s not the case here.
Noise Level
As expected for an air rower, the R50 is not quiet.
Noise increases as you pull harder and raise the resistance setting. As a practical example, if I’m watching a video or listening to music on my phone (using the phone’s speakers) while rowing, I need to turn the volume way up to hear it clearly. Someone in the next room will probably hear that something is going on.
That said, the sound itself is not harsh or mechanical. It’s mostly just a consistent, whooshing fan noise, and in terms of volume and character, it’s comparable to a Concept2 or any similar style of air rower.
Build Quality & Contact Points
Build quality is solid overall, at least in the areas that matter most; namely the rower itself. The frame feels stable, the rail is rigid, and the folding joint doesn’t flex under load. I haven’t experienced creaking or movement during hard rowing sessions.
Similarly, the seat and handle, which I’ll expand on next, are also well made.
However, as I’ll touch on just a bit later, there’s definitely room for improvement in build quality on the console itself and the arm that connects it to the rower.
Seat
The seat is a standout positive. For starters, it moves very smoothly on the rail. But that’s not what makes it special.
Where it actually beats the Concept2 seat, though, is when it comes to comfort. The reason for this is that it has a much more cushion-y density to foam. It also has a great shape that’s molded perfectly to the posterior anatomy, including pronounced cutouts for your thighs.
In comparison, the Concept2 is a bit less sculpted in shape and it is MUCH more dense, which probably makes it more durable over the very long term, but it also makes it less comfortable.
Handle
The handle is also well done. It’s comfortable in the hands, has a slight 10 degree ergonomic bend, and a comfortable diameter. It’s nearly identical in shape and size to the Concept2 handle, with the MERACH R50 handle being maybe a centimeter longer, which is a slight bonus.
The handle uses textured plastic covers rather than the smoother finish on the Concept2 handle. These handle covers have shown no signs of coming loose, but they’re probably not as secure long-term compared to the fully enveloped handle cover design on the Concept2.
Footrests & Straps
Under load, the footrests feel stable and secure. There are no issues with overall support.
The main problem is the rear heel support. It sits unusually high (a full three inches) behind the heel and Achilles area.
If I row in flatter shoes like Vans, I get noticeable friction at the back of my heel and Achilles.
With regular trainers, though, I don’t have that issue whatsoever.
I think it’s because trainers have taller heels and thicker padding. If the heel holder were shorter, though, that would fix this whole issue.
The footplates offer six adjustment settings. I typically use setting two with size 10 shoes, which works great.
However, on the lowest settings for very large feet, the flexible plastic portion begins to overhang in a way that creates a stress point, which could cause long-term durability issues over time. That said, most users won’t encounter this, but tall users with large feet should pay attention.
On the positive side, the wide Velcro straps are excellent. They provide better support across the foot than the Concept2-style straps, as long as you position the metal ring off to the side so it doesn’t press into your foot.
Console & Display
The console is where the MERACH NovaRow R50 clearly gives up ground to the Concept2.
Functionally, it works, but it’s basic. The most obvious issue is visibility. The display has relatively low contrast, the text isn’t very dark, and the screen isn’t particularly bright. In lower-light gyms, it can be difficult to read.
There are also some physical design quirks. On my unit, the console itself is slightly crooked, which is noticeable when you’re staring straight at it.
The articulating arm that holds it up has two joints but isn’t very strong, at least on my unit. If I put too much force on it, it can collapse. This matters because there’s a built-in phone holder lip on the front of the console. When I place my phone down too aggressively, the arm can collapse and spill it. I think it’s even more noticeable for me because I have a heavier phone. Tightening the hardware helped a tiny bit to improve the strength of the joints, but I still need to be deliberate when placing a phone there.
IMPORTANT: I mentioned this issue to MERACH, and they told me this was not normal behavior and that it was a quality control issue that affected my particular unit; and they shared this information with their product team, which I appreciated. So, if you order one of these rowers, yours will (probably) not have the same issue.
Another small but notable detail: multiple wires exit the back of the monitor and run into the arm. They’re more exposed and messier than on the Concept2, which feels cleaner and better protected.
What the Console Actually Shows
The console cycles automatically between two screens while rowing.
One screen shows:
- Time
- Distance (meters)
- Pulse (with a connected heart-rate monitor)
- Wattage
- Session stroke count
The other screen shows:
- Time per 500 meters
- Distance
- Strokes per minute
- Total lifetime strokes
That last metric is important. Even without using the app, the console does store your total lifetime stroke count internally, and it persists after shutdown. However, that’s essentially the only long-term data the console tracks on its own.
Programmed Training Options on the Console
It is possible to access different programmed workouts, including pre-set and custom interval training, as well as target goal training for time, calories or distance.
However, accessing and setting those workouts is not intuitive because of the clunky interface. You’re essentially relying on three buttons to select, toggle or go back into different menus. And if you mess up, which is easy to do, you have to long-press the reset button and start all over.
Thankfully, I like to just get on and free row, so this isn’t a big deal for me. That said, if I was into programmed training, this would be a major negative.
Unlike the Concept2’s PM5 monitor, the MERACH R50’s console does not save your individual workouts. If you want that capability, you need to connect it via Bluetooth to the MERACH app, which is free for most features.
App Experience
The app is better than I expected.
Pairing is easy: wake the rower by pulling the handle, connect through the app, and it links up quickly with Bluetooth. You do need to grant location access so the app can find nearby devices. Once paired, reconnecting is simple.
The app includes several free coach-led classes across beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. But honestly, they’re not that inspiring and have a fair amount of fluff at the beginning. There are also some game-style modes, but they’re really only videos and not truly interactive.
There’s also a virtual racing feature where you can compete against other users’ performances on a given course, or join live races against multiple people in real time. This is found within the “Training” tab, and it’s called “Challenges.” I had trouble finding this initially because it’s not highlighted well in the app’s UI, but rest assured, it’s there.
While I still prefer to row while watching YouTube or other entertainment, the rowing challenges and racing options give you a much more compelling offering than the classes, especially if you’re motivated by competition.
Where the app shines is in its basic training modes:
- Freestyle workouts
- Duration goals
- Distance goals
These modes are easy to use, give you a clean visual display on your phone, and most importantly, log your workouts over time. That long-term tracking is something the console alone does not provide.
You can also let the app run in the background, which is useful if you want workout tracking but prefer to use your phone for entertainment during sessions.
Oddly, the app does not display wattage, even though wattage is visible live on the console. That feels like a missed opportunity, especially for users who care about power output.
Heart-rate monitors are supported, and when connected, pulse data appears both on the console and in the app.
My Rating
MERACH NovaRow R50 Air Resistance Rower
The MERACH NovaRow R50 is an air resistance rowing machine designed for home gym use, offering a Concept2-style rowing experience at a lower price point. It features a smooth air-driven resistance system, a long monorail to accommodate taller users, a cushioned seat, adjustable footrests with wide Velcro straps, and Bluetooth connectivity for app-based workout tracking and virtual racing. While the rowing performance is strong for the price, the console and data ecosystem are more limited compared to premium rowers like the Concept2.
4
Pros
- Smooth, consistent air resistance feel
- Rowing performance close to Concept2
- Comfortable, cushioned seat
- Wide, supportive Velcro foot straps
- Easy assembly and good portability
- About half the price of Concept2
Cons
- Low-contrast console display
- Console capabilities are limited and controls are not intuitive
- Heel friction with flat shoes
- Console arm is weak (likely a QC issue on my unit)
- Lacks Concept2’s data ecosystem
Who Should Buy the MERACH R50?
The MERACH NovaRow R50 is a high-value rower.
The rowing feel is excellent, the resistance is smooth and demanding, the frame is solid, and the seat is comfortable. From a pure performance standpoint, it delivers far more than its price might suggest.
Where it falls short is the console and ecosystem. If you’re a serious or data-driven rower, the Concept2 PM5 and its platform are still worth paying for.
But if you’re a home gym owner looking for legit rowing performance for cardio, conditioning, and warm-ups—and you’re okay with a basic console and using the app for tracking—the R50 is a very compelling alternative that saves a significant amount of money.
As always, the right choice comes down to how you actually train.
If you decide to buy one, consider using my coupon code KING for a nice discount on your order. You can also buy the MERACH R50 on Amazon if you prefer.
If you decide it’s not the right choice, you can buy the Concept2 RowErg here.
