Merax Magnetic Rowing Machine Review + Alternatives
Are you looking for a fun way to burn calories and get yourself back into shape? Worried about working out at home and making noise that could bother your neighbors? Allow us to introduce to you the Merax Magnetic Rowing Machine, a model that Merax calls ultra-quiet with reduced noise and sliding resistance.
The Merax Magnetic Rower is built with a study solid steel frame that can support a maximum suggested user weight capacity of 264 lbs. While this should be okay for most people, the Merax Magnetic Rower does pale in comparison to other entry level magnetic rowers in the industry. For example, the Joroto MR35 magnetic rower and the HouseFit magnetic rower can both hold up to 300 lbs.
The Merax magnetic rower also comes equipped with extra padding and multi-angle rotary foot plates that add comfort to long and grueling workouts. Another plus for the Merax Magnetic Rower? The solid steel frame is foldable, which makes storage and transport much easier, especially with the built-in wheels.
Compared to other magnetic rowing machines, the Merax Magnetic Rower is quite compact and can easily be placed in any room in your house. The dimensions measure 73” L x 16” W x 21” H when in use, which is nearly a foot shorter than the popular NordicTrack RW200 model which measures out to be 85” long.
This shorter frame combined with it being foldable, make the Merax magnetic rower an ideal candidate for people who live in apartments or other small living spaces. The Merax magnetic rowing machine tips the scales at 74 lbs which makes it much heavier than entry-level rivals Joroto MR35 and the Sunny Health and Fitness SF-RW5515 magnetic rower, which weigh 62 lbs and 60 lbs respectively. It should come as no surprise to rowers that magnetic resistance rowers are much lighter and quieter than their water resistance and air resistance siblings.
The Merax Magnetic Rower uses a magnetic flywheel that produces eight different resistance levels at varying degrees of difficulty. The flywheel is what makes the workout silent alongside the comfortable and silent 15-degree angled seat rail. As with many magnetic rowing machines, the Merax comes with a built in tension knob that users can turn to gauge how difficult of a workout they would like.
Manually adjustable resistance is the best part about magnetic rowing machines, and I highly recommend picking up an entry level magnetic rower like the Joroto MR35 if you are a beginner to the sport. It is much easier to turn a knob than to add or remove water from the tank like water resistance rowers do.
You can only expect so much from an entry level rowing machine, but you may still be disappointed to hear that Merax felt they did not need to include any connected technology or integrated fitness apps. The Merax magnetic rower does come with a small and basic LCD console that is built directly into the frame.
This LCD console can help users keep track of your total stroke count, time, and distance. If you are in the market for a magnetic rower with some connected technology and fitness app, i recommend splurging for the Women’s Health/Men’s Health Bluetooth magnetic rower.
If you read up on the assembly of the machine, it is quite simple and straightforward, and most people report being able to assemble the Merax magnetic rower in about 30 minutes. When putting the machine together, ensure you have someone else there to help you lift the machine as it can still be cumbersome when rolling from room to room. The Merax Magnetic Rower is no longer sold on the Merax website, so the best place to purchase the machine is on Amazon, especially for the free shipping.
We told you the Merax Magnetic Rower sells at a discounted price, even for an entry level fitness machine. The total price for the machine will cost you anywhere from $250 to $500 online, depending on where you shop. For a non nonesene machine from a trusted name, that is a very reasonable price from Merax, and is cheaper than most other magnetic rowing machines. The warranty is not too bad considering it is an entry-level model, as Merax will protect the customer for 3-years for the frame and 180 days for the parts and electronics.
Comparable Magnetic Rowing Machines
As someone who has extensive experience using various indoor rowing machines, I can provide you with insights on comparable magnetic rowers to the Merax model. If you’re a fan of Bluetooth and online connectivity, I highly recommend considering the Women’s Health/Men’s Health Bluetooth magnetic rower as an excellent alternative.
What sets this rowing machine apart is its better console and Bluetooth capability, which allows you to connect it to different fitness apps. I’ve personally found this feature incredibly useful as it provides real-time data on my workouts, lets me set goals, and enables me to track my performance. Moreover, with online connectivity, I can engage in virtual rowing communities and even participate in interactive workouts. Trust me, this significantly enhances the overall indoor rowing experience and keeps you motivated throughout your sessions.
However, if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option without fancy features, the Sunny Health and Fitness SF-RW5515 magnetic rower is an exceptional choice. It does not have Bluetooth connectivity, but it’s a solid rowing machine that won’t break the bank. The basic console on this machine provides essential metrics such as time, count, total count, and calories burned. It’s sufficient for tracking your progress and achieving your fitness goals.
One aspect that I appreciate about both the Women’s Health/Men’s Health Bluetooth magnetic rower and the Sunny Health and Fitness SF-RW5515 magnetic rower is their foldable design. Living in a space-constrained environment, I understand the importance of having equipment that can be easily stored away. These rowing machines can be conveniently folded, allowing you to reclaim valuable floor space when you’re not using them.
Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that both of these alternatives come in under $500, making them incredibly affordable. Regardless of your budget, you’ll be able to enjoy a quality indoor rowing experience without breaking the bank.
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Hi, my name is Sayed Hamed Hosseiny. I am a professional health and fitness trainer with nearly 20 years of experience using ellipticals, rowing machines, and spin bikes. I also have my own EU-based Rock Fitness Pro fitness brand where I design, import and sell exercise equipment such as rowing machines and spin bikes. I and writers on my team also often receive fitness equipment to review and evaluate their functionalities and performance from tens of different exercise machines manufacturers. Fitness equipment tips, guides, reviews, and comparisons on this website are my opinion (and opinions of my fitness expert colleagues) based on tens of criteria. I never accept payment to write reviews of products or say positive things about fitness equipment products. If brands are interested to have me review their rowers, ellipticals, or spin bikes, they can get in touch with me via email provided on the contact page and send a sample of their product.
