The Q1SQ Merach Rowing Machine Offers a Great Workout, but It’s Not for Rowing Enthusiasts
Most people who buy a rowing machine fall into one of two categories: those who already row and those who just want to get a good workout. I fall into the latter. I was recently given one of Merach’s magnetic rowing machines to test and found it to be a great home workout option that is quiet, portable and affordable while I work on my ACL recovery, but it may not be for everyone.
Easy to install, quiet and easy to move
This rowing machine comes in three variants: QS1 Magnetic , Q1SW Magnetic Silent and Q1S Pro Electro Magnetic . I tested the mid-range silent Q1SW Magnetic. The advertisement claims a noise level of less than 20 decibels, but based on the sound decibel scale , it is closer to 40 decibels. However, I can work out as hard as I can while still listening to TV and without disturbing my fiancee as she works from home. The installation was also very easy and took me about 30 minutes.
As I mentioned earlier, one of the main things I looked for in a home rowing machine was portability. I wanted something practical to use, move and store. The Q1SW does this well. It has wheels on the front making it very easy to move, it’s light enough to maneuver with one hand, and it fits neatly against the wall with minimal effort (you just need to push the screen down).
Good build quality, except for the screen.
The Q1SW rowing machine is very stable and I never had to worry about tipping over even when I was pushing hard. However, it may be uncomfortable for tall paddlers.
Merach advertises this machine as suitable for users up to 6ft 5in, but I can’t imagine it being comfortable. I’m 5’7″ and I find that the handlebars are very low to the ground and don’t extend far enough when starting out on the ride. This made me feel like I was cramped in a small rowboat. It also made it harder for me to tense my arms early in the stroke unless I leaned back far enough, which, as any rower will tell you, is not good form. This is a relatively minor issue that probably won’t bother anyone like me who’s just trying to get some exercise, but it can drive a rower crazy.
The Q1SW has 16 resistance levels that you adjust manually using a rotating lever, but to me even the highest resistance still feels pretty weak. However, as senior health editor Beth Skwarecki noted in her post on common rowing mistakes , you don’t want much resistance when rowing, as the goal is to mimic the resistance of the water. If you’re a rower, this is probably important to you. If you’re just trying to get your heart pumping and train your legs and back, don’t expect to get the same resistance you’ll find on the rowing machine at your local gym.
The display screen actually shows where Merah made the cuts. It’s underwhelming and feels cheap. There is also no backlight, so I couldn’t see it when the room lights were dimmed. However, the Merach makes up for this to some extent with Bluetooth compatibility and a free companion app. I could very easily connect the rowing machine to my phone and get much more information about my workouts usingthe app . I usually held my phone up to the screen of the device and had a much better idea of what I was doing.
The app also logs data and shows much more information after completing the workout, such as calories burned, average frequency, average resistance, maximum power, etc. The app also has “ultra burn”, “target workout”, “timed workout” , ” and “free workout” – preset workouts.
Completion of Thoughts
The Q1SW rowing machine from Merach is a good choice among the many budget rowing machines on Amazon, especially thanks to its surprisingly reliable companion app. The trainer feels durable and is very practical for those looking for a quiet and practical workout at home. However, if you are a rower, you may not be happy with the design, which almost encourages poor technique. And if you’re over 6 feet tall, you might find the rowing machine too cramped.
Although the list price is $329.99, you can easily find this rowing machine for well under $300, which is a pretty solid price for something like this. As of this writing, Amazon has a built-in $90 coupon, bringing the price down to $239.99.