Merax Magnetic Rowing Machine Review
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The Merax Magnetic rowing machine sure stands out - it's bright yellow! But does it cut the mustard? (see what I did there.) So here's our review...
The Merax looks pretty good for a budget machine, and, let's face it, you're not going to trip over it are you :0) But you don't buy fitness equipment to look good in your room - although perhaps some do. Putting the machine together couldn't be easier. There's only a few parts to fix as much of it comes pre-assembled. If you can screw a nut onto a bolt, you're sorted. It only takes around 20 minutes at most. Once you're ready to go, the seat is a standard one you'll find on dozens of rowers, but it's comfortable and sculptured to fit the standard backside - whatever that might be! The seat is also at a good height off the ground (17.5") which makes it easier to get on and off. Some budget rowers have a very low sitting position which ain't much fun trying to get off if you're knees aren't what they used to be - especially after a long workout.
The rail is long which means it's suitable for users of up to 6' 5". This is important as a short rail makes it hard to get a full stroke thus reducing the benefits of using a rowing machine. The pivoting footrests are wide enough and will hold your feet in place - again, important as there's nothing more annoying that having to stop every few minutes to tighten the straps. The handle is padded and should sit well in all but the largest of hands. You won't be surprised to hear the Merax Magnetic uses magnets and a flywheel to provide the resistance for your muscles to work against. This means is a quiet machine to use (much quieter than a rower you may have used in a gym), so if noise could cause a problem with your neighbors, this would be a good choice. The other factor when it comes to noise is the seat sliding up and down the rail (and perhaps you puffing and blowing during a workout). The seat runners are made of resin and appear hard-wearing and make little noise. The machine can support a user of up to 330 lbs so it's pretty sturdy. The Merax had 8 levels of resistance that are selected manually using the knob beneath the monitor (see photo). Some magnetic rowers are criticized for having little difference between the highest and lowest settings, but the Merax has a reasonable range to suit most users. And when you're done, the machine can be folded to a smallish footprint, and wheeled out of the way. The warranty is quite limited at just 12 months - but again, bear in mind it's a low-cost model.
Summary:
The Merax Magnetic is quite a decent rower for such a low price. Yes, it's limited when it comes to features, but you have to be preferred to pay at least twice the price for the whistles and bells. It has a good length rail for the taller user, but folds about to a reasonably small footprint. Add that to the quiet mechanism, and it makes for a good choice if you're on a budget and live in an apartment with neighbors who like to complain about the noise :0) Note: This website is an associate of Amazon and a number of other retailers. We earn a commission from sales generated via these links, but this does not influence how we rate the rowing machines we review.
Merax Magnetic:
5.5/
10
Reviewer: R. Palmer
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QUICK REFERENCE
Click image to enlarge
The Merax Magnetic
Generic seat, but quite comfortable
8 levels of magnetic resistance
Basic, but adequate display
A folding model
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Also worth a look:
For around the same price, the Stamina 1130 is another magnetic machine but smaller if space is an issue. Another alternative is the Echanfit, or if you can stretch your budget further, the Schwinn Crewmaster has more to offer.
For around the same price, the Stamina 1130 is another magnetic machine but smaller if space is an issue. Another alternative is the Echanfit, or if you can stretch your budget further, the Schwinn Crewmaster has more to offer.
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