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Credit: Illustration by Ian Moore and product image courtesy of Amazon.
A rowing machine can be a great workout option for people looking to target multiple major muscle groups at once (legs, back, core, and arms) while getting their cardio going at the same time. If you’re looking for something light, portable, and quiet, the Q1S Merach Rowing Machine is worth checking out. Right now, Merach’s Magnetic Rowing Machine is on sale for $189.99 (originally $399.99) after applying the $50 on-page discount. This is the machine’s lowest price ever, according to price-checking tools.
As I said in my review of the Merach Rowing Machine, it is practical, silent, and well-priced even before the major discount. I really like the ability to prop it up against the wall and keep it from taking up too much space in my dining room. The machine is also silent enough that I can get workouts done while watching TV and without annoying my fiancée.
The Merach app is a great companion for the rowing machine, with different workouts, tracking metrics, optional classes, and other paid options to unlock. The screen itself is disappointing, but you can very easily use your phone’s screen and prop it in front of you to get a much better idea of what you’re doing.
Where this machine might fall short for some people is in its size. As a person who stands at 5 feet 7 inches tall, I feel that the handlebars sit very low to the ground and don’t come out far enough at the start of the drive, giving me that cramped, small rowboat feel. To get any tension on my arms at the beginning of the stroke, I had to lean back—which isn’t good form. But if you’re just trying to get a workout in, it likely won’t bother you.