MERACH Q1S Rowing Machine Review – One of the Best Budget Rowers?

The MERACH Rowing Machine has become one of the best-selling budget rowing machines in just a few short years. As a company, they’ve come such a long way over the last decade.

When I first started reviewing their gear, they only made one weight bench and an exercise bike, and I could tell even then these guys were good, really good. In fact, that first bike was one of the best low-cost exercise bikes I’d reviewed.

Quality at Budget Prices

That’s where Merach shines. Over the years, they’ve become one of the few companies that can build quality fitness equipment while keeping prices low. And it’s the main reason their gear has become so popular, with many of their products now competing head-to-head with top brands like Sunny Health & Fitness and YOSUDA.

From Newcomer to Budget Favorite

The MERACH Q1S is their flagship budget rowing machine, and Amazon’s No. 1 best-selling rower.

In just a few years, the company has gone from producing a couple of quality budget fitness products to becoming one of the biggest names in the budget fitness market. That’s pretty impressive.

I first reviewed the MERACH Q1S a few years ago when it was released, but it’s had a few updates since then, and I really think it’s a rowing machine that deserves a second, much closer look.

So, in today’s Merach Rowing Machine review, I’m going to take a close look at everything it has to offer, including any drawbacks, because there are a few.

At the end of the review, I’ll also compare it side by side with another favorite of mine in this price range, the YOSUDA H-181. They’re two of the best budget rowing machines you can buy, so it’ll be interesting to see how they compare.

First, let’s take a quick look at the MERACH Q1S specs, pros and cons!

Specs

Why Do We Like The Merach Rowing Machine?

As I mentioned in the intro, it’s the quality that sells the Merach Rower. Because in this price range, you really don’t know what you’re going to get until it turns up on your doorstep, but with the Merach Rowing machine, you know what you’re getting.

It’s a rowing machine that’s been out for a few years. It’s stood the test of time, and still, people are praising it years after owning it.

A Heavy Flywheel Makes All the Difference

It’s not a budget rower that suffers from poor resistance strength, you’re not going to outgrow it in a few months.

The Q1S roweing mahcine comes with 12lb flywheel, which is really impressive in this price rnage. Most budget rowers are plagued with weak resistance because of their light 5lb-8lb flywheels.

Smooth, Quiet, and Built for Home Use

With the Merach, you get a 12lb almost heavy-duty flywheel. This will give you that all-important extra resistance in the upper levels.

Also, a heavier flywheel typically means a much smoother rowing stroke, and when you combine a decent-weight flywheel with a magnetic resistance system and a belt drive, as the Merach Q1S has, you get one of the smoothest and quietest rowing combinations for any type of rower.

Click here to check price of the Merach Q1S Rower on Amazon

Sturdy No Movement

Stability is more important than most people think when it comes to rowing machines, especially lightweight, low-cost rowers.

Sub $200 rowers like the Merach don’t weigh much,  they’ve got no real weight to help keep them planted to the floor. So design is all important for stability when choosing a budget rower like The Q1S.

Thankfully, Merach has given a lot of thought to stability when designing their budget machine. You’ve got wide front and rear stabilizing feet that really help keep this rowing machine stable.

The feet also capped in rubber, which prevents the rower from slipping on a hard, polished floor, which is a big help.

Also, the seat is well-contoured, which prevents your butt from sliding around, and, most importantly, the seat’s back lip has been raised to stop your butt from sliding too far back during the push phase of the rowing stroke.

Great to see in this price range. Big thumbs up to Marach for seat design.

Long Inclined Dual Slide Rail (max user height 6’6″)

I’ve reviewed over 40 budget rowers in the past decade, and just one or two could boast a long rail, it’s rare to find one.

Normally, taller users have to pay much more to find a rowing machine that fits their size. But Merach has fitted one even on their budget rower, which is more than impressive.

Users up to 6’6″ can achieve a full rowing stroke on the Merach Q1S rower. Which is great news for taller users on a tight budget, but it’s not just the rail’s length I like. It’s also a dual rail rowing machine.

Dual rails are more sturdy than the single rail rowers, and often I find the seat glides more smoothly on dual rails too.

Also, the Mearch dual rail is inclined, which I love because an incline adds something else to your workouts: incline rowing burns more calories and really gives those large leg muscles a proper workout.

Basic but Decent Monitor with Free App

You’re not going to find large HD touchscreens and advanced features in this price range. One thing almost all budget rowers have in common is a basic monitor.

Still, I actually like basic monitors. They’re easy to use, take just a couple of minutes to set up, and best of all, they track all the essential workout data, including time, distance, SPM, calories, and stroke count.

At this price, I’d much rather a company spend the money on build quality than an expensive monitor. They have to save money somewhere, and I think they’ve made the right choice.

However, for a basic monitor, the Merach’s is actually better than most because it includes Bluetooth and access to the free MERACH app. So, if you want more than just the basic workout data, simply connect your phone or tablet, and you’ll unlock extra workout features, progress tracking, and compatibility with Kinomap.

Will You Need a Rowing Mat?

One of the main reasons people like to use a mat with a rower is to prevent slippage on polished floors, but since the Merach Rowing machine has those rubber capped feet, unwanted movement shouldn’t be an issue.

The only other time I’d reccomend getting hold of a floor mat is if you live in an apartment or shared housing. A floor mat can help absorb upto 80% of the vibrations from your workouts. Certainly a good idea if you want to keep your neighbors happy.

If you think you might need a mat, I found that Sunny Health & Fitness makes the best low-cost fitness equipment mats. Here’s the Link: Sunny Health Equipment Mats

Drawbacks of the Merach Q1S Magnetic Rowing Machine

For the price, it’s hard to fault the Merach Rowing Machine. There’s a lot of rower for your money, and it’s surprisingly well made.

Still, it’s a budget rower, so there are always a few minor drawbacks. Since it’s a lightweight rower, it doesn’t have much weight to it. You’re not going to get that premium, heavy-duty feel you would with a high-end, more expensive machine.

• Also, the seat is quite hard. The contoured design is impressive, but it could use a little more cushioning, especially for those who row for long periods.
• And finally, because it’s a magnetic rower, you can’t mimic the rowing-on-water feel  like you can with an air rowing machine.

With a magnetic rowing machine, the resistance is constant, and by that I mean, you can only change the strength of resistance by turning the tension knob. An air or water rower uses dynamic resistance, with resistance strength determined by how fast you row, just like rowing on water.

So yeah, no major drawbacks with the Mearch Q1S, just a couple of minor ones worth noting.

Vertical Storage

I was happy to see that these guys designed the Mercah Q1S to be stored vertically. I prefer vertical storage to a folding system as it takes up less space.

You’re reducing the overall footprint of a rowing machine by 80% when stored vertically, which is great news for anyone who’s tight on space.

Assembly – 30 minutes

Rowing machines are a little trickier to assemble than most fitness gear. They don’t arrive preassembled at your doorstep. You still need to attach the rail to the flywheel housing, the feet to the rail, and the monitor and pedals.

If you’re lucky enough to have someone give you a hand, it shouldn’t take you longer than 30 minutes. All parts bags are numbered, and assembly instructions are clear.

Final Verdict

When you’ve been reviewing rowing machines as long as I have and have gotten used to just how poorly built and designed some of them are in the sub-$200 price range, it’s always a nice surprise to come across something that’s actually well-made and sturdy.

The Mercah Rowing Machine QS1 stands out against its competitors because it’s a decent rowing machine, which is rare in this price range. You get a 12lb flywheel, so resistance is strong in the upper levels.

The rowing stroke is smooth thanks to the belt drive system, the heavy flywheel, and the silky-smooth resistance system, and this thing is sturdy. There’s no movement when rowing, you’re getting a premium feel rower for under $200, which is impressive.

Drawbacks? A couple of minor ones, as I mentioned, but overall bang for your buck, the Mearch QS1 is a winner. A great choice for beginners who want a rowing machine they won’t outgrow in a year or two.

How Does the MERACH Q1S Compare to the YOSUDA H-181?

Yosuda H-181 Rowing Machine

It’s really difficult to choose between the Yosuda and Merach. Yosuda has been around a little longer, and they, too, are fighting hard to dominate the budget rower market.

These guys are good. I reviewed a load of their gear over the years, and just like Merach, they’ve impressed me.

The Yosuda H-181 is their flagship budget rowing machine, and it has a lot going for it. Most importantly, just like the Merach QS1, it is well-made and sturdy, which is what you really want.

The essentials are all important when choosing a rowing machine, and the H181 from Yosuda delivers on all of them.

The Yosuda H-181 also boasts an impressive 12lb flywheel, so the resistance is strong for the price point, the rowing stroke is smooth and almost silent, just like the Merach. You get 16 levels of magnetic resistance.

Both rowing machines are very similar in quality and features, it’s hard to separate the two. They both offer excellent value for money and are unbeatable in this price range.

If I were pushed to choose one, I’d go with the Merach because I prefer the dual rail, it adds stability, and I find the seat tends to glide more smoothly on a dual rail than on a single. Also, the slide rail is longer with the Merach, you have 6’6″ max height with it, and just 6’2″ with the Yosuda.

So yeah, it’s really only rail length that separates these two. If you’re a tall guy, the Merach QS1 will let you achieve a full rowing stroke, so it’s the best choice.

Still comparing rowing machines? Read Next: Best Magnetic Rowing Machines

Merach QS1 Rowing Machine FAQs