Sunday, May 23, 2021

Bring the studio home with the best connected fitness equipment

Connected fitness equipment has taken the world by storm, and people are looking for ways to bring the boutique fitness studio experience straight into their homes. We love the MYX Plus fitness system because it's the most affordable, all-encompassing total body workout system we've found on the market today. Whatever exercise modality you're into, and no matter your fitness level, we've found the perfect workout system for you on this list of the best connected fitness equipment.

Best overall: The MYX Plus

The MYX Plus was designed to make fitness accessible to everyone, regardless of their fitness level. On top of a high-quality, stationary Star Trac bike outfitted with a swiveling 22-inch touchscreen, the MYX Plus comes with a set of free weights and a kettlebell in increments of your choice. Plus, you get a foam roller, bike stabilizing mat, Polar OH1 heart rate monitor, resistance band, and oversized exercise mat for floor work, making it a complete fitness system for both body and mind.

MYX uses science-backed, heart-based training and cross-training to ensure smarter, not harder workouts. The patented MYX Mark calibrates your personalized heart rate zones based on an MYX assessment of your cardiovascular fitness level. Paired with the MYX membership of $29 a month, you can access hundreds of workouts bringing an immersive, one-on-one training experience straight to your home.

You can choose from many different fitness classes, including cycling, meditation, yoga, and cross-training. You can also stream MYX workouts anytime, anywhere from your tablet or smartphone, and schedule your workouts through the mobile app.

MYX keeps track of all your workouts, including exercise frequency and performance, so you can watch your heart health improve over time and develop strong health and fitness habits. The MYX Plus provides you with all the tools and resources you need to succeed in your workouts, and the swivel screen on the studio-grade MYX cycle allows for a seamless transition from bike to floor.

On the downside, because MYX Fitness entered the connected fitness world earlier this year, it has a smaller virtual video library than some of the other top competitors. However, its library is frequently increasing. It's also designed for individual, heart-based training, so you won't be competing with other users, and there's no sense of community.

Pros:

  • Affordable, accessible total body workout system (extras included)
  • Swiveling HD touchscreen
  • Heart-based training
  • Schedule workouts
  • Performance metrics
  • Shoe cages or toe clips

Cons:

  • Smaller video library than some competitors
  • No leaderboards
  • Additional monthly membership required

Best overall

The MYX Plus

In the MYX

A total body system that includes a bike, free weights, kettlebell, heart monitor, foam roller, resistance band, and exercise mat.

Best connected treadmill: NordicTrack Commercial X32i

The NordicTrack Commercial X32i is the latest and greatest when it comes to connected treadmills. It features a 40% incline, -6% decline, and a 32-inch smart HD touchscreen for an even more immersive experience for the user, especially when the iFit trainers take users running in destinations across the globe. You can check your stats with real-time performance metric tracking and connect your Bluetooth headphones to the X32i so you can listen to your iFit trainer and workout music without any distractions.

The NordicTrack X32i comes with a one-year iFit membership, a $468 value, which gives access to thousands of live and on-demand classes with expert trainers. The X32i features automatic adjustments so you can follow your trainers hands-free. Your speed and incline will be adjusted automatically according to where you are in your workout. You also have the ability to override the automatic adjustments if you'd like.

The treadmill has a speed range of zero to 12 miles per hour and a 22-by-65-inch commercial tread belt with Reflex Cushioning to absorb impact without sacrificing durability. It also comes with dual AutoBreeze workout fans for the ultimate luxury running experience; now, how cool is that?

On the downside, this treadmill is really pricey, but if you're a runner and are looking for the ultimate in luxury running, this is it. The X32i is heavy, the box product weight weighs 462 pounds, and it has a large footprint. Plan on making some substantial space for this machine because wherever you set it up, that's where it will stay.

Pros:

  • One-year iFit membership included
  • 40% incline/-6% decline
  • 32-inch smart HD touchscreen
  • Reflex Cushioning
  • AutoBreeze fans
  • Global running experiences

Cons:

  • Pricey
  • Heavy
  • Large footprint

Best connected treadmill

NordicTrack Commercial X32i

Run around the world

Paired with the iFit membership, this commercial-grade treadmill features a 40% incline, 32-inch touchscreen, and enables you to run around the world.

Best connected boxing: FightCamp

FightCamp claims that after one punch, you'll be hooked. After trying it for ourselves, we couldn't agree more! FightCamp brings a unique connected boxing and kickboxing experience straight to your living room. It blends body punches, defensive moves, plyometric sprints, and body-weight exercises to build ever-changing combinations that will keep your body and mind engaged.

FightCamp's Punch Trackers show your real-time progress and stats on any iOS device. Sorry, it is not compatible with Android. The trackers will calculate your output by using a proprietary algorithm to combine intensity, speed, and technique. On the Leaderboard, you'll see how your score stacks up against others in FightCamp's growing community. Compete against yourself or fight your way to the top.

Strap on your gloves to practice fundamentals in FightCamp's Prospect Path, where you'll learn proper form, technique, and work on building foundational punch combinations. From there, you can work your way up the FightClub's Contender Path, which is designed to challenge more experienced boxers.

FightCamp has a big footprint; you'll need a large amount of space to set this up. The punching bag itself is hefty, and you'll need a dolly or two-wheel cart to move it. The base must be filled with water or sand and weighs 230 to 250 pounds when full, depending on your use. It's also specifically for boxing and kickboxing only.

Pros:

  • Personal + multi-user options
  • All extras included
  • Game like experience
  • Leaderboard
  • Community

Cons:

  • Large footprint
  • Heavy
  • Modality specific
  • Not compatible with Android

Best connected boxing

FightCamp

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee

FightCamp is a unique, connected boxing and kickboxing experience designed to bring the ring straight to your living room.

Best connected climber: CLMBR Connected

CLMBR Connected is a brand new ergonomic climbing machine. It's the first at-home vertical climber to feature a large format touch display with on-demand, instructor-led classes. This machine has high-quality build, low level of required maintenance, and is on the lighter end at 150 pounds. It's easy to move, making it perfect for at-home use. The machine features an open structural design that leaves the user's views unobstructed, supporting a natural athletic posture.

Your feet stay planted for the entirety of the exercise, eliminating pressure and pounding on joints and ligaments. Climbing also helps prevent injury by strengthening all muscle groups and protecting ligaments, tendons, and muscles. It is an incredible workout and a major calorie burner!

CLMBR offers the latest user interface technology and a state-of-the-art companion app: CLMBR Connected at $40 per month. It provides on-demand climbing classes and displays key metrics to maximize user experience, including climbed vertical feet and workout targets reached. On the downside, both the CLMBR machine and the monthly subscription are on the pricier end, but they do deliver an incredible workout and a unique at-home experience.

Pros:

  • Ergonomic design
  • On-demand classes
  • Performance metrics
  • Effective, low-impact workouts
  • 150 pounds
  • Easy to move

Cons:

  • Pricey
  • Additional monthly membership required

Best connected climbing

CLMBR Connected

Climb to new heights

A connected climbing experience that offers an ergonomic design that supports proper alignment and posture. It delivers a great workout.

Best connected bike: Peloton Bike+

Peloton is a pioneer in the connected fitness world and has firmly maintained its position as one of the best around for a reason. The bike itself is a commercial-grade, high-tech cycle equipped with a swiveling 24-inch touchscreen, four-way adjustments, and a magnetic flywheel with 32 levels of resistance. Move from cardio to strength workouts seamlessly on the Bike+ with a larger touchscreen that offers 360-degree movement. You'll see everything from your floor workouts on its crystal-clear, high-definition screen.

The magnetic resistance system delivers a smooth and quiet ride. Paired with the Peloton membership, this bike will keep track of your performance metrics, where you can measure your progress by checking your cadence, distance, resistance, heart rate, calories burned, and output of power.

What really sets the Peloton experience apart from the others is the Peloton community. The Peloton membership, at $39 per month, gives you access to thousands of live and on-demand classes taught by world-class fitness instructors. Because Peloton was one of the first connected fitness bikes, the community is enormous and beloved by millions worldwide. The instructors are in a class of their own and have gained hundreds of thousands of personal followers and fans.

You can choose from a huge variety of classes, including cycling, yoga, cardio, meditation, running, outdoor, stretching, boot camp, walking, and strength classes ranging from five to 90 minutes. There's something here for everyone. The Peloton app enables you to ride with other Peloton members, and you can do fun interactive things, like send high fives. You can filter who you ride with by followers, age, and gender, save your favorite tunes and create your own playlists within the app.

On the downside, Peloton is pricey, and there are no extras included. All add ons like spin shoes, weights, and water bottles are an additional cost.

Pros:

  • Five-star member experience
  • World-class instructors
  • Performance metrics
  • Enormous live and on-demand library

Cons:

  • Pricey
  • No extras included
  • Additional monthly membership required

Best connected bike

Peloton Bike+

World class instructors + online community

The Peloton bike paired with the membership delivers thousands of live and on-demand classes with world-class instructors.

Best low-key machine: The Mirror

With its small footprint and elegant design, the Mirror blends seamlessly into any home and is great for anyone looking for a connected fitness machine that won't make their living room look like a gym. The Mirror delivers expert instruction from certified trainers. You'll get motivation, live feedback on your workouts, and in-workout adjustments based on your goals, preferences, and personal profile.

You can choose from various playlists featuring popular music across many genres to create the perfect vibe for your workout. Listen to them via the machine's built-in speakers, or connect with a pair of the best headphones. Sync a Bluetooth heart rate monitor or Apple Watch to track your real-time heart rate.

The Mirror's proprietary algorithm tracks your ability to achieve, maintain, and recover from target heart rate zones, and you'll earn points while trying to beat your personal bests. You'll get a summary of your performance after each workout and a weekly dashboard to track your progress. You can choose from a variety of live and on-demand classes.

The Mirror offers barre, boxing, cardio, pre and postnatal, weight training, ballet, meditation, yoga, Pilates, and strength training classes at various levels ranging from five to 60-minutes. Take note that all accessories like resistance bands, heart rate monitors, and mirror care kits are sold separately. An additional monthly membership is also required at $39 per month.

Pros:

  • Minimalist design
  • Small footprint
  • Performance summaries
  • Live and on-demand classes

Cons:

  • All accessories sold separately
  • Additional monthly membership required

Best Low-key machine

The Mirror

Low-key aesthetic

The Mirror offers a great at-home personal training solution to those that don't want their living room looking like a gym.

Bottom line

If you find yourself looking for new and creative ways to stay in shape at home, you can't go wrong with our list of the best connected fitness equipment. These state-of-the-art, smart fitness machines were specifically designed to bring a unique training experience straight to your living room.

We considered price points, exercise modalities, included accessories, footprints, and monthly memberships when curating this list, and found The MYX Plus to be our favorite overall. We love it because it's the most accessible, affordable, full-body workout system we've found.

The bike features a swiveling touchscreen, and your MYX Plus purchase includes all of the necessary accessories and cross-training classes you need to transfer seamlessly from the bike to the floor. Whatever your at-home training needs are, we've found the perfect piece of equipment for you on our list of best connected fitness equipment.

Credits — The woman that worked on this guide

Nicolette Roux is a health and fitness expert as well as a master fitness instructor. She's had the pleasure of researching, trying, and exploring many different connected fitness options. Connected fitness is here to stay, and she took great pride in curating this list of the best connected fitness equipment available on the market today.


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