What we like about it: The Tempo Studio is a smart home gym that resembles an armoire, meant to blend in with your home. It's an ideal smart home gym to own, whether you're new or experienced with strength training. The Tempo Studio's basic package comes well-equipped with two dumbbell bars, weight collars and five sets of weight plates from 1.25 to 25 pounds.
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The Tempo Studio is designed to hold all of its equipment neatly, so you won't need to worry about it being spread across your living room floor. The top part of the studio consists of the touchscreen, while the bottom part has a cabinet that stows the weight plates out of sight. The back of the Tempo Studio has slot-like compartments that hold the barbell and dumbbell bars securely and safely in place. I recommend making sure you have room for the Tempo Studio before purchasing because the stand itself is large, and you also need an additional 6 feet of space in front of the screen so your body can be detected during a workout.
What makes the Tempo Studio stand out as ideal for strength training is that it uses artificial intelligence with 3D sensors to provide feedback on your form and movement during class. It can also count your reps and detect the dumbbell weights you're using. I was impressed by the feedback it gave me while doing a leg workout. Although it can be challenging to stay within the 6-foot parameters of the screen, the device can detect your movement and tell you if your form needs improvement or if it's on par. It can also read the weights you're using and recommend whether you should go heavier or lighter next time. It functions like a personal trainer and is helpful if you're new to strength training or want reinforcement on your form with certain exercises.
There are various live and on-demand classes you can choose from, including HIIT, bodyweight strength, bodyweight cardio, weightlifting, yoga, boxing, stretching and meditation. Additionally, you can customize your workout experience by creating a program based on how many days a week you want to work out and for how long, and you can split them up by body part and rest days. If you want to exercise without personalization, you can still filter the collection of workouts by activity, modifications needed (for example: lower-back friendly, pregnancy-safe), the coach and equipment.
Who it’s best for: The Tempo is best for someone who wants to strength train at home and wants a personal trainer feel to their workouts. If you have the room for it, it makes a great addition to an existing or new home gym. It comes with all the equipment you could need and stores away easily and neatly.
Compared to some other smart home gyms, the Tempo personalizes your experience and gives you a taste of group fitness classes so you never get bored. The Tempo Studio memberships start at $139 (including a $100 equipment fee) a month with a 12-month commitment. After 12 months, the equipment is yours to keep, and the monthly cost is $39 for the training subscription. It lets you create up to six profiles, so everyone in your home can use it. Tempo also has an app that you can download (available for iOS and Android) and use while you're traveling.
Who should avoid it: I would not recommend this smart home gym if you have limited space because it is 6 feet x 2 feet 2 inches x 1 foot 4 inches and weighs 100 pounds without the weights or accessories. Instead, if you really want to try the Tempo and have a small area to work with, I’d opt for the Tempo Move (the smaller version of the Studio). The Tempo Studio is an investment, so it’s not worth buying if strength training isn’t your preferred form of exercise.
What we like about it: The NordicTrack Commercial is our pick for the best smart treadmill. This treadmill is large but its size makes it versatile for tall and short individuals. It has a 22-inch HD touchscreen that tilts and pivots so you can adjust it for different uses, like if you want to take a workout class on the floor. The good news is that it does fold up, so you can prop up the belt when it's not in use. This treadmill has the ability to incline from zero to 15% and decline down to -3%. Runners and walkers can enjoy this treadmill because the speed goes from zero to 12 miles per hour. If you like interval training, the NordicTrack Commercial also has quick-touch control buttons on the console, which makes it easier to adjust your speed.
One of iFit's stand-out features is that you can create your own trail using Google Maps to exercise anywhere in the world. Also impressive is NordicTrack's AutoAdjust technology, which allows an iFit virtual instructor to adjust your incline and speed during class. You could be running or walking in the jungle, and you'll notice the treadmill adjust to replicate that terrain. The same applies when you run on your own and choose your own location on Google Maps. This hands-free option lets you focus on the class without having to fuss with any buttons. It's also a good way for runners who need to train for a race to get the outdoor feel indoors.
Who it’s best for: This treadmill is best for the serious runner who wants a real-life feel to their runs. The fact that NordicTrack uses AutoAdjust Technology is a good way to get a real feel during your run, even if you aren’t outside. The large 22-inch screen also gives you the ultimate experience during your workout.
Like all NordicTrack equipment, you will need an iFit membership that costs $39 a month for a family plan or $15 a month for an individual plan. You'll have access to live and on-demand classes (also available in the iFit app), so you can enjoy a variety of workouts on and off the treadmill. The treadmill uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so you can connect workout headphones, a smartwatch or a heart rate monitor.
Who should avoid it: This treadmill may not appeal to someone who is just trying to get a daily walk or jog in. You may find the bells and whistles on this treadmill to be a bit much if you aren’t as used to the latest forms of technology and aren’t planning on using it for serious mileage. Another downside is its size, 77.3 x 37 x 63.4 inches, which takes up a lot of space and may not work if you have limited room in your home.
What we like about it: Peloton created the first smart rowing machine that teaches you how to row and corrects your form. Using this machine made me more aware of my rowing form, which I appreciated. It's appropriate for people of all heights and has a weight capacity of 300 pounds.
The Peloton Row 24-inch HD touchscreen easily rotates for those times you want to work out on the floor while using your All-Access Peloton membership (an additional $44 a month). The Peloton Row provides a unique rowing experience that you won't get with other rowing machines. This rowing machine has sensors that detect the position of the handle and seat. The sensors help when calibrating your rowing form, which is important when taking a class because it ties into the Form Assist feature. Form Assist provides real-time feedback on your form using the sensors from the calibration process. During class, an image of a digital person on a rowing machine shows up on the screen and moves in sync with you.
If your form is off, Form Assist alerts you by highlighting a specific body part in red where the stroke needs correction. You'll be able to see your form rating score at the end of class, which tells you how well you rowed, as well as where you made errors and tips on how to correct them.
Who it’s best for: This rowing machine is ideal if you’re a beginner, have some experience with rowing but want to improve or are already a Peloton member. Although the price tag is steep ($3,295), the Peloton Row stands by its promise of making you a better rower. This machine is large, so you will need to make sure that you have room for it in your home. It’s also a quiet machine for being such a big rower, which is beneficial if you live in an apartment. During the workout, you’ll love how you can see the body parts you’re working and where you could use improvement with the data provided at the end of your workout. I improved my form after several sessions of working out on this rowing machine.
Who should avoid it: If you aren’t a committed Peloton fan or own other Peloton equipment, you may be deterred by the price. It’s steep for a rowing machine and if you’re just looking to use it for cardio here and there you’re better off with a less expensive version. Another deterrent would be if you have minimal space in your home, because this is a large rowing machine (8 x 2 feet) that can’t be folded up when not in use.
What we like about it: CNET named the Peloton Bike the best exercise bike for a reason. The sleek signature look of the Peloton Bike is appealing because it looks like a sophisticated piece of equipment in the middle of your living room. It offers plenty of live and on-demand classes with its All-Access membership and lets you create up to 20 user profiles.
The Peloton community is also what keeps its name relevant, as its members are supportive on and off the bike. Even if you're not in one of the live classes, you can still view your performance in real time alongside others who've taken the class. During a live class, you may get an encouraging high five from another member through the leaderboard, and offline, you can connect with your favorite instructors via social media.
Who it’s best for: The Peloton Bike is ideal for those who want a classic smart exercise bike that provides an immersive group fitness experience. The Peloton bike is best for someone who likes the feel of a group fitness class in the comfort of their home. The community aspect is a big driver for Peloton, so if you like connecting with other Peloton users, you’ll like this exercise bike.
Who should avoid it: If you want a more basic bike, the Peloton might be more than you bargained for. It requires an All-Access membership at an additional cost of $44 a month, which you may not want to spend if you aren’t looking to take classes. The Peloton requires clip-on shoes, which normally cost extra unless you upgrade to a more expensive package.
What we like about it: The Tonal 2 is the second version of Tonal, a strength training smart home gym that became popular in the fitness community, along with endorsements by athletes such as LeBron James and Serena Williams. It resembles a cable machine combined with a touchscreen TV and is intended to replace your dumbbells, barbells and weight plates while saving space in your home. It has 13 sensors to track your form and technique, while the smart handles and bar accessories (an optional, additional $495) have a gyroscope motion sensor that keeps track of your reps.
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The latest version of Tonal also includes a smart view, which allows you to view yourself as you do your workout and has an Aero feature, which allows you to use it for cardio or HIIT classes. Tonal 2 uses up to 250 pounds of total resistance and calibrates your weights for different exercises based on your initial fitness assessment. Before you start a workout, Tonal can also tell which muscle groups are fatigued on the day of your workout and make sure to work around them.
Tonal offers thousands of on-demand and live workouts for beginners to advanced athletes. It even has five dynamic weight modes that make your workout harder and function like a personal trainer. If you don't want to take a class, you can use the Tonal on its own and customize your own workout while still receiving the same feedback you would in class. You can also connect your Amazon Music or Apple Music account and listen to your own music during your workout.
Who it’s best for: Tonal 2 is best for the serious weightlifter or someone who is into strength training, but wants more guidance during their workouts. They’ll appreciate the 250 pounds of total resistance and especially being able to view themselves as they do their workout. It is a big investment at $4,295, so it’s best for the exerciser who plans on being committed to using it.
Who should avoid it: I would avoid buying the Tonal 2 if you know you aren’t going to be consistent with your strength training workouts. I also wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t have the space for it or the budget. The original Tonal was cheaper, and I didn’t find the upgrades to be worth the big price jump this time around. It also requires 7 feet of wall space and floor space. If the next iteration has more unique features and functions, then I might say the price point is worth it.
Mirror, Tonal, Tempo, Jaxjox…If you’ve heard of these brands, then you’ve heard of the newest workout trend: high-tech fitness. These high-tech systems help create a workout studio experience in the comfort of your home. From streaming live workouts right on your wall to digitally adjustable weights, these setups might be the closest replacement we have to IRL fitness classes.
The at-home tech equipment space has grown in popularity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic—many of the products are space saving, have adjustable weight settings, and offer varied workout content, Chris Howell, C.S.C.S., founder of SPX Gym Design, tells SELF. The ability to bring all of that right to your home can be attractive to those who want to avoid a crowded gym.
Some of these smart systems even include all the necessary equipment, which takes the guesswork out of having to shop around for the right tools for your workouts, Ava Fagin, C.S.C.S., a coach and class instructor at Bodyspace Fitness in New York City, tells SELF. And that’s huge, since at-home workout equipment like dumbbells and kettlebells have been difficult to find during various points of the pandemic (especially without markups in pricing).
When it comes to opting for one “smart” brand over another, it’s important to ask yourself which type of exerciser you are, Marcel Dinkins, C.S.C.S., personal trainer and group fitness instructor in New York City, tells SELF. For instance, do you desire community? Love boutique fitness? Like to be led and motivated? Are you looking for instant feedback (from an AI-powered coach)? You may also want to consider long-term issues, too, like whether you want to focus primarily on cardio or strength goals. Size of the setup, variety of workouts, and tracking and syncing capabilities are all important to consider as well. Once you know what’s important to you for your at-home workouts, then you can figure out which features to prioritize, Dinkins says.
Ideally, you’d be able to test the products in a showroom before before you buy, says Dinkins. But due to safety concerns, that might not be feasible right now. So some brands, like Tonal, will offer you a personalized virtual demo. “You get to see how it works firsthand, which is pretty cool,” says Dinkins. Others may offer a 30-day trial, after which you can return the product if you don’t love it—though they may charge you for return shipping, says Howell.
It’s also important to do your research. “Companies are racing to the market right now to be the Apple of the smart-fitness movement,” says Dinkins. “However, [some] companies are sacrificing on quality software and even production value of their streamed workouts in order to do so.” To figure out which products hold up to their claims, Dinkins suggests reading lots of reviews and noting both the ratio of positive to negative feedback and if buyers are all complaining about the same things. “No matter how affordable something may seem up front, if it doesn’t work as it should, it's overpriced. Good products take time and will have tons of great reviews and word of mouth testimonials.”
The bottom line is that if you’re going to splurge on a high-tech fitness setup—which tends to be significantly more expensive than traditional fitness gear, like dumbbells and resistance bands—then you want to make sure it’s safe, good quality, and the right solution for your goals, says Howell.
For SELF's product reviews, where we rigorously test and evaluate all kinds of wellness products to help you decide what's worth buying, we wanted to know exactly what to look for when shopping around for a high-tech at-home fitness system. We spoke with Howell, Fagin, and Dinkins to find out what the experts suggest. Based on their input, here’s what we pay attention to when testing these smart fitness systems for reviews.
Make sure that the trainers and coaches on the streaming platform are certified and qualified, says Fagin. “Since you'll be learning from them, you want to make sure that you can trust them!” Look for a certification from an accredited organization (you can search here). Also, it’s not always necessary, but definitely a plus, if an instructor has an additional certification in the discipline they’re teaching—for example, a kettlebell certificate if they’re teaching kettlebell workouts.
High-quality display and instructionYou want to make sure any device with a screen has one that’s clear, high-quality, and large enough for you to really see what the instructor is doing and follow along throughout the workout. Some smart fitness systems have full-length screens, while others have screens about the size of a large tablet or small TV.
“The visual component is huge here, especially for the yoga, strength, and HIIT workouts,” says Fagin. “Having a clear view of an instructor with good form that you can follow is encouraged to prevent possibility of injury due to incorrect form or movement patterns.” Some of these products will use AI technology to evaluate and correct your form, so if that’s something you need help with, that might be a good feature to have.
Progressive programmingIf you’re using one of these high-tech systems as a personal trainer of sorts, you want to make sure the technology is designed for improving your fitness and includes programming that lets you progress and reach new goals, says Howell. “Ask about programming and the workouts,” he says. Who controls the workouts? Will they give you four- to six-week plans? Or are they just offering a bunch of one-off workouts? If you’re using these machines to replace in-person instruction, you want to make sure you’re still getting the program you want.
Cardio vs. strength optionsThe types of workout you prefer can help you judge if a high-tech fitness system is right for you. More options are always better, but when testing a product we think about what type of exerciser it would be ideal for. Matching what a system or machine is known for doing well with the activity you want to use it for the most is a good way to ensure you’re buying something that’ll be worth it for you.
Equipment requirementsThough not absolutely necessary, it’s nice to get all the equipment (weights, bands, etc.) you need with the price of the device. Also, pay attention to whether the system has the ability to increase the weight of the equipment or if you’d need to buy additional equipment as you progress and get stronger.
Regular software updates“Look for machines and brands that offer software updates over constant hardware updates,” says Dinkins. You don’t want to get stuck shelling out extra money to upgrade the actual equipment in your home after you’ve already made an investment—it’s much easier and more cost-effective when brands roll out software updates that you can simply download with the click of a button. This includes additions to streaming libraries so that you don’t get tired of doing the same workouts over and over again.
We evaluate exercise machines by using them consistently over a set period of time, ideally at least three weeks.
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