Thursday, December 3, 2020

Bring the studio experience home with the best connected fitness equipment

State of the art connected fitness equipment has taken the world by storm this year. Although it's nothing new, connected fitness is becoming more accessible and popular than ever as the top name health and fitness companies battle it out to win the coveted title of the best of the best. We love The MYX Plus fitness system because it's the most affordable, all-encompassing total body workout system we've found in the connected fitness world. 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 is the most accessible and affordable connected fitness program on the market. On top of a high-quality, stationary Star Trac bike outfitted with a swiveling 22-inch touchscreen; purchasing the MYX Plus will come with your own set of free weights and a kettlebell (in increments of your choice), as well as 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 the MYX assessment of your cardiovascular fitness level. Paired with the MYX membership ($29/month), you get access to hundreds of workouts bringing an immersive, one-on-one training experience straight to your home. MYX was designed to make fitness accessible to everyone, regardless of their fitness level.

You can choose from a plethora of different fitness classes such as cycling, meditation, yoga, and cross-training. When you purchase an MYX membership, you can stream MYX workouts anytime, anywhere from your tablet or smartphone for exercise on-the-go. You can also schedule your workouts through the mobile app. This feature holds you accountable for your activity and makes it easier to remember to squeeze in a workout. MYX keeps track of all your workouts including exercise frequency and performance.

Watch your heart health improve over time and feel motivated as you 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. This is truly an affordable, all-encompassing total body system, which is why it's our pick for best overall.

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, it's adding to this library frequently. 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. The MYX membership is an additional cost of $29 per month.

Pros:

  • Affordable, accessible total body system (extras included)
  • Swivel HD touchscreen
  • Heart-based training
  • Schedule workouts
  • Performance metrics

Cons:

  • Smaller video library than some competitors
  • No leaderboard/community
  • 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 NordicTrack's 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, interactive, connected fitness experience for the user, especially when the iFit trainers take users running at destinations across the globe. You'll track your stats with real-time performance metric tracking to keep you motivated and engaged as you run, and you can now connect your Bluetooth headphones to the X32i so you can listen to your iFit trainer and workout music without any distractions.

Purchasing 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. That means 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 itself 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 pricey, but if you're a runner and are looking for the ultimate in luxury running experiences, this is it. The X32i is heavy, the box product weight weighs in at 462-pounds and it has a large footprint. Plan on making some substantial space for this bad boy 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

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, and 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 has a roster of rockstar trainers to choose from so you can choose a trainer that inspires your inner fighter.

FightCamp's Punch Trackers show you real-time progress and stats on any iOS device. 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 and technique, and work on building foundational punch combinations. From there, you'll work your way up to FightClub's Contender Path designed to challenge the 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 very heavy, 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 full depending on which you use. It's also modality specific to boxing and kickboxing only.

Pros:

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

Cons:

  • Large footprint
  • Heavy
  • Modality specific

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

CLMBR offers the latest user interface technology and a state-of-the-art companion app: CLMBR Connected ($40/month) that provides on-demand climbing classes and displays key metrics to maximize the user's experience, including climbed vertical feet and the workout targets they have reached. The integrated audio on CLMBR Connected can fill any space, making it feel just like an in-studio climbing class. Unlike traditional climbing machines, CLMBR reaches for new heights and is ideal for any modern user. With zero impact, the machine is safe for most ages and levels of ability.

On the downside, CLMBR is available for pre-sale only at this time and will ship out early 2021. It's pricey but delivers an incredible workout and a unique in-home experience. An additional monthly membership is required and will cost you $40 a month.

Pros:

  • Ergonomic
  • On-demand classes
  • Performance metrics

Cons:

  • Pre-order only, ships early 2021
  • 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.

Best Connected Bike: Peloton

Peloton was a pioneer in the connected fitness world and has firmly maintained its position as one of the best connected fitness experiences around for a reason. The bike itself is a commercial grade, high-tech cycle equipped with a 22-inch touchscreen, four-way adjustments, and a magnetic flywheel with 32 levels of resistance. The magnetic resistance system delivers an incredibly 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 and 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. The Peloton membership which must be purchased separately for $39 a month gives you access to thousands of live and on-demand classes taught by world-class fitness instructors.

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. The Peloton app enables you to ride with other Peloton members and you can do fun interactive things like send high fives and filter who you ride with by followers, age, and gender. You can also save your favorite tunes and create your own playlists within the app.

On the downside, Peloton is pricey and there are no extras included in your bike price. All add ons like spin shoes, weights, and water bottles must be purchased separately.

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

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 people 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 a variety of playlists featuring popular music across many genres to create the perfect vibe for your workout. Sync a Bluetooth heart rate monitor or Apple Watch to track your heart rate in real-time.

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 a variety of different 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 a 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

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're finding 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 swivel screen and the 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 in-home training needs are, we've found the perfect piece of equipment for you on our list of the 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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