The internet of things has had a massive impact on our lives and many of the appliances that we use on a day-to-day basis. If you don’t know, the internet of things refers to the practice of incorporating online features and elements to everyday appliances.
If you have an Alexa and have ever used it to control another item like a grill or robot hoover, then you have already experienced this phenomenon first hand.
These days you can find all sorts of products that come with app support, or the ability to connect to the internet, so you can access lots of useful features. You can set the date and time on a fridge, or personalize digital picture frames, or even get workout tips from your home gym.
Yes, if you enjoy working out at home, there is a whole range of smart gym equipment that can help you to optimize your workout and maximize your gains.
From rowing machines to exercise bikes, you are sure to find a piece of smart home gym equipment that is suitable for your workout. All of them have inbuilt features that will allow you to customize your exercise experience and keep track of your progress.
So if you want to modernize your workout, then read on and discover some of the best smart home gym equipment that you can buy online.
Tempo Studio Starter Package
Tempo is an awesome home gym kit that is great for basic weightlifting and building muscle. The whole arrangement consists of a screen that is mounted to a stand holding metal bars and weights for attaching to the end of them.
The weights can be fitted onto a two-handed or one-handed bar, allowing you to carry out a variety of different exercises and tone all the different muscles in your body.
The screen has inbuilt motion sensors that allow it to track your exercises and see what you are doing right, as well as what you could improve.
If you are working on your squats, for instance, Tempo will offer feedback on the position of your feet as well as the depth of your squat, so you can get the most from every exercise you do.
The whole studio is 2 feet and 2 inches wide by 1 foot and 4 inches deep. As such, it doesn’t take up much space, and you can install it in most of the rooms in your house provided they offer enough space for you to work out in.
Tempo is a great tool that will act as a personal trainer as well as a piece of home gym equipment.
Pros
- Comes with free weights and bars for holding them in one or both hands.
- Can monitor your movements and offer feedback to correct your form or technique.
- This interactive weight machine will make working out on your own more productive and more fun.
Cons
- Requires a fair bit of space for the motion sensor to work.
Peloton Bike
Exercise bikes are a great tool for improving your cardio and working out your legs at the same time. Even if you are familiar with exercise bikes and what they do, it is likely you have never tried one quite like this model made by Peloton.
The Peloton exercise bike has a large screen mounted on the top, so you can see how far you have cycled and watch live cycling lessons streamed online.
The 21.5 in display has great resolution and makes it easy to keep track of how many calories you’ve burned, and how many miles you have cycled. On the back of the bike, there is a small rack for holding the miniature weights that come with this bike if you buy the starter package.
You can also pay for other bundles that come with lots of useful accessories such as cycling shoes, water bottles and a mat for placing your bike on.
Every day, you can take part in on-demand lessons streamed live from Peloton studio in New York. These classes will offer great tips and tricks for getting better at cycling, helping you to make the most of every workout.
They will also help you to improve your motivation when training alone, by making you part of the global Peloton community.
Pros
- Bundle options available with lots of cool accessories.
- High quality exercise bike.
21.5 in display that can be used to attend live-streamed cycling lessons.
Cons
- Not many other features aside from the live lessons.
FightCamp
If you’re into boxing, then why not try out FightCamp, a smart punching bag that can track your punches and provide feedback on your form and technique.
When you purchase this product, you will receive a freestanding punch bag that has a compact footprint, so you won’t need to worry about it taking up too much space. As well as the bag itself, you will also receive a pair of boxing gloves, wrist wraps and punching trackers.
You secure the punch trackers to your wrists with the included wraps and then start working out as you normally would.
The app that comes with this product will take the information from the trackers to show you the frequency, force and speed of your punches. This app does cost a monthly subscription, but it is worth it for all the features you get.
As well as being able to see your stats from the trackers, the app will allow you to take part in online boxing classes with professional coaches. To make the most of this setup, you will probably want to have a TV behind the punching bag, so you can watch your online classes, or stats while you train.
FightCamp is a great product for anyone who wants to learn boxing, but doesn’t have access to a proper coach or sparring partners.
Pros
- Comes with a freestanding punching bag.
- Get feedback on the speed, frequency, and force of your punches.
- The app allows you to take part in online lessons taught by professional boxing coaches.
Cons
- The app costs a hefty monthly subscription fee.
NordicTrack Vault
If you like working out in front of your mirror, then the NordicTrack Vault is the smart gym for you. It not only shows your reflection, but also various stats about your workout, so you can see how you are doing.
You can also access an iFit trainer who will appear in the mirror and do specific exercises, so you can mimic their movements and learn how to improve your form.
Unlike other smart mirrors, the vault comes with a slim cabinet behind the main screen. Inside this cabinet you will find a large array of workout gear including dumbbells, a yoga mat and kettle belts
With this gear, you can complete a large array of workouts, including your own personalized exercise routine and online classes streamed straight to your mirror.
The best part about this product is that it allows you to see clearly how you are doing compared to your trainer. This is very helpful for checking that you have proper form and technique, so you can make the most out of every exercise.
The whole unit has a compact footprint, so it shouldn’t take up too much space in your room or home gym.
Pros
- Smart mirror that shows you stats about your workout or virtual trainers.
- The cabinet behind the mirror contains weights and lots of other useful exercise equipment.
- The mirror can be rotated to face any direction you want, so it will still work in most tight spaces.
Cons
- The app requires an expensive monthly subscription.
Peloton Tread
Much like the Peloton exercise bike we looked at earlier, this treadmill comes with an LCD screen that allows you to access a wide array of smart features. Just like the Peloton bike, this product is available in up to four different bundles offering the treadmill as a standalone item, or with cool accessories such as a water bottle, weights and a workout mat.
This makes it a versatile workout setup that will help you to improve your running skills while working out the other muscles in your body as well.
This treadmill doesn’t have a front shroud, which is the piece of plastic at the front of the running belt where the motor is usually housed. The advantage of this is that you can run with confidence, without worrying about accidentally running into the shroud.
It also means that this treadmill takes up less space, making it easier to fit into small apartments or compact home gyms.
The app that integrates with this Treadmill will give you unlimited access to a large library of workout videos and routines. New workouts are recorded and live-streamed to your TV every week, meaning you can always find a video for getting more tips on how to improve your exercise routine.
The only thing this treadmill is missing is the ability to automatically program adjustments in speed or incline, but that is a small loss when compared to all the other features you will receive.
Pros
- Shroud-less treadmill with a compact footprint.
- The app gives you access to a large selection of workout routines and instructional videos.
- Check your heart rate, calories burned, speed and distance covered with the large LCD screen.
Cons
- No controls for automatically adjusting speed or incline.
Tonal
If you don’t have a lot of space but want to work on your weight training, then Tonal could be just the thing for you. This machine uses electromagnetic resistance to simulate weights that you can lift with the two pulleys attached to the main screen.
The pulleys are attached to two telescopic arms that can be moved around, so you can practice different lifts and exercises all using the same device.
These arms are attached to a large display where you can access training drills and workouts taught by professional coaches.
Tonal is perfect for anyone who doesn’t have a lot of space in their home gym, since the whole unit is remarkably thin and won’t take up much room at all.
Provided you placed the screen near a wall, and you have enough space to stand a few feet in front of it, you probably have enough space to make Tonal work for you.
There are lots of different configurations that you can arrange the pulleys into for completing a wide array of different exercises. With different attachments for the arms, Tonal offers something for everybody, regardless of their individual skill or fitness level.
As such, this is one of the most versatile pieces of smart gym equipment on this list and will be great for body builders, athletes and anyone just looking to improve their overall fitness.
Pros
- Versatile piece of gym equipment that can be used to complete almost any kind of exercise.
- Lots of instruction videos and training drills to choose from.
- Exceptionally compact design.
Cons
- The chords on the pulleys may rub against your skin while you work out.
NordicTrack X22i Treadmill
Most treadmills will have an incline function for simulating running up hills or gentle slopes. However, there aren’t many that can simulate running up a steep mountain, and that’s exactly what this NordicTrack model is capable of.
The X22i can provide up to 40% incline and 5% decline, making it a great option for anyone who wants to train running up or down hills in the comfort of their home.
This product works similarly to the Peloton Tread, but it does come with the ability to automatically adjust speed and incline during your run. To use this treadmill, you will require an iFit membership and a Bluetooth heart rate monitor, but in return you will receive a running tool like no other.
Your iFit trainer will take you on scenic runs along famous locals from California to Costa Rica, while the treadmill makes automatic adjustments to simulate the terrain you see on the screen.
There are other workout routines that you can take part in with the set of complementary weights that come with the machine. To make it easier to follow these workouts, you can rotate the screen to face you even when you aren’t standing on the belt.
There is no doubt about it, if you want a smart treadmill that will help you train for running up a mountain, the X22i is exactly what you need.
Pros
- Use the screen to follow your virtual trainer on scenic runs all around the world.
- Offers up to 40% incline and 5% decline.
- Come with a small weight set for toning your arms.
Cons
- Expensive and takes up a lot of space.
Echelon Reflect
This is another smart mirror that can offer you workout tips and advice while you are exercising. Unlike the NordicTrack Vault, it doesn’t come with a weight set or any exercise equipment, so you will have to buy your own for completing some exercises. With this sleek full body mirror, you can access a large range of exercises and training drills taught by a virtual instructor.
The mirror will display the correct form and technique for the exercise you are doing, so you can see if you are mimicking it correctly in the mirror. As well as the workouts, you can also access an interactive leaderboard where you can see how your performance compares to friends and family or other members of the Echelon community.
This feature offers great motivation when training on your own, as you will be able to see where you excel and where you need a little more training.
You can mount your Echelon to a wall, or use the free stand that comes with it to place it wherever you want. Just make sure that you don’t put it anywhere too bright, as this may cause excess screen glare that will make it hard to see what the virtual trainer is doing.
If you are looking for a piece of smart gym equipment that won’t take up much space in your home, then the echelon is definitely worth considering.
Pros
- Sleek design that can fit anywhere in your home.
- Offers interactive workouts with a virtual trainer.
- Provides feedback to help you achieve proper form and technique.
- An interactive leaderboard shows you how well your friends and family did at the same exercise.
Cons
- May experience screen glare when used in bright rooms.
- You will need to buy your own weights for some exercises.
Hydrow
Rowing machines are a great way to exercise all the major muscle groups in your body. With this awesome smart rowing machine, you can make that process even more enjoyable thanks to the 22in full HD display.
From this screen, you can take part in virtual workouts and even join in for live-streamed classes that will teach you how to row properly.
The dynamic motor on this machine folds away to make it easier to store in your home. With a 10 roller seat, this machine has a very smooth action that will make you feel as though you are actually traveling over water.
Don’t expect it to be easy though, as the dynamic motor can put up a fair bit of resistance for a full body workout like none you have experienced before.
When you buy the Hydrow you will receive a mat for putting the machine on, so it won’t scuff the floors in your home.
The screen will display a virtual river, so you can admire some pleasant scenery while you work out. It also allows you to keep track of your stats to see how well you are doing and how far you have rowed.
Pros
- You can fold the motor away for storing your machine.
- Take part in virtual lessons and interactive workouts.
- 10 roller seats offer exceptionally smooth operation.
Cons
- You can’t play your own music while you row.
Buyers Guide
Smart gym equipment is great for anybody trying to improve their physical fitness on their own. It offers athletes and exercise enthusiasts some much-needed feedback so that they can improve their technique and get more benefits from their workouts.
Here are some important things to consider when shopping for Smart equipment for your home gym.
What Kind Of Exercise Do You Do?
If you enjoy a bit of casual cardio in the mornings, then you will probably want a very different machine to somebody training to be a professional bodybuilder. Different machines will excel at different types of exercise, and may struggle with others, so it is important to choose the right one for your workout.
If you like weight training, then you should look into a device that comes with weights, such as Tonal or NordicTrack Vault. On the other hand, if you just want to do some basic aerobic exercises, then a smart mirror could be a better choice.
You might want to buy a specialized piece of equipment for carrying out one specific type of exercise. Smart treadmills are a great tool for runners, and exercise bikes can do a lot to make you better at cycling.
You want to think about what type of workout you usually do and buy a machine that will help you complete it more efficiently without getting in the way.
App Membership
Most smart gym equipment will require a subscription to an app, so you can access all the features it has to offer. These apps will often charge a monthly fee, so you will need to consider how much you are willing to pay to keep your smart gym equipment running.
Ideally, you will want to get the most bang for your buck from the app that your machine uses. As such, you will want to look into what features it offers and see if they are worthwhile for you.
One of the most useful things these apps can offer are live training sessions and lessons taught by professional coaches in their fields.
These are a great way to get helpful tips on how to improve your form while exercising. They can also make training on your own a lot more fun since you will feel like you are part of a group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Form Of Exercise?
If you aren’t looking to train for a specific event or sport, then one of the best exercises for staying physically fit is swimming. Obviously, to do this you need a pool, so it won’t be possible for everybody.
Walking is another great form of exercise and can be done on a treadmill or just around your neighborhood.
Rowing is another excellent exercise that, like swimming, works out all the muscle groups in your body for a comprehensive workout.
