Home tech: Building the workout of the future
Connected workout devices are “the next must-have gadgets,” said Natt Garun in TheVerge.com. You’ve seen the Peloton stationary bike. Now a variety of imitation devices are “offering at-home workout solutions where users stare at screens for guided instructions instead of an in-person fitness trainer.” There is Hydrow for rowing, FightCamp for boxing, Mirror for cardio exercises, and Tonal for weight training. Even NordicTrack “has had to rework its collection to offer on-demand classes across bikes, ellipticals, and treadmills.” Virtual classes are the “natural evolution” of the old group-workoutat-home VHS tapes, while offering livestreamed options and more interactive elements. Many of the new fitness devices carry a hefty price tag and come with high monthly subscription fees. But their makers think customers will pay a premium for classes they can take on their own schedule, much like streaming TV. They’re betting that “the future of fitness is together, but alone.”
Even gyms are launching their own at-home programs, said Hilary Potkewitz in The Wall Street Journal. “Equinox, the owner of SoulCycle, announced it will debut a streaming service in the fall” in response to members’ desires “to choose where, how, and when they work out.” Spin studio Flywheel is also “ramping up virtual offerings after launching its own connected stationary bike, Fly Anywhere,” while Gold’s Gym and Crunch are each expanding their virtual programming. Peloton, which recently filed to go public, has more than 500,000 subscribers and engenders a community spirit. “Unlike past home fitness fads that forced people to generate their own motivation, these new technologies provide virtual competitions, online communities, and electronic alerts that nudge you to exercise.”
I tested four of the latest smart-home gym offerings—ClassPass Live, the Mirror, the Peloton bike, and the Peloton treadmill, said Megan Wollerton in CNET.com. Each has pluses and minuses. ClassPass Live, a subscription that comes with a heart-rate monitor and a Chromecast to stream classes to your television, was “by far the most affordable,” costing $79 plus a $19 monthly fee. And there are a lot of classes and levels to choose, from strength training to yoga. However, “the heart-rate monitor never connected successfully.” Mirror looked cool, but “it isn’t full-length enough for you to see yourself during floor exercises.” If you’re not doing a standing exercise, it turns out to be “somewhat useless.” Not surprisingly, “both Peloton products are well-designed and keep you motivated by displaying real-time competitive rankings.” They are also both expensive: $2,245 plus a $39 monthly fee for the bike, and a full $3,995, plus the same fee, for the treadmill. At those prices, you’ll really want to ask yourself before buying whether you’ll use these products a lot.