The best smart home gyms Popular Science

NordicTrack has been the standard-bearer for treadmills for decades, and that’s still the case. The T Series offers pretty much everything you could want from a connected treadmill, and it does so at a surprisingly affordable price. how to create healthy exercise habits If you’re still on the fence about going all-in on a smart gym system, here are some high level pros and cons of owning one.

Can smart fitness replace a regular gym?

Workouts are guided by a large hanging screen that ranges in size from 21.5 to 32 inches, depending on the model you choose. The machine uses a digital weight system with a max weight of 220 pounds (adjustable by one-pound increments). The Gym Monster 2 provides real-time feedback and imbalance correction, along with a post-training summary to help you track your data over time. There’s no shortage of smart weightlifting options on the market, but Tempo Studio stands out because it provides real-time form adjustments. While most connected strength trainers are essentially videos you follow, Tempo boasts an AI-driven element that analyzes your form and provides adjustment recommendations. Powered by dual high-performance engines, this gym can deliver up to 220 lbs of resistance and supports an impressive over 700 exercises.

Full Gym Power. Zero Limits.

Tonal is the optimal home workout experience for strength training, hands down. To bring you the best smart home gyms of 2024, Women’s Health editors and fitness experts tested and reviewed multiple systems, focusing on ease of use, workout variety, personalization features, and overall value. Our ongoing process for selecting the best machines involves a deep dive into performance, construction quality, comfort, smart capabilities, accessibility features, versatility, and overall experience. Each product listed below has been thoroughly evaluated to ensure it meets the needs of our readers. A smart home gym can come in many forms, but most smart home gyms at least include a large touchscreen with virtual coaching. Outside of that, these gyms could come with free weights, resistance equipment, cardio training, and/or other workout accessories.

At-Home Bike

Below are two smart models from Bowflex and NordicTrack, and for more info, read our buying guide on how to choose an elliptical. The 2026 MH Fitness Award-winner gets praise from our editors for its smooth ride and technique assessment functions that tweak your form while you work. This machine allows you to chase top finishers in the Hydrow community, creating a sense of competition to push yourself even harder. If you already have some NordicTrack in your home gym, stick with NordicTrack or ProForm — both brands are designed for iFit compatibility. If your equipment is gonna be in a shared space, then the ability to use Bluetooth earbuds is a definite must too.

Price

• Our coaches are here to help you focus on your goals, stay motivated, and push through even the toughest workouts.
• Upgrading to a paid membership gives you access to our extensive collection of plug-and-play Templates designed to power your performance—as well as CFI’s full course catalog and accredited Certification Programs.
• Investing in an interactive exercise bike not only elevates your fitness game but also creates a safe environment to stay active at home.
• The machine’s digital weight system is something you won’t find in other smart home gyms.
• Coop adds, “It is a little bit deeper than some racks that are out there, but for what it actually does, I think it’s actually a decent size.” He rates the footprint at 4 out of 5.
• Overall, it’s a great fit for those seeking a versatile all-in-one home workout station, as long as you’re prepared to keep most components set up and ready to go.

When we talk about smart home gym equipment, we’re referring to anything that uses artificial intelligence to provide workouts. This type of equipment usually records and stores your workout data and offers more opportunities for personalization. Imagine having a personal trainer at your fingertips, right in your living room.

Smart = with a subscription to an app

But the downside is that you need to dish out nearly $50 a month to enjoy all the features we mentioned. Peloton will deliver your bike for free or for $150 if you want a pro to set up your machine. With new classes added on a near-daily basis, this machine keeps offering new ways to challenge yourself. While you can technically use the Arc Rower as-is, you really need the $44 monthly subscription to get the most of these offerings.

Wall-mounted

Additionally, be mindful of other costs that might arise, such as maintenance or necessary accessories. It’s wise to assess whether bundled packages offer better value compared to purchasing individual components. Despite its advantages, users have noted mixed experiences with the leg/curl system, impacting overall functionality perceptions.

Lululemon Studio Mirror

It even comes in a cabinet that has built-in pegs and mounts for weight plates and bars. For example, workout mirrors offer upper-body workouts, full-body workouts, weight lifting classes and both live and on-demand workouts, ranging from Pilates to HIIT. Cardio machines might focus mainly on their area (like treadmills are for running), but many offer interactive programming so you can set up a workout mat next to it and follow along with other types of workout classes. Decide what your fitness goals are and what kind of equipment you need to achieve them, and then use that to narrow down your options. If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that you can get an intense workout right in your own home. Today’s home gyms are evolving from simple collections of weights into compact, connected fitness ecosystems.

One System. Four Training Pillars

The X3 Bar is a compact home gym solution that costs about one-fourth of a Speediance. For a simple rack with a smaller footprint, go with the PRx Profile PRO Squat Rack. This foldable model only sticks 4 inches off the wall when not in use, and is sturdy enough to hold up to 1,000 pounds. While there are customer reviews available, they appear to be selected, so we didn’t include them in the scoring this time. But even with the high price, the Tonal 2 scored pretty well in our testing.

Best connected rower: Hydrow Wave Rowing Machine

With Power Rod resistance that varies from 5 to 210 pounds—also expandable to an impressive 310 pounds—it effectively targets all major muscle groups, ensuring a full-body workout. Smart home gyms are a great option for beginners who want the option of exercising at home without totally missing out on the guidance and form corrections acquired in in-person fitness settings, says Carnation. For beginners, it’s especially important to shop for a smart home gyms that offer form corrections and personalized workout plans that start at a beginner level. These often high-tech systems are designed to bring the best parts of a gym—personalized guidance, a variety of workouts, and community support—right to your living room.