7 of the best smart fitness products (UK – 2022)
One of the many ways in which the pandemic changed the way we live, is that more and more of us are now working out from home. 81% of millennials report that they prefer working out at home and as a result there has been an explosion in the number of home fitness products now on the market. This explosion, coupled with the increasing demand from users to understand, analyse and gamify their workout data, means that the number of Smart Fitness / Connected Fitness products on the market has grown. Connected fitness equipment now makes up 7.5% of the fitness equipment category (Up from only 2.9% in 2015). Peloton obviously leads the way, but interest in Peloton has started to wane, especially as many look to tighten their expenditure in 2022. There are, however, many Peloton alternatives and the options for interactive fitness products stretch way beyond just cycling. So if cycling at home is not for you, or if you are looking for a Peloton alternative, then look no further as we break down our Top 7 best smart fitness products available in the UK right now…
7 best smart fitness products #1 – Echelon Reflect
Recently voted on Mashable as the best value Fitness Mirror on the market, the Echelon Reflect smart mirror is a 50″ touchscreen mirror that can be used as gym equipment during the day and as a beautiful wall mirror at night. This is a fantastic method to work out anytime you want without having to worry about gym scheduling or classes. The Reflect mirror may be hung over any wall outlet and placed anywhere in your house or garage.
Like Peloton, Echelon currently has a number of interactive classes that continues to grow in variety over time. Classes range in length from 10 to 30 minutes and are available both live and on demand. The variety of workouts are considerable. There are yoga, pilates, strength training, boxing, cardio, Barre, and toning courses offered. In addition to the initial purchase price, the Reflect mirror requires a monthly membership to Echelon Premier, although if you buy on Amazon UK, you get the first 45 days for free. The comfort and safety of working out at home; it doesn’t take up as much space as other pieces of fitness equipment; and you gain access to a growing database of programmes and content are all advantages of the Reflect mirror.
A great feature of the Echelon Reflect is the inbuilt heart rate monitoring that syncs with your Bluetooth chest strap. Your heart rate is displayed on the screen, providing you with real-time stats. You can match your heart rate to the framework of the class or set a goal for yourself to stay within or work outside of a specified range. Users of various fitness levels can find the perfect amount of exertion in heart rate classes. If your heart rate rises quickly with only modest motions, you can better control your exertion levels and avoid being exhausted. If you’re in good shape and want a little more of a workout, your reflected heart rate will tell you how much more intensity to apply to each activity. Because you know precisely how hard your body is working, heart rate conditioning is highly advantageous when exercising, especially at home.
The Echelon Reflect mirror is a terrific smart fitness product and Peloton alternative if you’re searching for a stylish, non-obtrusive piece of workout equipment that offers both Live and On Demand lessons.
7 best smart fitness products #2 – Nexersys
Described as a “Peloton for Boxing and MMA”, Nexersys is an at-home Boxing trainer that delivers an interactive boxing experience through personalized High intensity interval training with 3D mitts and sparring partners.
On the screen, you follow a training course and strike the various pads as directed. The pads have sensors that collect feedback and can be used to track your development. Boxing is an outstanding form of exercise and you’ll discover this when your heart rate rises, sweat begins to pour, and you feel the burn!
The Nexersys app is at the heart of the N3 workout programme. The App Store and Google Play store both have free versions of the app. It’s jam-packed with features and is built to work in tandem with Nexersys training equipment. All of the workouts and training programmes designed for use on the N3 may be found in the app. Although using the machine without this programme is not impossible, it does make a significant difference. You can share your progress on Social Media with the N3 App providing a cool gamification element.
At their core, the majority of workout plans are High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) programmes. Extended periods of hard cardio will be interspersed with brief periods of moderate activity. These workouts, however, differ from typical HIIT workouts in that they emphasise on boxing technique and form. With practise, you’ll notice that your striking position, form, and power improve.
You can utilise the Nexersys N3 app to design your own personalised workout regimen after you’ve done a few practise rounds with it. More advanced training choices are available, some of which focus on cardio routines and others on boxing form. The N3 can identify and measure more than 50 different strikes and combos using sensors.
7 best smart fitness products #3 – BlazePod
BlazePod is a light-based reflex training system. The smart fitness platform comes with a number of predefined activities along with the option to create custom workouts. They essentially sell kits that contain 6 “pods”. Each pod has sensors, embedded lighting, and app connectivity. It offers a highly interactive fitness experience, and given the portable nature of the pods, a far less intrusive Peloton alternative that does not take over your house if you are limited for space!
With no buttons or mechanical elements, BlazePod’s visual cue lighting Pods are highly intuitive. They are simple to pair with the BlazePod app and run on Bluetooth low energy. BlazePod’s long-range auto-connection spans up to 40 metres, allowing for a wide range of activities to be connected. The Pods are incredibly durable, able to sustain strong strikes during an MMA workout while simultaneously being sensitive enough to receive a mild tap. They’re water-resistant (IP65) and UV-protected. BlazePod may be used to train in any location and under any conditions.
With Flash Reflex Training, Blazepod enhances both the body and the mind. The Pods, along with compelling visual cues and professionally planned activities for both physical and cognitive training, ensure that you get the most out of each session. The BlazePod app and the Pods work together to provide a challenging and dynamic training experience that will push you to new heights.
Flash Reflex Training is ideal for sport-specific training across a variety of disciplines. BlazePod’s Pods and activities are meant to challenge you, track your progress, and improve your performance in everything from football to basketball, racquet sports, martial arts, fitness, and physiotherapy.
7 best smart fitness products #4 – Hydrow
Described as a “Peloton for Rowing”, Hydrow is a rowing machine with a touchscreen monitor for visualising the rowing activities (to ‘bring the river home.’) and also with interactive capabilities (live in-workout leaderboard and weekly racing challenges).
The Hydrow mixes cutting-edge design with bleeding-edge technology. The ultra-smooth feel of being on the water is created by its electromagnetic, computer-controlled drag system. Hydrow stands out from the crowd thanks to its proprietary, one-of-a-kind components, which elevate it to the pinnacle of in-home training.
With 3,000+ live and on-demand workouts featuring some of the most famous rowing stretches of water around the world (including London, Scotland, Miami and Boston – and you can even hear the swish of your virtual oars as they break the surface). The rower has a monthly subscription, but with unlimited profiles for everyone in your family so that each of you can work out with Hydrow on both the rower and the app.
Rowing is one of the best activities for all-round physical fitness and aesthetics. If you want to get in shape, reduce weight, and keep it off, this is the equipment for you. The Hydrow Rower is a fantastic machine with excellent online assistance.
Go here for £200 off your first order at Hydrow.
7 best smart fitness products #5 – Nordictrack iFit
The Nordictrack iFit is a straight up cycling Peloton alternative.
It is genuinely one of the best home workout bikes we’ve tried. Its pricing may appear high, but with Bluetooth connectivity, a dedicated 22” High Def Touchscreen, adjustable slope, 24 resistance levels, and two dumbbells, it’s impossible to find a flaw. The build quality is also great, and the screen’s ability to rotate makes it suitable for off-bike training as well. This is a fantastic package.
When you buy the iFit on Amazon, you get a 30-Day iFIT Membership Included for free, which allows you to stream beautiful Global Workouts filmed on location around the world or electrifying Studio Classes with full access to the iFIT Library. iFIT Trainers will automatically adjust your resistance, inclination, and descent to give you the best workout experience. iFit is also integrated with Google Maps, allowing you to cycle through the landscape of your choice and create your own custom routes.
Because the bike is totally adaptable to your needs, you may build a workout that is personalised to you, whether you want to push yourself through a hill climb or utilise the weights for upper body strength.
7 best smart fitness products #6 – Technogym bench
Not strictly a “smart fitness” product (although it does have a companion app to help with workout ideas), nonetheless, the Technchogym Bench is an outstanding and innovative fitness product. An elegant and highly functional all-in-one resistance training kit.
The Technogym Bench is a compact gym bench with free weights to execute a variety of total body exercises. In a gym bench with a small footprint, you can use hexagonal dumbbells, resistance bands, weighted knuckles, and a training mat. Iurthermore, it is constructed with a robust metal frame, which means it can support both your body and the weights you’re lifting. Once your workout is over, you can use the wheels up to give it a lift or move the bench.
The Technogym Bench, as a sophisticated all-in-one functional training solution, offers nearly endless training opportunities in one station. Users and athletes have access to a large collection of video workouts in addition to the fitness solution’s revolutionary design and tools. Whether you enjoy weightlifting or require a fitness solution to perform exercises such as triceps dips or leg lifts, Technogym’s multi-functional bench is the perfect bench for full-body workouts with weights set for your home gym. This bench is more than just a weight bench and a set of dumbbells—a it’s full-fledged training station. It includes a set of elastic bands, five pairs of hexagonal dumbbells (sitting in their integrated carriers to avoid finger smashing), and a training mat for comfort and stability.
7 best smart fitness products #7 – JAXJOX Unisex’s Kettlebell Connect
Last on the list is the JAXJOX Unisex’s Kettlebell Connect, which is an innovative new smart kettlebell. A six-in-one adjustable kettlebell designed to help you achieve your fitness goals. Its advanced technology allows you to add or drop weight in seconds, saving you time and space, so you can work out anywhere. You can connect it to the JAXJOX App and track your reps, sets, weight and rest time.
While the asking price is no doubt expensive for a Kettlebell, there is no question that it is well built, the sensors and app work effortlessly together and it is easy enough to follow along with one of the well-produced videos that are currently on offer. Plus the data collection and visualisation, and general smart integration is high quality to help you track your goals and maintain your motivation.
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