One major bummer is that it doesn’t let you work on eccentric movement (when your muscles are lengthening, like when you’re coming out of a biceps curl). Still, if you mount this to a wall or door frame—which we highly recommend—there’s a ton of exercises you can do, from deadlifts to Pilates. Don’t worry: The Bluetooth-connected app will help you figure out what the heck you should be doing with it, courtesy of personalized fitness plans plus live and on-demand workouts.
The Future App gives you personalized training right through your smartphone or tablet. An expert coach will consider your goals, the equipment you have access to, and any time constraints to create a workout program that fits your lifestyle.
Our Tester’s Take
Virtual coaching these days is largely done through AI, but the Future App connects you with a real, live human being who has certified fitness training expertise. These coaches program personalized workouts each week based on your goals, schedule, and the data they see coming in from your fitness tracker. “I travel often, and sometimes I don’t have a full gym to work with,” our tester says. “I can let my trainer know exactly what equipment I have access to, and they’ll program a workout based off of that.”
Video demos walk you through each exercise, though if you’re not sure whether you’re doing them right, you can record your form to get input from your coach later on. “I appreciate how easily you can give your trainer feedback on the workout as a whole and the specific moves they’ve programmed,” our tester adds. “It’s completely personal to you, your abilities, and your goals—what’s smarter than that?”
Let’s Compare the Costs of These Smart Home Gyms
Heads up: This how each much each smart home gym costs before any discounts or promotions. We also didn’t include any monthly subscription costs associated with the equipment, so make sure to include that in your research and budget.
How We Tested Smart Home Gyms
Good recs take serious research, and GQ’s fitness equipment testing is no joke. We asked certified personal trainers about the best smart home gym products available today, then got our hands on those very machines ourselves to see how they worked in real life. Several GQ editors and contributors have kept many of these smart fitness tools in their own homes for long-term testing (despite some complaints from our housemates).
While we were at it, we dug into everything that could affect your experience with this smart workout equipment: the buying process, customer service, footprint, portability, durability, ergonomics, interactive programming, customizable features, accessories, and the warranty—and with all that in mind, the value you’re getting for your money. Everything that made this list is something we truly think is worth your hard-earned cash.
Benefits of a Smart Home Gym
You don’t need to be a fitness pro to benefit from smart workout equipment. “The connected fitness space is really for everybody, whether you are a seasoned athlete or a first-timer,” Crouchelli says. Here’s why.
Having quality fitness equipment at home means you’re more likely to regularly use it, even when your calendar gets jam-packed. With smart programming, you don’t have to research or plan out your own workouts—they’re all laid out for you.
Smart workout equipment can keep you just challenged enough so that you continue to get stronger without getting hurt. You might get suggestions for classes that fit your fitness goals. Some cable machines will automatically adjust the resistance to account for how much you can currently lift, and some treadmills will customize the intensity of your speed and incline based on adjustments you’ve made in previous workouts.
If you’re not exactly sure about your form or technique, or just want someone with more expertise to coach you through an effective workout, having a smart touchscreen or app where you can follow along with workouts will ensure you’re getting the most out of your session.
Many smart home gyms keep track of your workouts and record stats about your progression over time, which can give you extra motivation to keep at it. “[Smart equipment is] data-driven, which is really great for you to build accountability,” Crouchelli says.
What to Consider When Shopping for Smart Home Gym Equipment
When you’re buying a piece of smart workout equipment for your home, you want to make sure you’re investing in something you’re gonna love for years of workouts to come. Keep these details top of mind while you’re shopping.
Different machines offer different features, so ask yourself which will motivate you most. Do you want trainer-led classes? Data insights? Smart resistance? “A lot of my friends want gamified fitness,” Crouchelli says. “They work stressful jobs, and want to be able to have fun and break a sweat at the same time.” You do you; just make sure your machine will support it.
The up-front cost of the main hardware isn’t the only number to consider when thinking about what you can afford. Most pieces of smart workout equipment require a monthly or yearly membership fee to access features like workout classes. You might also need additional accessories like specific cycling shoes or a wall mount to really get the most out of the workouts. Calculate the total in advance.
Ask yourself what you want to get out of your workouts. If you’re mainly looking to build functional strength, you’ll benefit from something like a cable machine, while your co-worker who keeps bragging about his marathons will likely prefer a treadmill. Or, if you just want to decompress a bit while sweating, consider a cardio machine that lets you stream apps like Netflix.
FAQ
What is smart home gym equipment?
Smart home gyms are digitally-connected pieces of fitness equipment that use advanced technology like motion sensors and data insights to give you personalized workouts. Many include a touchscreen that streams interactive workouts.
Are smart gyms good for beginners?
Smart gyms are a particularly good choice for beginners since they can give you an AI-guided, low-pressure intro to fitness, often with trainer-led workouts and sometimes even feedback on form.
Is a smart home gym worth it?
A smart home gym is definitely worth the money if you want premium features to guide you through your workouts. As Crouchelli puts it, when people buy a smart home gym, “they get accountability, they get form, they get a foundation.”
Can you get a good workout with a smart home gym?
Most people can get a better workout with a smart home gym than they could if they were just trying to figure out what to do at the gym by themselves, according to Crouchelli. Features like instructor-led workouts, smart resistance, and real-time metrics set you up to exercise more effectively.
What is the best smart home gym machine?
We found the Beyond Power Voltra I to be the best smart home gym machine thanks to its compact design, versatile exercise options, helpful data insights, and high-quality hardware.
Do smart gyms require a membership?
Most smart gym equipment requires a monthly subscription fee to access premium features. However some, like the Speediance Gym Monster, come with lifetime access to workouts, no membership required.
About the Expert
Former pro soccer player Anthony Crouchelli, NCSF, CFSC, has over a decade of experience in fitness. He is the founder of The.1Method and the lead trainer and director of talent at Litesport.
