These Futuristic Fitness Mirrors Are Full-Fledged Exercise Studios for Your Home
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Like most of the world, fitness is still sometimes stuck at home. But, thanks to an array of new exercise technologies, that doesn’t mean your fitness needs to be put on hold. Enter the best fitness mirrors, some of the most advanced and effective pieces of home workout technology around.
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How Does a Fitness Mirror Work?
Here’s how fitness mirrors work: you set up what looks like a regular full-length mirror in your home, leaving enough room to move freely. You then turn on the mirror to access a fitness trainer (usually live-broadcasted, sometimes recorded). While you self-monitor in the mirror, this trainer can see your movements and provide feedback, ensuring a sweaty yet safe workout.
These futuristic devices are essentially a streamlined, high-quality fitness studio in your home. And instead of choosing a specialized studio, you get dozens of on-demand exercise options ranging from strength training to yoga to cardio. Plus, expert guidance ensures serious results without the need for solo research. These fitness mirrors also boast workout-improving features such as heart rate display, music and connection to a community.
Because fitness mirrors require a considerable financial commitment (about $1,500 to $2,000), we used to be a bit skeptical. However, with the future of gyms uncertain and more people opting for at-home exercise, we think fitness mirrors are one of, if not the best way to reach your fitness goals, in a socially distant yet still interactive way.
What to Know Before Buying a Fitness Mirror
There are a few things to consider when shopping for the best fitness mirror for you. Here’s what to keep in mind.
Setup: Unless you have a large space dedicated to working out, the best fitness mirror should be streamlined. Most fitness mirrors can be mounted on the wall or a stand, but some are free-standing and might take up more space. We tested out some of the mirrors in our garage, though many are (relatively) compact enough to fit in a bedroom or studio as well.
Camera: Fitness mirrors use an integrated camera to allow group instructors and personal trainers to give feedback on your performance. However, some of the best fitness mirrors use advanced motion-capture technology to monitor your movement in a more private manner.
Gear: Some fitness mirrors include workout gear such as heart rate monitors and weights. If you have the space for weights, rollers and so on, it’s always better to have this added gear as you’ll be able to participate in more workouts. Some of our options below have built-in shelving and compartments for the weights, so you don’t need to create more room for storage.
Control: Fitness mirrors are either controlled with a touchscreen interface or through a companion app on your smartphone. Obviously, a touchscreen is easier and faster to operate.
Classes: Each fitness mirror requires a subscription to access the brand’s classes and personal trainers. Ideally, these classes are as wide-ranging as possible and taught by qualified fitness professionals. This will allow you to practice your preferred workout and try out new forms of exercising.
What Are the Best Fitness Mirror Brands?
If you’re ready to dial in your home gym and step-up your workout routine, read on. We’ve selected some of the best fitness mirrors and broken down how to pick the right mirror for your needs.
1. Tempo Studio
Tempo
The current champion of the fitness mirror game is Tempo (although it’s not technically a mirror). Their Studio is the most technologically advanced option on the market, but the mirror also comes as a package with plenty of workout gear that competitors don’t offer.
The Studio really sets itself apart with an upgraded camera. The device features a motion-capturing AI system that creates a 3D model of your body as you workout. The Studio can then track reps and immediately notify you or your class coach when your form is off. Privacy is also improved with this system because it creates an unrecognizable model of your skeleton without capturing unique features or seeing inside your home. We did multiple workouts with Tempo in our garage and the AI technology was able to do everything from correcting our bad posture when doing deadlifts, to re-positioning us during burpees. Class also never starts until you’re perfectly positioned in the center of your mat.
Another benefit with the Tempo Studio is the included gear. In addition to the main gadget, you get a barbell and dumbbells with a complete set of weights, a heart rate monitor, a recovery roller and a workout mat. All of this gear is stored in a sleek locker in the base of the device, making the Tempo Bundle one of the best values in the home fitness market.
Advanced tech and included gear aside, the Tempo Studio is still top-of-the-line with a touchscreen and built-in stereo speakers. The classes were upbeat and the instructors super friendly and engaging. We chose to show the stats of other people in the class, to provide a measurement for us to work towards, but you can adjust your settings accordingly.
For an upbeat, fun and motivating workout you can get started with right away (I.e. no fancy bells and whistles to learn), you can’t go wrong with Tempo.
Bonus: Just in time for Father’s Day, you can save up to $700 on a Tempo Pro bundle package with promo code SUMMER700 at checkout. Or, save $300 with promo code SUMMER300 for the Tempo Starter, or take $500 off the Tempo Plus with promo code SUMMER500 at checkout.
2. Mirror
Courtesy Mirror
If you’re looking for a minimal fitness mirror that doesn’t take up space, go for The Mirror. The sleek and streamlined device is elegantly designed with a slim leaner stand for placing the mirror against a wall, but can also be mounted on a wall (professional delivery and installation will run $250, though this month you can get it for free, plus an additional $200 off, using the FATHERSDAY22 promo code at checkout for a $450 savings).
The Mirror is equipped with a front-facing camera that can be used for one-on-one personal training (or snapping home gym selfies, of course). This camera includes a cover for privacy when not in use. You can also keep track of your heart rate thanks to Apple Watch compatibility and connection with any Bluetooth-enabled heart rate monitors.
With a subscription to Mirror’s training program you’ll get access to thousands of workouts for every skill level. The program’s 20+ genres of exercise include boxing, yoga, barre, cardio, strength training and much more.
The Mirror isn’t a touchscreen, so you’ll need to control it using your smartphone. Also, if you’re into weightlifting, definitely go with the Tempo Studio as The Mirror requires separate gear.
Editor’s Note: Mirror’s currently offering a promotion for Father’s Day. Use the code FATHERSDAY22 at checkout for $200 off the Mirror, plus free shipping and installation — a $450 total savings.
3. Echelon Reflect Touch
Courtesy Amazon
Another great fitness mirror worth considering is the Echelon Reflect. Technologically, it’s similar to The Mirror with a front-facing camera (this one is a bit higher-quality), plus built-in speakers and Bluetooth connectivity for heart rate monitors. The main difference with the Echelon is the screen itself, which is one of the largest on our list at 50 inches and a touchscreen (you can also get a $750 40-inch version here).
Another defining feature of the Echelon is its communal aspect. Echelon has created a point-based system that makes it more fun to work out and easy to compete remotely with friends. You get a certain amount of points for every minute you spend at different heart rate levels (I.e. five points per minute for weight loss level, 15 for anaerobic threshold, 20 for your max).
In terms of design, the Echelon does quite well. It can be mounted on a wall or a stand, although wall-mounting looks much better and saves space. The only downside is that Echelon doesn’t offer professional installation, so you’ll need to be instruction-savvy and a bit strong to setup the 52-pound mirror.
Still, this is one of the easiest-to-use fitness mirrors in the market, with the best workout options, plenty of helpful monitoring stats and an intuitive interface that works for all fitness (and technology) skill levels.
Bonus: Echelon’s Father’s Day Sale includes 15 percent off and free shipping at checkout for certain pieces of equipment, including the Echelon Reflect mirror. No promo code is necessary.
4. NordicTrack Vault Fitness Mirror
NordicTrack
Breaking a sweat in your living room doesn’t get much cooler than this. The 61.5-inch Vault mirror, which stands on its own, lets you access a variety of workouts from its 32-inch HD touchscreen, and can store all the equipment you need in one stylish carbon steel package.
You can order the Vault with fitness gear ($1,999) or by itself with included storage ($1,499).
The Vault: Complete option includes built-in speakers as well as a small gym’s worth of essential accessories and equipment inside: a mat, yoga blocks, resistance bands (which we love to use for warmups and during a workout), a group of dumbbells, a couple of kettlebells (20 and 30 pounds) and more. In other words, the Vault has everything you need to complete your favorite routine and stay fit at home.
All of the gear fits neatly behind the mirror, too — which slides open to the side — so you don’t have to worry about storing the equipment elsewhere in your home or apartment. Unlike mirrors like the Echelon Reflect, the Vault doesn’t have a camera.
If you purchase the Vault fitness mirror, you’ll also get a year-long membership to iFit’s collection of training sessions so you can take advantage of all the workouts from the comfort of your own home whenever you want, whether it’s to build strength or do some yoga.
5. ProForm Vue Fitness Mirror
ProForm
Looking for a fitness mirror that includes gear and makes you feel like you’re in a workout class? Similar to NordicTrack’s fitness mirror, the Vue fitness mirror from ProForm, which has a 22-inch touchscreen, comes with a basic set of equipment so you don’t have to supply your own to do one of its guided workouts, led by iFit trainers.
The ProForm Vue’s designed with a couple speakers (and can work with your favorite workout earbuds), and has a 10-pound barbell with multiple weight plates to use with it, whether you want to do squats, curls or deadlifts. There are also a couple of five-pound dumbbells you can store on the opposite side of the mirror. We like how ProForm built it so you can adjust the Vue’s angle. In other words, you don’t have to worry as much about hitting the wall with the barbell when trying to put it back on the rack — a great feature, especially if you’re in a small space or you set it up in a corner of your room.
You won’t just get the mirror and its gear, though. The fitness brand also offers a one-year iFit membership with its mirror, whether you want to hop into a live workout class before or after work or try an on-screen routine from iFit’s on-demand selection at any time of the day.
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