Tempo Studio vs Tonal vs Echelon

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When it comes crushing a full-body workout, you no longer have to pay for a pricey gym membership or use a ton of different complicated exercise equipment to get the job done. A crop of fitness companies have made it easier than ever to work out smarter — at home. Enter the best fitness mirrors, some of the most advanced and effective pieces of home workout technology around. But how to do you know which one is right for you (and what each one does best)? Read on for our top picks.

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 broke down how to pick the right fitness mirror for your needs and selected some of the best-designed models based on personal testing and top-rated user reviews from brands we trust, from Tempo to ProForm.

BEST OVERALL: Tempo Studio

BEST FOR ALL FITNESS LEVELS: Echelon Reflect Touch Smart Fitness Mirror

BEST FOR CHECKING FORM: NordicTrack Fusion CST Studio

BEST VALUE: ProForm Vue Fitness Mirror

BEST SMART HOME WORKOUT SYSTEM: Tonal

1. Tempo Studio

The current champion of the fitness mirror game is Tempo (although it’s not technically a mirror). The fitness brand’s Studio is one of 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 always offer.

The Tempo 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.

Editor’s picks

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, weight collars, and a workout mat. All of this gear is stored in a sleek locker in the base of the device, making the Tempo 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: The Tempo Studio Starter comes with 12 months of Tempo’s AI-powered training program.

2. Echelon Reflect Touch

Another great fitness mirror worth considering is the Echelon Reflect. Technologically, it’s similar to the Lululemon Studio (formerly known as 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.

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.

3. NordicTrack Fusion CST Studio

Breaking a sweat in your living room doesn’t get much cooler than this. NordicTrack has long been a household name for designing high-quality exercise equipment, like the Fusion CST Studio. The freestanding system features a full-length, 70-inch mirror to keep your form in check during your routines — something we wish competitors had.

You can access iFit personal training with a 30-day free trial ($39/month after trial) and the included 10-inch HD tablet, which you can remove from the mirror to take your workouts on the go. The Fusion CST Studio functions like a real-life trainer, automatically adjusting your weight resistance based on your iFit trainer and workout. It also comes with a couple of squat pulleys, six ergonomic removable handles, plus ankle strap accessories that make it easier to complete a variety of iFit workout classes, from strength workouts to cardio moves.

4. ProForm Vue Fitness Mirror

Looking for a fitness mirror that includes gear and makes you feel like you’re in a workout class? Similar to NordicTrack’s fitness system, 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 ProForm Vue mirror and its gear, though. The fitness brand also offers a 30-day iFit membership trial 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. (That equals out to a $39 value.)

5. Tonal Home Gym

Tonal is the ultimate home gym system for taking your strength training to the next level. The Tonal might not technically call itself a “fitness mirror,” but it features a 24-inch glass touchscreen to take workout classes and track stats while you complete one of the system’s possible 245+ movements. Unlike standard workout equipment, the Tonal doesn’t even require floor space, thanks to its compact footprint that you can mount to your wall. (You can also pay to have pros install it in your space.)

You’ll need the Tonal app and a Tonal membership to access the company’s massive library of guided, expert-led workouts, from yoga to HIIT classes (from $59.95 a month). Tonal also makes it a cinch to take live workout classes with real-life coaches when you’re at home. Best of all, Tonal helps tailor each rep to your fitness needs, from automatically adjusting the pounds based on your reps, to a built-in “Spotter Mode” that will lighten your weight just like a friend would in the gym. In short, it’s a smart home fitness system that just makes sense.

We suggest adding Tonal‘s Smart Accessories package to your purchase for $495. The bundle of accessories includes smart handles, which help track reps, a smart bar that lets you adjust weight during a lift, a rope, a bench, a foam roller for post-workout muscle recovery, and last but not least, a workout mat.

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.

Fitness Mirror Buying Guide

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.

How We Chose the Best Fitness Mirrors

We chose our list of the best fitness mirrors based on personal, hands-on experience, as well as positive user reviews from reliable brands. Points were awarded for ease of use, variety of classes, and ease of setup. Of course, we liked to challenge ourselves, so we also picked fitness mirrors and systems that not only promise to help readers break a sweat, but also help deliver results, from toning to strengthening. All of these fitness mirrors are also well-reviewed by other users, and they are suitable for a variety of fitness levels, from beginners to full-fledged athletes.

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