The pandemic convinced me: fitness at home is the future. After the Great Reopening, I will continue to work out in my office, because I love it.
Because? Convenience, accessibility and quality of training. Whether I am at home or traveling, working out for 15 or 45 minutes, this certainly surpasses what I used to do: fight for a place in a training camp class and pay a lot for the privilege.
I’ve already written about my favorite fitness apps and DIY exercise bike setup. Recently, I wondered, since hybrid work will still make us work – and work out – at home: Should I take my living room exercises to the next level with state-of-the-art equipment?
In a quest to learn something about why people spend thousands of dollars on equipment and hundreds more per year for continuous training, I set up a smart gym: a SoulCycle At-Home bike ($ 2,500), a Mirror training screen ($ 1,495) and an Echelon Stride treadmill ($ 1,300). Meanwhile, my colleague Joanna Stern tested the next Peloton Interactive Tread ($ 2,495, available May 27).
Internet-connected hardware adds to the experience in some ways. Products typically have a large display designed to broadcast lessons. Personal training metrics, captured by sensors, are displayed on the screen. Many have a social component, such as the ability to compete on a live leaderboard. All the models I tested require customers to sign up for a $ 40 monthly subscription.