When it comes to smart home gyms, two of the biggest names are Peloton and Mirror. However both are fundamentally different. Mirror is for people looking for quick and practical workouts, and something that fits into any space. Peloton is intended for people who want to cycle for hours. This machine is made for exercise machine lovers.
When I was setting up my smart home gym, for my indoor exercise machine, the first name that popped into mind was Peloton. However, I did try to do some due diligence, so I researched a couple of other brands such as Mirror and Tonal.
I took a look at their goals and their machines, which type of content they offered and what I could do with it all. In the end, the program that best matched for me was Peloton, but there were some cool things in the other apps too.
Luckily, you don't need to look anywhere else. In this article, we'll be comparing Peloton vs Mirror.
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Mirror and Peloton aren't meant for the same type of workouts. They each have specific areas where they outperform the other. Here´s a look:
When it comes to cardio training, both Peloton´s and Mirror´s fitness classes will get the job done.
Mirror´s specialty, HIIT classes (High Intensity Interval Training) are meant to give the heart a good jolt to start the day. Additionally, you can take your mirror lessons with a heart rate monitor to track your progress.
Peloton is great when it comes to cardio training. They´ve designed specific thresholds for heart rate intensive workouts. On most workouts on your Peloton bike screen you´ll see a heart rate number at the top left corner. This feature could also be displayed through a color line.
Overall, Peloton has a better defined cardio workout than Mirror. If you want to focus on your cardio, you should be better off with Peloton
Strength classes are also provided by both brands.
Some of the accessories you could get to increase the quality of your workouts are specialized weights and dumbells. You can use them in several of your strength workouts to increase your body mass and with it, your strength.
If you want to increase your overall strength, you could book a personal training session with a specialist who will give you some pointers as to some of the exercises you could do.
Much like Mirror, Peloton also offers dumbbells and weights for strength training. However, the key difference that sets Peloton apart in this aspect is the resistance settings in their exercise machines.
Particularly if you have a bike or a rower in your smart home gym, you can adjust the amount of effort you´ll have to put into your workouts. The bike´s resistance setting will challenge your legs tremendously, the rower provides a complete arms and legs workout.
All things considered, for strength training, Peloton also takes the lead.
Mirror was designed exactly for these type of workouts. Their specialty, HIIT´s, aren't meant to last long. Therefore having a short workout with Mirror is more than possible.
Furthermore, Mirror has designed their content to specifically challenge the body in a short amount of time. After these workouts, you´ll get a high physical productivity without having to invest much time.
Peloton workouts are designed to last a little longer. If you´re running or taking a bike ride, it´ll take a while to warm up and reach your maximum productivity period. The shortest lesson can range between 5-10 minutes and it can range up to 60-60 minutes.
Although one could argue that Peloton´s workouts seem to be more complete, both Mirror´s and Peloton´s work in different ways.
Overall, if you´re a busy person and have a small amount of time to do some exercise, Mirror is the way to go.
Since we just talked about Mirror being a specialist in quick and efficient workouts, endurance is exactly the opposite of that. Truth be told, if you want to work on your endurance, for example training for a marathon or a triathlon, Mirror isn't for you.
However, with high-intensity workouts, you'll become used to a certain amount of reps. With time, you´ll be able to produce more and more in the same amount of time. However, endurance tests production over long periods of time, which is not trained in HIITs.
When you think about endurance, your mind will generally go to running marathons or those Olympic races where they ride 250 km in a single day. This is exactly what Peloton offers. Their workouts can be short, however, they're meant to test your physical production over longer periods.
If you´re thinking about working on your endurance, Peloton is the way to go. They´ve got tons of specialized material specifically made for developing this skill. An example of this is Peloton´s resistance training classes. They are very long and intense, yet have a ton of benefits.
Finally, for those who want to lose weight, here´s a comparison:
If you want to shed some weight, one of the best ways to regulate your short term body weight is to do HIIT exercises.
If you have some really straining HIIT sessions, you might see some short-term positive changes. However, it doesn't work forever as your body's metabolism will adapt to this change.
HIIT exercises might also lead to poor recovery, muscle fatigue and overtraining, which could have negative effects if you do this in excess. Furthermore, when your body is overworked, you´ll need to compensate by eating some sugars to keep yourself balanced. This is counterproductive.
All things considered, HIITs are still a great way to burn calories and get some work done. It you can properly manage and change them up, you might see some positive change in the right direction.
When it comes to regulating body weight, the key is quality and constant exercise accompanied with a good diet. All things considered, Peloton is better-equipped for long-term body loss. Endurance training will slowly chip away your body's fat reserves.
This strategy is more long-term, however, Peloton has plenty of tools and statistics to keep you improving and on your way towards having better health.
Fair warning, you will need some commitment and consistency.
We´ll now take a look at how Peloton and Mirror compare in terms of price.
First things first, how much does the machine cost?
There are four potential packages you can get:
The monthly subscription costs $39/month.
If you wish to have personal training sessions, these don't come included in the price of your membership and will cost $40 for a 30 minute session. So If you want to take one, make sure it's productive.
You can buy any extra accessories you'll need through the mirror webpage. These will come at an additional price.
Peloton offers a variety of products:
You can use the exercise machines without the app.
If you choose to get an all-access membership, the monthly subscription costs $12.
With the all access membership, you´ll have access to live classes, strength classes and much more.
Additionally, you can choose to get a Peloton warranty to make sure your Peloton equipment stays intact. It is free for the first year. From the 13th month onwards, you can choose between the 15-month and the 27-month extension, which varies from product to product.
To train in your smart home gym, you'll most likely need some proper equipment for your workout classes. Here's a list of some of the things you can use and what you can train with it.
Peloton offers three different exercise machines with some model differences:
In addition, Peloton offer lots of on-demand classes, workshops and live classes. These are some of the things they offer:
Some extra accessories could be used for your classes. (You´ll have to buy these separately).
For your training, Mirror provides:
Here are some of the workouts that Mirror offers:
Some extra features the company offers:
In addition to any extra material you need for your training.
Lets take a look at some pros and cons of these brands.
Much like the name suggests, this indoor home gym is shaped like a mirror. It doesn't really take much space and can blend perfectly and discreetly into almost any environment.
This mirror is a screen on which you can view your workouts. Your goal will be to try and imitate your instructor or trainer for the best results.
In addition to the screen, Mirror provides you with all the tools are resources you´ll need for a successful workout. This includes fitness equipment such as weights, a smart bar, a workout mat, resistance bands and more.
HIIT and Tabata training: If you´re looking for a quick workout, there's no better way to train than by doing HIIT exercises.
These routines typically range anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes. They´re made for 1-minute periods of intense exercise and then a short 15 to 30 second period to cool off and prepare for the next exercise.
Overall, this style of training is good, but also really intense.
Peloton is a more traditionally focused "smart home gym" brand. They offer classic workout equipment such as bikes and treadmills to work out on. The Peloton bike is a household name these days. Their products have enjoyed a tremendous rise in popularity and are sought out by many.
Although not as convenient as having a mirror on the wall, these machines can be placed in your living room, or if you have the space, in your personal smart home gym. The machines come included with many videos and on demand classes for every topic.
In addition, you can also get the Peloton app, which might provide some extra value. You can also enjoy some off-bike/treadmill fitness classes. These could be yoga, meditation or mindfulness classes.
The company offers a wide variety of fitness classes. However, their main focus is without a doubt cycling and running. The Peloton bike is their best-selling product for a reason.
The company has developed a variety of ways in which you can enjoy bike riding or running. You can explore the world on a scenic ride or compete with others taking the class.
Additionally, Peloton is all about the numbers. They provide you with statistics on your training such as your Peloton output, calories burned and distance covered. You can use these to target specific areas which you need to improve.
Mirror is actually owned by Lululemon, which is one of Peloton´s biggest competitors in the industry.
Mirror and Peloton do complement each other, if you're thinking about smart home gyms. Adding one of each would be the best thing to do.
We already know what Mirror and Peloton can do. But what about Tonal?
Tonal is in between Peloton and Mirror. Much like mirror, it is a discreet screen that you can seamlessly place in your house. However, it can transform into a few different exercise machines so you can do some different exercises each time.
The screen also includes hundreds of different workouts to choose from. It´s a popular sports machine that many professional athletes use for their work.
Much like Peloton and Mirror, the machine is also beloved by many.
The tonal device starts at $3495 or $3900 for the upgraded version. The monthly subscription will set you back a further $49/month. However, the quality on this machine really sets it apart from the competition. However, there are some value concerns.
To settle the Mirror vs. Peloton dilemma, let's start by saying that the two brands are completely different and do completely different things.
Mirror is made for people who want discreet exercise equipment and short classes that will have animpact on health.
On the other hand, Peloton is for those who are looking to do some proper hour-long training. The workouts are with machines and have many positive short and long-term benefits. However, the equipment will take lots of floor space and need consistency.
Take some time to review your personal objectives and based on them, make the right decision. Since these brands actually complement each other, having both of them would be amazing.
