When schedules are busy, days are jam-packed and to-do lists are never-ending the thing most of us want is for tasks to come to us. We want our food cooked for us, dry-cleaning delivered, gifts ordered + sent without you needing to wrap them and workouts done at home. Working out at a gym or studio is great and all, but it’s quite a time suck. By the time you drive to your go-to CrossFit gym, park, get checked in, workout, spend 5 minutes on a bench outside catching your breath, drive home and shower you’ve basically lost half your day.
Working out at home isn’t just more convenient, it’s downright more efficient when you don’t have to spend time going to and from a studio and can step from your desk into your workout in five minutes or less. The latest gadget bringing the $30 workout class into your living room? Fitness mirrors. These high-tech, sleek smart fitness systems make weightlifting, HIIT, yoga and other workout classes easier and closer than ever before.
What Are Fitness Mirrors?
Fitness mirrors are essentially giant mirrors that project instructor-led workouts so you get a nearly-lifesize view of class from your living room. You can also see yourself in the reflection, and make sure your form is safe, tempo is on and rhythm matches what the instructor is asking for.
Fitness mirrors make sense as a logical next step for the at-home workout space as they open doors for versatility that treadmills, cycling bikes, rowers and other smart equipment can’t. All you can really do with a treadmill is run, all you can really do with a bike is ride — but with the top fitness mirrors you can do strength training, yoga, pilates or get a quick HIIT session in after work.
I will say after trying one I’m not sure they’re the innovative fitness move for everyone. The reflection on the screen can feel a little too futuristic at times, and they’re quite expensive for a machine that essentially gives you just a bigger screen to stream classes that you could easily view on a smartphone or iPad. I have yet to try all of the ones on this list, and haven’t experienced the ones with built-in equipment, so I haven’t ruled them out entirely either.
What to Consider Before Buying a Fitness Mirror
- Space: You’ll want to consider where you’re going to hang your fitness mirror, and how much allotted space you have in front of it for working out. As a general rule of thumb, you should have at least enough space to spread out a yoga mat, with hopefully a few inches of buffer on all sides. If you can do jumping jacks, plank, do downward dog and squat with ease, you’re probably most of the way there.
- Equipment: Some of the fitness mirrors below come with equipment, while others don’t. If you plan on investing in some dumbbells, resistance bands or even a barbell, factor that into the overall cost and make sure you can afford what’s necessary for getting the most out of what the mirror has to offer.
- Price: We’re going to touch on this more below, but a fitness mirror is definitely a significant investment. The possibilities for using it are quite varied, so it does open many doors workout-wise. However, we recommend trying one out or at least doing thorough research before taking the plunge.
A Note on Smart Fitness Mirror Pricing
Another important factor when deciding if a fitness mirror is right for you, and if so which one, is price. I’m not going to beat around the bush — these are expensive luxury items. The least expensive one on this list is still well over $1,000 which justifiably is going to take most people out of the bucket of potential buyers. However, if you’re someone who loves hands-on instruction when working out but can’t always swing a personal trainer there actually could be money saved in this venture.
Let’s say you like to use a personal trainer twice a week, and each session is $100. If your fitness mirror costs $1,800 and comes with free personal instruction from expert trainers (which a few of these do), you’d pay off the cost in a few weeks. It’s not exactly the same thing, but it’s pretty close, and with the convenience factor it becomes much more justifiable in the long run.
As is always the case when investing in something super expensive, it’s important to analyze how it’s going to fit into your life. Are you going to use something like this? Where will it fit into your routine? Are you interested in the classes offered? If you are, then I invite you to explore the best fitness mirrors below and find the one that’s right for you. Worst case scenario, it’ll look a lot more attractive sitting in your living room unused than an elliptical machine.
1. Tempo Studio
BEST OVERALL
Picking the best fitness mirror between Tempo and Mirror was difficult, but we ultimately went with Tempo because of the included equipment and superior weightlifting tools.* This is basically a comprehensive home gym package in one purchase, as it includes a barbell, full set of weights, dumbbells, a workout mat, recovery roller and heart rate monitor.
Tempo’s technology uses 3D sensors and AI technology that build a model of your body so the AI can automatically generate feedback for you while you move. Their machine builds a personalized program for you and gives you rep and weight amounts that will challenge without overwhelming. They also offer cardio, HIIT and mobility classes to compliment your routine and help you make well-rounded progress in addition to weight lifting. This fitness mirror doesn’t lie flat against the wall as it includes space for storing weights, so just make sure you’ve got the space before clicking “Buy.”
Finally, if you do more weightlifting than cardio, Tempo just released new weightlifting bundles for its smart gym. Tempo’s top-rated fitness mirror now comes with additional weight plates, dumbbells, a weight bench and an adjustable squat rack. Basically, it’s everything you need for a complete home weightlifting gym (on top of all the benefits you get from a fitness mirror), so if you’re looking for a one-and-done purchase, then the price tag is absolutely worth the investment.
2. The Mirror
RUNNER UP
You had to know this fitness system was going to show up on this list, right? I mean it’s kind of the namesake of the whole space — and it was the first fitness mirror to hop onto the scene in 2018. This is an actual mirror that’s marketed as being able to disappear into your space when you turn it off, which I love. Unlike other fitness equipment that sticks out and, no matter how well designed, is always a bit of an eyesore this piece would look great in a living room at any time. Beyond that, the mirror has advanced camera functionality that delivers adjustments throughout your workout based on your goals and offers a super wide variety of classes including yoga flows, kettlebell circuits, boxing, barre, bootcamp and more. The system doesn’t come with equipment, so if you don’t have your own consider the cost of new weights in your price analysis.
3. NordicTrack Vault
BEST SPLURGE
Sure, this fitness mirror from NordicTrack (a brand better known for its treadmills and exercise bikes) looks amazing, but how is it more than a pretty package? The answer is a resounding yes, as this smart fitness mirror is more than meets the eye. It’s actually a full home gym “vault” with a fitness mirror on the door, which swings open to reveal dumbbells and other fitness gear inside. The 60″ oversized mirror is a touchscreen so you can adjust settings while following along with the pros in their iFit program, which is chock-full of classes in everything from lifting to yoga, pilates, HIIT and even mindfulness.
The reflective training on the screen allows you to follow the instructor’s form and keep all of your equipment organized inside. Speaking of equipment — the complete vault purchase comes with premium dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, blocks, a mat and a towel. The full gym setup costs $2,999.00 and you can also buy the standalone screen and vault to fill with your own equipment for $1,999.00.
Buy: NordicTrack Vault: Standalone $1,999.00
Buy: NordicTrack Vault: Complete $2,999.00
4. Tonal
CONTENDER
If strength is the name of your game, then Tonal might be for you. This fitness mirror has a digital weight system built in that uses digital resistance and automatically adjusts to your strength level to help you build and reach your goals. With one system you can work upper body, lower body and everything in between while lifting up to 200 pounds in 1 pound increments. As someone who switches back and forth between weight often, this feature does sound intriguing, cutting out the need to buy, store and lug around dumbbells and plates of varying sizes.
After a strength assessment, the machine automatically increases your weight to help you progress, and since the resistance is produced via air compression there’s no momentum in your lift — giving you a better range of motion and more even-keeled strength training. The machine does offer classes that aren’t strength training, but since the weight feature is its main selling point, it doesn’t make sense to buy this unless lifting is a top priority for you workout-wise. You should also be comfortable with resistance-based weights as opposed to traditional barbells and weight plates.
Tonal is a bit more expensive than other fitness mirrors, but since it incorporates a variety of strength moves and weights into its design the price is actually quite competitive. You do need to pay about $500 extra if you need a weight bench and other accessories to get the most out of your new fitness mirror.
5. Pro-Form Vue
BEST VALUE
I’m not going to give this mirror the “best budget” award since none of these products are remotely budget items, but this one has the cheapest price tag and is a great value for what it offers. The Vue is a fitness mirror with a built-in 22″ touchscreen that lets you stream classes on top of the crystal clear view of your reflection while working out in the iFit library (yes, the same one NordicTrack uses). The mirror displays proper form via the classes and the mirror gives you a chance to mimic it. Your progress is recorded after every session and is used to influence future exercises. You can stream live and on-demand studio sessions from yoga to HIIT, and the mirror has included accessories including dumbbells, a barbell, weight plates, resistance bands and a yoga mat.
While it doesn’t have the advanced, form-adjusting technology that brands like Tempo offer, it does provide a great price for all the equipment you get. It’s also got access to the NordicTrack fitness class video library within a much cheaper machine.
I got a chance to try out the ProForm Vue earlier this year, and while I loved parts of the experience, it did turn me off to the luxury fitness mirror trend in general. You can read all my thoughts in the full review here.
Read More: After Two Months of Using the ProForm Vue, I’m Not Convinced Fitness Mirrors Are the Next Big Thing
6. Echelon Reflect
BEST IF YOU ALREADY HAVE EQUIPMENT
Echelon is best known for budget-friendly Peloton alternatives, and the workout equipment company has also come out with its own versions of a fitness mirror. They’ve got two main models — the Echelon Reflect, which is 40″ and not a touchscreen, is far less expensive than most mirrors on this list. The other model, the Echelon Reflect Touch, is slightly larger at 50″ and is an interactive touchscreen.
Both come with their extensive library of live and on demand classes. Both are also smaller than many fitness mirrors, so if the larger sizes intimidated you and you’d prefer something smaller this is a great option. It also doesn’t come with any equipment, so if you’ve already got a collection of equipment this option also might be a great choice for you.
Another thing to note is Echelon does not provide professional installation with your purchase, but they make it a selling point that a specially-made bracket secures the Reflect to the wall, and no reviewers thus far have complained about the installation being difficult.
Buy: Echelon Reflect Smart Fitness Mirror $749.99
Buy: Echelon Reflect Touch Smart Fitness Mirror $1,499.99
7. Tempo Move
BEST NEW PRODUCT RELEASE
Tempo just released a brand new, stripped down version of their fitness mirror that uses equipment you probably already have in order to save you money and make quality training even more accessible. Basically, they’ve taken their fitness mirror and gotten rid of the “mirror” part, replacing it with your smartphone’s camera abilities and your TV screen. It’s a new release, so we don’t have any customer reviews yet, but based on the live demo we got it could change the fitness mirror game.
Newer iPhones are built with advanced camera capabilities that can do what their fitness mirrors can do when it comes to movement tracking, rep counting, 3D body scanning and more. Basically, you plug your phone into the Tempo Core dongle, hook it up to your TV and you’re good to go. The set also comes with two 7.5 pound dumbbells, four weight collars, 35 pounds of smart weights and a chic weight storage cabinet that can easily double as a side table in your living room.
This isn’t technically a fitness mirror, so we’re not going to rank it as a “best budget” option, but it’s a great alternative if the price point for a regular fitness mirror is cost prohibitive. Since they’ve eliminated the most pricey part of the fitness mirror setup, the mirror itself, the price tag is able to come way down. Just make sure you’ve got an iPhone XR or later, and you’re good to go.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fitness Mirrors
Outfitting your home gym can get expensive, which is why all-in-one systems like the Tempo Studio or NordicTrack Vault are so attractive. The best fitness mirrors come with everything you need to stream fitness classes, get your daily cardio and lift weights — all without leaving your home. Of course, the $3,000 pricetags can give people pause. Before you invest in one of the best fitness mirrors, here's what you need to know about this new product.
While it's more expensive than some other options, the Tempo Studio and Tempo Pro are the best fitness mirrors for sale in 2021. The Tempo Studio is the basic model in the Tempo line, while the newly released Tempo Pro comes with additional weight plates, dumbbells and an adjustable weight bench. Because it has everything you need for a home smart gym, the Tempo Pro is our top pick among the best fitness mirrors.
The cheapest fitness mirrors cost about $1,500; however, these products don't come with essentials like dumbbells, weight benches or yoga mats, so the total investment can be significantly higher. The best fitness mirrors come with all of the exercise and weightlifting equipment you need, and the price tag is typically between $2,000 and $4,000. More expensive models come with more equipment, offer more streaming videos and AI-generated fitness recommendations based on your movements.
When not in use, fitness mirrors look like regular mirrors, and they can be mounted to the wall or come with their own stand. However, when they're turned on, they stream workout classes with step-by-step instructions, and thanks to the reflective surface, you can view your form, power and poses in real-time. The best fitness mirrors also have AI functionality, which provides individual feedback based on your form, your fitness goals and your workout preferences.
Fitness mirrors range in size, but most of them are between 50"-70" tall and a few feet wide. Since they're built to blend into your home they're not gigantic for the most part, but some of them contain storage units for equipment that increase their size a bit. Like any piece of fitness equipment, it's important to consider the amount of space you have before investing.
For the most part yes, expert installation is included in the cost. There are a few mirrors with exceptions to this, and we've highlighted that in our reviews. Without installation, you'll just need some brute strength to lift about 50 pounds off the ground and the ability to read and follow detailed instructions.
There are a few big perks to owning one of these fancy workout systems. They take up way less space than a treadmill or even cycling bike does, and can go anywhere in your home. They offer personalized instruction from a professional — so if working out intimidates you or you've been curious about weightlifting but are worried about hurting yourself, a fitness mirror might be perfect. They also look better when you're not using them and blend in with the rest of your decor, a great plus in this at-home workout era where you might not have a separate room to stash your gym equipment.
*After this article was originally published on February 4, 2021, Tempo became an advertising partner of Spy.com. Sponsored content and ad campaigns do not affect our product rankings or reviews, which are selected by our editorial and product review team. Our overall rankings in this product category have not been changed since that time.