Smart home gyms have quickly become the go-to solution for anyone looking to bring a full fitness experience into their own space. Whether you’re short on time, want to save money on monthly gym memberships, or just prefer working out from the comfort of your home, today’s connected gyms combine technology with versatility in ways traditional setups just can’t match.
In this guide, we’ll break down what makes a great smart home gym, explore its key benefits, and take a closer look at standout options like the Speediance Gym Monster 2.
What Is the Best Smart Home Gym?
The best smart home gym is one that combines versatility, features, and guidance with safety, a compact size, money-saving benefits, convenience, and more.
Speediance Gym Monster 2
The Speediance Gym Monster 2 is a smart home gym that replaces multiple pieces of equipment to create a compact, all-in-one system that takes up little space. It comes with adjustable pulleys and attachments for a variety of exercises, supporting full-body training (including strength, cardio, and functional fitness exercises).
It allows you to target all the different muscle groups with various exercises, from pulldowns and flyes to presses, squats, and more. The system utilizes electromagnetic weight resistance with cable pulleys, offering a maximum resistance of 220lbs on the GM2 model or up to 260lbs on the GM2S model. It provides ample resistance for both beginners and elite athletes alike.
Designed to sit flush against a wall, this system is also compact and space-saving, as well as safer and more family-friendly. Using resistance rather than free weights makes it more accessible to people of different skill levels.
The platform also folds up and has a set of wheels, making it easy to move around your personal space, which is great news for those with small apartments who might need to share the space with other uses.
The Speediance Gym Monster 2 also comes with an intuitive HD touchscreen with an impressively large library of workout classes that you can stream with premium audio. It also offers performance tracking and AI-powered resistance training with automatic weight adjustments based on strength assessments.
Of course, you can also easily adjust your resistance manually at your fingertips. It’s like having your own personal strength training routine without having to hire a personal trainer.
What to Look for in the Best Smart Home Gym
Before purchasing a smart home gym, take some time to consider what exactly you are looking for and which features best suit your needs based on your personal fitness goals. A little time researching now will save you a significant amount of time and money in the long run.
Versatility
When purchasing smart fitness equipment, look for options that offer adjustable resistance levels, various incline settings, adjustable seat heights, and other versatility features to accommodate various fitness levels and exercise preferences. You will want a system that will grow with you and your fitness goals.
Features
There are all kinds of different features that help make the best equipment for a home gym. You want ones with a large variety of different exercises already built into the base model. You also want to look for products that offer various resistance bands, attachments, handles, ropes, grips, and more.
Accessories are essential for accommodating a variety of exercises, allowing you to target all the different muscle groups and develop a well-balanced physique.
Having different options allows you to continually customize and progress your workouts, preventing the dreaded plateaus that occur when progress stalls and you no longer see improvements in strength, endurance, or muscle size despite consistent training.
One way to overcome this issue is to find equipment that combines resistance bands and cardio, allowing you to build both strength and endurance all in one and bust through those plateaus to the next level.
Finally, check the comfort of the equipment by examining ergonomic design features, such as padded seats, cushioned handles, and the placement of seats, pedals, and handbars, to ensure proper alignment and reduce the risk of strain or discomfort while you exercise.
Guidance
Smart home gyms can be an excellent source of guidance in creating more effective workouts and programs to elevate your strength training to the next level. Look for gyms that offer Bluetooth connectivity, touchscreen displays, AI and virtual trainers, and interactive training programs. You will also want to be sure they offer plenty of performance metrics like real-time feedback on speed, reps, heart rate, timing, pacing, and so much more.
Many smart home gyms offer seamless connections with apps like Zwift, Strava, Apple Health, Garmin, and more, providing a fully integrated and engaging fitness experience. They allow you to stay connected, set goals, participate in live or on-demand classes, and track your progress across all your devices. If you already have a preferred streaming service, check which apps come with the product. Alternatively, keep an open mind and try a new service.
Size
Size is often a factor in a home gym set-up. Fortunately, home gyms are designed for small spaces, often easily fitting in a small apartment or even a college dorm room. If your space is particularly limited, look for foldable or compact designs that can be stored away when not in use by simply folding them or rolling them up on transport wheels.
However, if your gym needs to be put away between uses, note how it is folded or transported, and how much it weighs, to ensure that you can move it safely by yourself if necessary.
Noise
Sometimes noise can be a factor in home gyms, especially when you need to share a space with families or roommates. Without weights, stacks, or plates, the Speediance Gym Monster 2 is ultra-quiet when in operation and won’t disturb your surroundings.
Safety Considerations
Safety is not something that people always consider, but it should be. Look for products that are already certified by organizations like the Underwriters Laboratories (UL), CE Marking (European Conformity), or the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI)1,2,3. These certifications demonstrate that the equipment has undergone rigorous testing to meet safety standards, which should provide peace of mind, knowing it is safe to use.
Another safety consideration is the maximum user-weight capacity of the equipment, ensuring it can accommodate your body weight safely. Exceeding the weight limit may compromise the integrity of the equipment and may cause injury. This is why it is essential to choose equipment with a weight capacity that exceeds your own weight to provide that margin of safety.
Budget
Of course, budget is a factor for many of us, and investing in a smart home gym does require a significant upfront investment. Still, remember the saying that you get what you pay for. Avoid cheap, unknown brands of questionable quality. This is an investment in you and your future, so buy quality.
Also, be sure to check if the product you’re considering requires monthly fees for their apps and programs, or if some of those are already included in the price, as different manufacturers offer varying deals in this regard, and any ongoing monthly fees should be included in your bottom line.
Warranty and Customer Support
Finally, always look for products that offer solid warranties and quality customer support. This means shopping for quality products from reputable brands to protect your investment from potential issues.
The Benefits of Smart Home Gyms Over Traditional Gym Equipment
Here are several benefits of having a smart home gym rather than a traditional gym or gym membership.
Convenience
The biggest benefit of having your own smart home gym is the convenience of it all. You don’t need to commute to the gym or pay for a monthly gym membership, and then plan when you will attend, saving you a ton of time and money.
Not only that, but for people with busy schedules, it also makes it much easier to fit more workouts into their busy day or week, as no travel time is necessary. Simply start or finish your day at home with your workout, easy peasy!
Motivation
Another great benefit of having your own Speediance Gym Monster 2 at home is having access to AI-driven coaching that uses machine learning to tailor workouts to your specific fitness level and goals. It also offers interactive features and real-time data on pacing, speed, heart rate, and so much more. This helps you stay motivated and on track, allowing you to always keep your routine fresh and engaging, all from the comfort of your home.
All-in-One Training
A fully stocked gym with weights, racks, and machines can be overwhelming for those just getting started, and this is where a smart home gym can be a much less overwhelming option. Since they are designed to cater to a variety of different fitness goals and levels, you can pick and choose how much or how little you start with and continually expand your skills from there without being overwhelmed by all the equipment and people.
Long-Term Savings
While there is an initial up-front investment needed to build a home gym, it does offer significant long-term savings. This is because you buy the equipment once, and there are usually no recurring monthly fees (except for certain apps). Additionally, there are no monthly or annual gym membership fees to worry about, and no associated travel costs to get to the gym.
Space Efficiency
Many smart home gym systems are designed to fit into smaller spaces, especially those that utilize resistance training rather than free weights, which occupy significantly less space. It makes them ideal for apartments or homes with limited space to work out. If your area is particularly limited, look for designs that fold up or have transport wheels that can be moved and put away if the space needs to be shared with other needs.
Privacy and Hygiene
Another significant benefit is the ability to enjoy a private workout experience. This is perfect for anyone new to working out who may feel self-conscious working out in front of others who are more experienced than they are.
You also won’t have to stand around waiting for your favorite piece of equipment to open up if someone else is using it. Finally, another benefit is hygiene; you will never have to worry about the germs or sweat from other people on the machines, since you will have your own personal machine at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Smart Home Gyms Correct Your Form?
Yes, advanced home gyms can utilize AI and motion sensors to provide real-time coaching, helping you correct your form and offering feedback on effective workouts. This is similar to having a personal trainer at your fingertips, with on-screen guidance for position, pace, and range of motion for various exercises.
Are There Any Downsides to Smart Home Gyms?
The major downside to smart home gym setups for most people is the somewhat high initial costs, which can be challenging for people on a budget. Other potential issues include ongoing subscription fees for certain apps and products, as well as limited space for installation at home.
Are Smart Gyms Worth the Price?
Smart home gyms are worth the price for many, as they offer the freedom to work out at home without the need for a gym membership. It offers convenience, personalized training, and long-term savings compared to gyms, but it does require a financial investment and space to set up.
Final Thoughts
Smart home gyms are revolutionizing the way we approach fitness, offering versatility, space efficiency, and AI-driven guidance all in one compact system. From safety and size to features, pricing, and long-term savings, choosing the right model comes down to matching the equipment to your personal fitness goals and your lifestyle.
For those seeking an all-in-one solution that balances innovation with convenience, the Speediance Gym Monster 2 delivers a powerful, compact, and connected workout experience to upgrade your routine all from the comfort and convenience of home.
