There is no doubt that the pandemic has changed the way we work out. And because many of us are switching to exercise, home gym equipment, one of the frustrating aspects is finding the space to do strength training correctly. Traditionally, weightlifting required bulky squat racks or shelves full of free weights. These two factors limited what I could do to succeed outside the gym. not anymore.
The Vitruvian Trainer+ (starting at $2,890) is the latest in a new breed of smart strength system that packs tons of training options into a compact footprint. Hidden inside the carbon fiber shell is electromagnetic technology capable of producing up to 440 pounds of resistance. Smart algorithms combined with app-based coaching take the guesswork out of strength training yourself.
We’ve spent a week testing the Vitruvian Trainer+ and here’s what you need to know.
The Vitruvian Trainer+ is for those with limited space and wanting to invest in a compact home gym system that offers a variety of strength training workouts within an easily stowable frame.
I live in a one bedroom condo and have limited floor and wall space, so I want to dedicate myself to fitness equipment. The Vitruvian Trainer+ is just 46″ x 20.5″ x 4.5″, weighs 80 pounds and is basically an aerobic step on steroids. Wheels are embedded for maneuverability. This means you can hide it under your sofa and pull it out easily when you lift it.
The Trainer+ comes with basic handles and ankle straps, but we recommend purchasing the Entry Kit, which includes premium handles, long bars, tricep rope, training mat and safety cable for an additional $237. With all of the above plus a short bar, bench and belt for an extra $450 you should also consider the Pro Kit. At least without the entry kit the machine supports over 200 can only perform a small portion of the exercises in
Vitruvian Trainer+ uses artificial intelligence to learn from your short and long term workout behavior and adjust your weight accordingly. The first 15-minute strength assessment set benchmarks for movements such as deadlifts and squats.Then when I first did good result — A full-body class with a long bar — Machines used these benchmarks to program the weights you should perform at 50% to 60% of your maximum in each exercise. (Let’s say his maximum weight for a single back squat is 100 pounds. The app automatically programs 50 to 60 pounds for back squats in this class.)
The first three exercises in each class are intended as warm-up exercises for measuring range of motion. without it weight. The point of this is to determine where you are at any given moment. This allows the machine to reduce the weight if you’re struggling to reach the full range of motion of the exercise, and increase the weight if you’re easily crushing your reps. You can also manually adjust the difficulty of specific exercises in your class. If you use the app to create a custom him workout, you can adjust your weight based on your weight gain when you repeat that workout in the future.
On the fourth repetition, take the weight. I found this to be a little jerky at times — during one set of sumo squats, the machine temporarily added another 15 pounds and caught me off guard — and during exercises and sets A few classes are needed to learn how weights are loaded and unloaded in .
Vitruvian Trainer+’s algorithms sync with the Vitruvian app for iOS and Android to deliver customized workout performance. There is a library of over 200 classes and over 20 strength training programs within the app. But this is a small library compared to other smart fitness equipment that offers live classes daily and new on-demand workouts on a regular basis.
Still, you can choose from shorter (many workouts are less than 30 minutes) full-body options (such as the Full Body Progression or the bar class above) and targeted workouts like “Strengthen your back and biceps.” I like and “lower body bulk”. It was also helpful that the instructor gave instructions for changing the necessary attachments in each class.
Also, the device doesn’t have a built-in screen (because you’re standing on it, of course), so following video demos on your smartphone can be difficult (I currently have an oversized device). . iPhone 14 Pro Max). Vitruvian recommends casting or streaming classes from the app to your TV. apple tv Also chrome cast for the best experience. I agree that it made the class a lot more fun, but it took some creativity to set up her space to work out so he wasn’t even a foot away from the TV.
The Vitruvian Trainer+ is tone ($3,495), tempo studio (starting at $2,495) and arena platform ($2,495). Arena is the most similar, created by top coaches to generate up to 200 lbs of resistance for over 300 workouts and programs that adjust in real time. But Tonal, a wall-mounted system that generates up to 200 pounds of resistance, and Tempo, which uses motion-capture cameras to analyze movements made with free weights, offer the added benefit of real-time form feedback. Offers. When Community participation with live classes.
Smart fitness equipment is always an investment, but are you used to strength training and looking for a way to lift weights at home without cluttering the floor with dumbbells and kettlebells or devoting an entire room to a squat rack? For those who are, it’s the Vitruvian Trainer+. A great way to make a profit at home.
I loved the fact that I could store it invisibly under my coach instead of mounting it on the wall, and that I could program custom workouts from my strength training coach into the app and use them alongside pre-programmed classes. From both a storage and educational standpoint, compact machines make strength training more accessible.
