NordicTrack Vault Review: A Successful Home Fitness and Smart Mirror Combo
RRP $ 1,999.00
"NordicTrack Vault comes with the weights you need in a smart home gym and conveniently stores them."
advantages
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Beautiful reflective mirror that can be swiveled through 360 degrees
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Growing class library
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Generous storage space
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Quality dumbbells / kettlebells
disadvantage
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No form monitoring
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Can be difficult / bulky to move
When it comes to fitness equipment, NordicTrack is the leader. Known for its ski equipment and treadmills, the company expanded its product range to include elliptical trainers, strength machines and finally smart home gyms. Now NordicTrack is pushing forward again with the Vault, a combination of home fitness and smart mirror devices. How is it doing compared to the competition? We tested the Vault to find out.
Convenient storage, reasonable size
NordicTrack did a great job with the size of the Vault. The bookcase-sized closet is big enough to hold all of the kettlebells and dumbbells you need without taking up too much space in your house. It's free-standing, which is perfect for apartment residents who are unlikely to be able to permanently install a smart mirror on the wall. At six feet tall, two feet wide, and just over a foot deep, the Vault can squeeze into any corner of your room. It also has a brushed metal finish and mirror front that is attractive enough to work in any room. However, choose your location carefully as the vault is heavy and can be difficult to move without an extra hand or two.
Everything is a mirror, no form
The NordicTrack Vault has a nearly full length 61.5 "reflective mirror and a 32" touchscreen display that allows you to easily observe the instructors and mirror their shape as they train. Unlike other smart gyms, the Vault doesn't provide any feedback on your shape, which is a huge downside. You need to rely on your keen eye to make sure you are doing the exercises correctly and keeping the pace.
The front mirror has an excellent 360 degree hinge. You can swing open the mirror in tight spaces like a door to access the dumbbells / kettle bells and exercise right in front of the vault with the mirror closed. When you have more space, you can extend and angle the mirror so you can exercise anywhere in your room.
Market leading exercise library
The Vault is operated by iFit, which has a growing library of exercises broken down into categories such as strength, yoga, recovery / mobility / stretching, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). And iFit was the only motivator that kept me on the treadmill all winter, so it's not surprising that it was the feature that got me to use the Vault.
iFit hires some of the best coaches and videographers out there.
It's also important to note that iFit is hiring some of the best trainers and videographers out there – and it shows. The video quality is great as most of the exercises were filmed either in a studio-style gym or in a scenic outdoor location. The videographers take the time to capture just the right camera angles so you can see the movement.
The coaches are optimistic and encouraging without being intrusive. Especially in the beginner workouts, the trainers give detailed instructions for each exercise that are easy to follow. In most cases, practice the exercises first before doing them during an intense workout.
New exercises and trainers are also added to iFit on a regular basis. You will keep coming back to see what fresh new workouts are in the library now.
Learning while lifting
While iFit offers a wide variety of content, it isn't the only profitable feature. It excels in teaching you how to exercise. I can't tell you how many times in the past I've picked up my dumbbells to start a strength training program and then stopped a few weeks later because I knew very few exercises. I made minimal progress and was bored with the routine.
The iFit training programs took away all of my uncertainty. I learned how to properly use kettlebells and when to use dumbbells. The trainers taught me several exercises for each muscle group and switched through different activities to work my whole body instead of just my arms and shoulders. I didn't just train; I also learned how to exercise. Unlike the Tonal home studio, which mainly focused on strength, the Vault has improved my overall fitness and wellbeing.
price
The NordicTrack Vault is available in two versions – a base option for $ 1,999 without accessories, or a full option for $ 2,999 with dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands and more. Although expensive, the full package is the best value for money for those who don't already own free weights.
The NordicTrack Vault is operated by iFit, which requires a subscription. The vault comes with a free year of iFit, and you can add a subscription for just $ 15 per month. It's important to note that iFit compares favorably with the competition, some of which are charging $ 40 or more per month. And iFit works with all of your fitness equipment too, so you can use the same subscription on your treadmill and Vault at the same time.
Our opinion
The NordicTrack Vault is a modern storage system for your fitness equipment and, thanks to its growing iFit workout library, a powerful fitness device. With its professional trainers, high quality videos and variety of training courses, iFit sets the Vault apart from the competition. If you already own an iFit treadmill or bike, the Vault is a must-have fitness companion.
Is there a better alternative?
The Vault's closest competitor is the Lululemon Mirror, which is smaller and more stylish than the Vault. It also offers more live and on-demand classes than the Vault at this point. However, the mirror does not include the kettlebells, dumbbells, and resistance bands that come with the full package option of the Vault. It also has no memory for these free weights. After buying weights, you will have to awkwardly leave them on the floor or spend even more money to buy a special rack.
There's also the Tempo Studio, which, similar to the Vault, hides some of the weights and accessories inside its case. While not that attractive, the Tempo Studio provides tracking for the right shape.
How long it will take?
The NordicTrack Vault has a sturdy construction that will last for several years. The weak point of the Vault is its full-length mirror. It doesn't break or scratch easily – we hit it multiple times with no damage – but a hard impact could break the glass.
The iFit software will do it. The company is known for its regular updates that add new workout programs and new features to NordicTrack fitness equipment.
Should you buy it?
The Nordic Track Vault is an excellent option for anyone looking to build a home gym for general fitness. The stylish machine contains a full range of dumbbells and kettlebells and has a growing library of exercises for all abilities and levels.
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