Mirror’s interactive home gym. Courtesy of MIRROR
IS THE NEW WORKOUT MIRROR REALLY WORTH THE COST?

Home fitness has taken off in the past two years as new startups offer more innovative and convenient ways to work out.

Peloton, one of the biggest names in the space, is paving the way. After gaining a cult following with its workout bike, it launched its second home fitness machine — the treadmill — in 2018. And more recently, New York-based startup Mirror has been getting in on the action.

In September 2018, it launched its LCD mirror that allows customers to stream live and on-demand fitness classes from their home. It looks just like a standard mirror and is operated using an app.

In October, Mirror announced that it had raised an additional $34 million, bringing its total funding to $74.8 million. Hedge fund Point72, Lululemon, and Karlie Kloss were among the investors in its most recent round.

We tested out the machine in February 2020 and here  are our result.

LOOKS LIKE ANY OTHER MIRROR

Don’t be fooled — while this machine also functions as a mirror, it has a built-in LCD screen from which you can stream live and on-demand fitness classes.

The workout process begins on the app, where new customers are asked to enter their key health details — weight and height — along with their fitness goals and details of any injuries.

The user connects to the machine using a Bluetooth heart rate monitor. Worn around the waist, this tracks your heart rate throughout the workout, as well as how many calories you have burned. The mirror can also be connected to an Apple Watch.

…”Track your progreSs and compete with yourself or aN ONLINE INSTRUCTOR”

REVIEW OF THE CARDIO MIRROR WORKOUT

There are over 70 live classes added to the app each week including cardio, boxing, strength training, yoga, barre, Pilates, boxing, HIIT, and more. The levels range from beginner to expert. For this Exercise we decided to test out one of its shorter cardio workouts.

This 15-minute class combines a mix of 26 different exercises beginning with a short warm-up. Our first impressions are good. The instructor is clear, and the quality of the built-in sound system is solid, making it easy to follow. Everything is controlled through the app, so there’s no need to touch the mirror and risk smudging it up.  You can increase or decrease the instructor volume and background music on the app. You can also link the app to your playlist to listen to your own music while you work out.

A couple of minutes into the workout, a smaller image of the instructor doing an alternative exercise pops up on the screen. Kailee Combs, vice president of fitness content at Mirror, told us that these are personalized for each user. If you have noted that you have a leg injury, for example, the machine will suggest a less intense version when it comes to exercising this part of the body.  This level of personalization is what distinguishes the machine from other home workouts.

To keep the user engaged throughout the workout, messages pop up on the screen to encourage you to work harder. If you’re live-streaming a class, the instructor might also give you a shout-out.

 

OUR VERDICT OF THE WORKOUT MIRROR

The biggest bonus of the mirror is that it takes up no floor space. While you’ll need  an area to actually do the exercises in, it won’t encroach in your personal space.

The Cost is a big factor here $1,495.00, however the price comes in below some of its competitors such as Peloton and Flywheel, whose home fitness bikes cost as much as $2,245 and $1,699 (without a screen), respectively, it is still a pricey purchase.

For those who don’t have the time or can’t make it to a group class, this is about as good as it gets. It’s easy to use, and the wide breadth of classes means you can exercise from your very own living room without having to drive to the Gym.

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