Our Opinion: iFIT Pro is Worth it.

Consumer Reports On iFIT

Recently, Consumers Reports published an article discussing whether iFIT was worth it. We do not totally disagree with everything opined by the writer. However, there are still some key points in their article we wish to clarify and provide our point of view (POV) - perspective on, particularly for fitness enthusiasts just beginning their fitness journey or those getting back into fitness and looking for a guided workout program that delivers results.

iFIT Overview

To recap, iFIT is an annual or monthly subscription-based fitness technology platform tightly connected with your treadmill to an extensive library of trainer-led sessions that take your workout experience to awesome destinations across the globe. Closely integrated with your treadmill’s features, iFIT enables trainers to interact in real-time with your exercise equipment to adjust the speed, resistance (incline on your treadmill), and some treadmill models, even adjust the decline of the running deck’s elevation, all to match instructor cues and changes in the terrain encountered as you are running, walking, or hiking.

The significant difference and advantage of the iFIT platform is the high degree of synchronization of the tech with extremely impressive, unscripted instructors and thoughtful workout designs - orchestrated for each iFiIT session to help you physically succeed in reaching your fitness goals.

With the wide variety of 1-on-1 sessions and progressive training series that can span weeks, iFIT can be somewhat addictive and keep you coming back for more, which is part of why it helps increase your physical fitness and mental wellness as well.

Let’s review key points made by Consumer Reports and apply a different POV.

1. Automatic Treadmill adjustments:

Consumer reports writes:  I found it psychologically helpful that the workout decided these things for me, rather than me having to decide to up the speed or incline on my own.

MYN VIEW:

To start with, iFIT workout sessions are professionally designed by experts. iFIT has been architecting treadmill workouts for over 25 years to maximize improvement to take you from the sofa to where you want to get to - whether that be simply increasing your fitness level, running a 5K, losing weight, or just increasing comfortable walking time to 30 minutes.

iFIT workouts are not random, but meticulously thought-out and planned, dynamically adjusting in real-time your treadmill running deck elevation, speed, or both. This feature for instance called SmartAdjust, can actively change the intensity to match your fitness level based on your workout history and performance and/or the terrain encountered. However, if you want, you can always make your own adjustments with a simple touch of the screen, then later hop back in, to be in sync with the class and trainer.

Another option named ActivePulse, allows you to use your Bluetooth-connected heart rate monitor, (we like to use an Apple Watch) to manage the intensity of your workout and will automatically adjust to speed/elevation to keep you within your target heart rate zone.

Overall, iFIT makes it easier to get started and takes the guesswork out of your training, you do not have to worry about adjustments, there are so many weekly and monthly progressive series targeted to beginners, intermediate and advanced runners, hikers, and walkers - all designed to build upon your previous session and strengthen your fitness level.

2. Coaches

Consumer reports writer: “Excessive fitness babble”: The coaches talk to you pretty much the whole workout, offering some generic encouragement and instruction throughout. Because the coaches speak for the entire duration of each workout, it’s essentially inevitable that their monologues slip into what I think of as fitness babble, semi-stream-of-consciousness narration about wellness, self-improvement, “the journey,” and more. There’s a lot of talk of “showing up for yourself.”

MYN VIEW:

iFIT trainers are experienced personal trainers and for the most part elite athletes. They vary from Olympic medalists, professional personal trainers, and champions. They share their experiences, insights for breathing techniques, stride, motivation, and fitness knowledge during workouts. There is no way for $33/month you could buy this 1-on-1 expertise level — anywhere.

It is a serious advantage to have on-demand access to this caliber and range of trainers who put themselves out there to help you improve – working-out alongside, step by step, just as hard as you are. And yes, occasionally they tell some silly joke, and yes, they know they are talking to you in a void, but once you have engaged in iFIT sessions for a bit, you get it and appreciate their talent and how this type of coaching instruction can help you reach your fitness and wellness goals.

We see iFIT as a personalized fitness experience with expert trainers. It is an excellent choice for getting back to a fitness level no matter for who or why – new moms, injury recovery, older, younger, the unfit, or those who just want to go further, iFIT will work for you, and the trainers are a key component to making it happen and a habit.

Being aware of why you are working out and having goals is always important to keep you motivated on a path to success. It is so easy to stop, and for many hard to keep going. We found that iFIT trainers are good at connecting with users and their own journey experience and enable consistency by keeping you returning for more.

3. Limited Compatibility

Consumer Reports writer: But an iFIT spokesperson confirmed that iFIT does not support FTMS (Fitness Machine Service protocol) which is the latest Bluetooth standard used to control fitness equipment including treadmills, training bikes, and rowing machines) which means you can enjoy iFIT’s automatic speed and incline adjustments only on iFIT-enabled machines.

MYN VIEW:

The home gym fitness equipment market is fiercely competitive. iFIT is one of the industry’s recognized leaders when it comes to experience designing and building leading treadmill brands and treadmill workout programs — Yes, iFIT works exclusively on Nordictrack, Proform, and Free Motion equipment, and Yes, you have to purchase compatible equipment to use iFIT. We are OK with it and do not see this so much as a disadvantage (a Con, bad) but as a positive choice for your treadmill purchase decision. (a Pro, Very Good)

Other equipment manufacturers actually license this technology, as does Peloton for its Tread treadmills. In the end, iFIT provides a competitive edge to iFIT-enabled equipment and helps it remain profitable while providing its users with great workouts to select.

In the End – Final Thoughts

iFIT is $39/month or $396/year paid on an annual basis, it is a key reason you will achieve your fitness goals. Use it on your treadmill, with a wide-screen TV, or smartphone, to access off-the-treadmill workouts like strength training, yoga, stretching, kickboxing even meditation sessions and more.

Offers good value. iFIT Pro allows for up to 5 individuals to user accounts and can be used with any iFIT-enabled equipment as you only need one subscription. Whether you use a treadmill, rower, bike, or elliptical you still pay the one subscription fee annually. It’s a Good Deal that offers real value especially later if you decide to expand your home gym equipment line-up.

iFIT trainers are exceptional and committed to helping members improve their fitness. Where else do you get 1-on1 personal training from an elite runner or gold medal Olympic champion for about $1 per day. iFIT trainers know how tough it is to be motivated to consistently work out every day and happily share tips for success that they use.

The technology platform behind iFIT workouts makes the difference in helping you physically succeed; the trainers help you mentally win.

From our point of view, iFIT is a definite Yes and should be a positive aspect of your home gym equipment purchase decision.

Trust Our Fitness Equipment Reviews

Based on extensive use and testing, we discuss, summarize, and compare equipment to help you determine if this treadmill is the one for you. Our team has completed over 500+ iFIT Pro workouts with different iFIT enabled exercise equipment and treadmills.

When it comes to treadmills, we have tested and evaluated many, comparing the Proform Pro 9000, NordicTrack Commercial 2450, NordicTrack 1750, NordicTrack X22i, Peloton Tread, and Peloton Tread+, Sole models and others.

maybeyesno has tested and published exercise equipment reviews for over ten years. Our review team understands what makes good fitness equipment, — including indoor bikes, rowers, strength equipment, and treadmills. If it’s good, it’s good — if it’s bad — then it’s bad, we will tell you.

We get hands-on with gear and discuss overall design, tech, and function, including the feel, price, drilling down on components such as the motor, the screen display, subscription content (if applicable), running deck, adjustment features, ease of use, noise levels, warranty, and durability.