This post presents a chart, reviews, and videos to help you compare 5 of the Best Smart Turbo Indoor Trainers. One of these trainers could be your key to taking your cycling speed and fitness to new levels, indoors.
Indoor training is on the increase, in all months of the year. For example, in January 2019, 15.2% of cyclists uploaded indoor rides. That was triple the number of cyclists who uploaded indoor bike rides in January of 2016. This increase is being seen throughout the year, not just in winter. With a smart trainer, you can have fun while training really hard and really smart. It is a tool you can use to become fitter and faster than you have ever been before.
Chart Comparing 5 of the Best Smart Turbo Indoor Trainers
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Usually around $1,470, but click here for the latest price on Amazon | Usually around $1200, but click here for the latest price on Amazon | Usually around $1400, but click here for the latest price on Amazon | Usually around $1200, but click here for the latest price on REI | Usually around $875, but click here for the latest price on Amazon |
| Connectivity | Ant+ & Bluetooth | Ant+ & Bluetooth | Ant+ & Bluetooth | Ant+ & Bluetooth | Ant+ & Bluetooth |
| Compatibility | Campagnolo/Shimano/ SRAM 8-12 speed | Shimano/SRAM 9/10/11 | Shimano/SRAM 10/11 speed | Shimano/SRAM 10/11 speed | Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo 8/11 speed |
| Compatibility Weight (note: weight limit of most airlines = 50 lb) | 47 pounds (21.5 kg) | 42 pounds (19 kg) | 37 pounds (17 kg) | 46 pounds (21 kg) | 50 pounds (21.3 kg) |
| Max. Resistance | 2,200 W | 2,300 W | 2,500 W | 2,200 W | 2,000 W |
| Max. Gradient Simulation | 25% | 24% | 16% | 20% | 20% |
| Claimed Power Accuracy | <1% | +/- 0. 5% accuracy – said to be the best on the market | Not stated | Around 1% | +/- 2% |
| Cassette included? | No | No | No, but they do supply thru-axle end-caps | Yes, ships with an 11-speed Shimano/SRAM compatible cassette | Does not ship with a skewer or a cassette |
| Weight of flywheel | Simulated/Virtual 276 pounds (125 kg) | 13 pounds (6 kg) | 14 pounds (6.5 kg) | 16 pounds (7.25 kg) | 20 pounds (9 kg) |
| Through-axle Compatible: | With adapter | Thru-axle adapters included | Included | Included | Works with 130 mm & 135 mm quick-release axles, and 142 cm & 148 cm thru-axles. Adaptors included |
| Noise Levels | Pretty much silent, except of course for the sound of your drivetrain | Reasonably quiet, but not as quiet as the Wahoo | Despite the name, a bit noisier than the competition | Nothing but a quiet hum | 59 decibels at 20 mph (a fridge is 55 decibels; an air conditioner is 60) |
| Noteworthy | No calibration required, ever. This upgrade includes useful left/right power and stroke analysis | With your own cassette, expect a realistic bike ride with almost no sound; amazing +/- 0. 5% accuracy, said to be best on the market; factory calibrated, never needs a zero offset; | Innovative, very competitively priced; runs off your own power so you can use it in a shed; provides a stable yet springy ride that feels realistic | All-time most popular trainer. It is pretty much silent! Easiest trainer to set up, because it's the only one that comes with the cassette pre-installed. Just plug and play! | Built-in power, speed, & cadence measurements |
Related Post: What is a Smart Indoor Turbo Trainer?
Tacx NEO 2 Smart Indoor Trainer
Overview
The Tacx NEO 2 Smart Indoor Trainer is a quieter upgrade to the very popular Tacx NEO Smart. This smart trainer gives you an even more realistic ride feel – it’s notably awesome when you are attempting steep climbs.
This video gives an overview of the upgrades to the NEO 2.
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Assembly
Setting up the Tacx Neo 2 is a tricky process. Also, be aware that if you have a through-axle bike, you will need an adapter, which is sold separately.
You can choose from a range of sizes of cassette if you order it from Amazon.
Connectivity with Apps
This smart trainer uses either ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart to pair with your app. It pairs up instantly with Zwift (or the app of your choice). Once paired with Zwift, you can have endless fun (and mega training sessions), whether you choose one of the Zwift virtual climbs, or work your way through a structured training plan.
Weight, Storage, and Transporting Considerations
The footprint of the Tacx NEO 2 Smart Indoor Trainer is quite large, but once it is folded up, it is really quite slim and does not take up much space. In terms of weight, count on carrying around a device that weighs 47 pounds.
Related Post: How to Get Started with Stationary Biking
Noise Levels
Tacx claims this smart trainer is completely silent, but that is not true. The ride simulators that are built in, do increase the noise. Still, this is a quiet enough machine that it should not annoy your neighbors or your partner.
Positives of this Smart Trainer
This is an excellent smart trainer. The cool thing about this smart trainer is that they have gone all out to give you a realistic, immersive experience. So, for example, the trainer will vibrate differently depending on whether you are virtually cycling on cobblestones or a boardwalk or a dirt trail! This is achieved with Tacx’s unique virtual flywheel. It can simulate different terrains, and even mimic descents, allowing you to spin as if you were out on the road.
Another area in which this smart trainer excels is in its gradient replication. It is one of the best in that respect, and changes resistance very smoothly.
Also, we found the power readings to be accurate – always an important consideration when you are planning on some serious training.
The manufacturers make this claim: “The pinnacle of indoor bike training, the Tacx NEO Smart, is made even better. On top of immersive features like Road feel, Dynamic Inertia and Descent simulation, this new direct drive also features Pedal stroke analysis. It is without question the most silent, realistic and accurate bike trainer available.”
That kind of sums it up. As we said, it’s not really silent, but it is an excellent smart turbo trainer.
Technical Specifications of the Tacx NEO 2 Smart Indoor Trainer
Weight: 47 pounds (21.5 kg)
Connectivity: ANT+, Bluetooth Smart
Maximum Resistance: 2,200 W
Maximum Gradient Simulation: 25%
Flywheel: Electromagnetic
Compatibility: Campagnolo/Shimano/SRAM 8-12 speed
Through-axle Compatibility: With adapter
Power Accuracy: <1%
Elite Drivo II Smart Turbo Indoor Trainer
Overview
The new Elite Drivo II is an upgrade on the very popular, original Drivo. Compared to the original, the Elite Drivo II has a better road feel, and has better response to terrain change in apps such as Zwift, and higher accuracy.
This video highlights some of the upgrades.
Assembly
There is some assembly required for this smart trainer, but it’s not rocket science, and can easily be achieved with the supplied spanner and Allen key.
Connectivity with Apps
As is usual with all of these high-end smart trainers, connecting with apps such as Zwift is pain-free. The Elite Drivo II syncs with any ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart app or head unit and instantly adapts resistance to match your choice of training plan or virtual slopes.
Weight, Storage, and Transporting Considerations
The Elite Drivo II has a big footprint and a solid, 13 pound (6 kg) internal flywheel. The upside of this is that the unit is 100% stable, no matter how hard you ride.
It isn’t the best designed, however. Although relatively light in weight compared to some of the competition, it is awkward to store and transport. It does not fold up completely, and it needs an external power source to run. So, if you plan to take your smart trainer to bike races for your warmups, this is not the best option.
The Elite Drivo II is probably the most stable smart trainer you could buy, but if storage space is an issue, it is not be the best option.
Noise Levels
This smart trainer has completely reasonable noise levels, but it is not as quiet as the Wahoo.
Positives
If training at home is your goal, the Elite Drivo II has a lot to offer. The Elite Drivo II is a very good trainer and offers similar performance to the likes of the Wahoo and the Tacx. With your own cassette installed, expect a realistic bike ride with almost no sound except your own breathing and your humming chain.
The head unit displays power measurements taken by the Elite Drivo II’s Optical Torque Sensor along 24 points for an amazing +/- 0. 5% accuracy, which is said to be the best on the market. For those who rely on training metrics to monitor their progression, this is likely to be the most attractive feature on this unit.
The Drivo II is factory calibrated and never needs a zero offset.
One noticeably great aspect of this smart trainer is how quickly and smoothly it changes gradient: we observed it could go from zero to 24% gradient in an astonishing 3 seconds. Note that 24% is 4% more than the Wahoo Kickr can achieve. In fact, this is one of the highest outputs available. This despite having a smaller flywheel than the Wahoo, whose flywheel weighs in at a solid 16 pounds (7.25 kg).
Technical Specifications of the Elite Drivo II Smart Turbo Indoor Trainer
Connectivity: ANT+, Bluetooth
Smart Maximum Resistance: 2,300 W
Maximum gradient simulation: 24%
Flywheel: Electromagnetic
Compatibility: Shimano/SRAM 9/10/11
Through-axle compatible: Included
Power Accuracy: +/- 0. 5% accuracy – said to be the best on the market
Related Post: 5 of the Best Budget Indoor Bike Trainers
JetBlack WhisperDrive Smart Turbo Indoor Trainer
Overview
The JetBlack WhisperDrive Smart Turbo Trainer is a very smooth, direct drive trainer. It offers a realistic road feel with long coast-down times. It also offers adjustable resistance up to 200 W. The frame design is ultra-stable: the widest ground contact point is positioned in line with your center of gravity, for rock-solid intervals or sprints.
This trainer does not need to be plugged into power – instead, it uses a smart generator to create its own power. It even has a USB connection to charge your devices while you are cycling.
The JetBlack WhisperDrive smart turbo trainer is compatible with 10/11 speed cassettes. Campy and XD drivers are available. As with all direct drive trainers, there is no wear on your bike tires.
This is a quote from Cycling Weekly: “The JetBlack is ambitious, innovative and very competitively priced. It doesn’t react as quickly to changes in gradient or wattage as some, but that’s due to it being self-powered. However, that’s not a deal breaker and if you want to train in a shed without mains hook-up it’s the answer to your prayers.”
Here is a video that gives an introduction to the JetBlack WhisperDrive.
Assembly
This smart indoor trainer is more user-friendly than the other trainers in this post. You just fold out two hinged legs, and snap them into place. We found the set-up to be extremely easy.
JetBlack does not supply a cassette, but they do supply thru-axle end-caps, plus a spanner to fit them.
The legs are positioned just behind the bottom bracket. This cleverly provides stability directly underneath you as you ride.
Connectivity with Apps
A free iOS or Android tablet and smart phone training sessions are included in the price. We had an initial problem where we could not connect to anything, even though we tried hard pedaling to charge the capacitors. But after this brief problem, it latched onto Zwift and behaved perfectly. In general, the app is a bit buggy, but perhaps that is to be expected with a new product.
Weight, Storage, and Transporting Considerations
This smart turbo trainer generates its own power, so you can run it anywhere, without plugging in. This could be ideal for many people. For example, if you want to run it in your shed, or take it to the races for warmups. This transportability could offset the fact that it is noisier than the other models reviewed.
Noise Levels
The JetBlack WhisperDrive smart turbo trainer is noisier than the competition – but usually cheaper. When you get started on your ride, you will hear a noise that sounds more like a whine than a whisper. But as you increase resistance, the whine reduces to a loud hum (a hum that is louder than the other smart trainers in this post). However, it is not loud enough to ruin your ride, or generally be a deal breaker.
Positives
JetBlack is an innovative product that is very competitively priced. It runs off your own power, and even has a USB port so you can charge a device while riding. It provides a stable yet springy ride that feels realistic. This realistic feel is thanks in part to the 14 pound (6.5 kg) flywheel, which is heavy relative to the overall weight of this unit. It changes gradients smoothly.
It is relatively light and small, compared to the heavier bikes in this post.
Technical Specifications of the JetBlack WhisperDrive
Weight: 37 pounds (17 kg)
Connectivity: ANT+, Bluetooth Smart
Maximum Resistance: 2,500 W
Maximum Gradient Simulation: 16%
Flywheel: Electromagnetic
Compatibility: Shimano/SRAM 10/11 speed
Thru-axle compatible: Included
Power accuracy: Not stated
Related Post: How to Get Bike Fit: Complete Bike Training Plan
Wahoo Kickr Indoor Trainer
Overview
The Wahoo Kickr is probably the all-time most popular smart turbo trainer, but Wahoo does not let that stop them from frequently upgrading. The latest upgrade was in 2018, and resulted in a noticeably quieter unit. Of course, you still have the sound of your drivetrain. This video gives a great introduction to the Wahoo Kickr:
This upgrade is slightly heavier, but that is made up for by good ergonomics and well-placed weight.
Wahoo also claims that the upgrade has improved the ride quality and control, thanks to a larger flywheel. But in side-by-side testing, it is really hard to tell the difference between the 2017 Wahoo Kickr, the 2018 Kickr, and the Wahoo Kickr Core.
With the upgraded Kickr you get a Shimano 105 cassette, which is a big improvement on the 2017 cassette. The Shimano 105 cassette is my personal favorite cassette.
We did find that the power readings were a little less stable than the readings on the Tacx Neo. However, problems with dropouts in wattage have been eliminated with this new, improved version of the Wahoo Kickr. And this version has a better overall wattage output, increased to 2,200 w.
The Wahoo Kickr Smart Turbo Trainer ships with an 11-speed Shimano/SRAM compatible cassette and an RPM cadence sensor; it is also compatible with 8/9/10-speed Shimano/SRAM cassettes (not included).
Gradients max out at 20%, which is slightly less than its rivals.
Assembly
With the Kickr, you don’t have to do any assembly – just plug and play. This video shows the set-up of a Wahoo Kickr:
Connectivity with Apps
Of course, connectivity with Zwift and other apps is excellent via ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart.
Weight, Storage, and Transporting Considerations
The latest upgrade has increased the weight of the flywheel to 16 pounds (7.25 kg), and the overall weight to 48 pounds (22 kg). However, this smart turbo trainer is so well designed that it is still one of the easiest smart trainers to move around and to store in tight spaces. It folds up well and can fit into small spaces. By contrast, the Elite Drivo II is lighter than the Wahoo, but it is so much larger that it is harder to put away.
Noise Levels
The 2018 upgrade resulted in a noticeably quieter unit. Of course, you still have the sound of your drivetrain. There is a mild hum, but it is not annoying (unlike the sound of the 2017 model, which could be annoying at low speeds).
Positive Aspects of the Wahoo Kickr Smart Turbo Trainer
It is pretty much silent! Of all the trainers in this post, it is the easiest to get up and running, because it is the only one that comes with the cassette pre-installed. You don’t have to do any assembly – just plug and play! One of the easiest smart trainers to move around and to store in tight spaces.
Technical Specifications of the Wahoo Kickr
Weight: 46 pounds (21 kg)
Connectivity: ANT+, Bluetooth Smart
Maximum Resistance: 2,200W
Maximum gradient simulation: 20%
Flywheel: Electromagnetic
Compatibility: Shimano/SRAM 10/11 speed
Through-axle compatible: included
Power Accuracy: Around 1%
Related Post: 7 of the Best Fitness Trackers for Cyclists
Saris CycleOps H3 Indoor Trainer
Overview
The Saris CycleOps H3 is the top of Saris’s smart trainer range. It is of course an upgrade on their popular H2 model. One of the primary aims with this upgrade was to reduce the noise levels, and they have done an excellent job of it. This was achieved with a redesigned belt setup. Saris states that: “At 59 decibels at 20 mph, the H3 is five times quieter than previous generations.” Note that 55 decibels is equivalent to a household fridge, and 60 is equivalent to a household air conditioner.
The solid 20 pound (9 kg) flywheel, plus the overall weight of 47 pounds (21 kg), contribute to a solid and realistic cycling experience.
The Saris H3 tops out at 20% gradients and 2,000 watts of power. Power figure accuracy is within 2%.
The price is relatively low, yet it competes with the more expensive smart trainers. However, the price does not include a cassette.
Assembly
Set-up is easy – you just pull out the stability legs.
The Saris H3 works with 130 mm and 135 mm quick-release axles, and also with 142 cm and 148 cm thru-axles. The adaptors for this are included. However, it does not ship with a skewer or a cassette.
The freehub is compatible with all major brands, including Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo 8 to 11 speed bikes. You can also purchase XD and XDR freehubs separately.
Connectivity with Apps
As with all the smart trainers in this post, connectivity is excellent. Using ANT+ FE-C and Bluetooth FTMS, it effortlessly integrates. Using this trainer with apps such as Trainer Road and Zwift is equally effortless.
Weight, Storage, and Transporting Considerations
At 47 pounds (21 kg), the Saris H3 is not that easy to carry around. However, it does help that Saris has provided a handle.
When you need to store the Saris H3, you simply fold in the legs, which reduces the width to just over 9 inches (24 cm).
Noise Levels
Saris claims a noise level of 59 decibels at 20 mph – which is five times quieter than previous generations of Saris smart trainers.
Positive Aspects of the Saris CycleOps H3
The Saris H3 has built-in power, speed, and cadence measurements, so you don’t need to spend extra for external sensors.
The weight and the wide legs make for a stable, realistic feeling ride.
Although it does not offer the road surface simulations of the Tacx Neo 2, but for the money, it’s a great all-round smart trainer.
The price is extremely competitive!
Technical Specifications of the Saris H3
Weight: 50 pounds (21.3 kg)
Maximum power: 2,000 watts
Maximum simulated gradient: 20%
Flywheel: 20 pounds (9 kg)
Cassette included: No
Connectivity: Ant+, ant+ fe-c and bluetooth
Power Accuracy: +/- 2%
Related Post: Health Benefits of Cycling: Research Shows that Exercise is a Miracle Cure
Bottom Line
All of the smart trainers in this post are excellent, and will enable you to build your fitness in your own home. We hope this post will help you choose the best one to meet your own needs.
Related Post: Smart Phone vs a Bike Computer for Recording Bike Rides – Which is Better?
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