Our Pick of the Best Turbo Trainers
Turbo Trainers are not just for winter and offer you flexible training all year round. We bring you a round up of 5 of the Best Turbo Trainers 2023. With each of them we give you everything you need to know about the features available and how much to pay for them. Helping you go faster with indoor cycling to keep your fitness up. We share best prices for each along with any discount codes we have available to get you the best prices.
Originally published in 2020 we have refreshed all the content in light of availability, prices and product releases.
What is a Turbo Trainer?
A turbo trainer is essentially a stand to support your bike at the rear wheel and a resistance unit driven by the rear tyre. A smart turbo trainer has a resistance unit with built-in electronics that communicates your speed to a device. Some smart trainers also include power meters so you can train by that metric too.
What is a SMART Turbo Trainer?
The latest breed of smart trainers have the ability to be controlled remotely by software on a device. This could be your laptop, tablet or even your phone. The app on your device controls the resistance so you don’t have to manually control the this with gearing. Below we provide a selection of the best trainers some that take full control and others that you need to manage yourself.
Unlike riding outdoors you can also gather a stack of data about your ride that you would ordinarily not have access to. The information can include your power output which would normally need a hugely expensive power meter.
What sort of connectivity do they have?
Key connectivity to ensure you have is ANT+ FE-C capability. The system was developed by Garmin. It is used for speed sensors, heart rate monitors and equivalent smart watch peripherals. The FE-C element stands for Fitness Equipment Control. This will enable control fitness equipment such as turbo trainers.
Which Turbo trainer to buy?
Tacx Neo 2T Smart turbo trainer
The Neo 2T is the latest trainer from Tacx replacing the original smart trainer that shared the same name.
It still is one of the largest trainers with regards footprint but the ability to fold it neatly away still makes it suitable for those of us who can’t afford to have a dedicated training space at home. It’s also easy to fold and set up quickly but it, like some of the other trainers, lacks some form of carry/hand hold so manoeuvring it around can be a bit awkward. It has lost weight compared to the original but still weighs in at just over twenty one kilos.
Weight: 21.5kg
Connectivity: ANT+, Bluetooth Smart
Max Resistance: 2,200W
Max gradient simulation: 25%
Flywheel: Electromagnetic
Compatibility: Campagnolo/Shimano/SRAM 8-12 speed
Thru-axle compatible: with adapter supplied
Best Prices for the Tacx Neo 2T
Saris H3
The H3 sits at the top of Saris’s smart turbo trainer range and builds on the popular H2.
Reducing the noise levels was one of Saris’s top priorities and it’s certainly achieved good things with the H3. Ride feel is good, with the stout 9kg flywheel contributing to a very realistic experience. The H3 is capable of 2,000 watts of power and 20 per cent gradients. Power figures were within the claimed +/- 2 per cent accuracy, which should be more than enough for most riders.
Weight: 21.3kg
Connectivity: ANT+, Bluetooth Smart
Max Resistance: 2,000W
Max gradient simulation: 20%
Flywheel: Direct Drive
Compatibility: Campagnolo/Shimano/SRAM 8-12 speed
Thru-axle compatible: with adapter supplied
Best Prices for the Saris H3
Elite Direto XR-T
The Elite Direto XR-T provides a simple training solution, able to be up and running in only 5 minutes
This Elite Direto XR-T indoor trainer is perfect for maintaining your performance while training indoors as it offers a fast and simple training solution. Ready for training, this version comes fully assembled with a Shimano 11 speed cassette installed. All you need to do is take it out of the box and unfold its legs. Designed to be super-compact, this is Elite’s easiest model to carry, store or transport plus it’ll happily fit inside a cupboard when not in use.
Weight: 21.3kg
Connectivity: ANT+ FE-C, Bluetooth Smart
Max Resistance: 1,900W
Max gradient simulation: 15%
Flywheel: Magnetic
Compatibility: Shimano 11 speed installed, or SRAM
Thru-axle compatible: with adapter supplied
We reviewed the Elite My E-Training App that is recommended by Elite for their Smart turbo trainers. It is cheap. Really cheap. But is it any good and worth considering instead of the market leader Zwift?
Best Prices for the Elite Direto XR-T
Wahoo Kickr Core
The all-new KICKR Smart Turbo Trainer gives you the most realistic indoor training experience
Getting as close to a real ride as you can when stuck indoors can be an arduous task, but with Wahoo’s latest KICKR model, science, technology and analysis come together to give you the ultimate indoor training experience. Providing you with data as you go on speed, distance and power, as well as cadence information from the KICKR’s RPM Cadence Sensor, you can stay on top of your vital stats for your own tailored, optimum workout.
Weight: 21.3kg
Connectivity: ANT+ FE-C, Bluetooth Smart
Max Resistance: 2,200W
Max gradient simulation: 20%
Flywheel: Direct Drive
Compatibility: Shimano 8-10 speed/SRAM
Thru-axle compatible: with adapter supplied
Best Prices for the Wahoo Kickr Core
Bkool Smart Air Lite
The latest turbo trainer from BKOOL is direct drive, combining the world's most advanced simulator with the latest technology
The Bkool Air Smart Turbo Trainer offers innovative, cutting-edge design to bring you closer to reality; the resistance unit is suspended in the air allowing the user to balance the bicycle, to give the feeling of pedalling on the road and protect the bike from torsion. Able to accommodate both QR and thru axles with different widths as well as SRAM and Shimano cassettes the Air Smart is compatible with almost every type of road and mountain bike.
Weight: 21.3kg
Connectivity: ANT+, Bluetooth Smart
Max Resistance: 3,000W
Max gradient simulation: 25%
Flywheel: Direct Drive
Compatibility: Shimano/SRAM 7-11 speed
Thru-axle compatible: with adapter supplied
Best Prices for the BKool Smart Air Lite
If you are looking for more buying tips check our round up of 19 of the best road bikes for under £1000.
11 Comments
Adam Pearson · 24/03/2020 at 10:25 am
Perfect timing for a round up of turbo trainers. If you can get us any discounts on these would be fab!!!
admin · 24/03/2020 at 11:33 am
For March 2020 you can get £40 off any Turbo trainer over £400 with Tredz using code “MAR40”.
For Probikekit turbo trainers try “TRIVELO12” for a 12% discount.
Becky Khan · 26/03/2020 at 2:46 am
Wahoo is a fabulous piece of kit. If only it were cheaper. Recommend it though and any discount you can get all the better.
Jerry Sturges · 29/03/2020 at 10:39 pm
Very timely post. Useful list with the specs here and some price comparisons. Seems only way forwards in case lockdown becomes even more tightly controlled.
Vicky McKinnon · 31/03/2020 at 6:11 am
Love the Wahoo and always would get my vote. Strongly recommended.
Helen McGrath · 31/03/2020 at 10:32 pm
Shame the Wahoo is so expensive and at the moment prices seem to have been hiked up even higher.
Gary Edwards · 18/04/2020 at 9:03 pm
Turbo trainers seem to be like gold dust at the moment. Good to see at least some of these you have managed to find some suppliers with stock!!!
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