The best smart trainers - Video

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This article originally appeared on BikeRadar

Smart trainers allow third-party apps such as Zwift, TrainerRoad and The Sufferfest control of the resistance to replicate hills, headwinds and drafts inside groups, and also guide you through power-based interval workouts. I tested 10 of the best smart trainers on the market today — including models from Wahoo, Tacx, Elite, CycleOps and Kinetic — on Zwift and against pairs of power meters.

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Why a smart trainer?

So what is a smart trainer, you ask? 'Smart' here means two-way communication on speed, power and cadence with apps on your phone, tablet or computer.

It also means apps can control the trainer's resistance. So, when you come to a virtual hill or the start of a work interval, the trainer automatically makes it harder to pedal. Similarly, when riding in virtual groups, it adjusts for a draft: ride behind a big group and it's easier. Go to the front and it gets harder.

Smart trainers work on cycling's standard wireless ANT+ frequency and Bluetooth, which is native for many modern smartphones and laptops.

Best wheel-on smart trainers

Wahoo Kickr Snap

• £499 / $599 / AU/€ pricing unavailable
• Buy the Wahoo Kickr Snap now from Wahoo Fitness
• Pros: Steady feel, reliable power when calibrated
• Cons: Sluggish to recognize accelerations as power is measured behind flywheel
• Feel: Steady, secure
• Power accuracy: Very good, at <2% to meters' average
• Stability: Solid design, height-adjustable feet
• Noise: 70dB at 200w/80rpm; 81dB max
• Portability: Relatively easy with folding legs

Tacx Vortex

• £399 / $549 / AU/€ pricing unavailable
• Buy the Tacx Vortex now from Amazon
• Pros: Instant change in gradient resistance, steady feel, easy to set up, price — especially in the UK
• Cons: 2–3s delay in acceleration power, noisy, power reads high
• Feel: Good
• Power accuracy: Consistent, but 12% high compared to meters' average
• Stability: Good
• Noise: 73dB at 200w/80rpm; 90dB max
• Portability: Relatively easy with folding legs

Also consider

• Elite Qubo Digital Smart B+
• Elite Arion Digital Smart B+ Rollers
• Kinetic Rock and Roll Smart Control

Best direct-drive smart trainers

CycleOps Hammer

• £889 / $1,199 / €1,298.99 / AU$1,699
• Buy the CycleOps Hammer now from Chain Reaction Cycles
• Pros: Great calibration out of the box, solid stance, spring-loaded legs
• Cons: Price, noisier than the Wahoo Kickr and Tacx Neo
• Feel: Realistic
• Power accuracy: Excellent at 2% to power meters' average and highly consistent
• Stability: Rock solid at the base and the axle
• Noise: 72dB at 200w/80rpm; 86dB max
• Portability: Easy pop-out legs and wheel tray

Wahoo Kickr

• £999 / $1,199 / AU$/€ pricing N/A
• Buy the Wahoo Kickr Smart turbo trainer from Chain Reaction Cycles
• Pros: Early leader, software integrates well, dead level power in workout mode appealing to particular types
• Cons: Price, dead-level power might be unnatural for some
• Feel: Smooth
• Power accuracy: Excellent, at <1% to power meters' average
• Stability: Rock solid at the base and the axle
• Noise: 71dB at 200w/80rpm; 80dB max
• Portability: Big handle, pop-out legs

Tacx Neo Smart

• £1,249 / $1,599 / AU$1,899 / € pricing N/A
• Buy the Tacx Neo Smart from Chain Reaction Cycles
• Pros: Excellent virtual feel including boosts on downhills and varied vibrations on surfaces such as dirt, cobbles, wooden bridges, etc
• Cons: Price, no way to calibrate
• Feel: Incredible: smooth under virtual and workout modes, plus simulated road surface feel and sound
• Power accuracy: Excellent; very consistent but always a little lower than power meters
• Stability: Rock solid base, slight give at axle
• Noise: 70dB at 200w/80rpm; 80dB max
• Portability: Fold-up legs, no assembly required

Tacx Flux Smart

• £699 / $899 / AU$/€ pricing N/A
• Buy the Tacx Flux now from Chain Reaction Cycles
• Pros: Great price for direct drive, pretty quiet at steady power
• Cons: Fixed legs, good but not excellent power readings
• Feel: Smooth and steady
• Power accuracy: Consistent but high
• Stability: Rock solid tripod
• Noise: 70dB at 200w/80rpm; 86dB max
• Portability: Bolted legs

Elite Direto

• £749 / $899 / AU$/€ pricing N/A
• Order the Elite Direto now from Probikekit
• Pros: Great calibration out of the box, solid stance, spring-loaded legs
• Cons: Reactivting ERG causes 450w lurch (when reengaged at 180w), screw-on legs
• Feel: Good
• Power accuracy: Very good at <2% variance of power meters' average
• Stability: Rock-solid base, slight give at axle
• Noise: 71dB at 200w/80rpm; 80dB max
• Portability: Screw-on legs can pivot inwards

Smart trainer bottom line

You can read more at Cyclingnews.com

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