Many of the best treadmills are goliaths that can take up a ton of space, cost loads of money, and, when neglected, become looming reminders of your flagging fitness goals. The GoPlus 2-in-1 treadmill, also referred to as Superfit, is an affordable, space-saving alternative to those plus-sized machines. This treadmill has such a low profile that it can function as an under-desk treadmill.

Just like our favorite happy hour deal, this is a two-for-one model that allows you to jog at speeds up to 7.5 miles per hour or get those steps in as you fire off emails from your standing desk. To switch from one mode to the other, simply raise or lower the handrails. Our team of marathon runners, certified personal trainers, and fitness fanatics put this treadmill to the test, and while it’s not the most powerful or feature-rich treadmill around, we think users looking to improve their sleep, mental health, and cardiovascular health by logging more steps throughout their day will appreciate this compact machine. (1)

Main Takeaways

The GoPlus 2-in-1 treadmill can be used as an under-desk treadmill when the handles are folded down, or as a jogging treadmill when the handlebars are upright.

The 16-inch by 39.3-inch running deck supports walking and low-intensity cardio, but those interested in picking up their pace may prefer a longer 60-inch belt. (2)

This treadmill folds down when not in use, creating a slim 5-inch tall profile that can be stowed away.

GoPlus 2-in-1 Treadmill Highlights

Price: $289.99

Max Speed: 2.5mph (handlebars down); 7.5mph (handlebars up)

Motor Size: 2.25 HP

Weight Capacity: 265lbs

Product Dimensions: 44.5″ H x 52.5″ L x 29″ W; (folded) 5” H x 55” L x 29” W

Weight: 69.5lbs

“Treadmills are a great home gym item for individuals who want to increase their daily or weekly cardio exercise via walking, jogging, or running,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CF-L1, CES, CSNC. “Even if you don’t use a treadmill daily, it’s a great item to have for instances in which you can’t or don’t want to walk or run outside.” 

Designed for low-impact exercise at home or the office, the GoPlus 2-in-1 Treadmill has the unique ability to operate as both a jogging treadmill and an under-desk cardio machine. With its handrails raised, the GoPlus supports jogs up to 7.5 miles per hour; lower the handrails and you log steps at speeds up to 2.5 miles per hour.

The Goplus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill being folded flat.

This treadmill isn’t, in our humble opinion, meant for running. While its top speed of 7.5 miles per hour supports an 8-minute mile, we think the 2.25 HP motor and 39.3-inch belt deck is more suited for walking and light jogging. “People who intend to run or sprint on their treadmill should look for a running deck of at least 60 inches in length,” notes Capritto. “Walkers and joggers can get away with shorter decks, unless they are really tall individuals.”

However, we think this is one of the best under-desk treadmills due in part to its compact profile when folded, shrinking down from 44 inches to just 5 inches tall. This height allows for an easy fit under desks and easy storage under beds or furniture. 

Tech capabilities are limited, but that’s to be expected with a budget buy. The included remote allows you to start, stop, and adjust the speed of your walk or jog. While this remote is the only way you can start the treadmill, some users have had success with the Gymax app, which can connect to your treadmill and work as a remote.

A 2-inch LED display is located at the base of the treadmill and provides basic stats like speed, time, distance traveled, and calories burned. There’s also a Bluetooth speaker, which is a nice detail you don’t often see on budget treadmills. Just don’t expect it to produce high-quality audio.

When your workout is done, just tip this treadmill up onto its transport wheels and roll it out of the way. When folded up, this treadmill measures just 5 inches tall and takes up 11.08 square feet — about one-third the footprint of a queen-size mattress. (3)

While tech capabilities are limited, the affordable $289.99 price tag is hard to beat. So for those specifically looking for a budget under-desk treadmill to keep their body moving while they’re slinging Slacks (sending text messages to coworkers, not selling pants, unless your job is selling pants, and if that’s the case, sling on), keep reading to see why this treadmill may or may not be a good pick for you. 

Pros

When folded, this treadmill’s height shrinks from 44.5 inches down to 5 inches, allowing for use under desks and storage under couches and beds.

Users can walk at a 2.5 mile per hour pace from their desks, or pop the handlebars up to take their speed up to 7.5 miles per hour.

The $289.99 price tag makes this one of the best treadmills under $500. 

Cons

The 39.3 inch belt deck is much smaller than the 55- to 60-inch decks we recommend for running, making this treadmill best for low-intensity cardio.

The 2.24 HP motor can struggle to start the deck when a user is standing on top of it.

This treadmill should not be used on carpeted floors, as the brand says this can cause the motor to overheat.

Training With the GoPlus 2-in-1 Treadmill

“Almost everyone can benefit from walking more, considering the mostly sedentary lifestyle we lead today,” says BarBend’s expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CF-L1, CES, CSNC.

“The health benefits of walking are numerous and profound.” As such, our tester uses this treadmill for multiple hours several days a week, logging steps while he works from his desk.

Our tester walking on the Goplus 2 in 1 Folding Treadmill.

He took this machine to its top speed, experimented with the remote control, and took note of pain points and positive impressions during testing. Additionally, I wrote this article while walking on my under-desk treadmill —shoutout Egofit Walker Pro — to see truly how easy or difficult it is to multitask while working from home.

We rated the GoPlus 2-in-1 Treadmill using our multi-point methodology, scoring categories such as workout experience, durability, warranty, and tech features on a scale of 1 (not impressed) to 5 (yes, queen).

For being a machine that’s only $289.99 — well below the $1,000+ you’ll pay for one of the best commercial treadmills — it managed to rake up some impressive scores across the board. Footprint and portability, delivery and setup, customer reviews, workout experience, and customer service all scored a 4 out of 5 with our tester.

Ready, Set, Go

Unboxing this was a breeze and setup was easy since this treadmill comes nearly ready to go right out of the box. All we had to do was lubricate the running deck and attach the handrails and phone holder. An easy assembly process? We’re here for it. The power cord that comes with this treadmill is short, so, depending on where you’re setting up, you may need to have an extension cord handy. Delivery and setup scored a 4 out of 5.

Our BarBend product tester holding the adjustable handlebar on the Goplus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill.

Once it’s plugged in, you’ll need to have the magnetic safety key inserted or else you’ll get this cute little error message on the LED display. This safety key is bright red and it plugs in right under the main handlebar. Should you want to stop the treadmill suddenly, just go ahead and pull this key out. 

If you find you’re having trouble starting the treadmill, our tester suggests starting from off of the running deck, since the 2.25 HP motor can struggle to start when weight is loaded.

[Related: The 8 Best Folding Treadmills]

Once up and running, this treadmill has a fairly quiet motor, which makes focusing on firing off emails that much easier.

Workout Experience

When the handrails are up, users can pick up their pace with a max speed of 7.5 miles per hour. The upright handrails are set at a fixed height of 3.5 feet, which may be too short for some taller runners. Once folded down, the max speed drops to just 2.5 miles per hour, which should be plenty for those using this machine at their desks. 

Our product tester walking on the Goplus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill with the handlebar down.

“The running belt isn’t very cushioned or comfortable,” noted our tester, who scored ergonomics a 3.5 out of 5. The belt measures 39.3 inches long, a length best suited for walking and light jogs. Capritto recommends belt decks of 55 to 60 inches for running. 

Additionally, the 2.25HP motor is less powerful than the 3.0 CHP motors we like to recommend for runners, though it should support low-intensity exercise just fine. 

“It’s a simple machine, but it’s exactly what I wanted from an under-desk treadmill,” noted our tester, who scored their overall workout experience a 4 out of 5.

Tech Capabilities

You won’t find a touchscreen on this electric treadmill, but there is a 2-inch LED screen that provides stats like speed, time, distance, and calories burned. It also includes a remote control to start, stop, and adjust your speed. “I mean, I don’t really trust the data from the LED screen, but I’m not really using this to track stats anyway,” said our tester. “But as an under-desk treadmill I can use while I work, the price is awesome.”

This walking pad treadmill has some Bluetooth capabilities. You can pair a mobile device with the Gymax app, which doubles as a remote control, or with the built-in speaker. However, our tester wasn’t impressed with the speaker’s audio quality, scoring tech capabilities a 3 out of 5.

Compact Design

A lack of space doesn’t need to impact your cardio routine. There’s no space in my apartment for a treadmill, but my walking treadmill fits snugly under my desk and squeezes into my closet when I want it out of my sight. 

The GoPlus 2-in-1 treadmill takes up 11.08 square feet of floor space, and measures just 5 inches tall when the handrails are folded down. If your standing desk is adjustable, like our tester’s, you may also be able to use the GoPlus with its handrails up, as they stand just 3.5 feet high. 

We think it’s worth mentioning, though, that if you choose to attach the parallel handrails when the front handrail is up, you won’t be able to fold this treadmill completely flat.

Our product tester unlatching the handlebar on the Goplus 2 in 1 Folding Treadmill.

Overall, this is one of the best compact treadmills we’ve tested, weighing in at a manageable 69.5 pounds. It also has a set of built-in transport wheels that make moving it from the living room to the office and back again that much easier. 

However, the wheels are made of plastic and don’t feel very durable. Our tester had no problems moving this treadmill from room to room, but I will say that my under-desk treadmill is about 10 pounds lighter and lifting it up to place it under my desk definitely gets my heart rate up.

What to Consider Before Buying the GoPlus 2-in-1 Treadmill

Treadmills, even the budget options, are available with a large variety of different features, from motor horsepower to incline/decline levels to console specifications and accessories,” says Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC “This can make it overwhelming to shop for one and difficult to make a decision, but luckily, our expert equipment testers can help you choose based on their experience with various budget treadmills.”

As someone who uses a walking treadmill while they work (and is currently walking on one right now), a budget under-desk treadmill for walking is a fantastic addition to a workspace. My gym routine often suffers due to my work schedule, and walking while I work has helped me feel accomplished, brightened my mood, and allowed me the opportunity to get a workout in while I’m unable to get away. However, there are some key areas you’ll need to consider before you bring a treadmill into your home.

Footprint

It doesn’t matter how fantastic the treadmill is if it doesn’t fit in your space. Before you get too excited about a particular treadmill, bust out the old tape measure to see what you’re working with. Once you know the amount of space you have available, you’ll be able to navigate options knowing what exactly will fit. Capritto adds, “Check the overall length, width, and height of the machine in its assembled position and folded position if applicable. And triple-measure your space to make sure it will fit.”

We think the GoPlus 2-in-1 is one of the best treadmills for apartments and small spaces due to its compact footprint. It takes up 11.03 square feet of floor space, and measures just 5 inches tall when folded.

Weight Capacity

While compact home gym equipment is great for those in small spaces, these bite-sized units tend to have lower weight capacities than their full-sized brethren. We tend to recommend treadmills with at least a 300-pound user weight limit, but that’s rare for walking treadmills and models designed with small, portable footprints. 

The GoPlus 2-in-1 treadmill has a user weight capacity of 265 pounds, which is actually higher than many other budget options by nearly 50 pounds. If you’re in need of a machine with a higher user weight limit, check out our roundup of the best treadmills for heavy people.

Walking or Running?

It’s simple. Do you want to run on your treadmill, or do you want to walk? While the GoPlus 2-in-1 supports walking and jogging, we wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who wants to sprint or engage in HIIT training. 

The 2.25 HP motor, for example, falls short of what we tend to recommend for runners. “Ideally, a running treadmill will have a powerful motor with at least 3.0 CHP. The best (and usually most expensive) models have a CHP of up to 4.0,” says Capritto.

For clarity, HP stands for horsepower and CHP stands for continuous horsepower. Generally, CHP motors are stronger than HP motors, and can better withstand repeated use.

Additionally, the belt deck on the GoPlus 2-in-1 treadmill is only 39.3 inches long, which should accommodate most users as they walk. My under-desk treadmill has a similar belt deck length and at 5 feet 5 inches, I’m perfectly comfortable walking on it. Those looking to run should consider a treadmill with a belt deck between 55 and 60 inches (and then check out our roundup of the best treadmills for running).

GoPlus 2-in-1 Treadmill Vs. The Competition

We’ve tested more than 40 treadmills, including many budget-minded options comparable to the GoPlus 2-in-1. Cardio machines under $600 aren’t typically designed with heavy use and high-intensity training in mind, but there are still some quality options to check out. Below, we’ve compared the key features of the GoPlus 2-in-1 to those of its competition. 

If you’re in the market for an under-desk treadmill, the Egofit Walker Pro and the WalkingPad C2  are the closest competitors to the GoPlus 2-in-1. Personally, I felt very conflicted between these three options when I was looking for a walking treadmill, but I opted for the Egofit Walker Pro due to its fixed 5 percent incline. However, if you want the ability to pick up the pace, the GoPlus 2-in-1 may be a better option due to its higher 2.25 horsepower and max speed of 7.5 miles per hour. The Egofit can only reach 3.1 miles per hour.

I considered the WalkingPad C2 briefly, due to its impressive folding capabilities. It folds up into a compact cube, but the $599 price felt unreasonable compared to the rest.

If you’ve got a need for speed, the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 and XTERRA Fitness TR150 reach speeds of 9 and 10 miles per hour, respectively. Neither of them are under-desk treadmills, however, nor are their user weight capacities as impressive as the GoPlus 2-in-1.

[Related: XTERRA Fitness TR150 Treadmill Review]

The big mark against the GoPlus 2-in-1 is its 90-day warranty period. This warranty scored a 3 out of 5 with our tester, who noted, “You get 90 days to return this product as long as it’s still in like-new condition, which is great. But that’s also the amount of time you have for your warranty, which makes it a bad warranty.”

However, if you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, the GoPlus 2-in-1’s price is between $100 and $300 less expensive than the competition. 

Places to Buy the GoPlus 2-in-1 Treadmill

You can purchase the GoPlus 2-in-1 treadmill on the GoPlus website or via third-party retailers like Amazon and Bed Bath and Beyond.

Customer Experience

The GoPlus treadmill arrived at our tester’s home within two weeks and required minimal assembly. The only thing our tester needed to do was apply lubricant to the belt deck. We really appreciated that two bottles of lubricant came with the treadmill. The free shipping didn’t hurt, either.

Our tester scored this product’s customer reviews a 4 out of 5 after scouring its 10,000 reviews on Amazon. The most common praise related to the ease of assembly, size, value, and maneuverability, while people had mixed opinions on performance, sturdiness, noise, and quality. One 5-star review had some sage words of advice: “Unless you are going to go BIG and spend $1,500 to $2,500… I would suggest going for the cheapest [treadmill] and replacing it every few years.”

Warranties

The GoPlus 2-in-1 has a 90-day warranty, and users can return this treadmill in that time frame as long as it’s in good condition. While we don’t expect budget treadmills to have the kind of five-year to lifetime frame warranties you’re likely to get with the best high-end treadmills, we still would have liked to see a warranty of at least a year on this machine. 

Company Information

GoPlus Corps was founded in 2013 and manufactures a wide range of exercise equipment, automotive tools, home and garden goods, and medical devices, in addition to the 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill.

To contact GoPlus, you can email them at support@goplusus.com. You can also reach them by phone between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. PST from Monday to Friday at 844-242-1885.

In Conclusion

The market is awash with budget treadmills, and navigating your options can be a painstaking process. Our goal is to assist your efforts with hands-on use and years of experience. We think that the GoPlus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill is a worthwhile investment for those specifically looking to increase their step count from their work or home office. This is a simple cardio machine, with a slim profile, transport wheels, and speed capabilities up to 7.5 miles per hour.

If you’re a runner looking to pick up the pace, we’d suggest looking at treadmills at a higher price point that can provide a 3.0 CHP motor, a 55- to 60-inch belt deck, and higher speed ranges. For those who are just looking for an affordable way to stay active throughout their day, the GoPlus 2-in-1 may be just the right foldable treadmill for you.

FAQs

References

Ungvari, Z., Fazekas-Pongor, V., Csiszar, A., & Kunutsor, S. K. (2023). The multifaceted benefits of walking for healthy aging: from Blue Zones to molecular mechanisms. GeroScience, 45(6), 3211–3239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-023-00873-8

Cavanagh, P. R., & Kram, R. (1989). Stride length in distance running: velocity, body dimensions, and added mass effects. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 21(4), 467–479.

Ling, V. (2024) Guide to Mattress Sizes and Dimensions. National Council on Aging. https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/sleep/mattress-sizes/

The post GoPlus 2-in-1 Treadmill Review (2024): A Low-Cost Treadmill for Low-Intensity Cardio appeared first on BarBend.

As a strength athlete, you likely have a working estimate of your one-rep max in different lifts at any given time. It informs your training day to day and week to week. But when it comes to hopping on the treadmill and getting our heart rates up, we may tend to be a little less informed.

Credit: Ljupco Smokovski / Shutterstock

But knowing your maximum heart rate is a fantastic tool for improving your cardiovascular fitness. It’s also a good piece of information to have in your back pocket to keep tabs on your overall health. For insight into what goes into your HRmax and why it’s so important, I chatted with Calum Fraser, physiotherapist and owner of Advantage Healthcare and Physiotherapy. You’ll learn how to calculate your max heart rate and why you’ll want to. 

What Is Your Maximum Heart Rate?

Your maximum heart rate (MHR or HRmax), defined plainly, is the fastest rate at which your heart can beat. More specifically, max heart rate signifies how quickly your heart can beat when your body is under stress during physical activity. It’s measured in beats per minute (BPM). 

What Is a Resting Heart Rate?

Your resting heart rate (RHR) refers to how quickly (or slowly) your heart beats when your body is at rest. Also measured in beats per minute, your resting heart rate can change throughout the day and is usually lower during deep sleep than during the day. 

[Read More: The Best Fitness Apps on the Market]

A “normal” resting heart rate for the average adult is considered to be 60 to 100 BPM, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). What’s considered healthy varies by age, activity level, and other factors — athletes may have a resting heart rate as low as 40 BPM, according to Harvard Health. 

Factors That Impact Your Heart Rate

Let’s take a look at some things that can alter your resting heart rate and max heart rate. 

Genetics: Genetics influence heart rate just like they do other human characteristics. Some people have a naturally higher or slower resting heart rate than others. Genetics also influence an individual’s heart rate response to exercise. (1) 

Age: The defined “normal” range for resting heart rate changes with age. It’s higher for infants and young children, lower for teens and adults, and higher for older adults. (2)

Fitness Level: One’s resting heart rate generally decreases as your cardiovascular fitness increases. (3)

Gender: People assigned female at birth have a higher heart rate than individuals assigned male at birth, by a few beats per minute. (4)

Stress: Acute stress, physical or emotional, elevates the heart rate. Chronic stress may alter your heart rate, according to the AHA. (5)

Sleep: Being short on rest time, especially chronically, may increase your resting heart rate. (6)

Nutrition: Emerging research suggests that micronutrient intake may change resting heart rate. Sugar, alcohol, and caffeine are known to affect heart rate, and simply eating a meal elicits an acute cardiovascular response (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)

Medical Conditions: Any form of heart disease, including high blood pressure, can alter your resting heart rate and exercising heart rates. Beta-blockers, for instance, slow your heart rate, which means you may need to adjust your HRmax. (12)

Pregnancy: Pregnancy alters many physiological functions, including heart rate. (13)

Weather Conditions During Exercise: When exercising, environmental conditions affect your heart rate. In hot conditions, your heart rate will be higher than it would be for the same session at a more comfortable temperature. If you’re training at higher altitudes than you’re used to, expect your HRmax to decrease. (14)(15)

Why Calculate Your Maximum Heart Rate?

Knowing your HRmax helps you plan workouts that suit you, Fraser explains. This especially applies if you’re an athlete, and even more so if you’re an endurance athlete. 

“For sports like long-distance running or cycling, understanding your HRmax helps you train smarter to improve your heart health and avoid getting hurt,” Fraser explains. 

Low- and moderate-intensity training is important for endurance athletes. If you know your heart rate range for each target zone, you can avoid strength training at a vigorous intensity when you should be training at a moderate intensity. 

[Read More: The Ultimate Guide to Heart Rate Variability and Strength Training]

This is important because endurance athletes are training to be more aerobic (long, lower-intensity efforts) so that their bodies can sustain efforts for longer periods. Training too much in anaerobic zones (short, higher-intensity efforts) can backfire for the endurance athlete. 

“Non-[competitive] athletes too can benefit from knowing their HRmax,” Fraser continues. “It can help them structure their fitness regimen within safe limits, minimizing the risk of overstressing the heart, especially for those with underlying heart conditions.”

How to Estimate Your Maximum Heart Rate

There are a variety of methods for estimating your HRmax. Let’s go through a few here.

Estimated Maximum Heart Rate Formula (Fox Formula)

The age-predicted formula, 220 minus age, is the simplest and most common way for individuals to calculate their max heart rate. While it’s a good starting point, Fraser emphasizes that it’s just an approximation and does not account for any individual factors aside from age. 

Tanaka Formula 

Another age-based equation, the Tanaka equation is 208 minus 0.7 × age. Again, it provides only a rough estimate, Fraser says, and doesn’t factor in fitness level or other important considerations. (16)

Gulati Formula 

The Gulati formula was developed specifically for cisgender women after researchers found that other methods tended to overestimate max heart rate for people assigned female at birth. The equation is 206 minus 0.88 x age. Even though this equation accounts for sex assigned at birth, it still fails to account for genetics, fitness level, health conditions, and other factors. (17)

Karvonen Formula

This formula is more complex and builds upon the Fox Formula, using your heart rate reserve (HRR) to determine maximum heart rate at a given exercise intensity. Your HRR is the difference between your max heart rate and resting heart rate (RHR). 

[Read More: The Best Workout Apps for Women on the Market]

You can use this formula to find target heart rate zones for exercise. For example, the Karvonen formula can tell you how fast your heart should beat when exercising at a 75-percent intensity level. 

Heart Rate Calculator 

There are a number of calculators online that can do all of that math for you. Just be sure to choose a calculator that has your desired formula programmed. 

Fitness Trackers

If you’re not a fan of math (I don’t blame you!), formulas are not the only way to estimate your max heart rate. If you have a heart rate monitor or fitness tracker, you can use that to get an idea of your resting heart rate and your heart rate at different effort levels while exercising. 

You’ll need to understand the concept of RPE — rating of perceived exertion — for this method to be beneficial. The idea is that you can correlate your effort level to the heart rate reading on your fitness watch. Over time, you can come to conclusions like, “When I’m running all out, huffing and puffing, and can’t talk at all, my watch reads between 175 and 185 beats per minute.” 

In that case, you can reasonably assume that your max HR is around 185 beats per minute. 

Credit: Prostock-studio / Shutterstock

This method isn’t foolproof — fitness trackers aren’t 100 percent accurate — but it has the added benefit of providing more data over time. If you record data consistently, you can uncover patterns and then use that information to guide training intensity and exercise programs.

Some trackers, like WHOOP and various Garmin watches, will provide you with a heart rate max estimate after gathering enough data. 

“In terms of fitness trackers, while advancement in wearable technology has improved their accuracy, it can vary among different devices and under different exercise conditions,” Fraser says. “Therefore, they should not be used as a replacement for traditional testing methods, especially for individuals with medical conditions.”

Field Test 

You may be able to squeeze more accurate data out of your heart rate monitor by completing a field test. One example is INSCYD. This exercise test protocol has the athlete perform a number of running or biking intervals, with efforts ranging from warmups to moderate-intensity efforts to all-out sprints. INSCYD uses data collected by the fitness tracker, plus other data points like age, gender, and body fat percentage, to determine your max heart rate, VO2 max, and heart rate training zones. 

Stress Test 

For even greater accuracy, a lab test is the recommended option. A graded exercise test (GXT) evaluates your body’s physiological response to exercise. During such a test, you’ll exercise on a treadmill or exercise bike as instructed by the technician, gradually increasing your speed until you reach various thresholds, including your aerobic threshold and anaerobic threshold. A GXT can tell you key data points like your HRmax and VO2 max.

How to Use Your Heart Rate in Training

Now that you know how to find your max heart rate and heart rate zones, it’s time to deploy that knowledge to improve your physical fitness. 

From a fitness professional’s standpoint, knowing one’s HRmax is essential for exercise prescription, particularly for endurance athletes. That key number allows a personal trainer or coach to determine target heart rate zones at various exercise intensities, thus maximizing training load and training responses. 

In addition to knowing your HRmax, you must also be familiar with the standard heart rate zones: 

Once you know your maximum heart rate, you can calculate your heart rate zones and use them as a guide for training. Instead of guessing what intensity you’re working at, you’ll have concrete data to base your training sessions around. 

[Read More: The Best Lower Chest Exercises for Building Strong and Full Pecs]

It’s also helpful to understand the benefits of training in each zone. 

Takeaways

Your max heart rate refers to the maximum number of beats your heart can complete per minute while exercising 

Many factors, including age, gender, fitness level, and pregnancy, can impact your resting heart rate 

There are several formulas you can use to find your max heart rate. Or, you can do a field test or lab test to find it. 

Knowing your HRmax can help you maximize your training, particularly for endurance athletes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Editor’s Note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. When starting a new training regimen and/or diet, it is always a good idea to consult with a trusted medical professional. We are not a medical resource. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. They are not substitutes for consulting a qualified medical professional.

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Santos MA, Sousa AC, Reis FP, Santos TR, Lima SO, Barreto-Filho JA. Does the aging process significantly modify the Mean Heart Rate? Arq Bras Cardiol. 2013 Nov;101(5):388-98.

Pinckard K, Baskin KK, Stanford KI. Effects of Exercise to Improve Cardiovascular Health. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2019 Jun 4;6:69. 

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Lopresti AL. Association between Micronutrients and Heart Rate Variability: A Review of Human Studies. Adv Nutr. 2020 May 1;11(3):559-575

Eckstein ML, Brockfeld A, Haupt S, Schierbauer JR, Zimmer RT, Wachsmuth NB, Zunner BEM, Zimmermann P, Erlmann M, Obermayer-Pietsch B, Aberer F, Moser O. Acute Changes in Heart Rate Variability to Glucose and Fructose Supplementation in Healthy Individuals: A Double-Blind Randomized Crossover Placebo-Controlled Trial. Biology (Basel). 2022 Feb 21;11(2):338.

Pop GN, Christodorescu R, Velimirovici DE, Sosdean R, Corbu M, Bodea O, Valcovici M, Dragan S. Assessment of the Impact of Alcohol Consumption Patterns on Heart Rate Variability by Machine Learning in Healthy Young Adults. Medicina (Kaunas). 2021 Sep 11;57(9):956.

Gonzaga LA, Vanderlei LCM, Gomes RL, Valenti VE. Caffeine affects autonomic control of heart rate and blood pressure recovery after aerobic exercise in young adults: a crossover study. Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 26;7(1):14091.

Täubel J, Ferber G, Van Langenhoven L, Del Bianco T, Fernandes S, Djumanov D, Kanters JK, Graff C, Camm AJ. The Cardiovascular Effects of a Meal: J-Tpeak and Tpeak -Tend Assessment and Further Insights Into the Physiological Effects. J Clin Pharmacol. 2019 Jun;59(6):799-810.

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Bossung V, Singer A, Ratz T, Rothenbühler M, Leeners B, Kimmich N. Changes in Heart Rate, Heart Rate Variability, Breathing Rate, and Skin Temperature throughout Pregnancy and the Impact of Emotions-A Longitudinal Evaluation Using a Sensor Bracelet. Sensors (Basel). 2023 Jul 23;23(14):6620. 

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Mallet RT, Burtscher J, Richalet JP, Millet GP, Burtscher M. Impact of High Altitude on Cardiovascular Health: Current Perspectives. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2021 Jun 8;17:317-335.

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Abdelmoneim SS, Gulati M, Mulvagh SL, et al. Impact of utilizing a women-based formula for determining adequacy of the chronotropic response during exercise treadmill testing. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2015;24(3):174-181.

Featured Image: Credit: Ljupco Smokovski / Shutterstock

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The best ellipticals we’ve tested tend to feature adjustable resistance levels, cutting-edge tech, and even incline and decline capabilities. Of course, these machines can also take up a lot of space, looming there in the shadows where you used to keep your great-grandmother’s urn. Sorry, Nana, there’s just no room for the both of you. But did you know some ellipticals can fold? It’s true. We’ve seen it with our own eyes. That’s why we put our noggins on the path to finding the best folding ellipticals so you can get your sweat on and then make room for more important things.

Ellipticals provide low-impact cardio that targets the upper and lower body and have been shown to improve sleep quality, lift your spirits, and strengthen your heart, but there are several things you’ll want to consider before bringing a folding model into your home. (1) How much training intensity do you want? How much space do you have available? How heavy is too heavy when moving an elliptical? Our expert testers considered these questions while selecting the best folding ellipticals. Read on for our top picks.

Best Folding Ellipticals

Best Folding Elliptical Overall: YOUNGFIT Foldable Elliptical Machine

Best Budget Folding Elliptical: Sunny Health & Fitness Air Walk Trainer

Best Portable Folding Elliptical: Gazelle Sprinter

How We Tested and Chose the Best Folding Ellipticals

The team here at BarBend is stacked — I mean, it’s really unfair to the competition. We’ve got former D1 athletes, CrossFit coaches, and certified personal trainers who are eager to help you find the right fitness equipment to support your fitness goals. We’ve tried and tested more than 20 of the most popular elliptical machines on the market, taking note of options with folding capabilities and how those options stack up.

Our testing methodology utilizes a 5-point scale, from 1 (bad) to 5 (we love it) in categories such as portability, workout experience, durability, and tech capabilities. Below are a few specific areas we focused on when making our choices.

Foldability

Obviously, each of our choices needed to have the ability to shrink when not in use for simpler storage and transport. While browsing the options available, we kept our eyes on how easy this foldability was for the user and how compact each exercise machine became once folded like a piece of origami. 

While most ellipticals fold inward like an accordion — increasing the height and shortening the footprint — we also sought to include an option with the ability to decrease in height for those interested in tucking it behind furniture. 

Price

Unlike the best commercial ellipticals which can cost an arm and a leg — or, in mathematical terms, between about $1,000 to $1,800 — folding ellipticals are much more affordable. Knowing that tech features, construction, and durability are often limited on these models, we made sure that their price tags reflected their limitations. Our list includes models that range from $159.99 to $479 — well under the average for high-end ellipticals — while still offering adjustable levels of resistance, LCD monitors to track metrics, and user weight limits up to 330 pounds.

Features 

“Budget-friendly [equipment] won’t boast the hottest new LED touchscreen display, but that doesn’t mean you should settle for nothing,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC. “Look for, at a minimum, an LCD console that displays your current speed, time elapsed…and distance covered.” 

While even compact ellipticals can come with impressive technology and fancy features, folding ellipticals with advanced features and impressive functionality are limited. Many of our options provide simple low-impact workout experiences, and tech is limited to basic LCD screens to help track user metrics. However, there are some options with resistance adjustments, heart rate monitors, and tablet holders to stream content from your own device. 

[Related: The 7 Best Compact Ellipticals]

Durability

A quick look at a machine’s weight capacity can help determine its durability. “The industry standard is 300 pounds, [but] budget-friendly ellipticals are likely to have a lower weight capacity,” notes Capritto.  While not all of our choices reached that standard, we still made sure to note how much weight it could support. Additionally, we combed through customer reviews in search of common complaints related to the longevity of each item, sharing our findings in the reviews below.

Best Folding Elliptical Overall: YOUNGFIT Foldable Elliptical Machine

If you don’t want your elliptical being the first thing people notice when they enter your home — perhaps you’ve got a green velvet couch sitting right there front and center, begging for attention — the YOUNGFIT Foldable Elliptical Machine can fold down and roll out of the way. We like this folding elliptical because of its 22 levels of magnetic resistance, 330-pound user weight capacity, and ability to shrink from 63 inches tall down to just 15 inches, thus keeping home gym equipment eyesores to a minimum.

When not in use, transport wheels can help move this machine around. We recommend moving the machine while it’s unfolded since pressing down on the handles will help give you leverage to tip the machine onto its transport wheels. Once it’s where you want it, you can fold the moving handles and center console down onto the base of the machine. While this doesn’t change the footprint, it will save on height, making storage behind couches ideal.

Many online reviewers appreciated the limited noise produced by this elliptical. Similar to some complaints we’ve seen for even the best folding exercise bikes, however, some mentioned that they didn’t always feel steady. One review noted, “[This is a] whisper quiet, easily movable elliptical,” while another review said that it “wobbles when [I’m] using it.”

This YOUNGFIT profile has one of the highest levels of resistance we’ve seen among folding ellipticals. It has 22 total levels of resistance, a wide range that we believe can accommodate both beginners and seasoned athletes. These 22 levels are on par with what you’ll find on many commercial ellipticals, which tend to provide between 16 and 26 levels. 

While there’s lots of good in this compact package, one thing to consider is the limited 15-inch stride length. We like to recommend 17 to 20-inch stride lengths for most users, and taller riders may find the 15-inch stride length limiting.

This machine doesn’t need to be plugged into a wall, and the only juice needed is for the LCD monitor, which is powered by two AAA batteries (not included). While tech is limited, the LCD provides stats like time, speed, distance, and calories burned, as well as heart rate readings, pulled from pulse sensors located on the stationary handles. For those looking for an affordable folding elliptical with a large range of training intensities, this choice may be just the ticket.

Best Budget Folding Elliptical: Sunny Health & Fitness Air Walk Trainer

The Sunny Health & Fitness Air Walk Trainer is our choice for the best budget folding elliptical due to its sweet $159.99 price tag, a drop in the bucket compared to other budget ellipticals, many of which will run you more than $500. You won’t find much tech on this model for that price, but it does have an LCD monitor that displays time, calories burned, and step count so you can keep tabs on your stats. 

The Air Walker takes up just 3.3 square feet of space and, when not in use, it can fold up to a measly 1.98 square feet (a little smaller than an 18-inch throw pillow). “If you’re thinking you don’t have room for [an elliptical], this is what you can get,” noted one customer review. 

Plus, at only 37 pounds, most users should be able to easily move it out of the way when not in use. However, we do wish there were included transport wheels to help the process that much more. 

[Related: The Best Budget Home Gym Equipment]

Of course, budget home gym equipment has its shortcomings. The 220-pound user weight limit is 80 pounds less than the standard 300-pound limit we like to see, and the lack of resistance adjustments likely won’t support athletes looking for a high-intensity home workout. 

There are also some mixed reviews about the comfort of this elliptical’s stride.“The stride…is determined by the user as the machine is basically a free-swinging pendulum,” noted one customer review. “In practice, I find it hard to take really long strides on this, but the range is certainly comfortable for me.” 

We’d describe this machine as more of a glider than a typical elliptical machine, making it most suitable for older adults or those who are looking for a low-impact way to stay active. Gliders tend to keep your legs straight as you swing them back and forth, while ellipticals mimic more of a stepper running motion by forcing the user to bend and straighten their legs. 

Best Portable Folding Elliptical: Gazelle Sprinter

The Gazelle Sprinter is our choice for best portable folding elliptical due to its reasonable 40-pound weight, folding capabilities, and built-in transport wheels. This unit folds up almost totally flat, with a height that shrinks from 53.45 inches down to 8.5 inches. It’s worth noting, though, that storing this under low-profile furniture may be difficult, as its curved handles stick up a bit.

For users looking to move this machine from room to room, there’s no need to find an outlet or pull out an extension cord to make sure you’re set for your workout. This elliptical doesn’t require electricity, though you will need two AAA batteries (included with your purchase) for the display. 

This display can deliver readings from the pulse sensors located on the unit’s fixed handlebars, allowing you to track your fat-burning heart rate zone. It can also track your speed, distance, and time.

We also like the device holder located on the crossbar between the handles, as it allows you to stream content from your own phone or tablet while you stride. However, you may have to turn the volume up, as some customers have complained about the noise made by this machine. 

“Periodically, it squeaked or clicked or made some other rhythmic noise… not loud, but annoying enough when watching TV,” noted one customer review. Other customers have mentioned how increasing the resistance also increased the noise.

There are 10 levels of hydraulic resistance, which we appreciate. However, this resistance can only be adjusted while the unit is not in use. To make this adjustment, users will need to manually remove the hydraulic pins and choose a new level of tension. 

Customers also appreciated this resistance capability. “The hydraulic [resistance] is a must for anyone in decent cardio shape already,” mentioned a review. “The hydraulics make for a tougher workout,” noted another.

Users will have more of a straight leg while using this machine, as compared to the running motion facilitated by typical ellipticals. However, the adjustable resistance can allow users to increase their intensity or work towards progressive overload as their strength and cardio endurance improve.

Benefits of Folding Ellipticals

Folding ellipticals can help users work up a sweat while protecting their knees and joints from impact. In addition, these machines’ compact footprints fold up to even more compact footprints, providing users with limited space access to low-impact cardio sessions.

Space-Saving and Lightweight

“People interested in an elliptical for home use will be pleased to find that ellipticals come in a wide range of sizes and styles, with many different options to suit different needs and budgets,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC.

Most cardio machines are available in foldable models, and ellipticals are no exception. While some fold in on themselves, halving their footprints, others fold down, allowing for easy storage behind couches. The ability to fold your elliptical and store it in a closet, under a bed, or behind furniture allows those living in tight quarters or with limited space access to these machines.

Low-Impact Cardio

When looking for a cardio alternative to running, an elliptical is a worthwhile consideration to protect knees and joints. “For those who need low-impact exercise options, ellipticals sit near the top of the list. These cardio machines provide a full-body workout without putting undue stress on the joints,” notes Capritto.

Maintaining constant contact with the foot pedals while on an elliptical machine incurs less downward gravity force —like the repeated banging often experienced with running — and is why this type of low-impact cardio is beneficial for those who struggle with knee and joint pain. (2)

Total Body Workout

Ellipticals are great for increasing your cardiovascular health, but they’ll also get your upper body, lower body, and core working. (1) One study showed that training on an elliptical, in comparison to walking and cycling, elicited the greatest activation in users’ quadriceps and co-activation of quadriceps and hamstrings than the rest. (3) The booty is also joining in on the fun, with the glutes activating during this work. (4)

We wouldn’t want to leave the upper body out of the equation, and users can get their biceps, triceps, chest, and back in on the benefits by pushing and pulling on the moving handlebars.

Affordable

“Budget-friendly [equipment] specifically provides access to exercise for A) individuals with a lower income who know they are ready to commit to exercise and B) individuals at any income level to test the waters in this exercise category without spending thousands of dollars on a machine they may end up not using,” notes Capritto. While you won’t find fancy tech features or added conveniences on these folding ellipticals, they provide a reasonable entry point into elliptical fitness for those on a budget. 

How Much Do Folding Ellipticals Cost?

The price range for these compact cross trainers is on the lower end of ellipticals, which can cost up to several thousand dollars. The options on our list range in price from $159.99 to $479, with higher-priced models offering more levels of resistance and heart rate monitors.

All of these machines resemble traditional ellipticals in that they pair pedals with a set of moving arms. They’re also all non-motorized and feature basic LCD displays to help track your training metrics. There are, however, some notable differences between each choice.

The YOUNGFIT Foldable Elliptical Machine is the most expensive option, and is also the most like a traditional elliptical, as the rest are best viewed as gliders. It also supports high-intensity training thanks to its 22 resistance levels, a wide range on par with pricier models. 

The Sunny Health & Fitness Air Walk Trainer is our most budget-friendly option, coming in at just $159.99. This machine has limited adjustments, and may only be suitable for seniors, beginners, or those just looking to add some movement to their day.

The Gazelle Sprinter is a mid-range option. Its glider-like form resembles the Air Walker, but it distinguishes itself with 10 levels of hydraulic resistance, which can be adjusted when off of the elliptical. Plus, it has heart rate monitoring pulse sensors on the fixed handlebars.

What to Consider Before Buying a Folding Elliptical

While all of these options are considered budget buys, investing in a piece of home gym equipment, regardless of the price tag, can be a difficult choice. To help you narrow in on the right folding elliptical trainer for you, here are some points of consideration that may help you find the perfect fit.

Personal Goals 

“Ellipticals are a wonderful option for individuals who want to increase their cardio exercise volume but need a low-impact way to do it. Compared to other forms of low-impact cardio, like cycling and rowing, ellipticals keep the user in the upright position, making them ideal for individuals who struggle with back pain, too,” notes Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC.

Increasing your cardio can look different for everybody. If you’re looking to move your body and get your blood pumping, you may be happy with one of the gliders on our list. However, if you’re looking to increase your endurance and are a more experienced athlete, you’ll want an elliptical that can provide you with adjustable resistance so you can bust out HIIT workouts and really get your heart pounding.

Available Space

Since you’re here, it’s safe to assume space is one of your primary considerations. You’re in need of exercise equipment that can fold up for easy storage in small spaces when not in use. (If this isn’t the case, I’d recommend taking a look at some of the best ellipticals under $1,000, which may have larger footprints, but can also broaden your training capabilities with Bluetooth connectivity and integrated workout programs.)

Pull out a tape measure and make note of the dimensions of the floor space you have available. Additionally, you’ll want to measure any closets, corners, and nooks you see using as storage areas. Once you’re armed with the knowledge of what you have available, you’ll be able to peruse our list knowing exactly what works with what you’ve got.  

Personal Budget 

Your budget may be the deciding factor in determining which folding elliptical is appropriate for you. However, while lower-priced options may save you some cash upfront, these machines will often have less impressive warranties and need repairs or replacement parts sooner than the more high-quality and pricier options on our list. Consider how much you’re willing to spend, make a list of what would benefit you and your training the most, and then opt for the elliptical that provides for your needs. 

Final Word

A folding elliptical can provide accessibility to low-impact cardio workouts for those without dedicated home gyms. With compact footprints and lightweight builds, these machines, much like traditional ellipticals, can boost your heart rate and get you moving and then be folded up and tucked out of sight. 

Regardless of your goals, whether you want a machine that can up the intensity, or something to just get you moving a little, there’s an option on our list that can provide. Before you commit to bringing a folding elliptical into your home, make sure you know what type of training you’re looking to do. While our list is a great tool to help you make a choice, be sure to do your own research and look into what other consumers have to say. It might be stressful nailing down the perfect choice, but we’re so excited for you and the cardio routine you’re looking to build. 

FAQs

References

Nystoriak, M. A., & Bhatnagar, A. (2018). Cardiovascular Effects and Benefits of Exercise. Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, 5, 135. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2018.00135

Will continuing to run make my knees wear out faster? (2014) Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/will-continuing-to-run-make-my-knees-wear-out-faster

Prosser, L. A., Stanley, C. J., Norman, T. L., Park, H. S., & Damiano, D. L. (2011). Comparison of elliptical training, stationary cycling, treadmill walking and overground walking. Electromyographic patterns. Gait & posture, 33(2), 244–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2010.11.013

Burnfield, J. M., Shu, Y., Buster, T., & Taylor, A. (2010). Similarity of joint kinematics and muscle demands between elliptical training and walking: implications for practice. Physical therapy, 90(2), 289–305. https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20090033

The post The 3 Best Folding Ellipticals of 2024 (Expert Tested) appeared first on BarBend.

In the last decade, nothing has revolutionized exercise quite as much as the advent of personal training and fitness apps. Whether you’re training at home and want a follow-along bodyweight workout, sweating in the gym with a comprehensive lifting program, running a fartlek with a coach cueing intervals in your headphones, or replicating a studio-style cycling class on your own, there’s a fitness app to get it done.

“Fitness apps are a dime a dozen these days,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC. “It seems like the options are endless, even if you limit your search to free options. That said, as someone who has used nearly three dozen fitness apps myself, I can tell you they are not all built the same.” We’ve spent a lot of time combing through the offerings to find the best fitness apps, including those that can be used for customized programming and personal training. If you’re looking for the latter, we’ve got you covered here. Keep scrolling to see our picks for the best personal training apps in 2024, all tested and reviewed by our team. 

The 10 Best Personal Training Apps of 2024

Best Personal Training App Overall: Future

Best Personal Training App for Beginners: Aaptiv

Best Personal Training App for Accountability: Caliber

Best Personal Training App for Cardio: Strava

Best Personal Training App for Weightlifting: Juggernaut AI

Best Personal Training App for Meal Plans: Centr

Best Personal Training App for HIIT: Sweat

Best Personal Training App for Variety: FlexIt

Best Personal Training App for Live Classes: Peloton

Best Personal Training App for Yoga: Down Dog

How We Tested and Chose the Best Personal Training Apps

Our team of avid gymgoers and fitness experts (including certified personal trainers) tested more than 55 different personal training apps to find the best of the best. We evaluated each one on a range of criteria, including ease of use, instruction, pricing, interactive features, and workout variety, ranking each one on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best possible score. The resulting list of 10 personal training apps includes options for every price point and workout style. Here are some criteria we took special care in evaluating to arrive at our final picks.  

Personalization

Personal training in a gym setting generally means one thing: working out one-on-one with a trainer. However, when it comes to doing so with an app, there are many available formats. “Now, personal training can mean a number of things, from an actual online personal trainer who is a real person and works with individuals, to AI-driven programs that use motion sensors to capture your exercise technique and provide personalized feedback,” explains BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC. 

When evaluating all these apps, one of our main considerations was just how personalized they can get. Every single one is customizable for your needs, level, and progress, though to what degree and how the changes are made (whether via a human trainer on the other side or AI) will differ from app to app.

Workout Variety

Even if you’re committed to one workout type and one workout type only, you probably don’t want to do the same exact workout every single day. After all, variety is the spice of life, and is key for continuing to reap the benefits of a workout routine. (1) We ranked these personal training apps on their workout variety, including types of programming, available options for difficulty level, length, and type of workout, and usefulness for all different types of fitness goals.

User Experience

The best apps (fitness or otherwise) don’t require any real “how to”: You can open them up and intuitively navigate through the content and settings to find what you want. That ease of use is a big part of user experience, which played a significant role in our rankings. User experience also includes things like pleasing design, experience with any bugs, and speed. (If you’ve ever been stuck with a buffering screen mid-workout, you know how important this is.)

Best Personal Training App Overall: Future

If you’re looking for an app that offers an innovative personal training experience, consider our top overall pick, the Future app. It offers the same personalized programming you’d get from working with a trainer IRL, but with the flexibility of workouts you can access anywhere, anytime online.

BarBend’s Jake Herod chatting with his digital personal trainer on the Future app.

Here’s how it works: You’re paired up with a coach who creates a personalized training plan for you based on your level, goals, injury history, equipment available, and preferred coaching style. They arm you with a new workout plan each week and are available for check-ins via messages or video chat. You can record moves so they can check your form, or send workout data from your smartwatch to get even more specific training feedback. It’s pretty seamless: Our expert tester, BarBend lead video reviewer Jake Herod, NASM-CNC, gave the app 5 out of 5 ratings for both setup and ease of use.

The workouts themselves are presented with both audio cueing from your trainer plus video demonstrations of each move, with allotted amounts of time for the reps and rest. At times, it can feel rushed (especially if you’re familiarizing yourself with a new move), which is why our tester gave the app a 4 out of 5 for instruction. 

After the workout, you can leave feedback about how it went, so your trainer can make adjustments for next week. “Your coach contacts you regularly to see how your workout went or ask why you missed a session … This level of support is helpful when you have a bad workout or aren’t progressing as fast as you’d like,” Herod says. He gave the app a 5 out of 5 for both accountability and interactivity. “We all struggle with motivation and consistency at times, so this extra communication can be a big help,” he adds.

After sessions, you can provide feedback to your Future personal trainer, which can help them make adjustments to your next workout.

One of the downsides of Future is the price: It costs $199 a month, though you’ll pay less if you commit to three months ($179 per month), six months ($169), or 12 months ($149). “That’s a sizable chunk of change, but I would rate its value a 4 out of 5 — between the instruction, personalization, flexibility, and accountability, you really do get your money’s worth,” Herod says. Keep in mind, it’s likely still cheaper than working with a trainer in person, which can cost up to $100 per session. (2)

Read our full Future App Review.

Best Personal Training App for Beginners: Aaptiv

If you’re a beginner or making a return to exercise, you likely don’t want to shell out big bucks for an app or workout style you aren’t yet sold on. Aaptiv, which costs less than $15 per month after a free week-long trial and offers tons of beginner-friendly programming, could be just the thing to try. “Of all the apps I’ve tried, Aaptiv is easily the best value,” says our tester, who scored it a 4.5 out of 5 for value and 4 out of 5 for price.

The app’s claim to fame is its audio-led workouts, which cover a huge range of modalities, including strength training, running, walking, stretching, Pilates, yoga, indoor cycling, boxing, and even meditation. Using its AI Smartcoach, the app can create a personalized workout program and then adapts your plan after each completed workout. “There are decent programs that run about four to six weeks and are pretty basic, which could help beginners see results,” our tester said. 

Using the Aaptiv app.

They gave the app a 4 out of 5 for workout variety and 5 out of 5 for both setup and ease of use. It takes just seconds to get started working out: You filter for workouts by type, length, muscle group, fitness level, or equipment, and then can tackle them in the gym, at home, or even outside. There are plenty of equipment-free options, as well as outdoor runs and walks where a trainer will guide you through intervals or help you find your ideal pace.

Aaptiv offers some video workouts, but most are audio-only, so you won’t need to worry about looking down at your phone or propping it up somewhere in view. If you don’t yet have solid form, however, the lack of visual demonstrations could be a downside. Occasionally, you’ll have a trainer demoing the moves for you, or an animated figure, which may be less helpful, our tester notes.

As for accountability, our tester scored the app a 4 out of 5. “If you start a program, you can add the workouts to your calendar as ‘appointments’ and receive push notifications, which I found really helpful,” our tester said. There’s also a community feed and group challenges where you can interact with other users, which can help boost a sense of camaraderie and encourage you to keep coming back.

Best Personal Training App for Accountability: Caliber

If you want to see strength gains and are looking for a coach to keep you accountable, Caliber may be the personal training app for you. 

The platform matches you with a trainer who suits your needs and goals, and after an initial assessment, they craft an individualized program to help you achieve them. You have weekly check-ins with your coach, but there’s an option to chat anytime and send videos, so they can correct your form. Our tester said their coach was available nearly 24/7 and was always quick to respond to questions (within five hours, max). “My coach took the time to connect with me, follow up multiple times per week, and adjusted my workout based on my feedback,” our tester said. “They also held me accountable for any workouts I missed, and always addressed it in a professional, positive way.”

Caliber’s workout library.

Caliber shines in terms of accountability and also in its strength programming — in fact, it’s not really that friendly to those with cardio goals. It hinges on the principle of progressive overload (i.e. consistently and continually increasing the difficulty of your workout), which has demonstrated benefits for muscle growth and avoiding plateaus. (3) In addition to providing an easy-to-use rep/set counter (along the lines of a traditional training journal), Caliber also uses includes two algorithmic measurements — strength score and strength balance — that help you track your progress. 

These metrics attempt to quantify progress by muscle group and also help you see if you’re training unevenly. It can be a little tricky to navigate at first — our tester gave it a 4 out of 5 for ease of use — but said their coach was always willing to explain how things worked. The workout plans are delivered using detailed video tutorials from Caliber’s exercise library of over 500 moves, which is why our tester gave the app a 5 out of 5 for instruction. 

The Caliber app menu.

If you’re looking for a personal training app to keep you accountable, Caliber’s Premium membership is a stellar option; however, if the price feels too high, you can access their more affordable plans for less. The Pro subscription is $19 per month, and there’s even a free version of the app that allows you to create and track your own workout plan; however, neither of those options include coaching with a Caliber trainer.

Read our full Caliber Fitness App Review. 

Best Personal Training App for Cardio: Strava

Strava supports tracking of 30 vastly different activity types, including running, cycling, HIIT, weight training, trail running, mountain biking, rock climbing, kayaking, and pickleball. (Our tester gave it a 5 out of 5 for workout variety and equipment demands.) However, tracking outdoor cardio workouts is Strava’s claim to fame. If you know an avid runner or cyclist, they probably use Strava.

For outdoor activities, Strava uses GPS to track your route, pace, and elevation. If you use a smartwatch like Apple Watch or Garmin, you can seamlessly upload your workouts to the app, too. Our tester has used Strava for about a decade, giving it a 4 out of 5 for ease of use.  Every activity is uploaded to your personal feed with a map of your route, with options to include a name for the activity and photos and videos. It’s like Instagram, but for workouts.

Using the Strava app.

That’s the gist. Strava offers some running training plans for common distances like a marathon, but overall, doesn’t have guided workouts of any type. If you want a strength plan or to work with a trainer, this isn’t the app for you. However, if you want cardio workout tracking and training inspiration, it could be a fit. 

Strava can be really motivating for athletes with a competitive side; sections of popular routes are labeled as “segments” and you compete on a virtual leaderboard against your previous performances and other athletes to log the fastest time. Whoever tops the leaderboard gets the King/Queen of the Mountain (KOM/QOM) title until someone faster comes along. “Some segments are fiercely competitive. People will literally structure their training around winning them. This aspect of Strava can be really fun and encourage healthy competition,” our tester said. “Sometimes trying for a QOM is the only thing that’s gotten me out on my bike.”

Worth noting: There is a dark side. “There’ve been times when I felt like I couldn’t take a break because I was constantly chasing segments and worried about uploading my workouts for everyone to see,” our tester says. You do have the option to keep your workouts private, and if you want a non-competitive motivation boost, you can join challenges to, for example, cover 100 miles or accumulate 25K feet of elevation gain in a month.

There’s a free version of the app available, though certain features only come with the Pro subscription for $11.99/month.

Best Personal Training App for Weightlifting: Juggernaut AI

Serious strength athletes, your search is over. If you’re looking for a personal training app to help you with powerlifting or powerbuilding (a hybrid between bodybuilding and powerlifting), it doesn’t get any better than this one. “One of my favorite apps for advanced lifters is JuggernautAI, which offers somewhat personalized programming suited to individuals who are comfortable and confident lifting weights,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC. 

Using AI technology, the app creates an individualized and responsive weightlifting plan for you, starting at four weeks long. Our tester gave it a 5 out of 5 for initial setup; you enter details like your current training load, frequency, and goals, and then you immediately have a personalized workout plan. 

Using the Juggernaut AI app.

That’s just the beginning of what the AI can do: It’s responsive, so you can leave feedback as you progress through the plan, and it’ll make automatic adjustments. “It’s insanely impressive,” our tester says. “It feels very personal compared to apps that just have on-demand workouts with no individualization.” 

Before you start a workout, you’ll even tell the app how ready you are to train (for example, factoring in how you slept, if you’ve eaten enough, if you’re sore), and it’ll adjust that day’s workout for you instantly so you’re not pushing beyond your means. “It continues to adapt over time, so the longer you use the app and the more diligently you input data, the smarter and more personalized your program will become,” our tester says.

Despite the emphasis on powerlifting, it’s pretty flexible on equipment, too; our tester gave it a 4 out of 5 on equipment demands. “The JuggernautAI app allows for pretty much unlimited exercise selection and even offers suggested options,” Capritto explains. “If you usually do back squats, but are in a hotel gym and there’s no barbell, you can substitute for front-rack dumbbell squats, for example, and the app will automatically adjust the suggested rep and weight range.”

As for instruction and accountability, both scored a 3.5 out of 5. “They don’t match up to what a live trainer offers, but in terms of value, Juggernaut AI is simply phenomenal for $35/month,” our tester says, giving it a 5 out of 5 on that metric: “It’s like getting the insights of a real coach for next to nothing.”

Best Personal Training App for Meal Plans: Centr

Centr, the fitness app created by Thor actor Chris Hemsworth, combines workout, mental health, and nutrition programming for a truly holistic experience. If you’re looking for guidance on both your training sessions and nutrition, Centr could be a solid bet.

For the meal plans, you can choose between regular, pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan — all are gluten-free friendly. In the app’s Planer tab, you’ll start each day with a recommended workout and four meal recipes: breakfast, lunch, a post-workout snack, and dinner. If there’s a recipe you’re not into, you can swap the meal for something else. And all the recipes are nutritionally balanced, even if you swap them, so you’ll stay within your recommended calorie intake and a reasonable macro count. 

You can add the recipe ingredients from all your meals directly to your shopping list to make prep easy. “This is one of the better recipe sections I’ve seen in a fitness app,” our tester said. “They taste good, the macros are on point, and the shopping list feature is really handy.” 

Even though there’s a lot going on — including meditation, weeks-long workout programs, and complete meal plans — “the app is surprisingly easy to use and well-organized,” our tester says, giving it a 5 out of 5 for ease of use. 

There are 40 different workout programs suited to every combination of fitness level and equipment needs (scoring a 5 out of 5 with our tester on the latter), and the built-in weight tracker allows you to note how heavy you’re lifting so you keep challenging yourself using progressive overload. Once you’ve committed to a program, you’ll get push notifications to keep you accountable; our tester gave it a 4 out of 5 on that metric.

It’s not that customizable (you can’t really change the workout program or meal plan from the outset according to your personal needs), and you’re not working with real coach, but you’re getting all this for a pretty decent price: $29.99 for one month, $59.99 for three months ($20/month), or $119 for a year ($10/month). “I’d like to see more interactive features like messaging or check-in features,” our tester says, “but it has great tracking abilities, countless workouts, and the best recipe section I’ve seen in a fitness app.”  

Best Personal Training App for HIIT: Sweat

Those who prefer at-home workouts, HIIT, barre, Pilates, or who are looking for a mix of these training styles should turn their attention toward the Sweat app. Created by Australian trainer Kayla Itsines, the app offers nearly 60 different programs ranging from two to 24+ weeks. They’re guided by Itsines and other trainers who specialize in different modalities, including yoga, strength, and pre- and post-natal work. It’s an admittedly huge selection; our tester gave it a 4.8 out of 5 for workout variety. 

This app is designed to be even more than a workout service; it also has a daily goal tracker for water and steps; weekly trackers to mark your resistance training, cardio, and recovery days; and a community section built into the app for motivation and accountability. Once you choose a program, you can connect it to a digital calendar to stay on track. The workouts are self-guided with GIF demos, written instructions, and built-in timers, and it’s easy to pause or swap moves if needed. For all these reasons, our tester gave it a 4.3 out of 5 for interactive features and a 4.5 out of 5 for ease of use.

One of the main criticisms of the Sweat app is that not all of the programs offer true progressions or coach you through progressive overload; this could lead to plateaus, boredom or burnout. Our tester gave it a 2.8 out of 5 for progressive overload. “In the longer programs, I don’t see any mention of starting weight or what to aim for in terms of progression or how you should be leveling up,” our tester explains. “You’re more or less on your own, which may not work for beginners.”

After a seven-day free trial, you’ll pay $20 a month for access, which our tester scored as a 4 out of 5 for value. “It’s a pretty solid app for $20 per month, especially for low-key lifters or people who prefer to do HIIT or home workouts,” our tester says.

Best Personal Training App for Variety: FlexIt

FlexIt provides perhaps the most authentic virtual personal training experience an app can offer; live, personalized sessions with a trainer for 30-60 minutes, as often as you’d like. You can buy-as-you-go or commit to a monthly plan with four, eight, or 12+ sessions, with each session costing between $36-$80 each.

Overall, our testers were quite impressed with their experience, giving the app a 4 out of 5 overall score. “I’ve used an in-person personal trainer in the past, and I was a little apprehensive about how a virtual session would go,” one tester said. “In the end, I was pleasantly surprised. The trainer was personable and encouraging, and he tailored our sessions to meet my personal needs.” Depending on what you want, you can also add nutrition or health coaching, pre- and post-natal guidance, and physical therapy into your program through FlexIt; the app will match you with a trainer who can do whatever you need, or give you the option to book additional sessions.

The real human element of the app earned it a 4 out of 5 for accountability from our testers. “After our session, my trainer sent me a message to check in. For me, having someone giving me individualized attention keeps me accountable because I don’t want to disappoint them or myself when it comes to meeting my goals,” one tester said.

One downside, our testers noted, was that when you’re doing one of the virtual personal training plans, you don’t necessarily get a 4- or 12-week program to follow on your own when you’re not working out with your trainer. If that’s more up your alley, FlexIt does have an alternative offering called “Connected Training” for $75, where a trainer creates a custom four-week workout plan for you to follow on your own. It also includes a 30-minute virtual chat and anytime messaging with your coach.

Best Personal Training App for Live Classes: Peloton

“Peloton is all about community,” our tester said. One of the best ways to tap in is by taking live classes — of which Peloton offers up to 25 per day across workout types. During live workouts, there’s a leaderboard with all other users who are in the class. You can interact with them, see if they’re hitting a milestone (like their 100th class) and throw them a high five. The instructors will also shout out users in class, wishing happy birthday, congratulating on milestones, or saying hi. “The instructors find a way to push you, even while coaching virtually,” our tester said, scoring the app on accountability with a 4.5 out of 5.

If you like to sweat on your own schedule, you can work out with any of the app’s 39,000+ on-demand, pre-recorded classes, which span cycling, running, yoga, strength training, rowing, meditations and audio-only guided outdoor walks or runs. Peloton’s classes are industry best in terms of instructors, production quality, and programming — but they’re not a substitute for a personal trainer, nor individualized. 

A BarBend tester riding the Peloton Bike.

“You can’t ask the instructors questions or get training feedback or custom programming, but as a beginner to working out, I haven’t had any issues working out using the app,” our tester said, giving it a 5 out of 5 for instruction. “If you want something more personalized, this app might not be for you.”

To stay accountable, a feature allows you to set a goal for number of workouts per week. “The goal-setting feature on the app really helps me show up,” said our tester. “There are also challenges, and if you complete them, you earn a badge. This is another huge motivator for me; I love having a collection of the little badges to show all my hard work.”

There’s no emphasis on results, otherwise; Peloton is about showing up, enjoying your workout, and coming back for more. You can track progress with more detail by syncing an Apple Watch; the app will pull in live metrics and give you a Strive score, which reflects your level of exertion during a workout. If you’d like more training guidance, there’s a selection of programs available, such as Intro to Meditation or Total Strength that run up to six weeks long. It’s not a fitness app to rival a personal training experience, but Peloton could help you find workouts you love and stick with them.

Best Personal Training App for Yoga: Down Dog

Imagine walking into a yoga class, and the instructor bases the entire session around what you want, down to the type of music and the tone of their voice. That’s more or less what Down Dog offers as a personal training app. To begin a session, you select your preferences for class length, level, body part focus, voice, and music, and the app creates a unique, personalized yoga practice every single time. 

Using the Down Dog app.

Our tester was impressed, giving it a 5 out of 5 for app setup and ease of use. “I love how highly customizable it is based on what you want on any given day. The yoga sessions I’ve done have been challenging but doable for my experience level and I’ve really enjoyed each one.” You’re coached through the class via audio instructions and a video demonstration of the poses.

There isn’t too much else you can do besides cue up a yoga workout; there’s a Journey page that tracks how often you practice and a History tab that shows you the sessions you’ve done as well as a pose breakdown. There aren’t many bells and whistles (they gave it a 1 out of 5 for interactive features and accountability, since those aren’t really part of the service), but if you’re looking for a simple way to do a personalized yoga practice, it’s not a bad option — especially considering it’s only $10 per month. “I think it’s a good price for what you get: all those custom yoga workouts plus the company’s other HIIT, barre, prenatal yoga, and meditation apps,” our tester said.

Benefits of Personal Training Apps

The truth is, anyone from workout newbies to advanced exercisers can benefit from using a personal training app. It can help keep you accountable, offer guidance for reaching your fitness goals, or add some variety to your routine. 

“Anyone who has an interest in reaching a fitness goal or simply improving their overall fitness will benefit from an online workout program,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC. “Those who find success with external accountability and motivation will also benefit.” Here are some of the specific benefits you stand to reap from working out with a personal training app.

Motivation

When you don’t have a workout plan, you may be less likely to stick with consistent workouts, and, when you do make it to the gym, you may not use your time as wisely. Using a personal training app can offer a dose of motivation and ensure a more efficient workout, since you’ll have a plan to follow and instructions to keep you on track. “People who struggle with the mental load of exercising can greatly benefit from using a fitness app, too,” Capritto says. “With a fitness app, you don’t have to think about what you’re going to do each day: You just show up, open the app, and do it. This can eliminate a lot of stress about working out.”

Accountability

Having someone or something to hold you accountable is one of the biggest keys to success in sticking with a workout program. (4) “The level of accountability you get from a personal trainer is unmatched, as is the specificity of programming,” Capritto says. 

BarBend tester using rowing machine.

“That said, even non-traditional online personal training options can keep you on track and help you reach your goals simply by presenting you with a clear plan,” she continues. “Even if it’s just for four or six weeks, a clear plan from point A to point B is a great way to 1) get consistent in your habits, 2) motivate you to keep going, and 3) put you on a path that more efficiently gets you to your end goal.”

Accessibility

Virtual personal training is significantly more accessible than training with someone IRL. For one, it’s generally more affordable; the personal training apps here cost as little as $10 per month, compared to in-person sessions which can cost up to $100 per hour. (2) 

Because you can use a personal training app anywhere, anytime, it’s also more accessible for people who are traveling, don’t have time to physically go to the gym, or who need to stay at home to care for kids, pets, or family members. For people who aren’t comfortable in a gym environment, training with an app at home can also be significantly less intimidating and more enjoyable.

How Much Do Personal Training Apps Cost?

Just like pretty much anything in the fitness space — exercise bikes, treadmills, even dumbbells — personal training apps come with a wide range of costs. The personal training app options here range from $10 to $200 a month, and some apps even offer limited versions that are completely free. That means your yearly personal training costs can range from $0 to $120 to $2,400, depending on your wants and needs. Here’s a breakdown of the cost per month for each of the 10 personal training apps on our list.

In general, paying less will get you access to non-individualized plans and/or workouts, basic workout tracking for accountability, and some sort of community interaction. Paying for a mid-range app will get you access to AI-generated personalized plans that are designed specifically for you and your goals. Leveling up to the highest price tier will get you a bespoke training plan, the ability to chat with or call a human trainer, and adjustments to your plan over time based on progress and feedback.

When trying to decide between personal training apps, it’s worth considering how much support you’re looking for, what type of workout style you prefer, and how much you’re willing to pay per month.

How to Choose a Personal Training App

There are a lot of fitness apps on the market, and our list barely scratches the surface; however, if you’re looking for a personal training app to meet your specific needs, you can narrow down your options by considering the following important criteria.

Fitness Level

When choosing between personal training apps, first and foremost, you should think honestly about your fitness level. “Some fitness apps aren’t suitable for beginners; I’ve tested some that would be outright dangerous for a beginner due to lack of clear instruction and proper introduction to movement,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC. “On the other hand, there are plenty of thoughtfully designed, carefully built fitness apps that can help you reach any type of fitness goal.”

Our tester on the Schwinn AD7.

For example, “True beginners would benefit from an app that offers very clear instruction and guidance, including full written instructions for exercises, video demos, and a progressive overload plan. Beginners may want to consider a virtual personal training app, such as Caliber or Future, where they can connect with a certified professional and receive individualized feedback and programming,” Capritto continues. “Advanced exercisers can get away with just having a program, not necessarily needing video instructions or personalized programming.” 

Fitness Goals

Beyond considering your level of ability, you should also consider what sort of goals you want this app to help you achieve. Do you just want a source of fun, guided workouts you enjoy? Or are you looking for something to challenge you or help you reach a specific goal, like training for a 5K? 

“You must get clear on your goals, otherwise you might wind up paying for a subscription you won’t use because it doesn’t match up with your needs. Be honest about how much instruction and accountability you need,” Capritto says.

In general, a personal training app is a worthwhile purchase if you’re after something specific like building strength or losing weight. Take it from Capritto: “An online personal trainer, especially in the truest sense of the word, is probably the most expeditious way to reach your fitness goals.”

Equipment Requirements

The beauty of personal training virtually is that you can do it wherever you want, including at home or in a gym. However, some apps — like Sweat, Centr, or Peloton — are designed to be better at home, with limited equipment, whereas others expect you to have a gym’s worth of tools available. It’s worth noting what sort of equipment is needed for the workouts an app offers, as well as what’s realistically going to be necessary for your goals.

Final Word

When it comes to shopping for anything — personal training apps included — what’s considered the best on the market is just one factor to consider. It’s also important to evaluate what’s best for you based on your fitness level, preferences, budget, and goals. “The great thing about workout apps is that there are so many options at different price points and geared toward different goals that anyone can kind something they’ll benefit from,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC. 

“Following a carefully crafted workout plan is never a bad thing and is, if you have goals other than simply staying active, always better than cherry-picking random workouts or writing your own workouts that don’t have any rhyme or reason,” Capritto continues. The 10 personal training apps listed here should help do exactly that: Give your workouts purpose and help you stay on track, whether your “thing” is yoga, running, or getting strong.

FAQs

References

Magat, Brian. The Importance of Variety in Creating Your Exercise Program. (2020). University Hospitals. https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2020/08/the-importance-of-variety-in-creating-your-exercise-program

Mahaffey, K. How much does a personal trainer cost & should you hire one?. (n.d.). National Academy of Sports Medicine. https://blog.nasm.org/how-much-does-a-personal-trainer-cost

Adams, A. Progressive overload explained: grow muscle & strength today. (n.d.). National Academy of Sports Medicine. https://blog.nasm.org/progressive-overload-explained

Hanc, John. Accountability: The Not-so-secret Key to Success. (2023). American Council on Exercise. https://www.acefitness.org/continuing-education/certified/october-2023/8470/accountability-the-not-so-secret-key-to-success/

The post The 10 Best Personal Training Apps of 2024 (Personally Tested) appeared first on BarBend.

The reigning Classic Physique Olympia champion, Chris Bumstead, built his private gym in 2023 to train for a fifth consecutive title. Bumstead says his gym provides the perfect environment for laser-focused training, free from outside disruptions.

On April 17, 2024, Bumstead published a video on his YouTube channel offering a comprehensive tour of his gym and state-of-the-art training equipment.

“I wanted it to feel like a real gym rather than just cramming equipment into a storage area,” Bumstead said. The space is approximately 3,000 square feet. Although not as big as some commercial gyms, it can still house all the equipment needed for Bumstead’s intensive training demands. Check it out below: 

Despite the high cost of building the private gym, Bumstead considers it one of his smartest investments, believing it has significantly excelled his career.

“It’s not always about putting your money into stocks and bonds to make more,” said Bumstead. “It’s about putting your money into crazy things that make you better and allow you to enjoy life more.”

Leg Machines

Bumstead has two leg extension machines in his arsenal. One is the Icarian selectorized machine. While lighter than its modern counterparts, this old-school machine offers superior quad contractions. Bumstead performs supersets and drop sets machine at the end of his workouts. The 29-year-old uses his Prime plate-loaded leg extension machine when lifting heavy at the beginning or middle of a workout. 

Bumstead owns a lying and a seated leg curl machine. The Prime plate-loaded lying leg curl machine allows varying the tension curve along his range of motion (ROM). The gym is also equipped with a Cybex adductor and abductor hybrid machine. Bumstead has a sled but uses it extremely infrequently.

The seated calf raise, tibia raise, and the Panatta standing calf raise machines stand together, with the latter doubling as a standing shoulder press.

Bumstead enjoys the belt squat, which loads the lower body without compressing the spine. He uses a wide stance to bias the glutes, hamstrings, and quad sweeps. The reigning Classic Physique Olympia champ strategically employs his GHD machine in his lower body workouts to develop a powerful and functional posterior chain.

The Canadian bodybuilder owns two Cybex leg press machines. The first is a conventional machine that moves at a 45-degree angle. The other is a squat press machine that descends at an angle, allowing greater depth during eccentrics. 

Bumstead used the squat press machine in every leg workout leading up to the 2023 Olympia. “I stacked it up and was getting up to 20 reps, and it would destroy my legs,” said Bumstead. “This thing helped me win the [2023] Olympia, for sure.”

The secret to getting big legs is just range of motion.

Bumstead praises his Pendulum squat machine for how much depth it allows him to achieve each rep. The hack squat machine was the last piece in Bumstead’s leg training arsenal. 

Cables, Smith Machine, Power and Dumbbell Rack

Bumstead’s dumbbell rack features five-pound increments up to 50 pounds, with larger 10-pound jumps for heavier weights. The gym has two cable machines — a functional trainer and a multi-station eight-stack machine. Bumstead favors the former biceps curls and chest presses and uses the latter for lat pulldowns and cable rows.

Bumstead prefers vertical Smith machines over angled counterparts, so his gym features a Cybex Smith machine. His six-post power rack is equipped with landmine and dip bar extensions. Bumstead doesn’t have a bench press in the gym and uses the power rack for most compound barbell exercises, such as bench presses and squats. 

Arm Machines

Bumstead’s arm training setup consists of a triceps dip machine, a Gymleco preacher curl machine, a Hammer Strength plate-loaded machine, and a seated preacher curl bench. 

Back Machines

Bumstead believes the chest-supported T-bar row machine is one of the most crucial for upper back development. Other machines in his back setup include the iso-lateral plate-loaded back row machine, the old-school Nautilus pullover machine, the Panatta high-row machine, and the low-row machine.

Chest Machines

The gym’s chest section includes the Panatta decline machine, incline chest press machine, and flat machine chest press. Although Bumstead has a pec deck, he’s focused more on dedicated 10-degree and 45-degree chest flye machines for inner chest development. The pec deck is more often used to train rear delts. 

Shoulder Machines

Bumstead favors the Prime plate-loaded shoulder press machine as its vertical line of pull maximizes anterior delt activation, unlike machines with angled trajectories, which can recruit the chest. The Arsenal plate-loaded press features a closer grip and utilizes a forward pressing motion, which helps Bumstead lift heavier. 

Cardio Section

The gym’s cardio section includes a recumbent bike, treadmill, and stair climber. Interestingly, Bumstead has an inversion table in his gym. “I used it three to four weeks out of the 2023 Olympia [prep] to try and be taller; I don’t know if it did anything,” admitted Bumstead. 

Bumstead will next compete at the 2024 Olympia, scheduled for Oct. 10-13 in Las Vegas, NV, where he will aim to secure his sixth consecutive Classic Physique Olympia title.

Featured image: @cbum on Instagram

The post Chris Bumstead Gives a Full Tour of His Personal Gym; No Bench Press? appeared first on BarBend.

“Arnold Schwarzenegger kind of had wide, child-bearing hips,” says bodybuilding coach Joe Bennett. He‘s right; Schwarzenegger, the grandfather of modern bodybuilding and a seven-time Mr. Olympia winner, often posed for photos by twisting his torso and standing almost perpendicular to the camera, cleverly posturing to conceal a genetic “flaw”.

Bennett, who’s been dubbed the “Hypertrophy Coach” and who coaches top-level physique athletes like Arnold Classic two-timer Terrence Ruffin, recently took to YouTube to discuss how genetics impact the physiques (and careers) of the world’s best bodybuilders.

[Related: The Best Supplements for Bodybuilding]

Editor’s Note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. When starting a new training regimen and/or diet, it is always a good idea to consult with a trusted medical professional. We are not a medical resource. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. They are not substitutes for consulting a qualified medical professional.

7 Genetic Factors in Bodybuilding

When it comes to bodybuilding, genetics are a slot machine with a lever you only get to pull once. As Bennett says, genetic factors can make or break a bodybuilder’s career in the big leagues. From his perspective, genetics influence bodybuilding in the following key ways: 

Muscle-Building Capacity

Body Structure

Muscle Bellies

Muscle Insertions

Muscle Separation

Predisposition to Leanness

Other Factors

Muscle-Building Capacity

An athlete’s overall genetic predisposition to muscle hypertrophy affects their career trajectory more than perhaps any other single factor. Bennett cites 8-time Olympia winner and bodybuilding great Ronnie Coleman to illustrate this idea.

[Related: The Best Protein Powders on the Market]

Coleman competed in bodybuilding as early as 1991, when he was 27 years old. Allegedly, Bennett says Coleman appeared on stage back then before using any performance-enhancing drugs, yet his muscular development could have rivaled many high-level advanced athletes even to this day.

Body Structure

According to Bennett, body structure — the length and proportion of your skeleton — is the literal framework upon which a bodybuilder crafts their physique. Some athletes have better bones than others for bodybuilding:

Legendary leg-day enthusiast Tom Platz is renowned for having the best quads in the sport’s history. Bennett credits that prestige in part to Platz having short femurs, which help his quads appear thicker. 

Brian Buchanan, an 80s-era bodybuilder, is regarded as having the smallest waist in Men’s Open history. Buchanan’s uncommonly narrow pelvis allowed him to dramatically accentuate his V-taper. 

[Related: The Best Exercise Tips for YOUR Body Type]

“Bodybuilding is about ratios,” says Bennett. Broad clavicles and snug hips make it easier to develop a tapered torso. Further, athletes with large, “barrel-chested” rib cages can better display the stomach vacuum, which is integral in divisions like Classic Physique. 

Muscle Bellies

A muscle belly refers to the three-dimensional shape of the muscle itself; is it bulbous, cylindrical, jagged, flat, or full? Bennett specifies that a muscle belly is distinct from its insertions, but emphasizes that lucky bodybuilders tend to have muscle bellies that grow outward, appearing to sprout off the bone.

[Related: Seven-Time Olympia Winners Arnold Schwarzenegger and Phil Heath Train Upper Body]

Think of Schwarzenegger’s iconic biceps peaks that burst upward toward his wrists when he flexes, or the package brought to the stage by seven-time Olympia winner Phil Heath. Heath earned the nickname “the Gift” during his career for having extraordinary genetics for the sport, including his almost cartoonishly-rounded muscle bellies. (Look up Heath’s shoulders on Google. They’re nuts.)

Muscle Insertions

Tendons are a type of connective tissue that links muscle to bone. Where and how tendons insert onto bone are what people refer to when discussing muscle insertions. As Bennett puts it, “longer tendons are bad, short tendons are good.” 

Why? Because long tendons occupy valuable skeletal real estate. Bennett makes an example of the calves, which connect your calf muscles to your foot. A lengthy Achilles tendon makes the calves appear stumpy. In contrast, bodybuilders with shorter tendons display calves that appear to stretch almost down to their heels, wrapping the entire bottom half of the leg in lean muscle. 

Muscle Separation

“You tend to see a trend where the most ‘separated’ bodybuilders of all time are also the most lean,” Bennett says. Muscular separation describes how much “texture” you can see on a bodybuilder’s physique. 

[Related: The Best Bodybuilders of 2023]

For example, athletes with “feathered quads” have plenty of small lines and striations along their legs. This is closely related to the idea of muscle maturity, and does require very low levels of body fat. Regardless, Bennett notes that some bodybuilders are blessed with better muscle “architecture” than others. 

Dorian Yates, for example, was known for carrying incredible amounts of muscle mass with skin so thin you could practically see the graininess of the muscle belly. Most bodybuilders at the elite level can achieve similar levels of body fat (typically in the range of four to five percent), but not all of them display graininess, striations, or extreme vacularity.

Predisposition to Leanness

“In my opinion, overall leanness is strongly influenced by long-term health decisions,” Bennett remarks. He likely refers to choices made early in life such as developing a healthy relationship with food and regular physical activity before puberty takes hold. 

While body fat can be reliably added or removed by manipulating calorie intake, Bennett believes that some bodybuilders possess a specific capacity to remain at very low levels of body fat year-round, regardless of whether they’re preparing for a show. 

Other Factors

Genetics influence nearly every facet of a bodybuilder’s physique in one way or another. Beyond the six factors above, Bennett also mentions several other more minor, corollary influences: 

[Related: Why Long-Length Partial Reps Are Overrated for Bodybuilding]

Playing the Hand You’re Dealt

Bennett makes a mighty compelling case for the power of genetics as it pertains to an athlete’s success (or failure) in bodybuilding. That said, he doesn’t think it’s all doom-and-gloom for anyone who may have gotten a raw deal with their DNA.

“You can’t change your structure, but you can outwork your genetics,” he concludes. You may not make it to first callouts at the Olympia, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be a bodybuilder if you don’t have the same genetic gifts as Schwarzenegger or Coleman. As the saying goes, hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. 

More Bodybuilding Content

Opinion: Stop Doing Deadlifts if You Want To Build Muscle

How To Train Bodybuilding On a Cut

Why Do Bodybuilders Use Spray Tan?

References

Bhasin S, Storer TW, Berman N, Callegari C, Clevenger B, Phillips J, Bunnell TJ, Tricker R, Shirazi A, Casaburi R. The effects of supraphysiologic doses of testosterone on muscle size and strength in normal men. N Engl J Med. 1996 Jul 4;335(1):1-7. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199607043350101. PMID: 8637535.

The post The 7 Ways Genetics Impact Bodybuilders, From Pro Coach Joe Bennett appeared first on BarBend.

The second edition of the ABS Series Clash of the Titans contest occurs on April 20, 2024, in Dublin, Ireland. The 2023 edition featured 10 heavyweight powerlifters competing for the biggest total. The competition format does not employ weight classes or formulas; rankings are determined simply by the most weight lifted.

USA’s Fernando Arias won the 2023 ABS Clash of the Titans with a 1,035-kilogram total. The 2024 contest seems like a much heavier total will be needed to emerge victorious, especially with Dan Bell on the roster. 

Bell holds the all-time raw (with wraps) world record total at a colossal 1,182.5 kilograms, scored at the 2021 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) Hybrid Showdown 3 in Florida. Although Bell has not hit those numbers since, he remains a formidable opponent and is surely the athlete to beat.

ABS Clash of the Titans 2 — Roster

Dan Bell (USA) — biggest total — 1,182.5 kilograms

Fernando Arias (USA) —biggest total 1,077.5 kilograms

Dave Richardson (UK) — biggest total 1070 kilograms

Nicolaas du Preez (South Africa) — biggest total 1052.5 kilograms

Connor Marston (UK) — biggest total 1,022.5 kilograms

Łukas Klugiewicz (Poland) — biggest total 965 kilograms

Konrad Blewązka (Poland) — biggest total 1000 kilograms

Marcin Gierczak (Poland) — biggest total 977.5 kilograms

Konrad Bronicki (Poland) — biggest total 971 kilograms

Tómas Darri Þorsteinsson (Iceland) – biggest total 950 kilograms

Ben Flawith (UK) — biggest total 942.5 kilograms

Tom Smith (UK) — biggest total 940 kilograms

Eamonn Harford (Ireland) — biggest total 930 kilograms

Rob Flett (UK) — biggest total 907.5 kilograms

[Related: Sarah Rainbow (+90KG) Hits Biggest Female Raw w/Wraps Total Ever of 775 Kilograms]

[Related: Alisha Luna (52KG) Raw Deadlifts an All-Time World Record of 210.5 Kilograms at the 2024 WRPF Ghost Clash 3]

The event is billed as the strongest platform in Europe and it certainly looks like a gargantuan total will be required to make the podium. Bell is the clear favorite, but Arias, Richardson, and du Preez will pose a significant challenge.

During the event, Dave Richardson and Fernando Arias are set to attempt the biggest conventional deadlift ever achieved in a full power meet. While OpenPowerlifting makes no distinction between conventional and sumo deadlifts, the two heaviest deadlifts registered are both from sumo pullers — Danny Grigsby’s top-ranked 487.5-kilogram lift and Jamal Browner’s second-place 460-kilogram pull were both performed in a sumo stance.

The third-ranked deadlift — Benedikt Magnusson‘s 442.5 kilograms — was performed in a conventional stance. Although he is better known as a strongman, Magnusson competed in powerlifting extensively over a 20-year period, scoring some incredible weights along the way.

Richardson has a competition-best deadlift of 420 kilograms, but he recently locked out 430 kilograms in training and looks on course for the record.

Arias lifted 427.5 kilograms at the 2023 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) American Pro 2. He hasn’t shared any big deadlift singles from his preparation for Clash of the Titans 2, so it’s difficult to determine how close he might be.

To see the lifts at the ABS Clash of the Titans 2 and whether the all-time conventional deadlift record will fall, watch the event live on the ABS Powerlifting YouTube channel on April 20, 2024.

Featured image: @powerlifting_series on Instagram

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The 2024 Wasatch Warrior Pro show is slated for Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, UT. This event features three IFBB Pro League divisions: Men’s Physique, Figure, and Bikini.

The winners of all three contests will qualify to compete at the 2024 Olympia in Las Vegas, NV, on Oct. 10-13, 2024, if not already qualified.

2024 Wasatch Warrior Pro Roster

Fifty-seven pros are on the competitor list in total, and they are listed below in alphabetical order:

Men’s Physique

Dustin Alvis (United States)

Aundre Benson (United States)

Dallas Botchway (Ghana)

Jeremy Coleman (United States)

Phillipe Degila (France)

Jamal Everette (United States)

Jason Huynh (United States)

Andrew Jenkins (United States)

Marvin Jimerson (United States)

Hossein Karimi (Iran)

Miles Mann (United States)

David Merrill (United States)

Matt Moore (United States)

Wilfredo Neira (United States)

Michael Oliveira (United States)

Khali Quartey (United States)

Justo Scott (United States)

Marc Shane (United States)

Austin Witty (United States)

Figure

Jessica Baltazar (United States)

Lisa Bauer (Canada)

Kim Clark (United States)

Madison Dinges (United States)

Rebeca Godwin (United States)

Bailey Gutierrez (United States)

Nicole King (United States)

Sandee Lark (United States)

Tanya Palacios (United States)

Chelsea Rodgers (United States)

Destinee Silva (United States)

Megan Sylvester-Cielen (United Kingdom)

Bikini

Elisangela Angell (Brazil)

Maya Astabie (United States)

Alyssa Blessing (United States)

Kimberly Bonilla (United States)

Winifher Capellan (United States)

Alex Carrera (United States)

Jackie Cheney (United States)

Stacy Correa (United States)

Aimee Leann Delgado (United States)

Malu Duarte (United States)

Lucy Edwards (United Kingdom)

Abbi Gaetano (United States)

Jennifer Greer (United States)

Niccole Guggia (United States)

Chantel Hall (United States)

Brittany Hamilton (United States)

Jacki Hansen (United States)

Shaneeka Harmonson (United States)

Nikia Hovey (United States)

Arielle Johnson (United States)

Nicole Johnson (United States)

Jennifer Lau (United States)

Alexandra Leeper (United States)

Jessica Miller (United States)

Olena Okanovic (United States)

Huyen Person (United States)

Kerrin Phillips (United States)

Casey Samsel (United States)

Gina Sardina (United States)

Aria Smith (United States)

Judy Son (United States)

Alllison Testu (France)

Steph Warden (Canada)

Angela White (United States)

Candice Yang (Canada)

Noel Zayour (United States)

[Related: Cydney Gillon Demonstrates How Beginners Should Train Glutes]

[Related: Want to Learn How to Run a Mile Without Stopping? 8 Tips From an Elite Coach]

Bikini Division Athletes to Watch

Below are three heavy hitters in the Bikini division likely to contend for the title:

Aimee Leann Delgado 

The Bikini division has the most athletes in the show, with 36 competitors. The 2023 Bikini champion is back to defend her title. That was one of Aimee Leann Delgado’s five pro show wins in 2023.

Delgado ranked sixth at the 2023 Bikini Olympia. She has competed twice thus far in 2024, placing second at the 2024 Bikini International and winning the 2024 San Diego Championships Pro. If Delgado successfully defends her title in Utah, no Olympia qualification will be issued since Delgado is already qualified*.

*Only pro show winners advance to the Olympia.

Malu Duarte

Malu Duarte ranked third in this contest in 2023 — one of her five contests during the 2023 season, highlighted by two silver-medal finishes. The 2019 Olympia Amateur South America winner is still hunting for her first pro victory.

Duarte has improved each season and could finally score her first pro win in 2024. Defeating Delgado is a monumental task, but Duarte has momentum on her side.

Allison Testu

Allison Testu has Olympia experience — she competed in 2021 and 2022, finishing in 12th and 16th, respectively. She ranked seventh in the 2024 1 Bro Pro show earlier in the season. This will be her second 2024 appearance.

Other Notes

A livestream of the event will be available for fans who can not attend to watch in-person. It can be purchased for $27.95 on the promoter’s website. 

Featured Image: @fitnessbyaims on Instagram 

The post 2024 Wasatch Warrior Pro Bodybuilding Show Preview appeared first on BarBend.

The history of treadmills is quite intriguing — it’s wild to think that the best treadmills currently on the market evolved from a method of torture during the Industrial Age. (1) And they’re only becoming more popular. Market insights project the home fitness equipment market will grow from $11.60 billion in 2023 to a staggering $16.56 billion by 2030. (2)

As a personal trainer who spends a lot of time in commercial fitness environments, I love having the option and convenience of getting my workout done on my treadmill at home.

“Even if you don’t use a treadmill daily, it’s a great item to have for instances in which you can’t or don’t want to walk or run outside, such as in bad weather, when the sun sets earlier in the day, or you can’t get to a safe route,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC.

The benefits of treadmills are aplenty, but what happens when your fitness equipment needs maintenance? Unless you have a professional technician on hand, you’ll need to know how to maintain your home treadmill. Understanding how to adjust a treadmill belt is one of the main tasks you’ll need to know.

Why Your Treadmill Belt is Slipping and Sliding

If your treadmill is suddenly more rickety than usual, you have a couple of choices; call a technician, dust off the long-lost user manual, or learn the basics of your treadmill so you can perform the necessary treadmill maintenance your fitness equipment requires. 

BarBend’s Jake Herod running on a treadmill.

If you live by the YOLO motto, you could splurge on one of the best treadmills on the market, but if a new NordicTrack treadmill isn’t in the budget, read on.

[Related: NordicTrack EXP 7i Treadmill Review]

Performing a belt adjustment to your treadmill may seem daunting, but it isn’t necessarily hard. It requires attention to detail and a little patience, but it’s manageable even if you’re not mechanically inclined. 

My advice as a gym manager and owner of a home treadmill is to save the call to the tech, refer to your user manual for specifics, and do a little treadmill 101 to help you with your ongoing treadmill maintenance. Let’s jump in.

Running Belt

One of the main problems that treadmill owners run into (no pun intended) is a malfunctioning belt. The running belt can also be referred to as the walking belt or treadmill belt, but not to be confused with the drive belt that transfers power from the motor to the treadmill’s running belt.

If you suspect something is wrong with your treadmill running belt, it could be something as simple as dirt or debris on the belt or treadmill deck, which can be resolved with regular cleaning.

Other issues could be an uneven surface, motor issues, or exceeding the weight capacity. But commonly, the issue is a result of improper belt tension or a lack of lubrication.

Treadmill Belt Tension

A loose belt can cause belt slipping. Conversely, an over-tightened belt can cause friction and also lead to slipping — not to mention cause unnecessary wear and tear on your treadmill walking belt.

From the best budget treadmills to high-end models, all treadmills require regular maintenance and belt alignment, especially for high-use units and ones used for high-intensity workouts. 

Running deck and treadmill belt of the Sole F80 treadmill.

“Treadmills built with running in mind, specifically, are designed to support high-volume use at high speeds,” says BarBend expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC. “They can withstand the daily foot-pounding work a runner will use it for, and should come with good warranties.”

Even though they’re built for durability, even the best treadmills for running need some TLC to keep them in prime condition.

Clues that your treadmill might need a belt adjustment:

The treadmill belt is visibly further to the right or left side

Skipping or sticking feeling during use

The treadmill belt looks loose on the running deck 

Visible tears, cracks, or fraying edges on one side

Strange noises 

Lubrication

Another culprit of a not-so-smooth treadmill operation could be inadequate lubrication. If you’re unsure of how to lubricate a treadmill, it’s an easy process that can be done while checking your treadmill’s belt tension.

A thin layer of lube between the walking belt and treadmill deck can help reduce friction, enhance traction, prevent wear and tear, maintain belt tension, and increase the overall performance of your treadmill. 

How to Loosen a Treadmill Belt

If you suspect your treadmill belt needs to be loosened, try to lift the belt 3-4 inches from the treadmill deck. If you’re not able to do that, here are some steps you can take to loosen the treadmill belt tension.

Step 1

Turn your treadmill off and ensure the power cord is disconnected from its power source.

Step 2

Locate the adjustment bolts — typically hexagonal or Allen bolts — which are down at the endcap of your treadmill by the rear roller. Each treadmill manufacturer is different so refer to your user manual for specific instructions. (Adjustment bolts can also be referred to as tension bolts, roller adjustment bolts, or rear roller bolts.)

Step 3

Depending on your treadmill manufacturer, use a hex key or Allen wrench in the adjustment bolts to complete a quarter turn to the left side, alternating between the bolts to ensure they’re equally adjusted.

Once these steps have been taken, slide your hand between the treadmill deck and the walking belt. If you can lift the belt 3 to 4 inches, you’ve adjusted the belt to the proper tension. Now is also a good time to lube your treadmill if it hasn’t been done recently.

[Related: Best Folding Treadmills]

How to Tighten a Treadmill Belt

A treadmill belt that’s too tight can cause belt slipping and issues with your machine’s performance, and a loose belt can do the same.

Our BarBend product tester walking on the ProForm Pro 9000.

Do a visual check for sagging, shifting to one side consistently, or slippage between the belt and the treadmill deck. Here are the steps for how to tighten your treadmill belt.

Step 1

Turn your treadmill off and ensure the power cord is disconnected from its power source.

Step 2

Locate the roller adjustment bolts near the rear roller at the endcap of your treadmill.

Step 3

Use a hex key or Allen wrench to turn both bolts to the right side in one-quarter increments. Complete the quarter turn on each side, alternating between the roller adjustment bolts to ensure equal belt tension on each side.

Overtightening can cause additional issues so be sure to get to the proper tension by checking that the belt can lift 3 to 4 inches from the running deck.

How to Align a Treadmill Belt

A visual check for misalignment or excessive wear on one side of the running belt can cue you into whether your running belt needs to be realigned.

BarBend’s Jake Herod cranking up the incline on a NordicTrack treadmill.

If there are visible signs or you hear squeaking, grinding, or other strange noises with the treadmill on, follow these steps to bring your treadmill belt alignment back to center.

Step 1

Turn your treadmill off and ensure the power cord is disconnected from its power source.

Step 2

Locate the adjustment bolts at the endcap of your treadmill. Whichever side the running belt has shifted towards will need to be tightened. If your belt has shifted left, tighten the left rear roller bolt by turning the appropriate wrench one-quarter to the right. Contrarily, if it’s shifted to the right side, tighten the right rear roller with a quarter turn to the right.

[Related: Treadmill Motors: What You Need to Know]

Repeat this step with quarter-turn increments until the roller pushes the running belt to the other side, bringing the belt to the center.

Step 3

Use your hands to manually rotate the belt to ensure the treadmill belt alignment stays centered and the belt operation is smooth. This is an optimal time to make sure the belt isn’t too tight or too loose. 

If the treadmill belt alignment is centered and the treadmill belt tension is set appropriately, reconnect it to a power source and turn your treadmill on. Set it at a slow speed and do a visual check to ensure the belt stays in alignment.

Final Thoughts

Whether your treadmill walking belt is overtightened, too loose, or misaligned, proper tension and alignment are generally easy enough to fix on your own by completing the steps above. Before getting started, just make sure you have a hex key or Allen wrench on hand. 

Staying consistent with routine maintenance will help keep your fitness equipment in optimal condition, provide better workouts, and prolong the life of your investment.

How to Adjust a Treadmill Belt FAQs

References

Shayt, D. H. (1989). Stairway to redemption: America’s encounter with the British prison treadmill. Technology and culture. 30(4); 908-938.

Home Fitness Equipment Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis. (2024, March 1). Fortune Business Insights.

The post How to Adjust a Treadmill Belt: An Easy-to-Follow Guide for Belt Adjustment appeared first on BarBend.

The 2024 Vancouver Island Showdown Pro will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. This show features three IFBB Pro League women’s divisions: Women’s Bodybuilding, Women’s Physique, and Wellness.

The champions of the contested divisions will earn qualification to compete at the 2024 Olympia Weekend in Las Vegas, NV, on Oct. 10-13, 2024. None of the competitors in this show have yet qualified for the 2024 Olympia.

2024 Vancouver Island Showdown Rosters

The rosters for all three events are below, as shown on the scorecards listed on the IFBB Pro League website.

Women’s Bodybuilding

Lena Betka (United States)

Michelle Bogden (United States)

Marianna Gasparyan (United States)

Melanie Horton (Canada)

Rebeca Roa (Mexico)

Julia Whitesel (United States)

Women’s Physique

Arbe Myhre (Canada)

Julie Schultz (United States)

Marianne Von Gierke (Chile)

Wellness

Emily Azzarello (Canada)

Nicollette Burns (United States)

Kaedi Doi (Japan)

Pierrette Ebami (Canada)

Giovanna Favero Taques Loyola (Brazil)

Joanna Jean (Canada)

Debora Paula De Oliveira (Brazil)

Jasmine Payne (United States)

[Related: Cydney Gillon Demonstrates How Beginners Should Train Glutes]

[Related: 4 Exercises Nick Walker and Kyron Holden Train for Massive Legs Under Dr. Mike Israetel’s Tutelage]

Women’s Bodybuilding Athletes to Watch

Below are three athletes to pay attention to as potential contenders for the crown:

Marianna Gasparyan

Powerlifting legend and multiple-time world record holder Marianna Gasparyan switched from powerlifting to bodybuilding in 2023. She turned pro by winning the 2023 NPC USA Light-Heavyweight title. This will be Gasparyan’s IFBB Pro League debut.

Fans have been waiting to see how Gasparyan will fare in her new pro sport after dominating the platform for several years. She will have the density to hold her own, but her conditioning and size will likely define her overall rank. 

[Related: How 2024 Arnold Classic Champion Wesley Vissers Trains For the Pump]

Julia Whitesel

Sherry Priami won this competition in 2023. Priami is not in the 2024 lineup, but the runner-up, Julia Whitesel, is. Whitesel has already competed once this season, scoring third in the 2024 Triple O Dynasty contest.

Whitesel ranked 10th in the 2023 Ms. Olympia. She hopes to return to that stage to move up the standings. She won the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow, so she has tasted gold in Canada before.

Michelle Bogden

Michelle Bogden is in her rookie season; she turned pro via her win in the Light-Heavyweight category at the 2023 North American Championships. Bogden made her pro debut at the 2024 Triple O Dynasty event to a seventh-place finish. With a pro show under her belt and knowledge of how to improve, we will likely see an even-more improved version of her physique in Victoria.

Other Notes

A pay-per-view livestream of this competition will be available for fans and supporters who can’t be in the building to watch live. Details of that stream are available on the event website.

Featured image: @shelleybfit on Instagram

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