Gyms might be the ultimate exercise area, but they come with a few disadvantages. During busy times, it’s impossible to secure a squat rack or set of weights without waiting, which ruins your progress. They also lack the convenience and safety of working out at home, especially as the pandemic continues. Fortunately, you can still achieve your fitness goals at home — and it all comes down to having high-quality workout equipment that’s easy to use and store.
For instance, consider the brand new NordicTrack iSelect Voice-Controlled Dumbbells (Buy It, $429, amazon.com). Intended to make your at-home workouts effortless, the adjustable dumbbells convert from 5 to 50 pounds in 5-pound increments with a simple twist of a dial. That means instead of purchasing 10 separate pairs of dumbbells, you can opt for just one piece of equipment. The compact design also conveniently fits in small spaces around your home, whether you desire to store it in the basement for workouts or in a home office to use during work calls.
And if you’re someone who enjoys using different weights during sets (*raises hand*), these intelligent weights make it incredibly easy. They’re Alexa-enabled with Amazon’s virtual assistance technology, so you can switch between different weight loads just by issuing a voice command. This allows you to maintain your progress between sets, as it reduces the time you would spend searching for your next set of dumbbells. If you prefer to take a break between moves, you can also manually adjust your weights — but where’s the enjoyment in that?
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Buy It: NordicTrack iSelect Voice-Controlled Dumbbells, $429, amazon.com and nordictrack.com
Plus, there’s an option to pre-set the adaptable dumbbells with weights for specific exercises, like arm curls, side lunges, tricep stretches, or 11 other movements. For example, asking Alexa to “set weight for arm curls to 10 pounds” means that the next time you prompt Alexa for the exercise, the weight automatically adjusts to 10 pounds. Depending on how you’re feeling that day, you can always increase or decrease the weight from this base amount. (FYI, these massage guns can help with recuperation.)
The intelligent gear also takes workouts one step further with an iFIT Membership, which presents live and on-demand workouts that you can stream on your phone, tablet, or TV. The membership typically costs $39 per month, but a complimentary 30-day trial is included with your dumbbell purchase. This allows you to try out various HIIT and strength training programs from popular trainers, like Kayla Itsines and Kelsey Wells, before deciding whether to commit. Of course, you’ll still have Alexa and Bluetooth capabilities even if you opt out.
And while $429 may seem costly for the adaptable dumbbells, they actually save you money in the long run. The average set of dumbbells costs anywhere between $15 to $35, so you’d be paying well into the thousands for 20 sets of weights — and that’s without the intelligent connection to Alexa or easy-swap technology available in NordicTrack’s design.
The ultimate home gym equipment upgrade, these NordicTrack iSelect Voice-Controlled Dumbbells could be the best indulge you make all year.
