Mirror vs Echelon: Which is Right for Your Needs?

One of the biggest technological revolutions in the home workout world has been the rise of smart home gyms like the products released by Mirror and Echelon. With their sleek designs, they look like a mirror when not in use, but at the touch of a button, they transform into an all-in-one home gym.

Working out how to find the best home gym system can be a real headache. With so many options on the market to choose from though, how do you go about working out which model or make you should go for?

Let’s take a look at the products offered by Mirror and Echelon, to find out which one will suit your needs best.

Contents

Main Differences between Mirror vs Echelon

First of all, let’s take a look at the main differences between Mirror and Echelon.

  • Echelon has touchscreen capabilities, whereas Mirror does not.
  • Mirror has a much wider selection of classes you can take, whereas Echelon has a smaller selection.
  • Echelon comes in several different sizes, whereas Mirror only comes in one size.
  • Mirror has live classes included in their subscription service, whereas Echelon charges extra for live classes.
  • Echelon is surprisingly lightweight, whereas Mirror is much heavier.
  • Mirror comes with a louder, clearer speaker system, whereas Echelon has smaller speakers.
  • Echelon is compatible with FitPass and exercise bikes, whereas Mirror doesn’t have this capability.
  • Mirror features functionality via a bespoke app, whereas Echelon focuses more on its touchscreen functionality.

Echelon Reflect Smart Connect Fitness Mirrors | Amazon
$539.99

Reflect is another quality Tech fitness product from Echelon Fitness This Smart Mirror display utilizes a proprietary smart video fitness training system.

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Mirror – Overview

If you’ve done some research into mirror home gyms, you’ll already know about Mirror.

Originally founded by Brynn Putnam, a former professional dancer with the New York City Ballet, they have gone from strength to strength. Brynn also founded Refine Method, an acclaimed fitness studio, and to try and compensate for people who might miss out on classes, she developed Mirror.

Mirror’s main aim is to bring the boutique studio experience to your home, and it boasts well over 50 different types of class, with a choice of 5 to 60 minutes per class, and levels from absolute beginner all the way to expert. They also have a wide range of different instructors and experts to lead you through your exercise, making it feel like they’re with you in the room.

Mirror – Models

Mirror only offers one product on their website, which is the one-stop-shop for all your home workout needs. When not in use, you’d easily mistake it for a normal mirror – it’s really beautifully designed, and looks like a normal household mirror, which leads to it being described as the ‘nearly invisible home gym’.

Let’s have a closer look at some of the features that come with the Mirror, as well as the various specifications and sizing of the product too.

Mirror has been featured in our list of best interactive home gyms. Check out that title here.

Mirror – Main Features

The Mirror comes fully equipped with just about everything you could want for a good home workout routine. We’ll take you through the myriad of different features and functionalities that the Mirror offers you in your home workout.

Technology

The Mirror has a whole host of different technological features that make it stand out from the crowd. For starters, it comes with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, meaning that you can see yourself easily and match the instructor on the screen. The Mirror also features real-time optimization, delivering in-workout adjustments based on your goals and posture.

In addition, it comes with a heart rate monitor, 2 excellent 10-watt speakers so you won’t miss a thing the instructor of your class says to you. The Mirror also has a whole load of in-built, specially-curated playlists, featuring music spanning a wide variety of genres to match your workout. There’s also a built-in omnidirectional microphone for when you take your live classes.

The Mirror is also fully compatible with all smartphones, android devices, and iOS systems, making it really easy to organize and to start using your Mirror in conjunction with the smartphone app. As they don’t have a touchscreen, they rely on using a ‘controller’ like your phone. This can be frustrating, especially if you’re in the midst of a workout and you get a phone call!

For some people, though, all this technology can cause a bit of a headache, and they’d much rather a traditional home gym such as the Bowflex Blaze. Or maybe you’re on the hunt for a treadmill for great workouts anywhere.

App Functionality

To manage and control your workout, you’ll need to download the bespoke Mirror app. Once you have this downloaded onto your device of choice, you’ll be ready to use your Mirror in a matter of moments. The Mirror doesn’t have a touchscreen, so they’ve had to make amends in their app. You’ll have a guarantee of a lightning-fast and easy-to-navigate experience.

The smartphone app has a variety of different tabs and options, making customizations of your workout really quick and easy, plus you can have the option to see your progress. You’ll take a quick questionnaire first of all so that you can make sure you get the most out of your Mirror when you start working out.

Classes

One of the biggest and best draws for the Mirror is the sheer range of different classes and genres of class that you can get involved in and try out. The genres of the class include:

  • Boxing
  • Yoga Flow
  • Barre Work
  • Cardio + Strength
  • Latin Dance
  • Kickboxing
  • Tai Chi
  • Weight Training
  • Ballet
  • Arms + Abs

In addition, you can also try out meditation classes, and a stretching class to get you ready for your workout, or to make sure you don’t cause any strains after your workout. They also offer classes that include various bits of equipment, like the weight training mentioned above, the kettlebell training program they offer, and classes that include resistance bands.

If you’re in the market for some resistance bands, check out the top 3 best resistance bands you can use at home. You can also have a look at how to find the best dumbbells if you aren’t sure where to look and you need a new set for your home workout.

Live and On-demand classes

There are also live classes that you can get involved with, which are included in the final price of the Mirror – another thing that you should consider when contemplating which mirror home gym you go for!

There are also thousands of on-demand classes that you can take with world-class instructors from the best fitness studios in the country. These can all be accessed from within the app. If you’re looking for an extra bit of personality to your workout, you can also arrange for a personal trainer – this option is additional, however.

Mirror – Price

If all this ticks the boxes for you, then you’ll want to know how much the Mirror will cost you. Unfortunately, all these great gadgets don’t come cheap – however, bear in mind that the cost includes access to all the classes, live or otherwise, and they offer a 30-day risk-free trial if you want to see how you get on with it. The Mirror is available to buy on their website.

What sort of alternatives are there to the Mirror?

If you don’t think that the Mirror would be a good fit for you at home, then you can consider these alternatives:

  • TempoFit – If you’re looking for some extra kit with your mirror home gym, then the TempoFit is for you. Read our full Tempo vs Mirror Comparison.
  • NordicTrack Vault – a trusted brand in the fitness world, the NordicTrack Vault line offers some incredible functionality with their mirror home gyms.

  • Tonal – a mirror replete with a bench too, it may be quite a pricey option, but this is a one-of-a-kind option.

Echelon – Overview

Moving onto the Echelon, and what a competitor the Mirror has with this stunning, state-of-the-art mirror home gym. Not only do they manufacture the Reflect, the Echelon’s bespoke touchscreen mirror home gym, they also produce a wide variety of other pieces of fitness equipment.

This includes a variety of different stationary bikes, a rowing machine, and a state-of-the-art treadmill – you can check out our Treadmill Nirvana for more options if you’re in the market for a treadmill. We’re here to tell you about their Reflect, Echelon’s own mirror home gym, which gives the Mirror a run for its money.

Echelon – Models

The big draw when it comes to Mirror vs Echelon is the fact that the Echelon Reflect, comes in two different sizes. The first size is the 40” mirror, which is a standard, non-touchscreen mirror home gym, and the other is the 50” mirror, which is a touchscreen.

It’s sleek and smart and packed full of technology that will help you with any sort of workout you want to put yourself up for. Let’s take a closer look at the main features of the Echelon.

Echelon Reflect Smart Connect Fitness Mirrors | Amazon
$539.99

Reflect is another quality Tech fitness product from Echelon Fitness This Smart Mirror display utilizes a proprietary smart video fitness training system.

Buy at Amazon.com
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
03/10/2024 11:14 pm GMT

Echelon – Main Features

An Echelon is truly an all-encompassing option for anyone looking to step into the world of home gym mirrors. They come equipped with all sorts of technologies that are perfectly aligned with the contemporary standards of fitness – so whatever sort of exercise you want to do, you can be certain that you’ll have technological help every step of the way.

Technology

If you want a mirror home gym that is jam-packed full of the latest tech, then the Echelon will surely be the mirror for you. The 50” Echelon is a full touchscreen, meaning you don’t have to scrabble around with an external device or go through an app to use it, and more importantly, it’s fully sweat-proof too!

With Wi-Fi functionality, an HD display, a built-in 8-megapixel camera, and 8-watt speakers, you’ll quickly find that the quality of any class you get involved with is seamless, meaning you end up feeling fully immersed.

Another really handy, and kind of quirky feature that the Echelon has is when it’s in standby mode. If you’re not using it for fitness, not only does it act as another sleek-looking mirror, but with a single tap, you can see the weather forecast in your area.

App Functionality

While the 50” Echelon doesn’t require an app for you to load up classes or join sessions, it does still come with an app that works alongside it. Officially known as the Echelon Experience app, the key functionality of the app is to pair up any other Echelon equipment you have with the Echelon Reflect.

So if you have an Echelon FitBike or a treadmill, then you can integrate these pieces of equipment with your mirror home gym. By syncing up your Echelon equipment, you’ll also be able to access a whole load of different exercises, classes, and workouts, some of which are pre-recorded but some of which you can join live.

With the 40” Echelon, the app is used to access the classes and workouts, making it similar to the Mirror. You can also use the app to sync up your other Echelon equipment with the 40” Echelon home gym mirror too.

Echelon Smart Connect Fitness Bike | Amazon
$999.99

The EX-3 boasts every cycling must-have, along with a few finishing touches for added polish. It strikes a unique balance between aesthetic appeal and space efficiency with its sleek, modern design and small footprint—all without compromising its structural integrity. 

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03/11/2024 02:50 am GMT

Echelon Stride | Amazon
$1,599.99

Designed with convenience in-mind, the Stride features auto-fold technology to make heart-pumping workouts more accessible than ever before. Lightweight design and built-in wheels make it easy to move and store the Stride wherever, whenever.

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03/11/2024 01:07 pm GMT

Classes on Offer

The Echelon offers you a whole load of great classes to get involved with, but it is here that the Mirror takes the biscuit, as the Mirror has a significantly larger amount of different genres of class you can do. The Echelon offers you a good range, which includes the following:

  • Boxing
  • Cardio
  • Meditation
  • Pilates
  • Yoga
  • Zumba

The Echelon doesn’t come with any of the dance programs or classes that the Mirror offers, however it does offer you a Zumba class, which the Mirror doesn’t offer. The Echelon also doesn’t come with any weight or resistance band classes, so you’ll have to look elsewhere if you were hoping for some X3 bar alternatives.

Live and On-demand classes

As with the Mirror, Echelon also offers users the opportunity to get involved in live classes. Using industry professionals, these classes can be unlocked with an additional membership which you can either purchase monthly, annually, or biannually.

There are multiple workouts for each part of the body, with a goal you can set at the end of it all, making it really easy to work out the possibilities available and come up with something that is in line with what you require. So no matter what sort of physique you are, or what goal you wish to achieve, there will be an on-demand or live class for you.

Echelon – Price

The Echelon Reflect certainly has everything you could need or want from a mirror home gym, but it comes at a price. In addition, you’ll have to factor in the additional costs that will be incurred if you want to access the live and on-demand courses. While these aren’t too expensive, it’s another cost you’ll have to consider.

Echelon Reflect Smart Connect Fitness Mirrors | Amazon
$539.99

Reflect is another quality Tech fitness product from Echelon Fitness This Smart Mirror display utilizes a proprietary smart video fitness training system.

Buy at Amazon.com
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
03/10/2024 11:14 pm GMT

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s go through some of the more commonly asked questions that people have about the Mirror.

Question: Can you use the Mirror and workout without a subscription?

Answer: Unfortunately, you need to have an active subscription to use the Mirror for workout purposes.

Question: Will the Mirror help with weight loss?

Answer: Yes. Research into home workouts and mirror home gyms in particular have shown that this equipment can lead to weight loss.

Question: Are the instructors able to see you?

Answer: Yes. When you’re working out in a live class or with a personal trainer, the instructors can see you with the in-built camera. You can cover the camera up when you’re not using it.

Question: How easy is it to move the Mirror?

Answer: The Mirror is moveable – but be careful, because it weighs 70lb!
We’ll go through some of the more commonly asked questions about Echelon and their home gym mirror.

Question: What comes with an Echelon?

Answer: Your Echelon will come with a class subscription featuring 10 different workout categories.

Question: Can you use the Echelon mirror without a subscription?

Answer: Unfortunately, you cannot use the Echelon if you don’t have a subscription. If you have other Echelon products, you can activate those subscriptions though.

Question: Are you able to fast-forward on the Echelon app?

Answer: If you need to skip through a workout or a class, you can use the fast forward function on the Echelon app. Simply press and hold, and then slide your finger to the right.

Question: Does Echelon have strength training?

Answer: Echelon offers up another additional membership called Echelon United, where you can access equipment-free workouts, including strength training and HIIT.

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Are there any good alternatives to the Echelon?

If the Echelon seems a bit too hi-tech for you, then there are other options available. Here are some alternatives to the Echelon:

  • FormeLife – at the more expensive end of the home gym mirror spectrum, the FormeLife is definitely one of the best gym mirrors that money can buy.
  • Pro-Form Vue – at the other end of the spectrum, the Pro-Form Vue is much more affordable and has all sorts of great features.

ProForm Vue | Amazon
$521.70

Keep an eye on your form as you follow iFIT Trainers through a variety of workouts right in the comfort of your own home. Included Strength Accessories: The ProForm Vue comes with a 10 lb. barbell, (2) 5 lb. dumbbell handles, and (4) 2.5 lb. interchangeable weight plates.

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03/11/2024 12:53 am GMT

  • Peloton – potentially the inventors of the virtual/screen-based workout, Peloton doesn’t offer a mirror as such, but has an array of different functionalities across their products.

Mirror vs Echelon – Pros & Cons

Mirror Pros

  • Huge variety of different classes and workouts
  • Live and on-demand classes available for the one price
  • Easy-to-use app

Mirror Cons

  • Fewer technological features
  • Very heavy considering its size
  • Not compatible with other pieces of equipment

Echelon Pros

  • Touchscreen functionality
  • Works alongside other Echelon equipment
  • Better-quality front-facing camera

Echelon Cons

  • Fewer classes available
  • Higher price point
  • More additional costs

Mirror vs Echelon – Which Mirror Home Gym is Better?

So what’s the end result? When it comes down to it, it’s pretty evident that in a fight between Mirror vs Echelon for the prize of best mirror home gym, they’re fairly evenly matched.

They both offer a whole host of great, innovative exercise classes, and the large size of both mirrors means that you can see the instructor and yourself in the same image.

However, there can only be one winner, and we would have to go for the Echelon. We’ve found that the touchscreen mirror makes all the difference at the end of the day, and the fact that you can sync up all your other pieces of Echelon equipment to it with no issues is a big tick in our book.

Staying active is really beneficial for your health, and a mirror home gym is a brilliant way of staying in shape and achieving your fitness goals. If you’re looking for additional exercises you can try, check out these TRX workout program alternatives.

Echelon Reflect Smart Connect Fitness Mirrors | Amazon
$539.99

Reflect is another quality Tech fitness product from Echelon Fitness This Smart Mirror display utilizes a proprietary smart video fitness training system.

Buy at Amazon.com
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
03/10/2024 11:14 pm GMT

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