Mirror vs NordicTrack Vault: Which One Should You Buy?

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Crystal Schwanke

Crystal Schwanke has been immersed in the fitness and health world since 1999 when she took her first weightlifting class for PE credit and fell in love with feeling strong. Since she began her journey, she’s worked on gaining nutritional knowledge and becoming a certified personal trainer. And as she’s continued her journey working towards these goals, she realized how much she loves helping other people begin their fitness journey. Even if you’ve never been to the gym before, Crystal’s here to help you develop a love for personal fitness.

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• Mirror vs NordicTrack Vault: Which One Should You Buy? - July 18, 2022

When your interactive home gym decision has been whittled down to Mirror vs NordicTrack Vault, you can’t go wrong. Either option will provide excellent, challenging workouts and change your body as long as you work out consistently and fuel your body for your goals.

I go back and forth on which one I think is “best” simply because I enjoy a range of workout styles. Sometimes I want a gym vibe (Vault), but sometimes I feel like a studio feel is the way to go (Mirror). Both provide a wide enough range of classes to cover all the bases.

Sometimes I think a live class or personal training would be excellent. Still, other times, those things don’t matter to me because I’m just going to work out when I can and don’t want to schedule it around anyone else’s schedule.

Bottom Line Up Front

Neither Mirror nor NordicTrack Vault is better than the other. There’s some overlap in the individuals they may appeal to, but they’re far from interchangeable.

Mirror and its minimalist, clean-lines footprint give me a studio vibe–heavy on bodyweight work, Pilates, yoga, dance, etc. You can buy extra equipment, but you probably won’t feel like you’re completely missing out if you don’t.

On the other hand, NordicTrack Vault feels more like you’re getting the traditional gym experience at home. It, too, has a small footprint, but it comes with more accessories geared toward strength training. I feel like not having weights at home with this option (whether you buy them with the Vault or not) would make you feel like you’re missing out.

The Nearly Invisible Interactive Home Gym | Mirror

With 50+ genres, 5-60 minute classes, and absolute beginner to expert levels, we have the perfect workout for everyone. Enjoy new live classes daily, or choose from our library of thousands of on-demand classes anytime.

Get the Mirror

We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

Main Differences between Mirror vs NordicTrack Vault

The main differences between Mirror vs NordicTrack Vault are:

• Mirror memberships are $39.00/month, and the purchase of the Mirror requires a one-year commitment, whereas NordicTrack Vault memberships (iFIT) are $39.00/month after the first free month and does not require a commitment.
• Mirror isn’t a touchscreen (it needs to be controlled with the app on your phone), whereas NordicTrack Vault is a touchscreen.
• Mirror offers live classes, whereas NordicTrack Vault does not.
• Mirror offers all kinds of workouts (50 categories) but focuses on studio-style exercise, whereas NordicTrack Vault–which also has a wide variety of workouts–seems more focused on strength training.
• Mirror can easily be picked up and moved to another room for convenience or a change of pace, whereas NordicTrack Vault is so heavy, it needs to stay where you put it together.
• Mirror has a one-year warranty (an Extended Protection Plan is available), whereas NordicTrack Vault comes with a 10-year frame warranty, two-year parts warranty, and one-year labor warranty.
• Mirror’s payments can be split into 12, 24, or 48 months, whereas NordicTrack Vault’s payments can be divided into 12, 36, 39, 43, or 44 months.
• Mirror allows you to connect with and invite friends, whereas NordicTrack Vault does not.
• Mirror’s plan lets you create six profiles, whereas NordicTrack Vault enables you to make five.
• Mirror goes deep into your stats if you have Apple Health/Apple Watch connected (heart rate data, how long you were in your target heart rate zone, calories burned, etc.), whereas NordicTrack Vault will show you when you worked out, heart rate info (average and max, if you have a heart rate monitor connected), and an estimate of how many calories you burned.
• Mirror has a competition mode that allows you to earn points for hitting targets, whereas NordicTrack Vault does not.

Key Features of Mirror

• Mirror looks like part of the decor in your home, which is one of my favorite things about it. You can move it from room to room if you like to mix things up. You only need enough room to roll out a mat and get your workout in.
• You can join live classes with Mirror.
• You get smart recommendations with the app based on previous workouts.
• You can get personal training sessions through Mirror (those cost extra).
• Mirror has a few options to choose from: The Mirror (by itself), MIRROR Essentials (lots of accessories, but no dumbbells), MIRROR Pro (everything from the Essentials package, with a pair of weights), and MIRROR Family (similar to Pro, but with two sets of most accessories). The price ranges from $1495.00 to $2095.00.

Nothing’s perfect, but as long as you can find something that’s perfect enough for your needs–something that will keep you motivated instead of frustrated–it’ll help you transform. 

Pros

• It takes up very little space and looks like part of the decor–no need to put it away when you’re done (just roll up your mat and put away any weights or bands you used).
• It can be mounted on the wall, but it doesn’t have to be. That makes it good for apartments and less of a pain if you decide to move.
• The package that comes with everything you need will make it convenient and easy to dive right into a workout routine when your Mirror is delivered.
• It’s lightweight. Again, a plus when moving, but also good if you just want to switch things up and work out in a different room. I don’t know that I’d make a habit of picking it up and carrying it around, but it’s nice to have options. 

Cons

• There’s nowhere to put all the accessories you’ll need, so you’ll still have to make room to store those. With the Vault, everything is tucked away.
• If you’re primarily interested in lifting weights and supplementing those workouts with yoga, meditation, stretching, HIIT, etc., it may not be the best fit for your goals.
• You only get one set of weights to work with (1-lb to 35-lbs). The chances of those working for every exercise are low, so you’ll probably need more. 
• I don’t like the idea of being locked in for a year; it feels a bit suffocating to me. However, with any purchase like this, you’ll have to pay a subscription fee to use it well, so you’re likely to pay for a year (and beyond), no matter what. 

The Nearly Invisible Interactive Home Gym | Mirror

With 50+ genres, 5-60 minute classes, and absolute beginner to expert levels, we have the perfect workout for everyone. Enjoy new live classes daily, or choose from our library of thousands of on-demand classes anytime.

Get the Mirror

We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

Key Features of NordicTrack Vault

Though it’s not as easy to integrate into any decor (or move) as the Mirror, the NordicTrack Vault does a pretty good job of staying out of the way. It’s about the size of a bookshelf, has a mirrored front, and doesn’t scream “I’m a home gym–notice me!” if you have to keep it in your living room.

There are two options to choose from if you decide on the Vault:

• Vault: Complete option that comes with an exercise mat, two yoga blocks, three loop bands, three super resistance bands, dumbbells (five to 30 lbs), kettlebells (20 and 30 lbs), premium shelves, hanging shelves, and a cleaning towel. This one is $1999.00.
• Vault: Standalone that just comes with hanging shelves and a cleaning towel. This one is good if you already have several pairs of dumbbells, bands, kettlebells, etc., and you just need something to give your workouts some structure. If you’re like me and have been collecting dumbbells and various home gym pieces over several years, this might be the one to go with. You’ll save $500.00 if you go this route.

iFIT workouts will challenge you. No doubt about it. I struggle to keep up with some iFIT instructors, even on good days when I have a lot of energy. (Hannah Eden, I’m looking at you, but I love the challenge and energy!) There are enough beginner-friendly workouts to be enjoyable for all levels.

NordicTrack Vault has programs to follow to progress in your fitness journey, emphasizing strength training with weights more than Mirror.

It can’t be mounted to the wall.

The touchscreen is much more convenient and intuitive than working through an app.

If Mirror doesn’t sound like your perfect match, maybe the NordicTrack Vault will be.

Pros

• It’s everything you need, tucked into one convenient space. I like that you can keep dumbbells and kettlebells out of the way. It’ll keep you from stubbing your toe or tripping over a weight on the floor, and you don’t need to find a way to store your accessories.
• It looks like a mirror. It doesn’t blend in as well as the actual Mirror, but it’s still sleek and looks nice. Visitors will probably be able to tell it serves an additional function. Still, it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb, either.
• The warranty is impressive–10 years on the frame, two years on the parts, and one year of labor.
• You get a range of dumbbell weights and two kettlebells (20-lb and 30-lb), so you’ll be well-equipped for any strength exercise.
• Programs to follow that keep you motivated and challenged

Cons

• Moving it would not be easy. Once you set it up in your house, you’ll probably not want to move it, even though it’s not mounted to the wall. Sure, you could take the weights out and make it more manageable, but that’s still a lot of effort. 
• The weight range is pretty good for the average person. Still, if you’re used to lifting heavy or want to progress beyond what’s in the Vault, there’s another expense, and you will have to find new ways to store weights. If you’re sticking with the iFIT workouts, you probably won’t have to add much. Still, this is much better than the single set you get with the Mirror.
• If you have your own weights, there’s no guarantee they’ll fit inside the Vault, so you may be tempted to sell what you have and start over with the Vault (which can be a hassle).
• Lack of built-in community 

Other Products to Consider Before You Decide

Check these out before you decide between Mirror vs NordicTrack Vault: 

Tonal

Tonal is probably always going to be my favorite because I like the option to lift heavy. I like barbells and cables, all the traditional gym equipment.

With this option, you can lift up to 200 lbs (digital weight). Still, there’s no worry that you’ll get pinned under a barbell (I injured myself trying to do hip thrusts with a barbell, which would’ve been avoided if I’d had Tonal).

The only drawback is that it needs to be mounted to the wall. That means you’ll be stuck doing your workouts in the same spot, and if you move, you’ll need someone to uninstall it and then reinstall it in your new place.

Tempo Studio

Tempo Studio looks nice enough to be set up in any room, but it’s more likely to stand out than the Mirror or Vault. It doesn’t mount on the wall and looks like a cabinet with a screen attached to the top. However, it does come in two colors, so you can choose the one that best complements your room.

There’s a bench, barbell, dumbbell, and kettlebell setup. (What you get will depend on your chosen package, or you can purchase pieces separately.) What’s impressive is just how much you get and how easily it’s all tucked away.

You won’t see your own reflection on the screen, but Tempo corrects your form and tells you which weights you should probably use. 

This is one of the more expensive options, starting at $2,495.00 for the Starter Package with four pieces and going up to $3995.00 for the Pro Package with 13 pieces.

Tempo requires a 12-month commitment to the subscription, which is $39.00 per month.

FORME

FORME is customizable. It looks a lot like the Mirror or the front of the Vault.

From there, you can customize with LIFT (available soon), making strength training easier via a rope grip, bar, ankle straps, and handles. There’s also the Barre option, which comes with a wood barre you can take off when it’s not in use, barre socks, and a barre ball.

Finally, there’s also the option to add a Sculpt Bundle for $225.00, which includes three sets of dumbbells, a dumbbell tree, ankle weights, and resistance bands. 

Pricing starts at $2495.00. If you wanted the add-ons and Sculpt Bundle, you’d be paying around $3500.00. There’s currently no price listed for the LIFT option because it’s not available, but the Barre add-on is $295.00. You could probably save money by buying your own version of the Sculpt Bundle elsewhere.

FAQs About Mirror and NordicTrack Vault

Mirror vs NordicTrack Vault: Which One Is Best?

I slightly prefer the Mirror because I like the stats, the live option, and the fact that you can invite friends. I like that it’s not next to impossible if I want to move it somewhere else (for a quiet yoga workout, for example). I do love iFIT’s workouts, too, though, so it’s close.

The Nearly Invisible Interactive Home Gym | Mirror

With 50+ genres, 5-60 minute classes, and absolute beginner to expert levels, we have the perfect workout for everyone. Enjoy new live classes daily, or choose from our library of thousands of on-demand classes anytime.

Get the Mirror

We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

I don’t think either option is best across the board. If you like the studio vibe, want to go to live classes, and maybe even work with a personal trainer, you need the Mirror. This is also better if you prefer bodyweight exercises and don’t want a lot of equipment or if you plan to move soon (because it’s lightweight).

If you just want to do your own thing and don’t care about live classes or working with trainers as long as you can get results, NordicTrack Vault is the way to go. If you’re looking into buying dumbbells, kettlebells, etc., and you’re probably staying put in your home for a while, this is the best option.