Tonal Gym Review - 14 Things You Need to Know
Some call it “The Smartest Home Gym,” while others say Tonal Gym “The Future of Fitness.” Either way, this fitness device is certainly a new innovation in home workouts, but does it work? Is this workout device the right option for you?
To learn everything about Tonal Gym, we did some investigating, delving deep into this product’s features, price options, coaching availability, and more. Make sure to check out the bottom line to find out our research team’s final opinion on this device.
Tonal Gym can be purchased through their Official Site.
What is Tonal Gym?
At first glance, Tonal Gym looks like a flatscreen television. Behind the glass, you’ll find a sophisticated digital weight system that uses electromagnetic weights to provide 200 pounds of resistance.
The 24-inch touchscreen display allows you to select a workout from the Tonal membership playlist, a song from Apple Music, or a station from Tonal Radio. The adjustable arms at the sides of the device help you perform upper and lower body exercises.
Before delving deeper into this workout device, let’s take a look at what a few of the studies have to say about the potential benefits of this kind of exercise.
- European Journal of Applied Physiology: Six weeks of high-intensity training increases aerobic fitness and is enough to stimulate initial reductions in peripheral blood pressure.
- The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness: An eight-week pilates training program has been found to have a beneficial effect on static balance, flexibility, and abdominal muscle endurance.
- Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise: Participants who adhered to a long-term HIIT program experienced beneficial weight loss and fat loss.
Tonal Gym Competitors
| Product | Review | |
|---|---|---|
| P90X3 | read | |
| Leslie Sansone | read | |
| FitOn App | read | |
| Figure 8 Fitness | read | |
| Noom | read |
Who Created Tonal Gym?
Tonal Gym is the brainchild of Aly Orady. Orady struggled with weight as a child and was able to lose 70 lbs as an adult after months of strength training. Recognizing the difficulty of maintaining the schedule, Orady wanted to create an intelligent home gym that would allow people to get a gym-quality workout at home.
Tonal Gym earned a “C+” rating with the BBB along with 2.51 out of 5 stars based on an average of 55 customer reviews. The company has worked with the BBB to close 52 complaints in the last 3 years.
Tonal Gym Customer Service
When you visit the Tonal homepage, a chat window pops up, prompting you to ask any questions. The site also has a robust customer support forum. You can email them support@tonal.com. You may also contact Tonal by writing to 325 Vermont Street, San Francisco, CA 94103.
Users also may call (855) 698-6625 every day from 9 am to 10 pm. Customer support representatives are also active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You can find more information about contacting customer service in the Tonal Gym manual.
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Tonal Gym Claims
With Tonal’s intelligent home gym, you can perform over 170 exercises, such as goblet squats and chest presses. This smart gym learns how strong you are and adjusts the weights accordingly.
As you progress in your strength training, you can compare your progress with other users in your age group. Because this gym can adjust as you progress, the company promises “no more wasted workouts.”
Tonal promises more cues than a live personal trainer. The built-in sensors analyze your position and form to offer corrections and adjust the weight. The sensors also will detect muscle fatigue while in Spotter Mode and adjust the weight down to prevent injury.
Tonal Gym Equipment
When you purchase Tonal, you will receive the flatscreen mirror device with a 24-inch touchscreen display. Adjustable arms work with the weight system to create resistance so that you can perform over 170 different exercises.
The optional smart accessories bundle includes smart handles, a smart bar, rope, and bench. These accessories work with the patented T-lock system to increase the number of exercises you can perform with the Tonal system. You can use your accessories, but you will need to purchase special adapters.
Tonal Gym Dimensions and Installation
According to the Tonal Gym manual, Tonal is 50.9 inches high, 21.5 inches wide, and 5.25 inches deep.
Due to safety concerns, a Tonal Gym technician must install the equipment. The technician will deliver and install the device by mounting it to the studs on your wall. The installer also will set up the device and connect it to your home WiFi.
Tonal Gym Workouts
The subscription includes various exercise programs, such as high-intensity interval training, kickboxing, barre, and yoga. As you exercise along with the instructor, Tonal will adjust your resistance, check your form, and count your reps.
Research shows that these workouts provide a lot of benefits. Studies published in The American Journal of Cardiology, World Journal of Cardiology, and the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences found high-intensity interval exercise to benefit cardiovascular health.
If working out with an instructor isn’t for you, you can choose the Free Lift option. In this mode, you can choose each weight. Tonal will track your progress and suggest the correct weight and form.
Tonal Gym and Weight Loss
Research published in Current Sports Medicine Reports, Obesity Reviews, and PLoS One shows that strength training reduces visceral fat, helps control glucose levels, improve cardiovascular health, and many other benefits. Tonal Gym provides a strength training workout that is beneficial for weight loss.
According to research in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, an exercise program that includes aerobic and resistance training, combined with a weight loss program, significantly decreased body fat while increasing lean muscle mass.
Tonal Gym Subscription, Cost and Where to Buy
Buyers may purchase Tonal Gym at the Tonal website for $2995.
Additional costs for the Tonal Gym include:
- Monthly membership: $49 per month (12-month minimum purchase required)
- Delivery and installation: $250
- Optional smart accessories bundle: $495
Financing is available through Affirm at 0% APR and as low as $149 per month. Financing through Affirm includes the membership, delivery, installation, and the smart accessories bundle.
How to Cancel Tonal Gym
The Tonal Gym requires membership for the first year of ownership. After one year, you may cancel the membership and lose access to the workout programs. Tonal offers a 30-day trial period. If you return the device within the trial period, you will receive a full refund.
Tonal Gym Alternatives
One popular Tonal Gym alternative is Mirror. Mirror or Tonal Gym provide resistance training for a home-based workout. The Mirror workout program includes strength training, kickboxing, yoga, and more. Mirror or Tonal Gym also will allow you to adjust your form and provide corrections, but Mirror will not adjust the resistance for you.
The Tempo comes with a weight set that you store on a rack on the device. Tempo uses 3D mapping to create an image of you as you work out. Tempo then provides corrections to your form. Like Tonal Gym, Tempo counts your reps and makes recommendations on how much weight to lift. Unlike Tonal Gym, Tempo will not change the weight for you.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Easy to store
- Perfect for small spaces and apartment dwellers
- Only smart mirror that adjusts the weight for you
- Wide range of exercise programs and free weight mode
Cons
- $1000-$2000 more than competitors’ smart mirrors
- Requires professional installation
- Must pay a fee to uninstall and reinstall if you move
- Requires initial membership at $49 per month
Tonal Gym Lawsuits
On December 10, 2020, Christian Sanchez filed a Complaint in New York Federal court against Tonal Systems, Inc. Plaintiff Christian Sanchez alleges that www.tonal.com is not accessible per the WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.1 accessibility standard(s).
On May 5, 2021, ICON Health & Fitness, Inc. filed a complaint for patent infringement against Tonal Systems, Inc.
What Users Are Saying
“One of the biggest obstacles I have had with regularly exercising is the time commitment of driving to and from a gym (often adds 30-40 minutes onto my time). Having a one-stop replacement for almost all of the strength training equipment at a gym has been great for my motivation, I can roll out of bed and knock out my workout before starting work and not have to worry about fitting it into my schedule. The classes are great and there’s definitely enough content to last me for a very long time without repeating anything!”
“I love my Tonal! I never have to leave my house to work out again! I’m a mom with 2 kids so having easy access makes my life easier.”
“I’ve had my Tonal for about 6 months. I’ve worked through many of its benefits and seen some of its minor flaws. I’m not a crazy athlete anymore, I’m in my mid 40’s, I have a typical dad-bod and I work 50+ hours a week. What I’ve seen with Tonal is a machine and workout program that has forced me out of my comfort zone, made me pursue fitness from angles I never looked at before, and is so convenient and user friendly I couldn’t think of not having one anymore.”
Bottom Line on Tonal Gym Results
If you’re looking for a futuristic twist on the home gym with all the benefits of a personal trainer, then Tonal Gym is for you. This is not your parents’ exercise bike that gathers dust in the basement – Tonal is a statement piece meant for the living room. However, it may not be the most suitable option for everyone, especially when it comes to high prices and installation fees.
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jim (Verified Purchase)
DO NOT BE SUCKERED! They take your money and then keep promising delivery, which keeps getting delayed more and more.
Their sales people lied and told us that with purchase of the Tonal in full, and not financing, that we would have the membership for 12 months free. Then after we paid roughly $4,000, and after a 3 week delay in installation from the original date, we were told there is no free 12 month membership. And the scam gets better, even if you purchased Tonal in full, and you own it, if you don’t comply with their forced membership for 12 months, they take off all smart weight features, and classes, and you’re given “3 basic workout functions with the equipment”. This is all found on their website, you can read it yourself. Oh and they change their terms and agreements often. We asked for them to come pick it up with in 90 days. They force you to pay for a 50$ membership to work out in your own home, with equipment that you paid for in cash full. I guess they want to squeeze as much money out of you because they aren’t doing well? We reported them to the state attorney general.
Mike Moleski (Verified Purchase)
So far the product seems great. However installation was a nightmare. They require professional installation. However on 3 separate occasions they sent out an installation team that didn’t seem to know what they were doing. After 3 attempts on 3 different they were not able to install my equipment. They finally agreed to let me install it myself, which I was able to do in 30 minutes. Installation costs are part of the fees you pay when purchasing the product. When I asked for a refund of $500 since they did not install it, they gave me $100 and ignored my additional request to speak with management.
Did the technicians state why they were not able to provide installation and did Tonal ever reimburse you for the other $400? I have been researching and this one seems to be the best fit for me, but if they can’t back their product or customer service, then I’ll need to bail.