NordicTrack's smart dumbbells turn Alexa into your personal trainer

a photo of a woman using the NordicTrack iSelect Adjustable Dumbbells

(Image credit: NordicTrack)

Gym equipment giant, NordicTrack, has today announced the release of its smartest adjustable dumbbells yet. Long gone are the days where you have to bend down and manually arrange your weights between sets — the NordicTrack iSelect Adaptable Dumbbells are voice-controlled weights that work with Amazon Alexa.

Of grade, adaptable dumbbells aren't exactly new — during the pandemic, the all-time adjustable dumbbells were similar gold dust, as we all realized how these clever pieces of kit negated the need for a rack full of weights. Yet until now, switching the weights often meant returning the weights to their rack to add or remove plates, or using a pin mechanism to change the weight. The NordicTrack iSelect Adjustable Dumbbells can be electronically adjusted from five to 50 pounds, using Alexa, or by mechanically twisting a knob.

iFit, NordicTrack'southward parent visitor, said the dumbbells feature a "motorized weight selector", that enables the user to quickly change the weight of the dumbbells, allowing them to stay focused on their workout. Marking Watterson, Master Experience Officer for iFit said, "Our patent-awaiting electronic aligning eliminates the pain points of cumbersome mid-workout weight change found on other adjustable dumbbells, like decreased heart charge per unit and reduced time under tension, creating a truly uninterrupted and transformative experience."

a photo of the NordicTrack iSelect Adjustable Dumbbells in their rack — (Image credit: NordicTrack)

Equally well equally asking Alexa to add or decrease the weight of the dumbbells between sets, you can also create pre-sets for some of the nearly mutual exercises you'd use the dumbbells for. "Alexa, go my weights gear up for deadlifts" yous tin shout, and Alexa volition adapt the weight to your pre-fix preference. The list of dumbbell pre-sets includes: biceps coil, overhead shoulder press, lateral shoulder enhance, front shoulder raise, triceps extension, aptitude over row, chest press, squat, deadlift, lunge, lateral lunge, wood chop, chest fly, reverse fly and renegade row.

While users don't take to accept an iFit subscription to utilise the dumbbells, they will go a free month-long subscription when purchasing the weights. iFit recently acquired the Sweat app (read our Sweat app review here), so users will be able to utilize their dumbbells to piece of work out with Kayla Itsines and Kelsey Wells, likewise as all of the other trainers on the platform. Afterward the gratuitous trial, a subscription to iFit costs $39 a calendar month.

The dumbbells come with their own rack to store them in, which also has space for a tablet, and then you can follow workouts from your conditioning app of choice (we've hand-picked some of the best workout apps here). The rack also has an adjustable knob, where you tin can manually modify the weight of the dumbbells, if Alexa is downward, or yous just don't similar her.

At $429, the NordicTrack iSelect Adjustable Dumbbells aren't cheap, but they aren't all that expensive either, especially for the smart technology installed in them. Our current top pick for the best adaptable dumbbells is the Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells, which weigh in at $400, and don't have the same integrated tech on lath. That said, if you don't already accept an Alexa-enabled device, buying one is an actress cost if you want to get the nigh out of these dumbbells.

Of class, we'll look until we've lunged, squatted, and deadlift the dumbbells to cast judgment, but on the surface, this looks to exist an exciting addition to the smart fettle world. The ability to modify your weights without touching them or pre-set weights for certain exercises gives you the time to apply the "balance" period between sets to really do just that, which is a major training plus, withal heavy you're lifting.

The dumbbells are bachelor now, on Amazon.

Jane McGuire is Tom's Guide's Fitness editor, which means she looks after everything fitness related - from running gear to yoga mats. An avid runner, Jane has tested and reviewed fitness products for the past 4 years, so knows what to await for when finding a good running watch or a pair of shorts with pockets big enough for your smartphone. When she'south not pounding the pavements, y'all'll discover Jane striding round the Surrey Hills, taking far too many photos of her puppy.