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The best smart home gym equipment lets you enjoy a focused, streamlined workout without having to pack your gym bag, waste time driving, and pray there isn’t a long line for the machine you need. While you also can accomplish your fitness goals with a high-quality squat rack or functional trainer, some people simply don’t have enough space to fit one in their home.
Luckily, smart home gym strength training tools like Tonal provide a tech-centric, footprint-friendly solution with on-demand classes, interchangeable accessories, and adjustable resistance levels. However, if you’d rather not spend $4,000+ on a single piece of fitness equipment, there’s a more affordable alternative from Echelon Fitness that checks plenty of important boxes.
In this Echelon Strength Home review, I’ll break down everything from the design to the performance of a tech-driven machine that earned a stamp of approval from one of our most experienced product testers. So, if you’re ready to take your fitness journey to the next level from the comfort of your own home, it might be time to clear out some space for a smart all-in-one strength training tool.
Smart Gear, Smarter Testing: Our Experts Know What Works—And What Doesn’t
The Garage Gym Reviews team includes certified personal trainers (CPTs), certified nutrition coaches, longtime CrossFitters, and an Olympian weightlifter. As gear gurus, we’ve tested everything from the best treadmills and best ellipticals to the top adjustable dumbbells. And while we’ll never abandon our roots, we’re committed to embracing new ways to build muscle, burn fat, improve our cardio, and better serve the home gym community.
With the explosion of smart home gym equipment in recent years, we’ve put popular products like the Peloton Bike and NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill through our proprietary fitness equipment testing methodology, evaluating key factors such as:
- Portability/space requirements
- Ease of use
- Cost
- Smart features
For this Echelon Strength Home review, I’ve teamed up with GGR Everything Lead Reviewer Lindsay Scheele to give you a complete picture of this budget-friendly Tonal alternative.
Echelon Strength Home
Echelon Strength Home
Product Highlights
Up to 110 lbs of digital resistance per arm
11 vertical positions
Easy-to-use HD touchscreen
No wall mounting required
Extensive class library and multiple workout modes
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Sleek, compact design
- No wall mounting required
- Up to 110 lbs of resistance per arm
- Easy-to-use touchscreen
- Quiet operation
Cons
- Max resistance may not be enough for advanced lifters
- No live classes (on-demand only)
- Some instability during heavy movements
- Shorter warranty than we’d like to see
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for an affordable Tonal alternative, the Echelon Strength Home gives you solid bang for your buck. With ample adjustment options and up to 110 pounds of digital resistance per arm, you should have no trouble finding different ways to train at home. If you’re concerned about space and are a fan of tech-driven equipment, this is a great option.
A Quick Look at the Echelon Strength Home
The Echelon Strength Home is a smart home gym machine that may remind some of a Tonal. In fact, Echelon Fitness is known for producing their own versions of popular rowers, exercise bikes, treadmills, and other types of fitness equipment.
For example, their Smart Connect Bike Series is essentially their version of a Peloton. Some Echelon treadmills feature similar characteristics as NordicTrack models, though the latter typically earns higher scores from our expert product testers.
RELATED: Echelon vs Peloton
The GGR team has tried many Echelon products, with some of our favorites being:
- Echelon Reflect: A smart workout mirror with a 50-inch HD touchscreen and more than 2,000 built-in workouts.
- Echelon Stride-6s: A budget-friendly treadmill featuring a 3.0 CHP DC brushless motor, 12 levels of incline, and a 10-inch HD touchscreen.
- Echelon Ellipse EL-8s: A sleek elliptical outfitted with color-changing LED lights, a 22-inch touchscreen, and adjustable foot pedals.
- Echelon Row-s Connected Rowing Machine: A sturdy, ultra-quiet rower with a swivel touchscreen, multiple training modalities, and built-in Bluetooth speakers.
Equipped with a 24-inch touchscreen, smart resistance controls, and full-length mirror, the Echelon Strength Home offers full-body training capabilities in a compact package. Its versatility and cheaper price point make it an appealing option for fitness enthusiasts who are interested in building a smart home gym.
RELATED: Smart Home Gyms Guide
Before You Buy
- The Echelon Strength Home costs $3,499, making it about $800 cheaper than the Tonal 2. The Echelon Strength Pro, a smart strength machine with pre-built and instructor-led guided movements, costs nearly double ($6,000).
- While you will need to budget $60 per month for a year-long Tonal membership, the Echelon Premier membership only costs $40 per month. You can save even more by purchasing an annual subscription, lowering the cost to $33.33 per month.
- Echelon built this versatile smart home gym machine with four resistance modes: Normal, Concentric, Eccentric, Elastic Band, and Isokinetic. As a certified personal trainer, I love this feature since you can make your workouts hyperfocused and continuously challenge your body in different ways.
- In addition to a sleek, minimalist design, the Echelon Home Strength is user-friendly, since it does not require wall mounting. It’s also foldable, allowing you to reduce its footprint when not in use.
Echelon Strength Home Video Review
Is the Echelon Strength Home Worth It?
If you’re expecting a Tonal experience at this price, you’ll be left a bit disappointed. However, the Echelon Strength home is still a worthwhile investment, especially if you live in an apartment or have limited free space.
“Now, when the PR team sent it to us, they said it could compete with the Tonal. Do I think that’s true? Probably not. But I do think it holds up well against other smart gyms—like the Speediance, which I actually really like,” says the face of GGR Everything Lindsay Scheele.
On the plus side, the Echelon Strength Home offers up to 110 pounds of resistance per arm, 11 vertical positions, a solid set of accessories, and guided workouts. On the other hand, there is some instability during heavy movements and it may not work well for experienced lifters who want to keep following progressive overload1.
“I’d say it’s best for beginner to intermediate lifters, or people who want guided programming with the convenience of working out at home,” Lindsay explains.
Great for:
- Fitness enthusiasts with limited space
- Folks who like built-in programming and the ability to customize their workouts
- Beginners and intermediate lifters since you can adjust the weight in 1-pound increments
- On-demand classes such as HIIT, pilates, and yoga
Not recommended for:
- Taller individuals who want maximum range of motion
- Advanced lifters or those who like to lift heavy
- Anyone looking for live classes
Echelon Strength Home Specs
| Footprint | 32.5″ W × 75″ L × 70.9″ H (unfolded footplate); 32.5″ W × 24″ L × 70.9″ H (folded footplate) |
| Max Weight Capacity | 300 lbs |
| Resistance | 10-110 lbs digital resistance per arm |
| Touchscreen | 24” HD touchscreen |
| Tech | WiFi-enabled screen; ethernet port for wired connections |
| Accessories | Handle grips, straight handlebar, rope grips, ankle straps |
| Warranty | 1-year comprehensive warranty; 5-year motor |
Using the Echelon Strength Home
Although Tonal shouldn’t have to worry about being toppled from its throne, Lindsay had plenty of positive feedback about training with the Echelon Strength Home. Of course, she also had a few callouts — particularly with the touchscreen and Bluetooth connectivity (or lack thereof).
However, with plenty of experience trying the company’s diverse line of smart home gym equipment, Lindsay’s overall assessment speaks volumes:
“I’ve tested a lot of Echelon products over the years—their stair climber, treadmills, bikes—and this is probably my favorite one so far.”
Let’s dive deeper into what stands out about the Echelon Strength Home—and what doesn’t.
Footprint
Space limitations can make for a frustrating home gym experience. However, the Echelon Strength Home has a reasonably compact footprint of 32.5″ W × 75″ L × 70.9″ H when unfolded. The foldable footplate (which has a full-length mirror on the back) is a solid space-saving feature that helped this machine earn a 3 out of 5 rating for portability and space requirements.
“This is a great option for small spaces—like an office or apartment—because it’s compact but still acts like a full gym,” Lindsay explains. “It’s not wall-mounted like the Tonal, so you don’t have to deal with studs or wall anchors.”
The reason we docked a few points is that this machine is heavy, weighing in at about 290 pounds. Luckily, Lindsay reports that “you can still move it around if needed.” Plus, you don’t have to worry about damaging your walls since this is a free-standing machine.
Still, it takes up much more room than a Tonal or other similar wall-mounted workout mirrors, so this definitely isn’t the best choice if space is your primary concern.
Ease of Use
First, let’s start with the good. This machine uses digital resistance, going from 10 pounds up to 110 pounds per arm. While some places list the max weight as high as 132 pounds, Lindsay confirms it’s really 110.
“This resistance feels different than free weights. It’s active during both the concentric and eccentric phases, so if you’re used to pressing 40 lb dumbbells, you might get the same burn with 20 lbs here,” she explains. “I was honestly surprised how effective the lower weights were.”
With lever arms leveled A through I, you get 11 vertical positions for a wide range of exercises, including rows, lateral raises, deadlifts, and squats. You can also attach the cables at the base for lower-body movements, giving you tremendous versatility.
“Even with the resistance capping at 110 lbs per arm, it was plenty challenging for upper-body days. I personally wouldn’t use it for heavier lifts like barbell squats or deadlifts—that’s not really what it’s made for—but for general strength training, especially in a compact home gym, it gets the job done,” Lindsay says.
The machine comes with a straight bar, handles, and ankle cuffs. Echelon deserves a tip of the cap for designing the cables so they’re already threaded through the handles.
“That means no wasted time fiddling with clasps and trying to figure out what goes where. It’s intuitive and easy to use—huge plus,” Lindsay says.
However, one callout worth mentioning is that the Echelon Strength Home’s lever arms only go up to 54 inches.
“For some movements, especially for taller users doing things like high-to-low chest flys, that might not be enough,” says Lindsay. “In a lot of the classes, they have you kneel for these movements. That’s fine, but just be aware—the floorboard is really hard.”
As someone who’s 6-foot-2, the lever arm height limitations would at least be a factor for me to consider. However, if you’re not as tall, you shouldn’t have to worry.
Overall, we’ll give this a 3 out of 5 for ease of use.
Smart Features
The Echelon Strength Home has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Unfortunately, Lindsay ran into major issues trying to connect via Bluetooth. Unlike Tonal, Peloton, and other smart home gym fitness equipment, you can’t take live classes. However, there are on-demand classes available—with one drawback.
“There’s no music during the classes right now. They’re planning to update it to allow connections to Spotify, Fitbit, and Strava, which would be great. Hopefully, they include volume mixing like iFit does, so you can balance instructor cues with music,” Lindsay explains.
The 24-inch HD touchscreen rotates and tilts, giving you flexibility to put it at the right angle based on the exercise. Unfortunately, when Lindsay used it in horizontal mode, the text overlapped and made it nearly impossible to read or navigate.
“Not sure if that’s a bug or a software update, but it was annoying,” she says.
Furthermore, the screen only supports weightlifting programming. You’ll need to use your phone or tablet for everything else.
Despite those shortcomings, the Echelon Strength Home still offers a solid package of smart features — including instructor-led workouts and multiple resistance modes — that earned a 4-out-of-5 rating.
Echelon Strength Home vs Tonal Smart Home Gym
Tonal Smart Home Gym
Tonal Smart Home Gym
Product Highlights
- AI gets to know you and makes weight adjustments for you
- Up to 200 pounds in digital resistance
- All-in-one gym that takes up minimal space
- Access to on-demand and live classes
- 30-day trial period
Pros & Cons
Pros
- AI gets to know you and makes weight adjustments for you
- Lift up to 200 pounds in digital resistance (much different from free weights)
- All-in-one gym that takes up minimal space
- AI assesses your form and gives real-time cuing
- Access to on-demand and live classes
- 30-day trial period
Cons
- High initial price tag
- Accessories cost extra and are pretty crucial to your workouts
- 12-month initial subscription required (and an additional cost)
- 200 pounds in resistance might not be enough for heavy lifters
Bottom Line
A complete smart home gym that offers versatility in a compact piece of equipment, but at a high price.
Still on the fence about which smart home gym to go with? Long considered the cream of the crop, the original Tonal offers up to 200 pounds of resistance (100 per arm), with the Tonal 2 bolstering that threshold to 250 pounds. Of course, while they’re both “smart home gym machines,” the Tonal is vastly different in design, as it’s a wall-mounted workout mirror.
On the other hand, the Echelon Strength Home is a standalone unit that doesn’t require wall mounting. However, it doesn’t offer such a robust package of smart technology and live classes.
You also need to consider the price difference between these two machines. Echelon is more affordable, but comes with clear tradeoffs. If you want to learn more about its high-priced competitor, check out our full Tonal Smart Home Gym review.
| Echelon Strength Home | Tonal Smart Home Gym | |
| Footprint | 32.5″ W × 75″ D × 70.9″ H (unfolded footplate); 32.5″ W × 24″ D × 70.9″ H (folded footplate) | 21.50″ W x 50.9″ H x 5.25” D |
| Resistance | 10-110 lbs digital resistance per arm | 200 lbs (100 per arm) |
| Touchscreen | 24” HD touchscreen | 24” HD touchscreen |
| Tech | WiFi-enabled screen; ethernet port for wired connections | WiFi necessary |
| Accessories | Handle grips, straight bar, rope grips, ankle straps | Handles, bar, rope, bench, roller, mat |
| Warranty | 1-year comprehensive warranty; 5-year motor | Trainer: 1-year parts and labor, 2 additional years parts Accessories: 1 year |
Customer Experience
Based on customer reviews and our collective experience, Echelon rates highly for customer service. The company website has a live chat feature that’s available Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. You can also contact customer service via phone.
The Echelon Strength Home comes with a one-year comprehensive warranty that includes a five-year warranty on the motor. That’s not the best warranty coverage, but it’s OK. Overall, we’ll give the warranty a 3 out of 5.
Ordering the Echelon Strength Home
You can order the Echelon Strength Home directly on Echelonfit.com. Listed for $3,499.99, the company may run promos that lower the price to $2,999.99. Echelon offers financing options through Bread Pay that allow you to spread the payments out over 12, 24, or 36 months.
When you add the machine to your cart, you will also have a chance to sign up for the Echelon Premier membership. At the time of this writing, Echelon was offering a 30-day free trial—a nice bonus for customers. Whether you choose an annual plan or month-to-month one, you will get free shipping.
Customer Reviews
The Echelon Strength Home has earned a 5-star rating from all 11 reviewers on the company’s website. While users have pointed out some limitations, they praise the overall quality and functionality.
Final Verdict of Our Echelon Strength Review
Spending thousands of dollars on a smart home gym isn’t something to take lightly. But setting your future self up for success by investing in your health now is the best thing you can do. If you’re at the beginning of your fitness journey or need something motivating to get you moving, what better way to get your heart rate up and build some strength and muscle than a machine that literally lets you look at yourself in the mirror with each and every rep.
Full Rating
Echelon Strength Home
If you’re looking for an affordable Tonal alternative, the Echelon Strength Home gives you solid bang for your buck. With ample adjustment options and up to 110 pounds of digital resistance per arm, you should have no trouble finding different ways to train at home. If you’re concerned about space and are a fan of tech-driven equipment, this is a great option.
Product Brand: Echelon
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 3499.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.75
Echelon Strength Review: FAQs
What’s better: Echelon or Tonal?
Both machines can help you accomplish your fitness goals. Echelon is ideal if you’re looking for a standalone smart home gym machine that doesn’t require wall mounting. Overall, though, Tonal offers a superior package of features in a more footprint-friendly (and expensive) package.
How much is Echelon per month?
The most affordable Echelon plan is Echelon Choice, which costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually. Echelon FitPass starts at $11.99 per month. The Echelon Premier membership gives you unlimited access to live and on-demand classes for $39.99 per month or $399.99 per year ($33.33 per month).
Can I use my Echelon without a subscription?
Yes, you can use Echelon equipment without a subscription. However, you will need a subscription to access most content, including live and on-demand classes.
References
- Chaves, T. S., Scarpelli, M. C., Bergamasco, J. G. A., Silva, D. G. D., Medalha Junior, R. A., Dias, N. F., Bittencourt, D., Carello Filho, P. C., Angleri, V., Nóbrega, S. R., Roberts, M. D., Ugrinowitsch, C., & Libardi, C. A. (2024). Effects of Resistance Training Overload Progression Protocols on Strength and Muscle Mass. International journal of sports medicine, 45(7), 504–510. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2256-5857
Further reading
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