However, the pandemic forced the closures of most gyms and studios, and kept people largely at home for months. Because of this, many people are finally clicking “add to cart” on home gym items they’ve been eying for a while—including big ticket items like cardio machines. And Peloton finally has some hefty competition, from SoulCycle’s new at-home bike to StrydeBike (which launched during the pandemic) as well as a variety of other less flashy but more affordable treadmills and spin bikes. So it doesn’t come as a huge surprise that Peloton today announced the addition of two new products to its lineup: their new Bike+ and Tread.
The new Peloton Bike+ is $2,495, with an option for 0 percent APR financing for $64 per month for 39 months. The Peloton Tread comes with the same price tag, making it a full 50 percent less expensive than their OG treadmill (which, confusingly enough, is now called Tread+). Also of note is that the original Peloton bike is now 15 percent less expensive at $1,895. Despite the price cuts, thought, neither product is by no means cheap. But there’s also a reason why Peloton has such a massive cult following: They make damn good products.
Below are more details on the new bike and treadmill, so you can decide for yourself whether their extra features are worth it for you and your fitness needs.
What sets the Peloton Bike and Bike+ apart
The Peloton Bike, the company’s first product, was a game-changer for a reason. It’s a favorite among many fitness enthusiasts, including product reviewers at the New York Times as well as here at Well+Good, primarily because it’s a sturdy, well-made machine. This is not a stationary bike that’s going to fall apart while you’re riding it or look like an eyesore in your den.
Plus, unlike most of its competitors, the Peloton Bike comes with a built-in tablet and programming. (Note that it’s an extra $39 per month for the classes.) As the roughly 648,000 people in Peloton’s Facebook group will tell you, the programming (and leaderboard) is extremely motivating. If you participate in a live class, the instructor will see your name on the leaderboard and if you’re really lucky, give you a special shoutout. It’s essentially a built-in spin class experience in one product.
The new Bike+ has all of these features and more. Besides having a rotating screen and a souped up speaker system, it also integrates with Apple GymKit, which means you can sync your Apple Watch to it. It also has an “auto-follow digital resistance system” that automatically remembers your target metrics and scales your resistance up and down based on instructor guidance.
When it comes to choosing between the original bike and the Bike+, a spokesperson from the brand says it depends on someone’s fitness goals. “The Peloton Bike is best suited for those looking for cardio-centric workouts, and the Peloton Bike+ is best for those who are looking for a total body workout with a combination of on and off-bike content, as the Bike+ makes it even easier to complement an indoor cycling class with Peloton’s strength, yoga, stretching, and meditation classes,” the spokesperson says.
What sets the Peloton Tread and Tread+ apart
When Peloton came out with their treadmill (now called the Tread+) in January 2018, a lot of people were taken back by the $4K price tag—until they gave it a test run. Consumer Reports pitted the Tread+ against 41 other treadmills and said it “clearly breaks the mold with treadmill design.” Many of the reasons for this are the same as with the bike: it’s extremely well made, sleek, and comes outfitted with the tablet and motivating programming.
The new Peloton Tread is a more affordable option, though still by no means inexpensive. The biggest difference is that it’s six inches in length and ten inches in height smaller. “Both the Tread and Tread+ offer an immersive, total body workout led by world-class instructors, so someone can decide whether the Peloton Tread or Tread+ is better suited for them depending on their fitness goals, space and budget,” the spokesperson says.
Even with all these flashy features, going for a Peloton might not make sense for you. If cost is your number one concern, or you only plan on using your stationary bike or treadmill occasionally, there are other options out there. But if you want the best of the best, it’s the gold standard.
