You should know by now that one of the most beneficial things you can do to your body as a skier is to constantly work out even during the offseason. Being in great shape is mandatory even if you only do skiing once a year for just a week. The consequences of not being in great shape can be severe injuries especially to the knees and shoulders among others that may keep you off the snow forever if not a long time.

The great thing is you don’t have to go to the gym to workout, you can do this in the comfort and safety of your home. But this can only happen if you have the right home trainers for skiers. It is only with the right home trainers that you can experience the same benefits of skiing while at home. So much better than being out in the snow, in the freezing cold, and putting yourself at risk of falling and hurting yourself. And not to mention that working out from home is the cheapest alternative.

Jump straight to the Reviews Section

 

So what home trainers are available out there that are best for a skier? Well, to be honest, there are a number of home trainers claiming to be the best for skiers but in our research, we only spotted a few that we can guarantee will give you the best results. Let’s take you through the most important factors to look at when shopping for the best home trainer for skiers first before we jump right into the review section.

 

Buying guide

Buying a home trainer is pretty easy as long as you know what you are looking for. In this guide, we touch on the most important factors to consider when shopping for one.

Premium quality material

If you are into skiing for the long haul then it means you will need to keep exercising during every off-season. With this in mind, you want to go for a sturdy and durable trainer. Durable machines don’t come cheap as they are made of premium quality materials such as steel, oak wood, and alloy wheels. Even with minimal care, maintenance, and servicing, home trainers made from premium quality materials will still last for quite some time. That is why manufacturers give a longer warranty period.

Portability

If you don’t have space dedicated to your workout where you can leave your machine in readiness for the next session, then it’s advisable that you choose a home trainer that is portable. This way you can easily move your machine from the storage place to where you plan to work out from. With a portable machine, you can even work out from your backyard.

Space efficiency

Space efficiency is very important especially if you are in a rental or when you don’t have much space in your house to store a bulky home trainer. Look for a home trainer that can be packed down to compact for easy storage when not in use. This way, you can stash it under the bed, in your closet or somewhere it won’t take up any space.

Features

There are a few things to mention when it comes to the features. One is the resistance level; this should be adjustable. Two is ergonomic handles, this will be very handy for your comfort as they tend to have a good grip. The handles should also be sweat resistant. You also want to look out for a trainer with a smooth motion to reduce the chances of injury from repetitive motion. Another additional feature that is worth having is the LCD screen window to monitor your speed, time, pulse rate and calories burned. Lastly, consider a home trainer with separate controls for the lower and the upper body. With this, you can decide to exercise only specific body parts while leaving the rest out.

 

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Best Home Trainers for Skiers 2024

 

1. Fitterfirst Pro Fitter 3D Cross Trainer

This home trainer by Fittersfirst is a great choice for all types of workouts. Whether you want to achieve better balance, enhance core strength and stability, develop accurate reaction skills, or increase cardiovascular endurance, the Pro Fitter Cross 3D trainer makes a good option. This versatile trainer is designed with six tension levels to cater for safety training for all skill levels from beginner to the advanced Double Black Diamond level and can be used as a core trainer, ski trainer, or a cardio machine.

It comes with a soft laminated ankle board that you can use for core strengthening exercises while seated, standing, or doing upper body targeted exercises. Its independent flexing rotating footpads allows you to exercise each foot independently of the other. With over 20 exercises that you can work out at home, the Pro Fitter Cross 3D trainer is the trainer to go for if you are looking for something versatile.

Pros

• It is a versatile trainer that can be used for 20 different workouts
• Designed for all skill levels
• Ready to use out of the box

Cons 

• Not ideal as a physiotherapy kit as it lacks balance aids

 

2. Aeroski 2.0 Ski Fitness Machine

The Aeroski 2.0 Ski Fitness Machine is a lightweight and portable trainer that is a good option if you intend to strengthen your core muscles, lose some weight, and tone your muscles. It is designed with a fixed handrail with a padded grip that allows a safe workout. It also includes two ski poles. Together with the recoil spring resistance technology, it will give you a great ski-like motion. It is also compatible with a VR headset that is included in its package for an immersive workout experience.

It features a combination of steel, ABS, and PU polymer construction that makes it strong and durable. It is also fitted with rollers underneath to allow you to move it easily. It requires some assembly although this is not a complicated process. The electronic monitor records time, reps, and calorie burn data to help you track your progress.

Pros 

• Integrated with recoil technology for great motion and durability
• Compatible with VR headset for an immersive workout
• Comes with ski poles
• Safe workout at all levels with fixed handrails and padded grip

Cons 

• Supports a maximum of 220 lbs (100 kg) weight

 

3. NordicTrack Sequoia Skier (Ski Machine)

The Sequoia is the original skier by the Nordic Track skier. More advanced versions have come up but this original skier still holds its top position when it comes to its performance and durability. It is made from premium quality materials; pine wood and black steel. Its design is also very stylish and has this nice redwood stain finishing. You will definitely love how it looks and the fact that you can easily fold it and stash it elsewhere until when needed.

The resistance level of the sequoia can be adjusted to handle either the lower or the upper body. If you are more than one person using this machine, each of you can tilt the hip pad to their fitting.

Pros

• Set up is quick and pretty easy
• It comes pre-assembled
• Smooth gliding natural motion
• Packs down for easy storage

Cons

• Takes up quite a bit of space when in use
• Its availability is not guaranteed

 

4. NordicTrack PRO Skier (Ski Machine)

The NordicTrack PRO Skier is perfect for low impact exercises. Whether it’s a choice to go low impact or it’s because of an injury or other health-related conditions, this machine will “gently” help you stay in shape. The smooth gliding movement will reduce the chances of further injury or pain. This machine takes up very minimal space in your house, you can easily fold it and put it aside when not in use. You can even stash it under your bed if you run out of space to put it in. The assembling and disassembling is pretty easy and you won’t need any helping hand unless you want to.

The fact that it’s portable means you can work out at your backyard or take it with you to the park if you don’t mind working out in the open. Looking at the build of this machine, it is worth your every coin as its made of steel and high-quality oak wood. The steel frame makes it very sturdy and long-lasting. You don’t have to worry about the machine breaking down in the midst of your intense workout.

You can adjust your resistance level to whatever intensity by setting the elevation either low or high. If you want a higher resistance, adjust the elevation upwards and downwards if you want a less challenging work out session. The NordicTrack Classic Pro Skier has separate controls for the upper and lower body making it easy for you to do spot workouts. For instance, you can choose to either target the arms and shoulders only and not exercise your legs if you have a knee injury. This is an impressive feature by Nordic given that this a plain simple home workout machine. The only extra feature in this machine is the LED feedback window. It lets you know what your pulse rate is, how many calories you have burned, the distance you have covered as well as the time used. It is not as detailed as the elliptical trainers obviously but it gives the basic information you need to know and track. As a skier, this can help you gauge your endurance as well as motivate you to stretch your limits.

Pros

• You can adjust the elevation and the resistance up to 7 levels
• Easy to use
• Easy to assemble and disassemble
• It is space-efficient
• Portable

Cons

• May take a while before you get accustomed to using it
• Has no workout programming

 

5. Concept2 SkiErg with PM5 Skier (Ski Machine)

Concept 2 SkiErg basically works by mimicking the skiing so you get the same benefits at home that would if you were skiing at the Alpine slopes. This Y-shaped free-standing machine is known to provide the toughest workout for skiers, ideal for high-impact exercises. It focuses on three key areas crucial to any skier; legs, arms, and the core. You are able to build your strength, stamina, and endurance to keep you on top of your game when the skiing season kicks off.

Let’s look at what makes this machine stand out. One is the PM5 Performance Monitor which provides you with real-time performance data both during and after your skiing exercise. It’s important to track your performance so that you know if you are within or below your expectations. Surprisingly, this tough machine is lightweight. You can easily move it from one room to the other or even to your patio if you want to workout from the outside. It actually takes up very minimal space, you will hardly need to have a separate space for it.

Concept 2 SkiErg uses the dual-pulley system to mimic skiing. With the use of the flywheel and the damper, you are able to control \ resistance and the exertion that you put in. If you need a higher resistance, you adjust the flywheel’s airflow downwards. Similarly, if you need a low resistance you adjust the flywheel’s airflow upwards. Basically, the less the airflow the higher the difficulty in spinning the wheel.

The cords are very light in weight, strong and very durable. The ergonomic handles are sweat-resistant so your hands won’t keep sliding when you sweat during exercise. They also have a comfortable grip for maximum comfort when working out. Whatever your goals are, you will find this machine very valuable. You can use it to prep for your next skiing session, keep in shape during the off-season or toughen your muscles to get ready for a next day race. You can opt to mount your machine on the wall or use a floor stand. You will, however, need to buy the floor stand as its sold separately. If you are in a rental property, it is advisable that you use the floor stand. Also, if you will need to constantly move it from one place to the other, the floor stand is ideal.

Pros

• Well built to last long
• Lightweight
• Easy to use
• Portable
• Easy to assemble

Cons

• Can only be used when mounted on the wall on a floor stand

 

Conclusion

Having gone through our review, are you totally sold out to the idea of owning a skier’s home trainer? We believe so. If you are ready to shop for one, consider the features mentioned in our guide, their portability, ease of use, and durability. Important to note is that a good home trainer for you as a skier has to be able to mimic skiing which is the essence of buying a home trainer for a skier. We have reviewed the best there is in the market, so any of the choices will be perfect for you.