Best turbo trainers 2023 — improve your cycling and get fit indoors

Sitting comfortably in the top spot as the best turbo trainer is the Tacx Neo 2T. If you were looking for the best direct-drive smart trainer then look no further. This very quiet trainer is a highly capable piece of equipment that's easy to set up as well as store and has a resistance unit that’s able to simulate road surfaces by altering the resistance hundreds of times a second. Therefore helping to replicate a realistic riding experience on Zwift (which it is compatible with) from the comfort of your own home.

If you were wondering why this is the best turbo trainer and how it differs from the older model (NEO 2) the NEO 2T's biggest difference is the resistance which has been improved upon and therefore produces trustworthy as well as repeatable numbers. Which is of course great for recording accurate numbers for training purposes. Moreover, the NEO 2T at lower speeds produces a more powerful resistance and is also capable of very quick ERG power changes. Overall, it's quiet (which neighbours will of course be thankful for) as well as capable. Although it’s important to note that the ERG mode can be a little hardcore in comparison to others.

In conclusion, if what you are looking for is a top of the range turbo trainer then this is a solid choice that you certainly won't regret. Although others are better value, most notably the Saris H3, the NEO 2T from Tacx is on the other hand more high tech thanks to its impressive features. Which include: its cadence sensing, ability to power itself and realistic road surface feel. 

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Wahoo's Kickr was already one of the best smart trainers you could buy in its previous iterations, and now the latest sixth version has been upgraded again with Wi-Fi connectivity and a more refined ERG mode. 

The ride feel is high quality, it's highly accurate with power accuracy a claimed +/-1%, and not even world-class sprinters will trouble its wattage ceiling at a huge 2,200 watts. The Wi-Fi connection is claimed to be 65% faster than Bluetooth or ANT+, so if you race on indoor training platforms like Zwift it's probably the best on the market for ensuring nothing cuts out mid-event. 

Are the upgrades worth the extra £100 over the Wahoo Kickr v5, that is now further discounted in various places? For most of us it's not a big step up; but then again this is the Rolls-Royce of turbo trainers according to our reviewer, who added: "If you want to elevate your Zwift racing experience and ensure your connection is rock-solid and stays uninterrupted, there's nothing quite like the immersive experience offered by the Wahoo Kickr v6 smart trainer." 

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This smart trainer from Elite is very solid and delivers highly accurate power numbers. It also beats most of its competitors in the premium smart trainer space for price. 

The Direto XR holds your bike firmly in place with no side-to-side movement, and although some could find this more anchored position uncomfortable, it's one of the best if you like to be planted and for the trainer to feel rock solid underneath you. It's impressively quiet and your drivetrain and fan will likely be louder than the noise it generates. The flywheel isn't too heavy but we found this didn't negatively impact the ride responds, and the trainer responds particularly well to sprint efforts.  

It's no longer top of Elite's range with the recently launched Justo now the brand's most deluxe trainer, but if your budget can't quite stretch to a grand then the Direto XR is very capable indeed. 

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If what you are looking for is the best standard turbo trainer then the Saris Fluid2 Smart Equipped is the one for you. It’s straightforward, affordable and simple: a classic wheel-on style turbo trainer which does its job very well, which is why the design hasn't changed for years. At just £129.99 at the time of writing, there's little reason why you wouldn’t pick one up to use on the less than favourable winter days, unless your budget stretches a lot further of course. 

But, just because this offering from Saris is cheap doesn’t mean you have to miss out on riding with friends or using your favourite indoor riding apps. Usefully fitted with a speed/cadence sensor, this means that the unit works with training apps like Zwift and Rouvy. Therefore, although basic, you can still enjoy some visual stimulation and motivation for a fraction of the price of other turbo trainers. That being said, it isn’t as quiet as a direct drive turbo and the simulated power reading won't be accurate. 

Therefore, if what you want is a standard, simple, easy to use turbo trainer that is both user friendly and much cheaper than what’s currently available on the market then this is a decent option for you to consider. It’s basic, but it definitely does its job and does it well. 

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Elite's Suito sits at the cheaper end of the direct drive trainer market but it's well made and the performance is great for what you pay. As the basis for a lower budget smart set-up it's without a doubt an excellent starting point. It’s also compatible with training apps, easy to set up and the Suito-T version also comes with a  Shimano and SRAM-compatible 11-speed cassette; a useful feature if it's compatible with your bike and/or if you aren’t too sure on how to fit one.

Although this turbo trainer is well priced for what it offers, it is unfortunately a bit noisier than other direct drive options, so if noise is an issue for you it might be worth considering quieter trainers such as the Saris H3. Moreover we found the power accuracy isn't quite as good as the more expensive units such as the Wahoo Kickr, but it's definitely good enough to provide you with repeatable training numbers if that’s what your main focus is.

Overall, it’s a great piece of equipment for the price, it’s not right at the top of our best turbo trainers list but the Suito is definitely a strong contender for the best value direct drive indoor trainers if that’s what you are seeking. It’s easy to set up, as well as use, and offers good power with excellent cadence.

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At the current price, the Pinnacle HC Turbo Home Trainer is very affordable for a direct-drive unit. It works seamlessly with all your favourite training apps and you can expect mostly reliable figures from its built-in power and cadence sensors.  

Although it doesn't fold up for easy storage, if you have a dedicated space then the set-up is nice and easy. The freehub is designed for Shimano and SRAM cassettes, and adaptors for rim or disc brake bikes are included. A riser block to keep your front wheel fixed in place is also included. 

We found the Pinnacle offers a smooth ride feel from its 5.7kg flywheel and it fels nice and natural, and the power delivery is good. The maximum gradient simulation is 20% and the wattage ceiling is a huge 2,500 watts, which no mortals will ever trouble. Our reviewer found the power to read around 3% higher in a comparison with a power meter crank, but this was mostly consistent throughout the sessions with only occasional drifting. 

It's not the quietest, but that's to be expected at this price point. Overall, this is a very capable proper smart trainer at an impressive price point. 

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