Aviron’s home fitness equipment runs on one simple principle: people hate exercise. But many of the same people love to play video games. Perhaps the only thing standing between them and a more active lifestyle is healthy competition and distractions.
This is a gamified concept that makes Nintendo’s Wii and VR games like Beat Saber Hits. However, Aviron did not bring exercise into the video game, but instead brought it into the workout.
The Toronto-based startup was founded in 2018 with the release Game rowing machine. The pandemic is a great time to launch connected fitness startups, as the closure of gyms has made many predict future home exercise centers.
The gamification and the speed boost/deceleration nature of rowing are very effective. It’s obvious why Aviron came out with a rowing machine instead of the more familiar treadmill or bike. With a platform, the company diversifies these forms. Aviron announced a bicycle in August 2024. After a few months it added the connected dumbbells and a victory treadmill.
In a large number of Peloton and Nordictrack Wannabes, Aviron provides the distinction. With brands like Peloton dominating the market with an almost cult-like dedication to their coaches and classes, Aviron continues to rely on the game to make himself special. The good news for Victory Treadmill is that Aviron has built a powerful software and gaming experience for boating and bikes that can be ported to new hardware to a large extent.
If you spend a lot of time using Aviron’s other machines, most of the titles available here will be familiar. However, instead of base gameplay based on the speed of your rowing or pedals, victory uses elements of walking/running speed and tilting to control the title.
Playing fishing games or Aviron on a treadmill is equivalent to brick and ball games, i.e. breaking through is not very natural. The company solved this to some extent through a pair of controllers that are almost similar to joysticks. This is a clever solution that makes the process of tuning speed more dynamic. Most of us are used to entering a few numbers and getting started.
Victory treadmills require you to interact with these things more directly while exercising. Overall, I find it easier to get lost in the competitive aspect of the game on the rowing race than a treadmill. When walking or running, the interaction with the game is just a less intuitive feeling.
But the good news is that there is no shortage of interference on the 22-inch touch screen. I find myself looking at a lot of YouTube and essentially, I’m trapped in the familiar gym habits. You can also log in to most large streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and Max, and Spotify.
Apart from that, Aviron offers scenic virtual routes and offers a small selection of classes. It’s obvious that the company didn’t make the same massive investments in our teachers/courses like Peloton, but this content is more of a complement to the core game offering.
The connected fitness market has changed a lot in the three years since Aviron released the racer. Companies like Peloton buy too much hype and suffer extreme financial consequences when excited. Even so, there is still a lot of competition – especially in good categories like treadmills.
On a home treadmill, from the $5,000 Nordictracks to the $200 foldable system, with a wide range of quality. The win sells for $2,499, and the difference is allocated in terms of pricing. It’s not as large or solid as the system you encounter in the gym, but it’s solid and should last for a while. The controls are responsive, with belt speeds up to 12.5 mph and the system’s low to ground profile makes it stable.
Meanwhile, the wide selection of content means the system is unlikely to turn the $2,499 clothing rack anytime soon.
