Best turbo trainer deals 2021: Save hundreds on a smart trainer

The best deals on indoor trainers to save you fortune this winter

Best turbo trainer deals
(Image credit: Future)

Outside riding can seem pretty unappealing in the winter months, especially if your restricted to only riding after work in the dark, or the snow and ice had plagued your weekends. Training at home is a great way to get the miles and structured riding whatever the weather. 

Even if you still have tolerable riding conditions, as soon as the first consecutive freezing days arrive, there will be a rush on turbo trainers, leaving you empty handed. The deals available mean, not only is there stick to building your perfect cheap Zwift set up but also you save a lot of money in the process. 

Wahoo Kickr V5 smart trainer: $1,199.99 $1,079.95 at Mike's Bikes Save $120.04

Wahoo Kickr V5 smart trainer: $1,199.99 $1,079.95 at Mike's Bikes Save $120.04 The Wahoo Kickr has long been a favourite at CW. This latest version introduces accuracy of +/-1% and doesn't need to be calibrated. It can give a resistance of 2,200w and simulate gradients of up to 20%. The noise is also much lower than your drivetrain is likely to be. 

Tacx NEO 2T Smart Trainer: $1,400.00 $1,199.99 at REI Save $200.01

Tacx NEO 2T Smart Trainer: $1,400.00 $1,199.99 at REI Save $200.01 Boasting an accuracy of ±1% and not requiring manual zero offset calibrations, you can just hop straight on and go. The Neo 2T also offers an impressively realistic ride feel with its electromagnetic flywheel, inbuilt rocker function and ability to simulate road surfaces such as cobbles.


Saris H3 Smart Trainer: $1025.49 $833.99 at ProBikeKit Save $191.50

Saris H3 Smart Trainer: $1025.49 $833.99 at ProBikeKit Save $191.50 Although not the heaviest turbo trainer on the market, the wide footprint has succeeded in making it the most stable for sprinting out of any of the models we've tested.

Elite Direto XR-T Smart Turbo Trainer: $1,134.99$833.99 at ProBikeKit Save $301.00

Elite Direto XR-T Smart Turbo Trainer: $1,134.99 $833.99 at ProBikeKit Save $301.00 The Direto XR-T responds incredibly fast to changes in resistance and the wide legs make for a stable platform for sprinting. But stable though it may be, it does have a tendency to shuffle around when you're really giving it some. 

Tacx FLUX 2 Smart Trainer: $900.00 $799.99 at REI Save $200.01

Tacx FLUX 2 Smart Trainer: $900.00 $799.99 at REI Save $200.01 As you'd expect, the specs are a little paired down compared to its big brother the Neo 2T. But with a maximum resistance of 2,000w, simulated gradients of 16% and a power accuracy of 2.5%, it's still a strong option.

LifeLine Xplova NOZA S Smart Trainer: $879.99 $529.99 at Wiggle Save $350

LifeLine Xplova NOZA S Smart Trainer: $879.99 $529.99 at Wiggle Save $350 Already a notable option at the midrange price-point, with the 39 per cent discount it's difficult to look past the Xplova Noza. Fully ANT+ and Bluetooth compatible, it'll hook up with your devices, while a maximum power of 2,500 watts and an 18 per cent simulated incline means there's not a lot it won't handle.

BalanceFrom Bike Trainer: $48.37 $34.99 at Amazon Save $13.38

BalanceFrom Bike Trainer: $48.37 $34.99 at Amazon Save $13.38

This is the cheapest wheel-on turbo trainer we've yet come across, providing the most accessible entry into indoor training. There are eight resistance settings, rubber feet to prevent scratches on wooden floors, and it's compatible with any wheel size from 26" to 700c. Just note that, out of the box, it's only compatible with quick release axles.

Tacx Boost Trainer:$329.99 $279.99 at Amazon Save $50

Tacx Boost Trainer: $329.99 $279.99 at Amazon Save $50 For a low cost entry into the world of virtual riding, the Tacx Boost is easy to set up and – with the included speed and cadence sensor – is straightforward to hook up to Zwift and other indoor training platforms.

LifeLine TT-01 Turbo Trainer: $147.99 $79.99 at Wiggle Save $68

LifeLine TT-01 Turbo Trainer: $147.99 $79.99 at Wiggle Save $68 If you're after something without any of the frills – just the bare minimum to keep the wheels turning through winter – the LifeLine TT-01 is a straightforward classic wheel-on turbo.  It works with 130mm and 135mm quick release skewers, or there is an adaptor (sold separately) for using 12mm thru axles.

Tacx NEO 2T Smart Trainer: 1,199.99 £959.00 at Sigma Sports Save £250.00

Tacx NEO 2T Smart Trainer: £1,199.99 £959.00 at Sigma Sports Save £250.00 With an inbuilt rocker function, the ability to simulate different road surfaces and an impressively realistic flywheel feel, the Neo 2T is a highly immersive trainer. With an accuracy of ±1% and not requiring manual zero offset calibrations, you don’t need to worry about the power numbers.

Saris H3 Smart Trainer: £750.00£550.00 at ProBikeKit Save £200.00

Saris H3 Smart Trainer: £750.00 £550.00 at ProBikeKit Save £200.00 With a wide footprint and a not inconsiderable heft, the Saris H3 showed itself to be the most stable platform for sprinting out of any of the models in our recent grouptest. For serious training without any gimmicks, the H3 is an excellent choice.

Elite Direto XR-T Smart Turbo Trainer: £829.99 £650.00 at ProBikeKit Save £179.99

Elite Direto XR-T Smart Turbo Trainer: £829.99 £650.00 at ProBikeKit Save £179.99 Impressively fast changes to the resistance means that the Direto really keeps up on rolling courses, such as the second half of Zwift’s Sand and Sequoias route. The wide legs do make the Direto stable for sprinting, however, it does still have a tendency to shuffle around when putting the hammer down.

Tacx FLUX 2 Smart Trainer: £699.99 £549.99 at Wiggle Save £150.00

Tacx FLUX 2 Smart Trainer: £699.99 £549.99 at Wiggle Save £150.00 Not offering quite the bells and whistles of its bigger brother, the Neo 2T, the Tacx Flux 2 still has some impressive stats. It can hit a maximum resistance of 2,000w, simulate gradients up to 16% and has a power accuracy of ±2.5%.

LifeLine Xplova NOZA S Smart Trainer: £699.99 £379.99 at Wiggle Save £320.

LifeLine Xplova NOZA S Smart Trainer: £699.99 £379.99 at Wiggle Save £320. Offering an already impressive stat sheet for its price, now that's combined with a 45 per cent discount the Xplova is a very difficult turbo trainer to look past. Putting out a maximum resistance of 2,500 watts and able to simulate gradients of up to 18 per cent, there's not much it won't handle.

LifeLine TT-01 Turbo Trainer: £99.99 £49.99 at Wiggle Save £50

LifeLine TT-01 Turbo Trainer: £99.99 £49.99 at Wiggle Save £50 If you just need the bare minimum to keep your wheels rolling on, LifeLine’s classic wheel-on ‘dumb’ trainer get’s the job done. Compatible with just 130mm and 135mm quick release out of the box, you’ll need to buy an adaptor to use it with thru axles.

Tacx Boost Trainer:£249.99 £179.99

Tacx Boost Trainer: £249.99 £179.99 at Amazon

Save £70.99. If you're after an easy to set up and use turbo, then Tacx's entry level Boost trainer is worth a look. There's no smart connectivity but it is an effective introduction to indoor training.

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Stefan Abram
Tech features editor

After winning the 2019 National Single-Speed Cross-Country Mountain Biking Championships and claiming the plushie unicorn (true story), Stefan swapped the flat-bars for drop-bars and has never looked back. 

Since then, he’s earnt his 2ⁿᵈ cat racing licence in his first season racing as a third, completed the South Downs Double in under 20 hours and Everested in under 12.

But his favourite rides are multiday bikepacking trips, with all the huge amount of cycling tech and long days spent exploring new roads and trails - as well as histories and cultures. Most recently, he’s spent two weeks riding from Budapest into the mountains of Slovakia

Height: 177cm

Weight: 67–69kg