- The digital-fitness industry exploded during the pandemic and is showing no signs of stopping.
- Though
Peloton led the boom, a crop of competitors debuted innovative ways to work out at home. - Here's everything you need to know about the fast-growing digital-exercise market.
Gone are the days of Tae Bo and Jane Fonda workout tapes. The at-home
Experts say that while the $4 may have been ramping up in recent years, the pandemic accelerated its growth as Americans flocked to brands like Peloton,
Increasing vaccination rates have jump-started local economies and led fitness studios to reopen. But analysts say that $4 are likely to become routine. Some anticipate a hybrid model of fitness involving in-person group-fitness classes or gym visits supplemented by digital subscriptions and at-home workouts.
With virtual exercise more popular than ever, Insider is covering all aspects of how $4, with top players looking to cash in. Many companies are also finding that the road to No. 1 puts them on a collision course with Peloton.
Peloton reigns supreme
Peloton was a decisive winner in the pandemic, raking in $1.8 billion in revenue in 2020. The company $4 across its bike, treadmill, and standalone membership programs.
The fitness brand's popularity persisted even as $4. Peloton also $4 after the Consumer Product Safety Commission released a report detailing injuries to 38 users and the death of one child.
To address the supply-chain concerns and $4, Peloton $4 for $420 million in December. The company has also said it's improving safety mechanisms and redesigning its Tread+.
$4, despite its stock price dropping 17% so far this year. And it's said it's experimenting with a variety of new features, including virtual gaming.
Competition at an all-time high
Peloton may be leading the way in the digital-fitness industry, but several companies are hot on its heels.
Brands like Echelon have $4. $4, $4, and $4 have also introduced Americans to smart gym systems featuring high-tech products that take up minimal space and require little equipment.
Meanwhile, group-fitness studios with devoted fan bases - including $4, $4, $4, $4, and $4 - unveiled digital platforms and enhanced apps with new streaming workouts.
The pandemic also gave rise to an entrepreneurial spirit among fitness instructors. Facing furloughs or layoffs, industrious trainers sought out companies like $4 and $4 that provide resources to run their own virtual-fitness businesses from home.
What's next for digital fitness
The past 18 months have been transformative for the fitness industry, with seismic shifts in how Americans work out paving the way for record-breaking sales.
Investors are looking to find the next Peloton, and many are eyeing the $4. Brands like Ergatta, CityRow, and Hydrow have increasingly impressed Wall Street, raising more than $55 million combined in recent months.
They're also interested in equipment manufacturers, which have been integral in accelerating the at-home-fitness market. Beyond Precor, companies like $4 have helped bring connected equipment into American homes.
To bolster sales, digitally native fitness brands have forged partnerships with physical retailers to allow people to try their products in stores. Tonal, for example, has $4 stores, and experts say the trend will continue.