Wheel-on trainers are what everyone rode 10 years ago. Cheaper than their direct-drive cousins, they’re also dead simple – just snug up your axle, tighten the roller to your tire, and go!
That said, direct-drive trainers are what the market is most interested in today because they’re more accurate, consistent, and deliver a more realistic feel than wheel-on trainers. So manufacturers are investing their R&D in the direct-drive side of things, which means we aren’t seeing a lot of new models or innovation in the wheel-on space.
Still, many Zwifters begin their journey with a wheel-on trainer due to affordability, so it’s worth taking a look at which wheel-on turbos are the best. Here are the top picks for wheel-on trainers, including a note explaining why certain trainers weren’t included. This list will be continually updated as new trainers are released and Zwifters continue to share their reviews.
About Our Selections
Thanks to almost 1000 reviews in our Smart Trainer Index, we’re able to crunch numbers and share crowdsourced buying advice on smart trainers. The trainers below were selected based on overall ratings, total number of reviews, and several other factors.
Win a Smart Trainer!
If you own a smart trainer but haven’t reviewed it yet, be sure to do so during September 2020 so you can be entered into our giveaway for an Elite Direto XR trainer + Sterzo Smart! See details here >
Premium Option: Wahoo KICKR Snap Gen 2 (2017)
Far and away the most popular wheel-on smart trainer on the market, Wahoo’s KICKR Snap is the premium choice for anyone seeking the budget-friendly, keep-your-bike-intact benefits of a wheel-on trainer setup. The Snap used to be priced at $599, making it one of the most expensive wheel-on trainers available. But Wahoo lowered the price in July 2019, making it very difficult to recommend any other wheel-on trainer unless a rider is looking for the very lowest price option (see the Tacx Flow below).
The Snap has a large flywheel, giving it one of the best road feels in its class. Accuracy and max wattage also match or exceed the competition, and Wahoo’s customer support is second to none. Of course, it’s compatible with the Climb. All of these factors combine to make it difficult to recommend a wheel-on trainer besides the KICKR Snap – the only challenge is that Wahoo has a difficult time keeping them in stock!
Key Specs
- MSRP: $499.99 USD
- Accuracy: +-3%
- Flywheel: 10.5lb
- Max Wattage: 1500 W
- Max Incline: 12%
Overall Rating
(68 reviews)
Budget Option: Tacx Flow Smart
The cheapest smart trainer from a major maker, the Flow Smart from Tacx is a significant downgrade from the Wahoo KICKR Snap, with reduced accuracy, max wattage, and flywheel weight. But it’s also more affordable, so if budget is your #1 factor, the Flow may be the perfect way to get going on Zwift!
Key Specs
- MSRP: $369.99 USD
- Accuracy: +-5%
- Flywheel: 3.5lb
- Max Wattage: 800 W
- Max Incline: 6%
Overall Rating
(38 reviews)
Two Trainers We Left Out
Kinetic was such a huge name in the indoor trainer space, but they were slow to hop aboard the smart trainer train. It appears they’re finally chugging along now, though, with their Road Machine Control and Rock and Roll Control trainers getting some good reviews, and the R1 direct-drive trainer finally making some inroads as well. Still, we’re wary of recommending the Road Machine Control above the same-priced KICKR Snap when it’s less proven and offers no significantly improved features.
The Saris M2 is a decent wheel-on offering, but with a tiny flywheel and slightly worse power accuracy than the same-priced KICKR Snap. Saris needs to drop the price on this trainer to make it competitive.
Questions or Comments?
Got trainer questions? Want to let us know what you think of our choices? Comment below!
Eric, might want to put a picture of the Snap next to the review….
Yipes! Wrong number in the code. Fixed.
Also you mention Core rather than Snap in the Flow description.. cheers
Jimmeny Christmas, what was I drinking when I published this? Fixed!
Dunno, but please send some here 🍻
Regardless of the wheel-on trainer you select, you will have better results if you use a trainer-specific tire on the bike such as the Continental Hometrainer. The rubber compound sticks better to the trainer so there is less slipping at higher resistance
Can definitely vouch for the Conti Hometrainer. Upwards of 5,500 miles on Zwift with mine and still going strong.
As the owner of a second hand Snap (g2), I have been unsettled by one thing. No power button or auto off as far as I can tell. Ive been unplugging it after every ride. The short lead on the trainer doesnt invite a 2 hand operation and Im worried that yanking the cord repeatedly is going to lead to a failure later on. Am I alone here?
No trainer has a power button or auto off. Even the most expensive ones!
Best bet is a wifi smart power strip so you can turn it (and your fans!) off easily from your phone: https://amzn.to/3mRznga
Or … you know … a switch.
Sure, David Cooper… except I like to be able to turn fan(s) on and off while riding. Smart strip makes it easy to do that.
My tacx genius has a power switch….
Dang, Eric, that power strip makes my beanie spin! I mean, I already have “Alexa, turn on the fan”, but that takes it to a new level! Thanks for the link!
QUESTION: does Snap take cadence into account in measuring power?
I have a Snap and external cadence but power measurement doesn’t seem to respond to cadence changes in the way my Asiamo pedals on my outdoor bike do.
I doubt it’s factored in, but even if inaccurate there, I still love it. Great trainer for somebody who’s not a bike racer in need of super precise performance.
I might be wrong on this, but… The devices measure torque in different ways. Your pedals measure the input torque from you by measuring the force you put on a pedal. In that way, changing gears changes the amount of force you put on the pedals which instantly translates to torque. When measuring at the wheel, or even with a direct-drive trainer, the momentum of the rotating flywheel maintains a more consistent torque output. The difference between the pedals and trainer measurement is greatest when comparing behavior between pedaling and coasting.
Thanks. I guess I’m also talking about the fact that higher cadence can also produce higher power. So when I downshift on a climb, I’m definitely not putting same torque on pedals, but the increased cadence shows up in a higher wattage. It seems like that’s missing on my Snap.
How can these companies market a power @ +/- 3% when its clear its no where near this?
The question is spend $370 on a toy that you’ll hate, or $750 for a direct drive trainer. Why am I so sure some folks will hate the choice of a wheel-on trainer, well your power will be overestimated. All your speed and accomplishments in Zwift can be attributed to the inaccruate power readings, and not your athletic accomplishment. You are only marginally in a different situation than using zpower and a dumb trainer. Oh don’t get me wrong, I was happy with my wheel-on trainer for six months or so and the main reason I junked it, is it… Read more »
Allow me to retort, I’ve been using a smart wheel on trainer for more then 4 years with no problems. I bought a quarq power meter and a wahoo snap for cheaper then I could have a wahoo kicker. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a wheel on trainer if you can set it up correctly. https://youtu.be/waV9l2wMANM
The biggest advantage that the Kinetic trainers have on other trainers is that they can take any rear spacing setup especially track bicycles..