Zwift has begun rolling out their “Zwift Ready” designation for smart trainers. What exactly does Zwift Ready mean and, perhaps more importantly… what does it not mean? Let’s dive in.
What It Means: Virtual Shifting + Cog + Click + More
The Zwift Ready label is for smart trainers that meet three criteria:
- Supports virtual shifting on Zwift
- Ships with a Zwift Cog pre-installed
- Ships with Zwift Click controller
Additionally, although Zwift doesn’t state it on the Zwift Ready FAQ, trainers must deliver a user-friendly unboxing and setup experience to earn the Zwift Ready designation. They also undergo significant bench testing by Zwift before receiving the stamp of approval. Those tests include:
- Power accuracy verification in various conditions
- Max power and gradient verification
- Quality control checks, including perpendicular lean measurement
This means any Zwift Ready trainer should perform within specifications, be easy to set up, and deliver a quality experience on Zwift thanks to virtual shifting that supports a wide variety of bikes. It also means Zwift can point people to some standardized setup guides that apply to all Zwift Ready trainers.
Current Zwift Ready Trainers
Here’s the list of trainers with the “Zwift Ready” designation. We will expand this list as new trainers are added:
What It Doesn’t Mean
It’s important to understand that trainers not labeled “Zwift Ready” may very well provide a high-quality Zwifting experience.
For example, Wahoo’s flagship trainer, the KICKR v6, isn’t “Zwift Ready” because it doesn’t ship with the Cog + Click. But it still supports virtual shifting (just purchase and pair Play Controllers or a Zwift Click shifter) and includes a pile of premium features that make it arguably today’s top trainer.
For a current list of trainers that support Zwift virtual shifting, see All About Virtual Shifting on Zwift.
Trainers Not Tested
It’s good to see Zwift testing trainers to ensure they perform to spec and deliver a quality experience on the platform. But should Zwift be testing more trainers, such as the Wahoo KICKR v6, that don’t meet the Zwift Ready criteria but are still popular with Zwifters?
It’s debatable. Certainly, a fair number of Zwinfluencers already publish in-depth reviews of new trainers, including Shane at GPLama, Ray at DC Rainmaker, Tariq at SMART Bike Trainers, Des at DesFit, and us here at Zwift Insider. Perhaps it doesn’t make sense for Zwift to divert resources to certify the long list of trainers available on today’s market.
On the other hand, Zwift has done it before. Their “Zwift Certified” program tested and verified many trainers, but it was canceled over two years ago. Consumers would certainly welcome an official industry certification. Maybe the testing could be handled by someone else? The UCI, in fact, is working on just such a process.
Questions or Comments
For more information on the program, check the Zwift Ready FAQ on Zwift’s website. If you have questions or comments, post them below!
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