Aviron's home fitness equipment works on simple principles. People hate exercise. But many of those same people love to play video games. Perhaps the only thing standing between them and a more active lifestyle is healthy competition and timing distractions.
It's the same gamification concept that made Nintendo's Wii and VR games look like Beat Saber Hits. However, instead of bringing your workout into a video game, Aviron brings video games into your workout.
Founded in 2018, the Toronto-based startup has become known for its release of a rowing machine that was gamed in 2022. With gym closures, many people are forecasting a future that focuses on home workouts, so the pandemic has been a fantastic predictable time to launch a connected fitness startup.
Gamification works well with the speed-up/slowdown nature of rowing. It is clear why Abilon came out of the gate on a rowing machine, rather than the more familiar treadmills and bikes. With the platform being introduced, the company has since diversified into these form factors as well. Aviron unveiled the bike in August 2024. Within a few months, we added Dumbbells and Victory Treadmill to our lineup.
Amidst the incredible floods of Peloton and Nordic trucks, Abilon offers differentiation. If brands like Peloton dominate the market through almost cult-like dedication to instructors and classes, Abilon continues to take banks into the game to make himself stand out. The good news for Victory Treadmill is that Aviron has built a robust software and gaming experience for rows and bikes that can be ported primarily to new hardware.
Most of the titles available here are familiar to those who spend time on other machines on Aviron. However, instead of being based on gameplay based on how strong you row and how fast you pedal, victory uses factors like walking/running speed and title control.
It's not so natural on the treadmill to be the equivalent of a fishing game or a breakout game of Abilon brick and balls. The company deals with this to some extent with controllers like most joysticks. This is a clever solution that creates a process that adjusts speed and slope more dynamically. Most of us are used to starting by typing in a few numbers.
The Victory Treadmill requires you to be more directly involved in these things during the exercise. Overall, I found it easier to get lost in the competitive aspect of the row player game than the treadmill. I feel that interacting with the game while walking or running is not intuitive.
But the good news is that there is no shortage of distractions to utilize a 22-inch touchscreen. I watched a lot of YouTube and have returned to the gym habits that are essentially familiar. You can also log in to most well-known streaming services, such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, and Spotify.
Beyond these, Aviron is growing, with a scenic virtual route and fewer class options. It is clear that the company does not make the same kind of investments in instructors/classes from the perspective of Peloton and others, but the content is a supplement to the core game offering.
The connected fitness market has changed dramatically in the three years since Aviron released Rower. Companies like Peloton bought too much on their hype and had an extreme economic impact when excitement fell. Still, there is still a lot of competition, especially when it comes to well-established categories like the treadmills.
When it comes to home treadmills, there are a wide range of qualities, ranging from a $5,000 Nordic truck to a $200 foldable system. At $2,499, the victory divides the difference in terms of pricing. It's not as large or solid as one of the systems you'll encounter at the gym, but it should still last for a while. The control is responsive, with the belt speed increasing to 12.5 mph, and the low underground profile of the system stabilizes it.
On the other hand, a wide selection of content means that the system is unlikely to soon turn into a $2,499 clothing rack.