Saris H3 VS Wahoo Kickr - Noise Test and More! | Triathlon Taren

[@tylerspeirs5949]

I got a Saris H3 right when they were released, they are made in Madison, WI which is 2 hours from where I live so it was an easy sell. So far it has taken all of the abuse that I can throw at it and not had any issues. I generally workout very early in the morning, and I honestly wish it made MORE noise. It is so quiet that my dog can sleep on the couch right next to me.

[@brody5211]

Tyler Speirs poodle ?

[@paulmelde919]

In case no one has mentioned it yet - congrats on 90K subs. For 100K you should do something really super special!

[@authorjohnwquinn]

I've had SO many issues with my Kickr 18 - noise, grinding. etc. Sent one unit back. Now I'm out of warranty and Wahoo says, "Good luck." No more Wahoo products for me!

[@62TomL]

I'm with you on that. Wahoo customer/ product support sucks. I'm done with them also!

[@wei2go460]

I just got a H3 from Black Friday deal as my first smart trainer. I'm pretty happy about the riding experience so far! Definitely a very quiet trainer.

[@denvergriffin5555]

Just replaced a Wahoo Kickr '18 model with an H3. The Kickr started making the "rumbling noise" one month past its 1 year warranty and after only about 50 training rides - ridiculous. So far the H3 is just awesome, and very quiet. The toothpick like clicks of individual chain links are louder than anything coming out of the trainer itself. Hopefully this one will last longer than that Wahoo - which was great . . . until it wasn't.

[@randy644]

I was thinking about getting either an H3 or a kickr 18. I had a snap that only lasted a few months, so I am worried about trusting Wahoo again. How do you like your H3 in comparison to the kickr 18? How is the ride feel of the H3 in comparison? Cheers

[@starlitshadows]

How did your H3 work out? Debating on getting one.

[@ps6149]

Just to supplement what you give up compared to the Neo: The Neo provides each and every feature appart from downhill simulation without the need of external power. Which is a big plus. No calibration necessary for the Taxc Neo, too. The cassette that comes with the kicker is not the one I need anyway - I ride the long Ultegra cage. The H3 seems to be a good option thow. Thanks for the review!

[@robertnastasi8643]

I have the original hammer, I paid 950 plus I got mine on a great deal with 300 dollars of store credit. I bought my wife’s H3 for under 850 no tax or shipping online. I’d say bargain hunt and then go with the wahoo or saris based on the best deal you can find. They are very similar. I will say her H3 is super quiet.

[@JN-bq4ls]

Great review thanks! I'm 90% going to get H3 after I find another review comparing ERG mode sensitivity between H3 and Kickr.

[@rcuadro]

Hey brother... the Kickr transmits speed, cadence, and power... and now it can connect to multiple Bluetooth devices

[@BrendonCamm]

I'm a big wahoo fanboy, but saris did a solid job with the trainer and like you said made a statement with the price drop... People looking for a trainer this season will have some DARN tough choices.

[@ProHumanity]

For anyone else looking for the "Noise Test" / "Sound Test", it's in the video for about 2 seconds at 11:35 shortly after an explanation at 10:49 in the video. He says it's the quietest trainer he's ever used, but the noise test makes it sound pretty noisy, especially while being at low RPM in a climbing gear. Also, for those who really care about sound like me, the Saris H3 ships with an extremely loud freewheel, which of course only makes noise when you're coasting, but you can hear how insanely loud that is if you google a bit.

[@jamesschiano6668]

Thanks for the video. Just bought one on Ebay hoping it's a good unit.

[@JeffSeaIndustries]

Wahoo kicks transmits speed, power, and cadence as well.

[@toddtannenbaum7092]

Nice video. Just a quick correction - the Climb also works with the KICKR SNAP 2017.

[@JimHaysom]

Great balanced review Taren.

[@jared7586]

Kickr snap 2017 works with kickr climb as well, that’s should be stated as we all can’t afford wheel off trainers

[@neilcoles1780]

Better spend your budget on a decent wheel off trainer than kick snap+ climb. The climb is bells and whistles compared to your training experience.

[@n2racingmoto]

Hello I am thinking of buying a new smart training. I am thinking of a Saris H3, Flux 2.1 or Kickr Core. Although the price of the H3 is another 200 euros more expensive in the store where I am thinking of buying it is at the same price as Flux and Core. What is the best option? Thanks

[@michaelharris5496]

Solid video Taren and can’t wait to get my H3 in soon. I also hear if you like to use Trainer Road, the H3 works seamlessly with that app.

[@camd5348]

Great video. I think you should mention all the issues that wahoo has had with reliability over the last 2 years. I had a kickr core that lasted 3 weeks. Switched to an h2 with 0 issues and then just purchased a Saris H3 for $600 new on black friday. For $600 plus cassette it is a no brainers!!!

[@robertking4539]

Out of curiosity where did you find it for $600 on black Friday?

[@camd5348]

@@robertking4539 clever training with their vip discount from dcrainmaker.

[@davidkelly4400]

I thought I killed it at REI with a bottom line of $700 for the H3.

[@EricB03]

Got mine from clever for $630 all in. Wanted to wahoo but could not pass it up

[@camd5348]

@@EricB03 I started with a kickr core. It was good... but with a 3 week lifespan was not willing to chance it. My h2 was rock solid.

[@michwoz]

Headwind may be less exciting than Climb but it makes much more difference for training comfort and quality in my opinion. I would choose Headwind over Climb any time.

[@JN-bq4ls]

Or just a fan yah? 😉

[@michwoz]

@@JN-bq4ls Just a fan is better than nothing ;) But it is not a Headwind which in the first place cools better. I was too delicate. With cooling in mind Headwind wipes the floor with a standard fan. It runs circles around it. Only things that come close are those carpet blowers / centrifugal fans, but their air beam has sub-optimal shape (it is more horizontal instead of vertical).

[@TransAm2k4]

So looking around found some good prices on the cycleops H1. Found one for $500. Would you recommend one of those at that price? Dont need the cadence sensor as I have it separate and dont care much about being super quite.

[@bl5463]

Excellent video and explanation of who should buy which and why, Thanks

[@comicsgator]

Love my H3!

[@Wrong_Sport_Bo]

7:30 mate, hope you know what your hand is gesturing at is not the flywheel. It's the one with >>>> graphics... Anyways, have you noticed between KICKR, H3, and Neo (which does not have a flywheel) which one produces more vibration? It's always been a complaint for me that my KICKR produces a lot of unnecessary vibration that transmits directly through the bike frame and makes 2h+ trainer workouts almost unbearable. My theory is that the vibration is unavoidable if a trainer relies on a weighted flywheel to mimic road feel. So I've wanted to upgrade to a Neo to eliminate this issue. Just want to see if you can confirm this.

[@TheKillerman3333]

i ride a 21 speed bike. all the smart trainers i find are 24 speed (8 on the casset or higher)

[@audiobanker1771]

I have the Elite Direto x he work great no need companion app to zwift. But i wonder have one in my room on Saris

[@ValentinHhn]

You said that it is a dealbreaker for the Saris that no cassette is premounted? Yes of course... You know that a Dura Ace cassette and Parktool cassette Tools with the Saris are combined cheaper than the Kickr AND you can also buy cheaper cassettes or tools from other brands or product lines too, so that is no argument at all.

[@cliffordjamesbloomfield4161]

Where do you recommend buying wahoo products in or shipped to Winnipeg MB?

[@camd5348]

Buy in the states and drive down and get it. Black friday I picked one up for $600.00 US and will drive down and get it. I'll spend the night and do some shopping and cone back.

[@FrankCunhaIII]

Made in the USA - Bonus!!!

[@blzn57miner93]

On Wisconsin!!

[@GoustiFruit]

Got mine from Europe :-)

[@njm3211]

Jeez who doesn't have a spare cassette around, even a 105 will do. Certainly not a deal breaker for 99.9% of committed cyclists.

[@TW-fv2zu]

Excellent review! Thx!!!

[@gloomiehoodie]

I like everything about the H3, however their cadence reading comes from sensors that read the vibration of your pedal strokes, it can and will be very inaccurate and ca be all over the place, depending on the rider pedaling style.

[@buttlesschap]

would it be an indicator/metric distortion that doesn't affect the gameplay in zwift? or does zwift only use power data to move your character?

[@stephenbetley9596]

The latest .70 firmware for the Kickr18 & Core has multiple bluetooth channels and transmits cadence. So you can use Zwift without any need for bridging apps. Cadence is estimated, but after a couple of months of trial it's witchcraft like in it's accuracy.

[@neilrdink]

Its cadence is estimated? How is that done? I am connecting my cadence sensor through the KICKR now... how/why would the cadence be estimated?

[@stephenbetley9596]

@@neilrdink It's based on algorithms only Wahoo know how to explain, but it's very accurate within normal pedalling ranges. Why? Power and cadence now go through a single bluetooth channel which resolves the Zwift connundrum - doesn't need any bridging apps. Neo 1 uses a similar process, Neo 2 has capacitive cadence.

[@neilrdink]

@@stephenbetley9596 But why would it be estimated? It's taking the information from my cadence sensor. Wouldn't it just send that information over the Bluetooth signal along with the trainer information?

[@stephenbetley9596]

@@neilrdinkIf you're using your cadence sensor then you're not pairing it to the Kickr but to the app e.g. Zwift. That takes up a single bluetooth channel. The estimated cadence is from the Kickr itself using an algorithm based on flywheel speed & power. That's bundled into the same bluetooth channel as the power reading. The Kickr does NOT take your cadence sensor reading and resend it out. You've got your wires crossed. Pre .70 the Kickr didn't send out ANY cadence data, which is why you had the separate cadence data from a crank based powermeter e.g. Stages, or the Wahoo cadence unit attached to the crank.

[@neilrdink]

@@stephenbetley9596 I am pairing my HRM and my KICKR directly to Apple TV... Apple TV also shows my cadence sensor information and shows this as a connected device. This was never possible before the firmware update. After the firmware update, I was able to link my cadence sensor to the trainer. Are you saying that a cadence sensor isn't even needed? My understanding of this is that the KICKR is serving as a bridge and coupling your trainer and cadence information into one signal and just as the KICKR CLIMB is connected to Apple TV via the KICKR, the cadence sensor acts the same way. I need to call Wahoo today about something so I'll see if there is someone there I can talk to you about this.

[@simonmilbauer2486]

Best H3 and wahoo review on KZbin. No 2 ways about it. DCRainmaker and GPLama take notice.

[@jpprovost64]

they said its over power by 10 % so very good for race zwift lol

[@cautrey01]

Great review - thanks. Would I be able to use my Ant+ Power2Max power and cadence already fitted to my bike with the H3 while still having the app such as Zwift and TR control the trainer resistance for erg mode and climbing?

[@Stalkerfiveo]

With the 200$ you save buying the H3 you're still ahead after buying a cassette to prevent swapping cassettes every time.

[@richardupyurass2379]

Wahoo has all the Bluetooth controlled add one.

[@jallen1227]

H3 on sale at various places for $799

[@robbcollins3727]

Where on sale for 799, can’t find it...

[@jallen1227]

@@robbcollins3727 Gold members at BTD

[@philipr4518]

Outdoorplay.com

[@philipr4518]

Code SPT2

[@Check-it-out]

If there is so much grease on your wahoo stickers you are using WAY too much grease on your chain !

[@ioanbalint4039]

H3 its 2300 watt power

[@xShadowWolfe]

Its to bad they went out of business / bankrupt

[@MrPlesters]

Cmon Taren it's still 1000 dollars. Those smart trainers are way overpriced. Like powermeters, tri bikes, lightweight weels, ... well most triathlon tools.

[@berthull9333]

It's all relative, Man. 1000 dollars isn't much to some people.

[@henrichaudoir9434]

First!!

[@paulbradford6475]

I'll stick with my ancient wind trainer and rollers. Becoming a slave to collecting data doesn't appeal to me at all.