Caliber Fitness Review - 1-on-1 Online Coaching, Strength Training and Workouts

Some people really love going to the gym. But others prefer their workouts a little closer to home. There is an increasing demand for workout programs from the convenience of smartphones and streaming devices. According to a recent report, the global fitness app market is projected to reach a whopping USD $14.6 billion by 2027. The emergence of digital health technology and "telemedicine" may also have helped move the fitness app trend along.

But with dozens of online fitness options to choose from, how do you know which one is best for you? In this review, we're going in-depth on the pros and cons of Caliber, a strength training program that offers 1-on-1 online strength and nutrition coaching.

What is Caliber and How Does it Work?

Caliber (developed by Caliber Fitness, Inc. and also known as Caliber Strong) - is a fitness app that offers strength training, nutrition tracking, and one-on-one coaching. Caliber promises to combine the insight of personalized training from a real online coach with a "science-based methodology" designed to help people achieve their fitness goals, including gaining strength and getting lean.

Coaching, workouts, and nutrition tracking are personalized to each user, meaning Caliber isn't just a catalog of cookie-cutter templates that everyone follows.

Here are a few things to expect after downloading and signing up for Caliber:

• You'll be asked to fill out a questionnaire and answer questions about your current fitness level, your goals, and your lifestyle habits

• Based on the results of your questionnaire, you'll be matched up with a real, certified, virtual personal trainer with whom you can communicate directly through the app

• Your coach will design a customized workout program for you based on your feedback that you'll have instant access to via the app—factors like whether you want to exercise at home or in a gym helps them design your specific workouts

You'll also be asked to take a few photos of yourself from different angles—these are stored securely and privately and intended to help you and your trainer track your progress

Caliber uses other metrics in addition to personal photos to track improvement. These metrics include a "Strength Score" that measures progress in different body areas (e.g., chest, arms, legs) and a Strength Balance assessment that helps you get a better understanding of your overall postural balance, stability, and any areas of weakness. By updating your weekly scores, you'll get real-time monitoring to help you stay on track and guide your program. 

Here are a few more features of Caliber:

• The exercises included in your workout program are laid out in simple, easy-to-follow steps and come with pictures and videos to help you make sure you're performing the movements correctly. 

• Through the app, it's also easy to send messages to your coach if you have any questions or issues (or need a quick motivational or tough-love message). You can even send your coach a video of yourself doing a Caliber workout for more specific feedback on your form and technique. 

• Workouts are designed based on their "signature training methodology" called The Caliber Method, which includes foundational principles of strength training and movement patterns. 

• The Caliber app can also be synced easily with other popular food logging apps so you can track your macros and calories where both you and your personal trainer can see them. Caliber coaches also provide insights on nutritional and dietary supplements that may help you achieve your goals. 

• In addition, Caliber also has a section called Caliber Lessons. Use this feature to learn more about evidence-based principles and advances in exercise, nutrition, and healthy living.
  

Who is Caliber For?

There are a few main reasons why someone would want to choose Caliber over other fitness apps. For one thing, the quick and direct access to a real coach is a huge plus. Personalized and professional attention can boost accountability, improve motivation, help make sure workout progressions are safe and appropriate, and ensure you're never left with unanswered questions. 

The fact that a person can communicate with their coach online, without even having to step out of their home, is an added benefit that might draw someone to Caliber, especially a situation where gym access may be restricted or unavailable.

Caliber also provides nutrition coaching, diet plans, and food tracking in addition to weekly workouts. Depending on your nutrition goals discussed with your coach, you don't necessarily have to make any foods "off limits," either. Overall, the app's more well-rounded and individualized approach to fitness is a key reason why someone might find this app more efficient and effective than other options. find this app more efficient and effective than other options. 

Overall, Caliber fitness is going to be the most beneficial for anyone whose workout goals are focused on strength training. The personalization makes it useful for both beginners who want to learn proper techniques and experienced athletes who need personal attention to achieve new goals. The online access makes it both convenient and more affordable than most in-person training options.

Pros and Cons of Caliber

Like all Caliber fitness reviews, we’d be remiss not to give our shortlist of pros and cons. Consider these as you shop for your options to figure out whether Caliber is worth your investment in time and energy: 

Pros

• One-on-one training with a real, certified online coach (unlimited access via in-app messaging, usually with a quick response time) 

• Offers customizable nutrition templates and workout programs, making it easy to fit into your schedule and lifestyle

• Caliber workouts can be performed anywhere and at any time, and can be modified to fit the equipment and space you have (home, gym, hotel, etc.)

• Comes with high-quality instructional videos and "Caliber Lessons" to help you become more knowledgeable about fitness and nutrition

• Features an easy way to visualize your progress, including weight loss and strength gains

• Syncs with Apple Health, Google Fit, and other food log apps for real-time and convenient nutrition tracking

• No contracts or commitments

Cons

• It is not the least expensive workout app

• Customer support is only available via email 

• Other than your coach there isn't a supportive online community to connect with

How Much Does Caliber Cost?

Caliber offers custom pricing based on your program design. The most basic program offers unlimited messaging with your coach, a customized workout plan, and a customized nutrition plan.

Caliber vs Alternative Fitness Apps: How Does How Caliber Hold Up?

Compared to other popular fitness apps, Caliber holds up well. It comes with features that all its major competitors have (and then some), including automatic fitness tracking, one-on-one coaching, personalized workouts, and personalized nutrition plans and diet templates.

Perhaps the biggest drawback to Caliber is its price tag. Caliber is definitely one of, if not the most expensive, fitness apps currently available on the market. It also doesn't feature a community or social aspect, which many people enjoy.

However, Caliber does give you unlimited access to a real coach who knows your goals and ability levels in great detail. So, for people who do well with one-on-one interactions, they may not miss the lack of community with other users.

Another key difference between Caliber online training and other fitness apps is the focus on strength training. If you want workouts that include dance-inspired routines or yoga classes, you may also want to consider a program like Openfit or Livekick.

A final note: unlike some other fitness apps, Caliber doesn't contain its own food logging technology. But the app's developers cleverly worked around this by making Caliber syncable with other food apps. This way, you can still monitor your diet progress easily and all in one place. 

What Are Caliber Customers Saying?

The current reviews about the Caliber app are positive. The most common comment is that people are seeing real results, even if they've been struggling with a plateau in their fitness for months or years. People appreciate the ability to workout in their own home, and the fact that personal trainers can easily modify their workouts to match their space and equipment.

While customers do seem aware that cheaper fitness apps are available, they still note that Caliber is more cost-effective than working with an in-person coach in a gym. 

Here are a few other comments from users in the iPhone app store:

• The app is easy to use and visually appealing

• The video tutorials are extremely helpful 

• The app features interesting content and opportunities for increasing a person's knowledge about fitness and nutrition

• Caliber helps build confidence so that if and when a person wants to go back to the gym setting, they'll feel more comfortable trying out new equipment or movements

Overall, the type of consumer who is most likely to enjoy this product is someone who is comfortable working out on their own (e.g., not in a group or workout class) but still enjoys getting personalized feedback. Since the Caliber app contains a lot of metrics like strength performance, body composition changes, and synced-up food tracking, people who aren't averse to tracking data and enjoy paying attention to detail will likely appreciate this app the most. 

How To Choose a Workout APP

In general, here are a few ideals to consider when looking for a fitness or workout app:

• The app should offer an exercise program that is a good match to your current ability level, whether that's beginner or advanced (even better if your exercise program can be customized to your unique needs—e.g., goals, injuries, space/equipment, schedule, etc.) 

• It's useful if the app has connectivity and syncing options with other apps on your phone, including Apple Health, sleep trackers, and popular food logging apps—this helps you capture multiple elements of your health for a more comprehensive experience

• It should offer a free trial period. You should have the ability to test out the app and see if it's a good fit for you, before having to make a financial commitment

• Any app needs to be intuitive and have an easy-to-use interface, and ideally free of snafus and bugs (or at least updated and fixed regularly by the developer) 

• It's great if the app comes with a community chat or online social platform where you can connect and bond with other users, since this has been shown to improve accountability and make help you stay motivated even while working out alone

Beyond considering these features when deciding which fitness app to use (and if you should use one at all), be sure to read through customer reviews, too. Both supportive and critical reviews can be useful when helping you decide whether the app is a good fit. Pay close attention to common themes or comments, whether positive or negative, that are touched on by multiple reviewers. If applicable, pay attention to how the app developers or app team responds to these comments.

Is Caliber Worth It?

In this Caliber review, we've learned that this program gives users direct and unlimited access to a real, certified, online coach who provides customized workout programs, real-time guidance, and individualized nutrition and supplement information. Caliber trainers abide by the “Caliber Method” which is based on a combination of foundational strength training and nutrition principles. The result is that users get a well-rounded workout, nutrition, and lifestyle program that can help them achieve their health and fitness goals. 

While it’s a little more expensive than other fitness app options, Caliber shines in terms of customization and user-friendliness. It's a good option for anyone who's interested in effective strength training with a personal trainer, without having to leave home or pay for expensive in-person sessions. 

---

More Articles You Might Like