I am wondering if anyone has shopped and compared or even ridden the Saris and H3 and Kickr.
I am looking at both, I can get the h3 for about $200 then the kickr but I am wondering how they compare, both of overall training purposes mostly Zwift both is regular and erg mode.
Also as far as durability, support and warranty I know that Wahoo is very good with their warranty and support, dont know much about Saris.
Any feedback is much appreciated.
I believe it isn’t all that close, I can’t say I have heard many positive user experiences about the H3 whereas the Core/Kickr is a solid unit.
I have an H3 and love it. It’s quiet and reliable. I think Saris has great customer service. While I have never contacted them about the H3, I did about my Powertap and Joule a couple of times (years ago). Quick response and replaced the Joule with a brand new one when they couldn’t identify the issue.
I have had the Saris H3 for about a year now and I have no complaints. Does what it should without any fuss.
I’ve had tons of Saris products over the past 12 years (H3, fluid trainers, powertap, powercal, joule, various car racks) and I’ve been happy with all of them. Customer service responses are prompt when there are small issues and they’re quick to replace broken products (the HR monitor that came with my powertap wheels stopped working after about 3 years so they replaced it, then did so again 3 years later).
I’ve used both. I’m of the belief that it depends a bit on the program one is using. I’m a Trainer Road user and the H3 is really better IMO at that program. I also like the enclosed build of it versus the spinning wheel on the Kicker as I own a dog and am a bit worried she might get too close. 
I use a Kicker at my workplace and it’s fine, but the bearing issues are starting to show their ugly head again. Both are awesome at customer service so that’s a non issue. The Core is a good buy and I see it’s on sale now. Saris also has reconditoned H3s on sale at $649 so that’s a real steal. Check out DC Rainmaker’s site for more in depth reviews and ideas though.
Good luck,
Very happy H3 user.
A few strange sounds in the first month, but now it’s settled in. 2 years of solid Zwifting.
While I am a happy H3 user, I did have to send it back for a major repair after about 800 miles. Customer service was great, but it was a few weeks that I did not have it.
I use Rouvy if that make a difference to you.
Very happy Hammer and now H3 owner. The H3 is more than enough for me, especially if you can get a deal.
DCR generally gives it very high marks for erg mode.
I have a Gen 2 KICKR with absolutely no issues. I got the unit when that generation first came out and I love it. It’s not as quite as the new versions but really not an issue for me. All I’ve done is some minimal maintenance/cleaning. I just got the Wahoo KICKR action feet, at first I was skeptical, but I like the improved ride feel for longer trainer rides. I use the trainer mostly in ERG mode with my own made up routines. Probly averaged 4-5 hours/week.
The Kickr 5/2020 has taken a step forward from the H3 with auto-calibration and Direct Connect port support (when Zwift finally get around to supporting it). The H3 works extremely well in ERG. H3 is also a pain in the arse if you have a thru-axle with a fixed lever. There’s not enough clearance to screw it in. Hex-key axle is best used with the H3.
Your video of the annoyance of the fixed lever thru axle is one of my favourite bike-related review things ever.
I am wondering if anyone has shopped and compared or even ridden the Saris and H3 and Kickr.
I am looking at both, I can get the h3 for about $200 then the kickr but I am wondering how they compare, both of overall training purposes mostly Zwift both is regular and erg mode.
Also as far as durability, support and warranty I know that Wahoo is very good with their warranty and support, dont know much about Saris.
Any feedback is much appreciated.
I bought the Hammer and have over 30,000 miles in it. I just looked yesterday online to see if I was suppose to be doing any maintenance and it said no
I bought an H3 for a house I just got for the summer
Hopefully it will be as reliable as the hammer
We have both an H3 and the latest Gen Kickr in the house, both of which get ridden a lot. Last winter season I rode the H3 exclusively and this winter my wife is on the H3 and I am on the Kickr.
Both units work great and have been reliable thus far (knocking on wood). I would have to say that they both have good road-like feel with maybe a very slight edge to the H3 here. I’m not a big fan of Erg mode and very rarely use it, so I can’t give you a comparison here. As I continue to use the Kickr more, I think that maybe it reacts just a slight bit slower to grade changes, but that’s a subjective assessment that I haven’t actually measured yet.
The reason that I switched from the H3 to the Kickr this winter, besides just wanting to compare the two units, is that I found during hard sprint efforts and hard out of the saddle climbing in Zwift races that the smaller diameter, harder adjustable feet on the H3 seemed to contribute to the unit sliding on the wooden base plate I use under the trainer. The Kickr, with its larger diameter adjustable rubbery feet doesn’t tend to move/slide as much.
Both units are great for what they are. None of them are perfect. I’d purchase whichever one is less money.
As an aside, my favorite indoor training unit is still my trusty Tru-Trainer rollers on a home-made free-motion unit I put together ~ 10 years ago. The road-like feel is unparalleled from anything else I’ve used, and the ability to move the bike beneath you makes putting in bigger hours indoors so much more bearable. My power on this set-up is 1:1 with riding on the road (except for full-gas sprints), whereas on the fixed H3 and Kickr my numbers just aren’t the same.
I have only ever used erg mode
Do you need a software like Zwift to not use erg?
I believe it isn’t all that close, I can’t say I have heard many positive user experiences about the H3 whereas the Core/Kickr is a solid unit.
Lol what? Pretty much every post I’ve seen about the every gen of the Hammer (even prior to this thread) has been positive. I have used the Kickr, Hammer, and Neo 2T. My least favorite feel was the Kickr and my favorite was the Hammer. Especially for ERG mode.
The only downside of old gen Hammers was that they weren’t as quiet as the Kickr
I have only ever used erg mode
Do you need a software like Zwift to not use erg?
No, not necessarily but I never use my smart trainer except on Zwift. Any non-Zwift training that I do indoors is on the rollers.
The Kickr 5/2020 has taken a step forward from the H3 with auto-calibration and Direct Connect port support (when Zwift finally get around to supporting it). The H3 works extremely well in ERG. H3 is also a pain in the arse if you have a thru-axle with a fixed lever. There’s not enough clearance to screw it in. Hex-key axle is best used with the H3.
Thanks for posting up.
I just watched your review on Youtube, is the 10watt lower in sim mode still a issue?, I do fair amount of Zwifting, love the fact that it’s great in erg mode as I use that for intervals, but I also do lots of group rides and some TT’s and would hate to be losing 10 watts in a TT or even a fast group ride.
I just watched your review on Youtube, is the 10watt lower in sim mode still a issue?
I’d have to loop back to it. That was only N=1, so might not be a widespread issue. Saris have been very quiet on the product front. They’re still going hard with marketing though, so they’re still in the game. I hope they update the H3 to keep themselves more in the game in 2022.
I’ve used a an older kickr model, and more recently an H3 (going on two years). Both have been great for erg riding and racing, TrainerRoad and Zwift.
I’m not sure I’d bother spending the extra money to get the kickr over the H3.