Power Meter Brands

4iiii Innovations makes crank arm-based power meters for the road and MTB. They offer a left side only crank arm (PRECISION) as well as a dual-sided crankset (PRECISION PRO).

Price

● PRECISION: $399-$599
● PRECISION PRO: $1,500

Highlights

● Most affordable direct force power meter (PRECISION)
● Lightest power meter
● Easy to install (PRECISION)

Key Features

PRECISION
● Road and MTB
● Installation: Easy
● Battery: CR2032
● Power measurement: Left leg
● L/R power: No
● ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

PRECISION PRO
● Road
● Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
● Battery: CR2032
● Power measurement: Both legs
● L/R power: Yes
● ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

Favero is on the second version of its power meter pedal and the latest version is called the Assioma. They offer the Assioma DUO which measures left and right leg power, as well as the Assioma UNO which measures left leg power only.

Price

● Assioma DUO: $799
● Assioma UNO: $519

Highlights

● The most affordable dual-sided power meter pedals (DUO)
● Very easy to install
● Independent left/right power (DUO)

Key Features

● Road
● Installation: Very easy
● Battery: Rechargeable
● Power measurement: Both legs
● L/R power: Yes
● ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

In 2017 FSA released their PowerBox Crankset Power Meter. It uses Power2Max’s proven spider design and comes with FSA chainrings and crank arms. The alloy version is the most affordable crankset-based power meter on the market.

Price

● PowerBox Road Alloy and Carbon: $649 (alloy) and $1,190 (carbon)
● PowerBox MTB Carbon: $1,150

Highlights

● The most affordable crank-based power meter (Road Alloy)
● Uses Power2Max’s proven spider design (accurate and reliable)
● Full of features (Auto Zero, user friendly battery, L/R power, BLE, etc.)

Key Features

● Road and MTB
● Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
● Battery: CR2450
● Power measurement: Both legs
● L/R power: Yes (with system upgrade)
● ANT+ (Bluetooth SMART with system upgrade)

Garmin is on the second version of its power meter pedal and the latest version is called the Garmin Vector 2. They offer the Vector 2 which measures left and right leg power, as well as the Vector 2S which measures left leg power only.

Price

● Vector 2: $999
● Vector 2S: $599

Highlights

● 175 hour battery life (longer than the other pedal based-power meters)
● Access to Garmin’s suite of advanced cycling dynamics data
● Shimano pedal option

Key Features

● Road
● Installation: Easy (but not as easy as Favero or PowerTap)
● Battery: CR2032
● Power measurement: Both legs
● L/R power: Yes
● ANT+

Velocomp, manufacturer of the PowerPod, takes a different approach than other power meter brands. The PowerPod measures power by calculating the forces that oppose the rider – wind, gradient, acceleration and friction. This is called opposing force technology.

Price

● PowerPod: $299-$459 (depends on features)

Highlights

● Affordable with models starting at $299
● Compatible with any bike and easily transferable
● Light weight

Key Features

● Road, MTB, CX, Track
● Installation: Easy
● Battery: Rechargeable
● Power measurement: Both legs
● L/R power: No*
● ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART (assuming you purchase a BLE version)

*The PowerPod doesn’t display real-time L/R data, however using Velocomp’s Isaac software, you can analyze your pedal stroke in detail on a post-ride basis

PowerTap is the only power meter brand to offer three different power meter types. They offer a pedal-based power meter (the P1 and P1S), a hub-based power meter (G3) and a chainring-based power meter (C1).

Price

● P1: $1,199 (dual-sided pedal)
● P1S: $699 (single-sided pedal)
● G3: $599-$799
● C1: $699

Highlights

PowerTap P1/P1s
● Very easy to install
● Fully integrated design
● Independent left/right power

PowerTap G3
● The only hub-based power meter available
● Affordable with models starting at $599
● Quick installation if you buy a completed wheelset

PowerTap C1
● The only chainring-based power meter available
● Estimated L/R power measurement
● Relatively easy installation

Key Features

PowerTap P1/P1S
● Road
● Installation: Very easy
● Battery: AAA
● Power measurement: Both legs
● L/R power: Yes
● ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

PowerTap G3
● Road, MTB, CX, Track
● Installation: Very easy (if you buy a completed wheelset)
● Battery: CR2032
● Power measurement: Both legs
● L/R power: No
● ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

PowerTap C1
● Road
● Installation: Medium
● Battery: CR2032
● Power measurement: Both legs
● L/R power: Yes (estimated)
● ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

ROTOR offer a variety of bottom bracket-based power meters for the road and MTB. Their power meter is essential a crankset (sans chainrings), however they locate the power sensor in the axle of the crank. They offer dual-sided (2INpower) and single-sided (INpower) models.

Price

● 2INpower: $1,500
● INpower: $779-$1,139 (depending on the model)

Highlights

● Independent left/right power (2INpower)
● High level of compatibility with ROTOR’s universal bottom bracket
● Optimized for Q-rings (2INpower)

Key Features

2INpower
● Road
● Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
● Battery: Rechargeable
● Power measurement: Both legs
● L/R power: Yes
● ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

INpower
● Road and MTB
● Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
● Battery: AA
● Power measurement: Left leg
● L/R power: No
● ANT+

SRM has been producing power meters since the late 80’s and many consider them the gold standard of power measurement. They offer crankset-based power meters (with or without chainrings) with power measured at the spider. SRM is the most widely adopted system by the professional peloton.

Price

● $1,399-$2,499

Highlights

● High levels of accuracy (+/- 1.0%)
● Longest battery life of any power meter
● The new Origin is highly compatible, uses carbon arms and Trilobe technology

Key Features

● Road, MTB, CX, Track
● Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
● Battery: Proprietary or rechargeable (Origin)
● Power measurement: Both legs
● L/R power: No
● ANT+

Stages Cycling was the first to produce a left side crank arm-based power meter. They are now on their second generation of power meters and make units for road, MTB, track and CX. Stages power meters are compatible with Shimano, Campagnolo, FSA, Cannondale, SRAM and Race Face cranksets.

Price

● $529-$949 (excludes complete cranksets)

Highlights

● Compatible across a wide range of cranksets
● Affordable with units starting at $529
● Easy to install

Key Features

● Road, MTB, CX, Track
● Installation: Easy
● Battery: CR2032
● Power measurement: Left leg
● L/R power: No
● ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART

Verve Cycling manufactures the InfoCrank, a complete crankset. The InfoCrank is considered one of the most accurate power meter brands. The InfoCrank achieves its accuracy by placing its strain gauges within the crank arm – the only one to do this.

Price

● $1,399-$1,641

Highlights

● High levels of accuracy (accurate to within +/- 0.5%)
● Independent left/right power
● No need to zero-offset (calibrate)

Key Features

● Road
● Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
● Battery: SR44
● Power measurement: Both legs
● L/R power: Yes
● ANT+

WATTEAM sells the POWERBEAT, the first user-installed power meter. The POWERBEAT attaches to the left and right crank arms. At $499, the POWERBEAT is the most affordable, direct force power meter capable of measuring total power.

Price

● $499

Highlights

● Most affordable direct force power meter capable of measuring total power
● Independent left/right power
● Very light (less than 40 grams total)

Key Features

● Road (MTB coming soon)
● Installation: More involved (60 min. estimated)
● Battery: Rechargeable
● Power measurement: Both legs
● L/R power: Yes
● ANT+ and Bluetooth SMART