I can't spring for a smart trainer, so I've got my eye on the Nashbar Fluid Trainer - which is decently priced and has pretty good reviews. Link: Nashbar Fluid Trainer

What I can't figure out from the Zwift website, is what all the other cycle-computer/sensors/whatever, I need to be able to use the zwift program. It's very confusing. I thought I just needed one computer, but turns out I need something like a cadense sensor that integrated with another cyclocomputer or something? I dunno. And do I also need my phone running something too?

Right now, I have nothing, so I'd need whatever everything is. And I'm looking for input and suggestions from those who use this type of setup.

I'll be running Zwift on my iPad Mini 2 (assuming it's supported). I could probably run it on a laptop but it's a work laptop, so....I can't rely on it.

Please and thanks for any help.
(will probably be buying trainer in the next week or so.

I'll throw my two cents in since I recently set this up. If the Ipad mini is what you will be using, then i will say you need bluetooth speed/cadence sensor or separate speed and cadence sensors, the key is that they be bluetooth since you will be using the Ipad mini to connect to Zwift. You also need a heart rate monitor strap, bluetooth as well.

When you connect to Zwift the program will scan for your devices so make sure you activate them by spinning your crank to get the cadence and speed sensors powered on and wear you HR strap.

I have a similar setup but I use a laptop with an ANT+ USB dongle so my sensors are ANT+. The Bluetooth speed/cadence sensor can be had on Ebay for under $15 and I've seen HR bluetooth straps for around $25, of course the bad of going the Ebay route is that many of these vendors are China based so you are looking at two weeks for delivery.