It’s the second week of January and if you just returned to the gym (or started going for the first time) you’re likely already fed up with crowded facilities. Crowded free weights, lines at machines, equipment scattered around…it’s enough to make you turn right back around and go home.

And you should.

At least, you should if you have the Tonal 2 hanging on your wall. Tonal’s next-generation digital functional trainer is essentially a gym-in-a-box, with 280 possible exercises, all powered by digital weight that lets you fine-tune your workouts on the fly (without having to find free weights or change plates).

What Is It?

So what is Tonal 2? It’s a digital functional trainer (cable machine). You’ve seen them at your gym, it’s the intimidating piece of equipment in the back that looks more like something out of a fitness version of Saw.

Except Tonal 2 doesn’t use physical weights at all. It has two rotating arms to which you add attachments (either handles, a dual-connection rope, or bar). You then add anywhere from 5 to 250 lbs. of digital weight (an increase of 50 lbs. from the original Tonal).

Training programs and classes are provided via the 23.8″ interface, with over 3,000 workouts available (and more being added on a regular basis). They’re far-ranging and tailored to your fitness goals (such as getting lean or building muscle).

What’s New in Tonal 2?

Tonal 2 has some impressive upgrades. Right out of the box, you’ll notice that it’s sleek and all-black with chrome accents (as opposed to the black and silver of the original). The durability of the arms has been improved, along with the life of the cables (up to 75% longer). During installation, my tech commented on how much more substantial the action of the arms and cables felt (he’s been installing the original Tonal for years).

All that increased durability is to support the 250 lbs. of weight and new Aero workout, which is powered by the upgraded microprocessors. Aero is a HIIT workout with five dynamic moves; kind of like a skiing simulator (with a simulated medicine ball move thrown in). It requires fast adjustments that can only be handled by the upgraded microprocessors.

The new front-facing built in camera lets you see yourself in real time and, more importantly, lets Tonal provide coaching cues so that you can correct improper form immediately. It sends these clips (along with notations on where you needed coaching) to your phone. Incidentally, you can still use your phone to record your workouts and switch between views when reviewing a session in the app.

Also new for Tonal 2 (but coming to the original Tonal as well via software update) is Drop Sets. This takes the guesswork out of stepping down in weight during an exercise to max out your muscle capacity. Tonal 2 adapts the weight load as it senses muscle fatigue, consistently keeping you two reps away from failure—no more having to line up rows of dumbbells!

What’s It Like Working Out On Tonal 2?

Since I’ve had the Tonal 2 in my house, my Peloton equipment has gathered dust. I did a quick workout when the Tonal 2 was installed, it determined what the optimal weights were for all my exercises, and I’ve been crushing it for weeks since.

As much as I love Peloton’s instructors (and they’re still the best in the business), not having to guess at what weights I need or line up long rows of free weights in order to workout is huge. Tonal 2 remembers what I lifted last time, analyzes my performance, and adjusts the weights as needed. If it senses me fatiguing during a workout, it’ll adjust my weights down. If I crush a set, my next set will be a little heavier.

And I do mean “a little.” With Tonal 2 providing digital weight, you can adjust weight in 1 lb. increments—just try and do that with conventional weights. You can also experiment with different modalities.

Want to go really heavy but aren’t sure you’ll be able to catch the weight? Turn on Spotter mode and Tonal 2 will help you out if you bonk. Have you always wanted to try adding chains to your workout? Turn on Chains mode and Tonal 2 will dynamically make things heavier as you lift, then lighter on the eccentric motion.

There’s Recovery mode, SmartFlex mode (where Tonal 2 adds weight at the strongest phase of your move), Eccentric mode (that adds weight to the eccentric phase to help you build muscle quicker)—Tonal 2 gives you the tools you need to explore your fitness.

And if you don’t want to craft a plan on your own, just take one of the many programs available. I’ve been working through my first 4-week program and have enjoyed the convenience of just stepping up and working out, letting my trainer adjust the modes.

In-between program workouts, I’ve been enjoying “fitness snacking” (as Troy Taylor, Senior Director of Performance Innovation, likes to call it) where I queue up a quick 10-15 minute class like drop sets or chains or Aero to rev up my metabolism between big workouts. The interface is geared towards discovery and I find that the suggested workouts actually match what I’m looking for.

The new Aero HIIT mode, exclusive to Tonal 2, is a lot of fun. It gives you a cardio workout without having to get on the bike or tread and works a whole different range of muscles. It’s most akin to a rowing machine but is ultimately more like the kind of cardio you see people doing in the free weight area (things like medicine ball workouts)…except more consistent and effective.

There are a couple of very minor inconveniences, though. Tonal doesn’t have the vast music deals that Peloton has brokered, so you’ll have to create your own playlists (which you can listen to through the upgraded speakers of the Tonal 2). Though honestly, having seen how other companies with sub-par licensing deals handle music, this is probably for the best. It lets Tonal focus on fitness programming.

Logging in is also a bit of a pain if you have more than one user in your home (and you’ll want to have separate accounts so that Tonal can adapt to your unique physiology). Instead of just having a profile that you click on, you have to log in via password or QR code every time you activate the machine. When you’re logged into the app on your phone, it’s an inconvenience of just a few seconds but I still find it annoying.

But these are issues only if someone asked me “but what don’t you like about Tonal 2” and I had to come up with something less than glowing. I have been thrilled with my Tonal 2 workouts and can actually see progress in just the month I’ve been trying out the machine.

Is it Worth It?

Tonal 2 gives you 280 exercises, 15 workout modalities, expert trainers and coaches, and 250 lbs. of weight, all in a device that hangs on your wall and takes up no more space than a vertically mounted TV. There’s no equipment to chase down, no wait while someone else finishes their set, and no having to manually record your sets. It’s the first piece of digital weight training equipment I’ve used that makes improving your performance easy.

Tonal 2 takes the complexity out of experimenting with your fitness. Plus, the guided programs are engaging and challenging. After a month, I know that I’ve only just scratched the surface of what the device has to offer and am looking forward to exploring more.

Tonal 2 is available now and starts at $4,295. The $495 Smart Accessories package is required to workout on Tonal 2 but if you already have a Tonal, you’ll already have almost everything you need (handles, bar, bench), you’ll just need the new double t-lock rope (at $59).