First Impressions & Design

The Lily 2 makes a strong first impression by being small, light, and elegant. It doesn’t scream “fitness watch” — it wears more like a refined everyday timepiece. The anodized aluminum case gives it a polished look, and the strap options are pretty flexible (you can swap them out). I found that once you have it on, it often fades into the background — you forget you're wearing it, which is exactly what you want for a device meant to be with you day and night.

Because the display is hidden by default and only lights up when you flick your wrist or tap, it keeps the aesthetic minimalistic. That’s clever, but it also contributes to one of my biggest caveats (which I’ll get to later).

Features & Functionality

Lily 2 packs in a solid set of health and activity tracking features:

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  24/7 heart rate monitoring
  
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  SpO₂ / pulse-ox (blood oxygen)
  
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  Stress tracking
  
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  Body Battery (Garmin’s way of estimating your energy reserves)
  
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  Sleep monitoring (with a sleep score)
  
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  Multiple workout/activity profiles (running, strength, dance, etc.)
  
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  Notifications (calls, texts, emails)
  
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  Safety features like incident detection
  
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  Female health / cycle tracking
  

So it’s not light on health — it’s just selective about how “smart” the interactive parts are.

What Works Really Well

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  Comfort & style. Because it’s slim and lightweight, I forgot I had it on — even overnight. It pairs nicely with both workout gear and dressier outfits.
  
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  Core tracking accuracy. The heart rate, step counting, and daily metrics are trustworthy for everyday use.
  
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  Battery life. Garmin claims up to 5 days, and in real-world use it's plausible — you don’t feel like you’re charging it every night.
  
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  “Less is more” appeal. If you sometimes want a break from constant screen time or notifications, the Lily 2 leans into that by design.
  

Health insights. Features like Body Battery and stress tracking make it more than a glorified step counter — they help you tune into your body’s rhythms.

The NordicTrack T Series treadmill offers a well-rounded experience for home fitness enthusiasts looking to build consistency in their cardio routine. It provides a smooth, stable ride with a belt wide enough for comfortable walking, jogging, or light running. The responsive controls make it easy to change speeds and inclines on the fly, which helps keep workouts dynamic and challenging. Its compact frame makes it a good fit for smaller spaces, and the foldable design is especially convenient for those who want to store it away between sessions.

Where it falls a bit short is in its ability to handle very intense training. The motor is solid for everyday use but may feel strained during long, high-speed runs or heavy use by multiple users. The interface is simple and user-friendly, though it focuses more on straightforward functionality than advanced entertainment features. Overall, the T Series feels dependable and practical—ideal for someone who wants a reliable treadmill to stay active at home without needing a heavy-duty, gym-grade machine.

The Altas Strength 3000Y is a heavy-duty home gym system designed for people who want the versatility of a commercial-style workout machine in their own space. Its build quality feels solid, with a sturdy frame that supports a wide range of strength training exercises, from presses and pulldowns to leg-focused movements. One of the standout features is the multi-station design, which allows users to transition between exercises without needing separate equipment. The pulley system operates smoothly, providing consistent resistance that works well for both beginners and more experienced lifters. On the practical side, it does take up a fair amount of room, so it’s best suited for a dedicated workout area. Assembly can be time-consuming, but once set up, the 3000Y offers a convenient, all-in-one training solution. For individuals who want a structured, reliable machine to build muscle and stay consistent with strength training, it offers strong value, though those who prefer free weights may find it less versatile for functional strength.

Our take on the system

The Altas Strength 3000Y comes with a mix of strengths and drawbacks worth considering before purchase. On the positive side, it has a very sturdy build quality, giving it the durability and stability needed for frequent training. Its versatile multi-station design allows users to perform a wide variety of exercises without needing multiple machines, which makes it especially useful for people who want an all-in-one solution. The pulley system also operates smoothly, offering consistent resistance for strength training. Along with that, the wide range of exercise options makes it appealing to both beginners and more experienced lifters who want a structured workout experience.

On the other hand, there are a few downsides. The machine has a large footprint, meaning it requires a dedicated workout space, which might not be practical for smaller homes or apartments. Assembly can also be time-consuming and may require patience and careful attention to detail. While it’s excellent for guided strength training, it’s less versatile for functional or free-weight style workouts, which could limit training variety for people who prefer more natural movement patterns.

Overall, the Altas Strength 3000Y provides a reliable, multi-purpose strength training solution, but space, setup time, and workout style preferences should all be considered before committing.

P90X Plus feels like the natural next step for anyone who’s already battled through the original P90X and came out stronger — but not yet satisfied. It takes the foundation of Tony Horton’s signature program and compresses the intensity into shorter, sharper bursts. The workouts are faster-paced, the movements more athletic, and the margin for slacking basically disappears.

What really stands out about P90X Plus is how it treats time as a weapon. Most workouts hover around 40 minutes, but they’re so packed with complex, compound exercises that you’re drenched halfway through. Instead of the classic muscle-isolation circuits, these sessions fuse strength, cardio, balance, and coordination into one grind that keeps your body guessing. It’s less about building mass and more about achieving pure, functional athleticism.

The program isn’t friendly to beginners — it assumes your endurance, flexibility, and form are already dialed in. If P90X was a boot camp, Plus is the field test. There’s less instruction, fewer breaks, and an unspoken challenge: “You’ve done the basics. Now prove it.”

The biggest payoff is how lean and agile you start to feel after a few weeks. The variety of moves keeps it exciting, and the quick pace gives you a mental edge — every minute counts, every rep has intent. It’s not just another workout add-on; it’s a test of whether your fitness can evolve beyond comfort.

Bottom line: P90X Plus is not for starting over — it’s for leveling up. It’s that phase where your muscles remember the burn and your mind learns to crave it.

TRX bands are one of the most versatile and effective tools for functional fitness training. Built around the principle of suspension training, they use your own bodyweight and gravity to create resistance, which makes them highly adaptable for all fitness levels. What stands out most about TRX bands is their portability—you can anchor them almost anywhere, whether at home, in the gym, or even outdoors, making them a practical choice for people who travel or prefer variety in their workouts. The straps are durable and well-constructed, with comfortable handles that allow for a wide range of exercises targeting strength, stability, mobility, and core engagement. While beginners may need some time to adjust to maintaining balance and proper form, the scalability of each movement makes them suitable for both novices and advanced athletes. The biggest advantage of TRX training is how it engages multiple muscle groups simultaneously, encouraging functional strength and stability that translates well into everyday movement. Overall, TRX bands are a valuable investment for anyone looking to improve strength and mobility without being tied to heavy gym equipment.

Our take on TRX

TRX bands come with several clear advantages that make them stand out in the world of fitness equipment. They are lightweight, portable, and easy to set up, allowing you to train virtually anywhere without the need for bulky machines or weights. Their versatility is another major benefit, as they can be used for hundreds of exercises targeting strength, stability, flexibility, and endurance, all while engaging the core in every movement. The straps are also adjustable, making them suitable for beginners and advanced athletes alike, since intensity can be increased or decreased simply by changing body position. However, there are a few drawbacks to consider. For one, TRX training requires good body awareness and balance, which can be intimidating or challenging for complete beginners. While the system provides effective resistance, it may not deliver the same muscle-building capacity as heavy free weights for those focused solely on maximum strength gains. Additionally, proper anchoring is essential, and not every space offers a safe or convenient place to secure the straps. Despite these limitations, TRX bands remain an excellent option for functional, full-body workouts that emphasize convenience and adaptability.

The Marcy Pro Deluxe Smith Cage Home Gym System – SM-7553 is an all-in-one home gym cage. This sturdy Smith Home Gym has an incredible number of features suited for beginners and advanced users alike. The SM-7553 is an all-in-one smith cage because it offers a plethora of features only found in club gyms, such as a smith machine and cable crossovers. In addition, the multi-grip pull up bar and detachable dip bars deliver body weight workouts without the need of a separate power tower.

Use the included bar catch / safety catches for presses, squats and more. Complete leg presses using the leg press attachment and use the landmine attachment for several different landmine workouts including landmine squats, landmine rows, and more. Purchase resistance bands / tubes separately to use with the included anchor rods to add a different form of resistance to your workout, such as assisted or weighted pullup/dip exercises. The following included accessories ensure you can complete almost every exercise you can think of with the Marcy Deluxe Smith Cage Home Gym System – Lat Bar, Short Bar, Ankle Strap, V-Bar, V-Handle, triceps rope, and barbell pad.

The included adjustable bench has a saw-tooth adjustment for the back pad so you can quickly and securely switch between incline, flat, and decline positions. For your comfort, the seat pad portion also has 4 different adjustment angles. For your convenience, the transport wheels make it easy to move the bench around as necessary for your workouts. Finally, the preacher curl pad and leg developer are detachable to make space for different workouts.

Our take on the system

The Marcy Pro Deluxe Smith Cage Home Gym System SM-7553 offers a wide variety of training options in one compact setup, making it appealing for those who want a full-body workout station at home. It combines a Smith machine, cable system, multi-grip pull-up bar, dip station, and adjustable bench, which allows you to target every major muscle group without needing to buy separate pieces of equipment. The addition of attachments such as a landmine, triceps rope, and lat bar further expands the exercise possibilities, and built-in storage racks help keep weights and accessories organized. Its sturdy frame and smooth operation make it suitable for consistent use, and the adjustable bench with incline and decline settings adds flexibility for different training styles.

On the downside, this system is a large and heavy piece of equipment, requiring a dedicated space in your home. Assembly can be time-consuming, especially for someone without prior experience setting up gym machines. The cost is also on the higher side, which may not fit everyone’s budget. While the Smith machine is useful for safety and guided lifting, it does not replicate the natural movement of free weights, which may limit the development of stabilizing muscles for advanced lifters. Despite these drawbacks, the SM-7553 stands out as a well-rounded and durable home gym system for those willing to invest in a versatile, all-in-one training solution.