Sole SRVO Review 2024 | TreadmillReviewGuru.com

In-depth Sole SRVO Review: Testing & Analysis

Dimensions/Storability

The big appeal to most smart home gyms is that they take up a fraction of the space as a weight room. The Sole SRVO is a small floor platform that is 41.45” long, 20.63” wide, and 4.9” tall.

It is around the size of a yoga mat.

I would factor in the dimensions plus a little extra room for you to do exercises like lunges and planks. If you get the All-In-One Complete package, you’ll have to factor in the size of the included bench as well as the SRVO.

The bench is 48.6” long, 19” wide, and 61” tall.

The top bar where you can rack the barbell folds down flat against the bench. The bench folds down, but overall it’s a little bulkier than the SRVO itself, so keep that in mind.

Together though, the SRVO and bench require a small amount of floor space, especially compared to regular cable machines and weight equipment.

The SRVO is a free-standing machine. It doesn’t require being mounted to the wall like the Tonal. It’s similar in size to the Vitruvian Trainer+. You just need to use it near a wall plug because it requires being plugged in.

The SRVO weighs 66 lbs. Some people can lift it up and carry it. It only has one handle though so it’s a little awkward to pick up. The easiest way for most people to move it is to lift up the one end with the handle to engage the 2 transport wheels on the other side to wheel the SRVO around.

Onboard Workouts & Apps

Most smart home equipment, such as treadmills, exercise bikes, rowers, and home gyms, comes with training content. Many brands offer their own subscription training platform or app. Commonly, these workouts are led by instructors in a studio fitness class format.

The Sole SRVO is Bluetooth-enabled to connect to the Sole+ App. Here is what you can expect from the app.

Sole+ App

You’ll just need your phone to connect to the SRVO through Bluetooth to the Sole+ App. There is also a QR code on the side of the SRVO to connect to the app. What’s nice about the Sole+ App, is that it’s free to Sole equipment owners. The Sole+ App isn’t required to use the SRVO, but it’s helpful for guidance on all the exercises you’re capable of doing on this machine.

In the app, there are trainer-led workouts specific to the SRVO. An instructor guides you through a workout on the SRVO. These workouts are filmed in an indoor studio. These are nice if you like following an instructor and if you need extra guidance.

Along with watching the instructor and listening to their cues, the app tracks your weight (per side) and counts your reps per set. You can select which of the 3 modes you want to train with, too. (More on this later).

Closed captions are available if you want to mute the instructor and the music that plays with each class. Each class has a training focus and a preselected playlist of music. The classes are 20 and 30 minutes long, depending on the one you choose to do.

There is a decent amount of Sole SRVO trainer-led workout videos. You can also take treadmill, exercise bike, elliptical, rowing, and mat classes like stretching and yoga in the app. All of the workouts are on-demand and new workouts are added fairly regularly.

There are also workout programs designed for different sports like football, soccer, and racketball, as well as programs with specific focuses like shoulder and glute workouts. These consist of specific exercises to complete for a certain amount of sets and reps per set. You can customize the weight for each exercise and the time between sets and segments.

You can also create your own workouts. Under the “Training” tab, under “Exercises” is where you’ll find a complete list of all of the exercises you can do on the Sole SRVO. There are over 150. The name of the exercise next to a graphic of a person demonstrating the exercise on the SRVO is shown. This format is a lot like Vitruvian’s in their training app.

The Sole+ App keeps track of your workouts and tracks your weight loaded and reps in each workout. You can also change the weight loaded on the machine in the app. With the library of classes and a large number of exercises available, you can filter and use a search bar in the app to help narrow down which class and/or exercises you want to do on the SRVO with the app.

For an app that is available to use for free with the SRVO, I’m impressed with everything it has to offer. I also really like that it is completely optional to use with the SRVO. You can completely control the machine using the console if you prefer not to use the app on your phone.

Console

The console on the Sole SRVO is a small display with a dial/button to adjust the weight and training mode. It displays which of the 3 modes you’re in (more on this in a moment), the amount of weight (per cable), and the number of reps performed.

Motorized Weight

The weight is motorized and adjustable to let you lift up to 264 lbs (132 lbs per cable). It feels very similar to smart home gyms that use cables, like the Vitruvian. The SRVO doesn’t let you lift as much weight as the Vitruvian though, so keep this in mind if you want to lift 250+ lbs.

As with machines like this, it’s different than using free weights. It might take some getting used to. It might not be best for you if you prefer using free weights. It can feel a little jerky in some of the modes and safety settings, as well as in some exercises like presses.

If you have a limited amount of space though and want an all-in-one machine, then the SRVO is a smart home gym to consider.

The weight can be adjusted in 1 lb increments which I really like. This way you have a large range of weight to work with and the ability to add or subtract pounds as you need to.

It’s easy to adjust the weight using the dial on the console.

When the number on the display is flashing, you can add or subtract weight by turning the dial. Once the weight is set, you press the middle of the dial to start lifting and load the weight.

The number displayed is the amount of weight per cable.

It goes from 4 lbs up to 132 lbs. The dial is really easy to use. There is also a voice and noise that indicates when the weight is loaded. You can turn down the volume of this in the Sole+ App, but it can’t be muted completely. It’s kind of annoying because it is pretty loud. I think Sole has included this for safety though. This way, you know when the weight is loaded and unloaded.

Safety Features

Sole also has other features for safety. The Resistance Stop Point feature is where you can pull each cable to the bottom portion of your rep. This way, if you’re doing a bench press, the weight will only be loaded for your range of motion in the exercise. So, if you’re using the barbell, you’ll set the weight to stop if the barbell drops below the lowest part of your press. This is to avoid you getting crushed by the weight.

The Static feature unloads all the weight if the cable is placed in the same position for 10 seconds. So, if you’re struggling to press that bar back up, the weight will automatically deload. You can select a time other than 10 seconds in the Sole+ App.

The Dump feature (Tilt feature) unloads the weight and retracts the cables if one cable gets pulled further out than the other. You will need to turn this feature off in the Sole+ App in order to do unilateral exercises.

The Drop feature allows you to drop whichever attachment you’re using (more on these later) if you are struggling to complete your rep. This takes off the weight and keeps it off for about 10 seconds. After the 10 seconds, the cables retract using the lowest resistance which is 4 lbs per side.

These safety features are nice and necessary. When lifting heavy weights, especially by yourself, it’s important that machines have built-in features to help prevent injuries. Although the safety features and weight aren’t adaptive like the Vitruvian, these safety features help.

Training Modes

The SRVO has 3 different training modes to choose from. These modes control how the weight is applied and distributed throughout the entire range of each rep. The standard mode is what you would expect. The same amount of weight is distributed throughout the entire range of the exercise. This is the mode that I prefer to use the most. It’s most similar to using free weights.

The next mode is eccentric. In this mode, the weight is applied only during the eccentric portion of the exercise. So, in a squat when you lower to the ground, you’ll feel the max weight and then the weight lightens the last part of the exercise when you rise out of the squat. This mode seems very similar to the Vitruvian’s eccentric-only training mode.

The isokinetic mode is designed to keep your muscles engaged throughout the entire range of motion. You can choose between fast or slow for this mode. In the fast mode, you want to perform quick-controlled reps to keep the weight loaded at the set max. When you slow down, the weight is lightened. In the slow mode, you want to keep your pace slow and consistent to keep the weight loaded. These modes are a great way to add variety to your workouts.

All of these modes let you use the weight differently depending on your training goals.

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Build Quality

Being from Sole, we expected the SRVO to have high-quality construction, and it does.

All of the hardware is of really nice quality. The SRVO doesn’t quite look as sleek as the Vitruvian, it doesn’t have the light, but considering it is about $1000 less, it is well-built and feels really nice.

The Sole SRVO is currently $2000 for the All-In-One Trainer. The complete All-In-One Trainer is $2500, it comes with the bench and a few more attachments that I’ll get into below. The SRVO is pricy, but it’s a little more affordable than other smart home gyms like the Tonal and Vitruvian Trainer+. It might be more realistic for you if you’re trying to save a little bit of money on a complete home gym.

The SRVO handles up to 330 lbs. Considering this is a machine that you stand, kneel, lay, plank, and squat on, I’m glad it handles a good amount of user weight. It also feels very sturdy underneath you, as does the bench.

Frame

The frame is solid and planted firmly on the floor. We’re not exactly sure if it’s made out of carbon fiber like the Vitruvian. I mentioned that it doesn’t look as sleek, but for a more budget-friendly option, the SRVO is well-made. It has a mat that fits on top to keep the SRVO from getting dirty or scratched from your shoes.

Note: You must be on the platform, whether just one foot or arms when lifting, otherwise the SRVO will move once you pull the cables. It is meant to be stood, knelt, or planked on to keep it in place.

The pieces that the carabiner clips attach to the cables on each side are made out of plastic.

This doesn’t affect the overall quality and stability, even when heavy weight is loaded. The cables are strong and the carabiners are easy to swap out the different attachments.

Servomotors

The Sole SRVO gets its name from the two commercial-grade servomotors built in. These motors work to give you resistance and up to 264 lbs of weight to pull against. The vents on the sides of the SRVO platform are there to help prevent the motors from overheating.

These motors control the resistance. The SRVO isn’t loud, besides the voice system that lets you know when the weight is loaded and unloaded. A future upgrade that eliminates the voice or allows it to be muted would be nice. I think a small beep with an adjustable volume could be used in place of the voice.

Accessories

With the different accessories available to purchase with the SRVO, you can perform a lot of exercises.

Things like raises, presses, squats, lunges, planks, and more are possible on the SRVO. The SRVO is available to buy in two different options.

Sole SRVO All-In-One Trainer

When you purchase the cheaper package which is called the Sole SRVO All-In-One Trainer, it comes with the SRVO Trainer, mat, bar, handles, ankle straps, and belt. The bar is metal and knurled like a barbell. The knurling even has marks so you can evenly space your hands.

The barbell has a button to adjust the weight, which is helpful for setting the Resistance Stop feature and for exercises when you’re lying on the bench, unable to reach the dial on the console. It is just a button though, so you’ll need to use the dial beforehand to set specific weights. The two handles are also metal and knurled like traditional dumbbells. I like the barbell and handles. The knurling is nice to help you keep a good grip and the metal construction makes them feel really durable.

The ankle straps are velcro, as is the belt so they’re easy to adjust to fit them to your body.

They also have metal rings to clip the carabiners to, like the handles and bar. Overall, these attachments are of really nice quality and should last.

SRVO All-In-One Complete Trainer

The SRVO All-In-One Complete is the more expensive option and it comes with all of the accessories as the other package, in addition to the rope, short bar, safety cables, and an adjustable bench.

The bench adjusts to incline to 4 different positions. It is designed to be placed over the SRVO, with each floor stabilizer on either side of the machine. It has adjustable leveling feet so you can plant it on the floor.

A large metal piece that is attached to the bench extends upright at the back of the bench, to be kind of like a squat rack.

There are hooks to hold the barbell when you’re ready to bench press or bench squat.

The bench isn’t my favorite. It’s comfortable with nice padding and it is helpful that it adjusts to incline and be flat, but it’s bulky.

The only function that the squat rack extension of the bench is good for is holding the weight before you’re ready to begin your set. It doesn’t allow you to do any pull-down exercises, like other cable machines. All of the workouts involve pulling up on the cables, which can limit you if you want to do things like tricep pull-downs.

Overall though, you can do a lot of exercises on the Sole SRVO. It’s a nice smart home gym for its price.

Warranty

Sole includes a 1-year warranty for the SRVO and a 90-day warranty for the accessories.

Should You Buy The Sole SRVO?

The Sole SRVO is a strength training machine that makes lifting weights possible in a small amount of space. The SRVO is a compact machine that requires a small area to use and can be stored under a bed or couch when you’re finished. The dual servomotors provide motorized, adjustable weight up to 264 lbs, so most people will be able to lift a lot of weight using this machine. The SRVO is a free-standing platform that allows you to perform over 150 exercises.

Although the max weight might not be enough for seasoned weight lifters, the Sole SRVO is an excellent home gym alternative for those with a limited area in their home as well as beginner and intermediate lifters.

It isn’t quite the same quality as smart home gyms like the Vitruvian Trainer+ and Tonal, but considering it is lower in price, the SRVO is a bit more budget-friendly. I appreciate that it can be used with the Sole+ App for guided video workouts and the ability to program your own workouts. The app is completely optional though and you can adjust the weight in 1 lb increments with the dial on the SRVO or in the app, making it very uncomplicated to use.

The bench is nice to have if you prefer using it for some exercises, it takes up extra space though, so keep this in mind. Whether you go with the All-In-One Trainer package or the All-In-One Complete Trainer package, you’re getting a well-made machine that can replace most equipment in a weight room.

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Sole SRVO Review FAQs / Q&As

How does the Sole SRVO compare to the Vitruvian Trainer+?

The Sole SRVO is less expensive than the Vitruvian. It isn’t as sleek and the weight isn’t adaptive to adjust to you. The SRVO only goes up to 264 lbs of weight with both cables, versus the 440 lb max that the Vitruvian has. The SRVO is easy to use with or without the free Sole+ App though.

If you don’t need to lift as much weight and are looking to save a little bit, the SRVO is a good option. If you want the best of the best though, I would go with the Vitruvian Trainer+.

What is the weight limit on the Sole SRVO?

The SRVO handles up to 330 lbs.

Is our Sole SRVO review a paid review?

We were not paid to create this review of the Sole SRVO. Sole sends us their equipment to test and we have affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, we earn a commission. Along with Sole, we work with all kinds of brands. This allows us to test all kinds of equipment so when we recommend the best, we know it’s the best because we’ve spent time using it.

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About the Author

Sydney Kaiser, ISSA-CPT, ISSA Nutritionist Certification
Sydney is a certified fitness instructor, personal trainer, and sports nutritionist who combines her passion for fitness, health, and wellness with her passion for writing. After graduating from UC Riverside with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, she began teaching indoor cycling and Lagree Fitness group fitness classes to people of all ages and abilities. Raised in Central Michigan, Sydney grew up training and competing on the Arabian Horse Association circuit through both Regional and National levels in Dressage and Sport Horse classes. In college, Sydney went on to compete at the collegiate level as a Division 1 equestrian athlete. Here at TRG, Sydney relies on her extensive background in fitness when reviewing and recommending all kinds of fitness, recovery, and health-related products.

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