SOLE Fitness Rowers
SOLE Fitness is a long-established exercise equipment company with international distribution. They have been distributing affordable but durable exercise equipment throughout North America for decades. Their brand is best known for its high-quality treadmills, which are made for commercial and residential customers. SOLE also makes durable elliptical trainers, rowing machines and stationary bikes. Check out our top SOLE Fitness rowers, and learn about the pros and cons of the brand’s rowing machines below.
Top SOLE Fitness Rowing Machines
Model
Rating
Resistance Type
Weight Capacity
Folding
Resistance Levels
Pricing
Reviews
SOLE Fitness Rowing Machines
SOLE Fitness currently makes just one rowing machine: the SR500. This $999 hybrid air-magnetic rower has 16 levels of resistance for a wide variety of challenge. The SR500 rower has 12 program modes for you to mix up your workout routine, as well as a custom program and heart-rate program. It supports wireless heart-rate monitoring, but a chest strap is not included with the purchase. This easily foldable rowing machine is sized to fit most family members, and is shipped with an impressive residential warranty for peace of mind.
The Great
- Easy Assembly: According to customer reviews, new owners can typically assemble this machine in about 30 minutes.
- Smooth Resistance: The SOLE SR500 uses a combination of air and magnetic resistance to support quiet, smooth rowing workouts at 16 challenge levels. Air is used at the simpler levels and magnetic force is used at the higher levels.
- Preset Programs: The monitor is well backlit for night-time viewing. It has 12 program modes as well as 1 custom and 1 heart-rate program. There’s also a recovery feature to assess heart health after each workout.
- Wireless Controls: Wireless resistance controls help make the SR500 rower stand out from the crowd. Resistance can be adjusted from the handlebars during workouts. It can also be altered more traditionally with controls on the computer monitor.
- Sized for All: The SOLE SR500 indoor rower has an extra-long beam to accommodate all heights. It can also hold up to 515 pounds, which is an impressively high weight capacity. The footrests are adjustable for size and angle too.
- High Seat: The SR500 rower has a raised seat (about the height of an office chair), making it easier to access than rowers without high legs. This is especially important to people with arthritis or other limitations on movement.
- Heart-Rate Monitoring: The SR500 rower supports wireless heart-rate monitoring (chest strap not included).
- High Capacity: The SR500 rowing machine has a maximum user weight capacity of 515 pounds.
- Folding: A folding design and caster wheels make the SOLE SR500 indoor rower easy to move and store.
- Warranty: The SR500 is backed by a competitive residential warranty. Buyers get lifetime coverage for the frame and three years for parts and electronics. Labor costs are waived during the first year, and all repairs are performed in-home.
The Not-So-Great
- Size: SOLE Fitness was wise to make the SR500 foldable. Unfolded, it demands a lot of floor space at 94” L x 18” W.
- Not Silent: Owing to the air resistance, this rower isn’t as quiet as purely magnetic rowing machines.
- Not for Elite Athletes: Any trainee can get an effective cardio workout on the SR500, but not everybody will get a challenging upper-body workout even at the highest resistance level.
Our Conclusion
Although SOLE Fitness currently only makes one rowing machine, they make it well. The SR500 is easily a best buy in the magnetic-air rower category for residential use. It has very good ergonomics, helpful workout programs and impressive durability. It’s also backed by a long warranty, which in itself speaks for the brand’s faith in the durability of the model. We highly recommend the SR500 to new rowers and intermediate trainees.
Pros
Cons
1. Sole SR500 Rower
Aimed squarely at competing models from Nordictrack, the Sole SR500 rower uses a combination of air and magnetic resistance to deliver a smooth and effective workout day in and day out. While it does use a folding frame design, the A-frame structure at the front of the rower that helps mitigate any questions or concerns of instability in the unit. The machine has a dozen built-in training programs too, a feature not always found in rowers at the $1k price range. All told we’re pretty impressed with the Sole SR500 rower.
Read the Full Sole SR500 Rower Review