Disclosure: Rayofi sent me the GoTone to review at no cost. I was not paid to make this review. I have since joined their affiliate programme, which means if you buy through my link I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. They have also given me a code just for you that gets you 10% off.
I love resistance bands for getting started with strength training at home. They are cheap, versatile, and they do not take up much space. But if you have been using them for a while, you will know they have their limitations.
The next logical step up from a band for home use is a cable machine. The problem is, you are either looking at an expensive unit that needs wall mounting, or one of those cheaper pulley systems that are limited in the directions you can use them from. Neither is ideal.
That is why I want to introduce you to the GoTone Pro. It sits halfway between a resistance band and a cable machine, and today I am going to give you my honest take on what I think of it, including the things I do not like quite as much.
What is the GoTone Pro?
The simplest way to look at it: It is a bit like a retractable dog lead that has a resistance you can change. As you pull out, it pulls back. It has a digital display that shows you exactly how much resistance you are pulling against, and you change it by clicking the number up or down. There is even an app you can use to control it, though you do not need it.
It comes with three anchoring attachments: a door anchor, a foot plate you can stand on, and a strap you can wrap around any solid post. On the other end, you get a handle and a leg strap. That gives you a genuinely full-body training tool in a device that weighs less than a bag of sugar.
A Quick Note: Original GoTone vs GoTone Pro
My review video below was filmed using the original GoTone. Since then, Rayofi have replaced it with the GoTone Pro, which is now the only version available to buy.
The key difference is a built-in cooling fan, which sorts out one of the cons I mention in the review about the unit getting warm during longer sessions. The resistance range, anchoring system and how it actually works are identical. If anything, the video makes the case for the Pro even more clearly.
My Honest GoTone Review
If you would rather read the key points from the review before deciding, I have broken them down below.
GoTone Pro vs Resistance Bands: The Bit That Really Matters
Resistance bands are great. They give you a good sense of the resistance you are pulling against. But as you move further away from the anchor point, the resistance changes. So if it feels easier one time, you do not know if that is because you got stronger or because you happened to stand in a slightly different position.
With the GoTone Pro it stays exactly the same all the way through. If I have got five kilograms set, that is five kilograms from start to finish, including the lowering phase. When it starts to feel easier, you know for certain you have got stronger.
For anyone trying to build strength progressively and safely at home, that difference is significant. It is also what makes the GoTone Pro much closer to a cable machine in a gym than to a resistance band, even though it weighs almost nothing.
What I Liked
You know exactly how much you are lifting
The digital display shows you precisely what you are pulling against, and you change it by clicking the number up or down. This is a big selling point for me as a physiotherapist. Progressive overload, gradually increasing the resistance over time, is how strength is built. You cannot do that reliably with bands.
With the GoTone Pro you can track your resistance session to session. That makes a real difference to how quickly you improve.
It goes anywhere
At 0.7 kg it fits in a bag. Living room, hotel room, garden. As long as you have a door or a flat surface, you can use it. I have used it in the living room but you could do the same in a hotel room. That kind of portability is something a full cable machine simply cannot offer.
No subscription needed
There is an app if you want it, but the GoTone Pro works completely as a standalone device straight out of the box. No subscriptions, no logins, no setup beyond looping the door anchor in place. You pay once and that is it.
Honest Cons
It is quite noisy
It is not terrible, but it is there. The motor is audible during use. If you live in a flat or train early when others are sleeping, it is worth being aware of.
The original unit got warm (the Pro has fixed this)
If you used the original GoTone for a long period of time, the unit itself would get quite hot and sometimes needed a rest between sets. This was probably my biggest practical frustration with it.
The GoTone Pro adds a built-in cooling fan specifically to address this. As the only version now available, this is no longer something you need to worry about.
Not for explosive movements
If you try to be too explosive with the exercises, it sometimes does not like that and jams slightly. It is much better for slow, controlled motions, maintaining resistance all the way through the range. For this age group that is usually what I recommend anyway, but worth knowing.
The resistance ceiling
The resistance goes up to 30 kg per unit. For the vast majority of people over 60 who are starting or building their strength training, that is more than enough. If you are already training at a high level with heavy cable loads at a gym, a single unit may feel light for certain exercises. A dual bundle is available if that applies to you.
10 Exercises to Get You Started
To show you exactly how the GoTone Pro works in a real session, I put together a demonstration of 10 exercises chosen specifically for adults over 60. These cover all three anchor positions and include upper body, lower body and rotational work.
Door anchor, shoulder height: Cable Row, Trunk Rotation, Single Arm Chest Press
Door anchor, floor level: Leg Extension, Leg Curl, Hip Abduction
Foot plate (no door needed): Lateral Raise, Bicep Curl, Seated Shoulder Press, Bent Over Row
Who Is the GoTone Pro For?
So, if you have been using resistance bands at home and you are ready to take the next step, the GoTone Pro is perfect for you if you want to avoid going to a gym. It is completely portable. You can stick it in a bag and take it with you anywhere that has a door or a flat surface.
It also suits you well if you have joint sensitivities and want smoother, more controlled resistance than free weights, or if you travel regularly and want to keep your training consistent.
Who I would not recommend it to
If you are just getting started with strength training and you have not yet built a routine or got familiar with the exercises, I would not actually start with the GoTone Pro. I would start with a set of resistance bands first, get comfortable with the movements, and then consider stepping up to this at a later date. It is a progression tool, not a starting point.
GoTone Pro: Key Specs
| Weight | 0.7 kg (1.5 lbs) |
| Resistance range | 3 to 30 kg (up to 66 lbs) per unit |
| Training modes | Normal, Eccentric Overload, Progressive |
| Cooling | Built-in fan (Pro model) |
| Charging | USB-C, approximately 1 hour |
| App required? | No |
| Anchor options | Door anchor, foot plate, post strap |
| Best suited for | Full body: upper, lower and core |
Frequently Asked Questions
The GoTone Pro is a compact, motor-controlled portable cable machine that delivers adjustable resistance from 3 to 30 kg. It anchors to a door, sits under your foot or straps to a fixed post, and weighs just 0.7 kg. It is designed as a portable alternative to a full cable machine setup at home.
With a resistance band, the tension changes as the band stretches, so it is very hard to know exactly how much resistance you are pulling against. The GoTone Pro uses a motor to maintain the same resistance all the way through the movement, including on the way down. When it starts to feel easier, you know you have got stronger, not just moved position slightly.
I would not necessarily recommend it as a first piece of equipment. If you are just getting started with strength training and have not yet built a routine or got comfortable with the exercises, then starting with a set of resistance bands first is fine. Get familiar with the movements, build a habit, and then consider the GoTone Pro as your next step.
Motor-controlled resistance is inherently smoother than free weights, with no sudden loading or momentum to manage. Many people with joint sensitivities find cable-based movements more comfortable than lifting dumbbells. That said, if you have a specific condition or injury history, speak to a physiotherapist before starting any new programme.
Yes. By positioning the door anchor at floor level you can do leg extensions, leg curls and hip abductions. The foot plate allows for movements like Romanian deadlifts and squats. A full lower body session is possible with one unit.
No. It works completely as a standalone device. There is an optional app if you want to use it, but it is not required. You pay once and that is it.
The GoTone Pro adds a built-in cooling fan, which fixes the overheating issue I experienced with the original during longer sessions. Everything else, the resistance range, anchor system and training principle, is the same. The original is no longer available; the Pro is now the only version sold.
A gym gives you more variety, but for many adults over 60 the practical barriers of getting there, navigating a busy environment and finding equipment that suits your level are very real. The GoTone Pro lets you train at home, on your schedule, with controlled and quantifiable resistance. For a lot of people that is actually the better option.
My Honest Summary
I think this is a fantastic bit of kit. It does exactly what it says. It gives the feel of a cable machine but without needing to invest in something that is going to need wall mounting at home.
It is not for complete beginners and it is not cheap. But if you have been using bands for a while and you are ready to take the next step, it is a logical progression and I do genuinely recommend it.
Use the link below and add code NTOTL at checkout for 10% off. If you have any questions about whether it suits your situation, leave them in the comments below and I will answer.
