Heart Healthy Exercise

Sole E35 Elliptical Trainer Review

Written by drbob on January 25, 2011 – 2:33 pm -

"Best Warranty Available"

There are a number of factors that makes the Sole E35 elliptical trainer a "Best Buy" value, but the most impressive is the warranty. For $1,300 (Includes Shipping) you get an elliptical with a 5-year parts and 2-year labor warranty. This is double the labor coverage you will get on a Precor, which cost 3x as much.

Save $999 on the Sole E35 Elliptical plus FREE Shipping

Warranties are an excellent indicator of the quality of a machine. It's logical if a company backs up their elliptical trainers with a strong warranty, the machine must be built to last. Otherwise they would go broke with constant service calls. That's why many of the Icon built ellipticals (ProForm, Image, Weslo, Reebok) only have a 90-day warranty. They tend to breakdown with moderate use.
I tested the Sole E35 when I was at their corporate offices, and for a mid-priced elliptical it has a very smooth elliptical motion. That is partially due to the heavy-duty 25 lb flywheel. And for a machine that is less than $1,500 it is relatively quiet. I tested it side by side with several Horizon and ProForm models, and the difference in stability and noise level was dramatic.

Note: For 2010 the Sole E35 was rated "Best Overall" by a popular consumer magazines whose name I cannot mention. They gave it an "Excellent" for construction.

Features of the Sole E35 Elliptical Trainer
It weighs in at a hefty 200 lbs. and has dual wheels that run along the railing, giving the E35 a solid and stable feel. In addition, the 81" length adds further to the stability. The downside is this elliptical takes up considerable space, but I will sacrifice space for stability. (Note: Standard delivery is to the curb. Sometimes they will back into your driveway, but not always. Either plan to have some strong individuals to move it indoors, or go for the optional inside delivery.)

Power Incline — The Sole E35 elliptical comes with a power incline feature, allowing you better target and tone various lower muscles. It also gives you an increased cardio burn and is like hiking up a hill.

Long Smooth 20" Stride Length
I found the 20" stride to be smooth and comfortable. If you are under 5'5" you may want to consider a machine with with a smaller stride. However this is an ideal stride length for average to above average users.
The stride is elongated, which is what you want with an elliptical. Cheaper units will often have an 18" stride with a flywheel weighing considerably less. The result is a choppy circular motion that requires lifting your knees. It is not as comfortable and consequently you'll probably exercise less and getting fewer results.

Adjustable Foot pedals
To add to your comfort level the Sole E35 is designed with articulating foot pedals. They angle with the elliptical motion. To increase your comfort level, you can manually make further adjustments to the angle of the pedals. If you have flat feet or higher arches, you can adjust the pedals to an ideal angle that will further reduce stress and potential numbness.

Console and Display
The E35 comes with 8 programs, for a variety of challenges, which includes one user defined program. And although there is contradictory information on the web site, I just verified with the company that it comes with wireless heart rate control and the telemetry belt.

You also get built-in speakers and can plug in your MP3 or iPod player. The sound won't impress audiophiles, but it is nice having the apex efficiently directed to you. There is also a small fan that provides moderate relief.
New for 2011 is a 6.5" backlit LCD display which simultaneously shows Speed, Incline, Time, Distance Traveled, Calories, Pulse and Pace. Included is a 1/4 mile track feature and a peak and valley graph so you can visualize your progress. Also, the console tilts for optimum viewing based on your height.

There are also 16 levels of resistance, making the switch from one level to the next marginal. This allows you to make small incremental adjustments. A feature that I really like is resistance and incline controls located on the moveable handlebars. When you want to make adjustments you don't have to break your stride and hit buttons on the console.

Fitness Source Review - Sole E35 Elliptical Trainer
When visited Dick's Sporting Goods, they carried Sole, Horizon and ProForm elliptical trainers. I asked the salesperson which was the best seller. Without hesitation he said Sole. When I asked why, his response was the quality blows away the competition.
If you find the Sole E35 for $1,300 this is an excellent value, particularly when you consider the warranty. I feel this elliptical is one of the best buys in the $1,000-$1,500 range. If you are not all that familiar with the name Sole, their treadmills are used for in room workouts in the Hilton chain, which says something about their durability. In general, their machines are built to last. I have yet to have a complaint about this machine, however from the customer reviews below I've had considerable positive feedback.

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Customer Reviews
Great elliptical, especially for the price!
I recently ordered the Sole E35 elliptical. I have always used and liked the Precor machines at the gym however I was not willing to pay the price to have one in my home. I tried several machines in fitness stores and Sole was the only brand that felt sturdy for my price range ($1,300 is actually more than I had originally planned on spending).
The assembly time estimate on the Sole web site says 25-35 minutes. I think it took me 2-3 hours and I'm a reasonably mechanical person. That said, all the parts went together very easily and the instructions were decent (could have used more pictures in my opinion). I've only used the elliptical twice but find it to be very sturdy. It is also very quiet! I'm not sure how much noise I expected it to make, but it far exceeded my expectations. I hope with time it holds up well and it doesn't become noisy, but so far it is great!
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I bought a Sole Fitness E35 and put it together in my home. It was very easy - the hardest part was carrying it up the stairs, but my husband and I carried it up in pieces. I love the machine. It has all the programs I need (I generally use "Manual" but my kids like the "Fat Burn" and others, it's stable and very comfortable. I'm 5'4" and the stride length is perfect. I like that it's quiet and I can watch TV while I workout. I would highly recommend this machine - I've tested several brands and for the price it is an excellent value.
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I owned a nordic elliptical for 5 years and had it serviced twice. I decided I need to up grade. I search and researched. The best bang for the buck seemed to be the Sole E35. I was on a waiting list at a local store for several months. I finally went on line and ordered it from Sole directly. The price was $l.000 - free shipping. That was 3 years ago. I love this machine. My entire family uses it including my grandchildren. The only complaint I have is that the water bottle holder could be higher and the display window could be bigger. That aside, it performs much like the $3,000 machines. I have no complaints.
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Our office building purchased an E35. It broke after 4 months and they would not repair as the unit is in "commercial" use. Commercial use = NO WARRANTY. Keep this in mind if you are buying for your office. I would not buy Sole again and felt we were mislead about the warranty.
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I tested and read reviews of about a dozen ellipticals before purchasing the Sole E35. In addition to the best warranty in it's class, this unit is the most stable and quietest. The assembly technician concurred stating that he had to return to people who purchased other brand names but could not recall returning for problems with the Sole E35. I have mine for a short time, just over a month but it feels secure and would recommend it at this time.
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Just purchased a sole E35. It arrived in excellent condition, with individual parts separately packaged. Whatever you may think, it's going to take you and someone else to get the main pieces moved to your final location. The assembly was pretty straightforward. However, the Sole "estimate" of 30 minutes is very optimistic. I'm fairly mechanical, and it took about 3 hours. I read elsewhere that you need locktite for some of the bolts. But, I noticed that a few of them are sent with the material already on the bolt. The machine is VERY quiet, and feels quite substantial. It appears to be a quality machine.....guess we will see over time!

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