SOLE has been one of the leaders in home exercise equipment for as long as I can remember—and probably a lot longer.
Currently, SOLE’s E25 Elliptical is the only large piece of exercise equipment I own—and it’s certainly the one in which I invested the most. I don’t have enough space to have a fully equipped home gym, so I decided to go with the piece of equipment I’d get the most use out of. An elliptical machine fits the bill for me because it is low impact and allows a walking-like exercise experience without requiring me to brave the sometimes bad weather (heat, rain, snow), not to mention dogs that might be running around our neighborhood that might want to chase me. 😊
For all the reasons a SOLE elliptical machine was the right choice for me, I wholeheartedly believe they would make a FANTASTIC Father’s Day gift for that special guy in your life who might want to get into better shape, whatever that means to him: losing fat, toning up, or improving cardiovascular endurance. Not to mention, using an elliptical machine is FUN, and you can use it while watching your favorite TV show (if you set up a TV in the room with you, at the right visual angle), listen to music—or best of all, talk to a loved one while you exercise. (With a pair of elliptical machines set up in the same room, the two of you could even exercise together, chatting as you go!)
Here are SOLE’s top 3 elliptical machines currently priced at under $2,000, and a summary of the pros and cons of each, based on my research and experience.
SOLE E25
The SOLE E25 elliptical trainer is SOLE’s entry-level elliptical, and is ranked the #1 elliptical trainer offered for less than $1,200. The flywheel for this model weighs 19 pounds. The SOLE E25 features a power incline feature to allow users to target a variety of muscle groups and offers a 6.25-inch LCD display for time, distance, calories, and resistance. There are speakers built-in cooling fans, and custom designed foot pedals. Built-in cooling fans. The SOLE E25 has a 325-pound capacity. The unit weighs 189 pounds. The manufacturer’s warrantee on the SOLE E25 is lifetime for the frame, 3 years for electronics, 3 years for parts, and 1 year labor.
Pros:
The E25 model is SOLE’s least expensive model. It provides the basics of a low-impact home workout…. the main reason you are probably considering an elliptical.
I owned the E25 model for at least 10 years before I had it serviced. (At that point, one of the rubber parts inside had worn out to the point of needing replacement.) I used it extensively, off and on during that period, usually for an hour at a time using one of the programmed exercise modes, or for a half-hour with HIT interval training. I love this model, and loved the lower initial price point. When it finally needs a repair that is too expensive to be “worth it,” I’ll be getting the SOLE E95.
Cons: The E25 has the smallest LCD screen of the SOLE elliptical models. It also has the lowest weight capacity. The SOLE E25 doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the higher end models—most notably, for me, it doesn’t have the dial-adjustable worm drive or the padded foot pedals—but it’s already served it’s purpose for my needs for more than a decade with no maintenance required.
SOLE E35
The SOLE E35 elliptical trainer is ranked “Best in Class” for 2022.
The flywheel for the E35 weighs 25 pounds. Like the SOLE E25, the E35 features a power incline feature to allow users to target a variety of muscle groups. With a 7.5-inch LCD display, the E35’s display is slightly larger than the E25’s 6.25-inch display. There are speakers built-in cooling fans, and custom designed foot pedals. Built-in cooling fans. The SOLE E35 has a 375-pound capacity: 50 pounds more than the E25. The unit weighs 231 pounds: 42 pounds more than the E25.
The manufacturer’s warrantee on the SOLE E35 is lifetime for the frame, 5 years for electronics, 5 years for parts, and 2 years labor. (This is expanded from the warrantee of the E25.)
Pros: Padded foot pedals! I tried this model out in the showroom, and the padded pedals, which have a soft touch that reminds one of walking on an uber-thin exercise mat—feel really nice under my feet, regardless of whether I’m working out barefoot or in shoes. In addition, the SOLE E35 has a larger footprint, meaning the machine needs a slightly larger spot in your home. Some people see this as a drawback, but for me, it’s a huge plus, because it also makes the elliptical feel more grounded and stable when I’m using it, especially when I’m using it vigorously.
Cons: The SOLE E35 requires a slightly larger area in your home due to its larger structure. The cost for this model is slightly higher than the SOLE E25.
SOLE E55
The SOLE E55 is a quality elliptical in a more compact package. This model has all the benefits and features of the SOLE E95, but it has a smaller footprint. The foot pedals of the Sole E55 are designed to reduce ankle and knee stress.
The E55 has a dial adjustment to adjust the pedal angle, which reduces numb toe effects and sore Achilles tendons, which can happen when training on other elliptical machines. The heavy-duty rails provide a smoother, more stable feel and reduce side to side foot pedal motion. The flywheel for the E55 weighs 25 pounds.
Like the E25 and E35 models, the SOLE E55 has a power incline to allow users to target a variety of muscle groups. The LCD for the E35 is 9 inches: 1.5 inches larger than the E35. There are speakers built-in cooling fans, and custom designed foot pedals. The SOLE E55 has a 375-pound capacity: the same as the E25. The unit weighs 214 pounds: 17 pounds less than the SOLE E35.
Like the SOLE E35, the SOLE E55 has a lifetime frame, 5 year electronics, 5 year parts, and 2 year labor warrantees.
The SOLE E55 has a base length of 71 inches—11 inches shorter than the E95.
Pros: More compact design means the SOLE E55 will fit more easily in areas with less space. It also means that the elliptical will be a little easier to move from room to room, if you decide you need to move it after professional delivery and setup. This model may be more comfortable for you to use if you’re a small person with a correspondingly small stride.
Cons: Because the SOLE E55 has a smaller base, it’s also a bit less stable than it’s larger big brother, the SOLE E95.
SOLE E95
The SOLE E95 is rated the #1 (Ichi ban!) Home Elliptical Machine Under $2,000!
The SOLE E95 has a base length of 82 inches. Just as with the other SOLE elliptical machines, the incline is adjustable, allowing you to target and work all major lower body muscle groups, as well as handlebars for upper body exercise. Built-in pulse sensors monitor your heart rate.
The LCD for the E95 is x 10.1 inches. There are speakers, built-in cooling fans, and custom designed foot pedals. The SOLE E55 has a 400-pound capacity. The unit weighs 236 pounds.
Like the other SOLE elliptical models, the SOLE E95 has a lifetime frame, 5 year electronics, 5 year parts, and 2 year labor warrantees.
The E95 is the only full-sized SOLE elliptical that features the dial-controlled worm drive, which makes it possible to adjust the pedal angle. This feature reduces numb toe effects and sore Achilles tendons that can sometimes happen when using other elliptical machines.
Pros: The SOLE E95’s worm drive feature makes it easy to adjust the pedals of this elliptical machine to the way you walk. This makes exercise more comfortable and certain injuries less likely. The SOLE E95 also accommodates the greatest weight, making it a great option for people who need to lose more weight.
Cons: The SOLE E95 is only slightly more expensive than the E55 model—about $100.
I’ll talk about the SOLE E95s and the SOLE E98 in a different post. These two are currently both selling for over $2,000, so they’re in a slightly different price range.
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