Sole E35 Elliptical Trainer Review
"Best Warranty Available"

There are a number of factors that makes the Sole E35 elliptical trainer stand out as a good 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. I am not familiar with any ellipticals under $3,000 that offers that kind of coverage. In fact, this is double the warranty on a Precor, which cost 3x as much.

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.

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Note: As of 9/4/08 the Sole E35 was selling for $1,299 with shipping. A good value. Go to SoleEllipticals.com for the lastest price.

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I tested the Sole E35 recently, and for a mid-priced elliptical it has a very smooth elliptical motion. That is partially due to the heavy-duty 30 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 noticeable.

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.)

Long Smooth 20" Stride Length

Another factor I appreciated is the comfortable 20" stride. I am not familiar with any ellipticals under $2,000 that have a comparable stride length. All are 16"-18", which gives your workout a very bouncy feel. With the 20" stride the E35 should accommodate moderately tall individuals. 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.

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. That's unusual at this price range.

There is one criticism and that is the console and display. They utilize an inexpensive LCD display window. Overall I was not impressed with the look or feel of the console, but when you factor in the price and the other excellent features, this is an acceptable compromise.

(Note: The 2008 Sole E35 has built-in speakers, which allow you to play your MP3 or iPod player.)

Fitness Source Review - Sole E35

If you find the Sole E35 for $1,300 this is an excellent value, particularly when you consider the warranty. We consider this elliptical to 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. In general, their machines are built to last. I have yet had a complaint about this machine.

Customer Reviews