Sole E35 Elliptical Trainer Review
"Best Warranty Available"

There are a number of factors that makes the Sole E35 elliptical trainer stand out as an exceptional 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 coverage you will get 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 3/11/10 the Sole E35 was selling for $1,299 with shipping. A good value. Go to SoleEllipticals.com for the latest price.

New — The Sole E35 elliptical now comes with a power incline feature, allowing you better target and tone your lower muscles. It also gives you an increased cardio burn.

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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 apparent.

Note: 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.)

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.

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. That's unusual at this price range.

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.

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.

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

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.

Customer Reviews