Elliptical machines are a great home fitness option for anyone who wants to get a high-intensity, low-impact workout without going to a gym. Their designs eliminate the shock that running on a treadmill or outside puts on your knees and ankles while adding the option to work out your arms. There is a huge number of elliptical machines out there, though, ranging from bargain-priced models available for around $300 up to high-end machines that cost over $3,000. Most consumers want something in the middle of this range, and that’s where the Sole E55 comes in.
Sole began its run in the market as a company manufacturing fitness equipment for commercial use in hotels and gyms. That means all of their machines are built to stand up to intensive daily use. They’re tough and sturdy and should last you for years, and the E55 is no exception. Read on to learn more about the Sole E55 and how it compares to other elliptical machines on the market.
What Is the Sole E55?
The Sole E55 is a mid-range elliptical machine that packs in plenty of performance features in addition to great ergonomic comfort. Its foot pedals are on a 2-degree inward angle, which puts the body into a neutral alignment position and reduces the stress placed on joints even more than a standard elliptical. It packs in Bluetooth capabilities that make it easy to track your fitness progress and download your workout data to popular fitness apps. It also has a large, clear, easy-to-read LCD screen that displays key workout statistics like your workout time remaining, distance traveled, and calories burned.
Essentially, the E55 has all the features you might expect from a mid-range elliptical plus the high-quality construction that comes with each Sole-manufactured machine. If you need more bells and whistles, you’ll have to spend more, but this machine has everything most workout warriors will need.
Product Specs
The E55 elliptical’s heavy-duty construction includes a 20-pound flywheel and steel gauge frame, which provide smooth, quiet motion. Its console screen is 9 inches across, and the console itself features a water bottle holder and a built-in fan to keep you cool while you work out. It also contains an iPod dock and built-in speakers so you can plug in a device and listen to your favorite music or podcasts while you work your whole body.
The E55 also features 10 pre-programmed workouts, including two heart rate options. It offers 20 levels of incline that are power-adjustable, and you can even change them using buttons on the hand grips so you don’t have to lose heart-rate monitoring while you adjust resistance. This machine’s high-quality foot pedals offer adjustable toe-to-heel angles so users can always find a position that’s comfortable. All you have to do is turn a dial on the pedal to change the angle. This can help users avoid problems like toe numbness and sore Achilles tendons that can result from improper angles and foot placement.
Pricing
The Sole E55 is available on Amazon for around $1,500, with expert in-home assembly available for a reasonable added fee.
How Other Elliptical Machines Compare
We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare.
- 1SOLE E98 Elliptical Trainer System
- 2NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i Elliptical Trainer
- 3ProForm 895 Cse Smart Strider 895 Elliptical
SOLE E55 Elliptical Trainer System
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Price
As mentioned above, the Sole E55 sells for around $1,500 on Amazon. This makes it a mid-priced elliptical in the market.
Ease of Use
The console display may be basic, but it’s also easy to figure out and navigate. Adjustments are simple, and the ability to change resistance and incline on the fly using controls on the hand grips is a major benefit. The angle of the footpads takes just seconds to adjust, too.
Assembly & Setup Time
Almost all ellipticals are relatively challenging to put together. They’re large, heavy, and have many complex moving parts. This is true for the E55, which makes Amazon’s expert assembly offer very attractive.
Design Quality
With its adjustable toe-to-heel angles, sturdy construction, and Bluetooth connectivity, this is a high-quality machine with only a few minor downsides holding it back. Its screen, though large enough, is simplistic for a device at this price point. Some competitors’ screens are full-color touchscreens, while the E55’s is a simple LCD display. In addition, the limited number of pre-programmed workouts is disappointing considering that similarly priced competitors’ machines often offer at least twice as many.
Durability & Warranty
Sole’s history and brand reputation ensure that their machines are tough and can stand up to years of daily use. Their warranty backs this up. You receive lifetime coverage on the frame, five years on parts and electronics, and two years on labor. This is among the best warranties we have seen in this product category.
Pros
Cons
SOLE E98 Elliptical Trainer System
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The E98 is Sole’s top-of-the-line elliptical. It features upgrades from the E55’s 9-inch screen and 20-pound flywheel to a 10-inch screen and 32-pound wheel. It also has articulating foot pads that cushion your feet throughout the whole range of motion. It’s heavier and even sturdier than the E55 because it’s built for light commercial use as well. as in-home exercise.
Aside from those improved aspects, the E98 incorporates all the rest of the design elements that the E55 offers. That means that, unless you plan to use your elliptical every day for a long period, you probably don’t need to upgrade and pay substantially more for the Sole E98 trainer
Price
The E98 costs around $2,500 on Amazon, with expert assembly available for a reasonable add-on fee.
Ease of Use
Like the E55, the E98’s options and modes are simple to navigate. It’s easy to get started and adjust on the fly to get the workout you need. The articulated foot pads add an extra level of comfort for users of this machine.
Assembly & Setup Time
The E98 weighs in at a whopping 249 pounds, making it a huge challenge to assemble on your own. Luckily, Amazon offers expert assembly on this machine for an additional fee.
Design Quality
This elliptical is incredibly sturdy and durable, with a weight capacity of 400 pounds. Built for commercial use in hotels as well as intensive home use, it can stand up to a lot of punishment. The only downsides to this machine are the same as those we cited for E55 elliptical: a basic LCD screen and only 10 pre-programmed workouts.
Durability & Warranty
The E98 comes with the same high-quality warranty provided with the E55. Sole backs the machine with lifetime coverage on the frame, five years on parts and electronics, and two years on labor.
Pros
Cons
NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i Elliptical Trainer
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The NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i is priced comparably to the Sole E55, but we identified a number of benefits and drawbacks that make it a very different machine. For one, it lives up to its name by folding up for easy storage, although at 218 pounds it isn’t always convenient to move. Its 18-pound flywheel is heavy enough to allow for a smooth ride, and its 10 incline settings ensure anyone can get a quality workout on this trainer. It also comes with a few luxury features, such as an HD touchscreen on the console, an iPod dock, and a tablet holder so you can watch media or read as you work out.
This machine also uses the iFit application to connect to the Internet and download new workout programs. It even allows you to run on virtual trails from all over the world, with the trails depicted on your screen to track your progress while you enjoy great scenery. However, you should be aware that iFit is a subscription-based service, which means you’ll have to pay a monthly fee to access this great feature.
Price
The NordicTrack Spacesaver SE9i is available on Amazon for around $1,500, with expert assembly available for a small fee.
Ease of Use
NordicTrack has been around for decades, and the company has mastered the art of making its workout equipment user-friendly. The touchscreen is a cinch to navigate and Bluetooth functionality makes it easy to access and transfer your iFit workout data.
Assembly & Setup Time
Amazon offers expert assembly for a small fee for this machine, but it’s actually surprisingly simple to assemble on your own. This NordicTrack elliptical is designed for out-of-the-box assembly requiring significantly fewer steps than most comparable machines.
Design Quality
While it’s not as heavy and sturdy as the Sole E98, this machine still has high-quality construction. Its toe-to-heel angle is adjustable and the pedals are cushioned for comfort. The touchscreen is an excellent high-end feature, and the machine even features an auxiliary audio port and two built-in speakers so you can listen to your favorite tunes or podcasts in stereo while you exercise.
Durability & Warranty
NordicTrack makes high-quality machines, and they offer a warranty to match. You can benefit from lifetime coverage on the frame, five years for parts and electronics, and two years for labor.
Pros
Cons
ProForm 895 Smart Strider Elliptical
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The ProForm 895 Smart Strider features a 7-inch touchscreen and an Android-based web browser. It also sports an 18-pound flywheel, 32 pre-programmed workouts, power incline with 24 levels of resistance, a built-in sound system, and iFit compatibility. It can also fold up for easy storage and is lighter than many competitive trainers at just 190 pounds. The biggest downside we noted is the short 18-inch stride length, considering that most home ellipticals offer a 20-inch stride length. Aside from that, it’s packed with great features and comes in at a low price.
Price
The Proform 895 Smart Strider sells for between $1,000 and $1,100 on Amazon.
Ease of Use
With a touchscreen and iFit compatibility, the 895 is simple and smooth to use. Its 18-pound flywheel is a little light for this price range, but the 895 elliptical trainer is sturdy overall.
Assembly & Setup Time
The 895 arrives almost fully assembled and folds up for convenient storage. It’s about as simple as it gets when it comes to ellipticals.
Design Quality
The touchscreen and Android browser are great features to use, and the onboard speakers are also a notable inclusion at this price. The 18-inch stride length is a drawback though, especially for taller users.
Durability & Warranty
The ProForm warranty is acceptable, but not as comprehensive as the others we covered on this list. The company provides lifetime coverage on the frame, and three years for parts.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
Which elliptical is right for you depends on what you want to get out of your new home exercise machine. If you want a trainer that has a convenient fold-up design, sturdy construction, and a great HD touchscreen, the NordicTrack Space Saver SE9i elliptical might be the right machine for you. If you’re looking for a great low price with some high-end features like a touchscreen and iFit compatibility, the Proform 895 might be your best bet. Sole ellipticals offer sturdy, durable construction and an excellent workout along with a few bells and whistles like Bluetooth, but these units lack touchscreens and iFit compatibility.
If you want an elliptical that’s comfortable to use, has straightforward menus, offers a smooth and quiet ride, and sells for a mid-range price, the Sole E55 is likely the right machine for you. It does not have all high-tech features of some of its competitors, but its high-quality construction, excellent warranty, and comfort factors all make it a more than worthy contender for the best elliptical in its class. We assigned it a solid four out of five stars overall.