Sole E35 Elliptical Trainer Reviews
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A little history:br /I swore to never have gym machines in my house, as I was always able to take care of home fitness with iso excercises and free weights, and for the cardio, took a lunch break during the day to swim. But to make a long story short, scheduling the swim got to be difficult and with the wife out of town quite a bit, she could not schedule her Curves visits as frequently...And I hate running, as well as living in the north, running outside is very seasonal. So we bit the bullet and started to research the best cardio equipment that was easy to use, and would not be a maintenance problem.br /br /Sooo...Not being a gym machinery rat, I had to start from scratch. I like the fluidity of cycling, and have used and liked stair steppers in hotel gyms, and have previously mentioned that I hate running (ala treadmill), so an elliptical seemed to be the best combination of what we wanted, and had the ability to cram a good calorie burn and heart rate elevation into a tolerable amount of time and level of resistance, while also having some upper body work as well. SO the technique was decided, now to find the unit...br /br /Several independent fitness sites had brand and model reviews and comparisons. The Sole E35 had all of the specific "quality" features that we were looking for such as the magnetic resistance on the flywheel, fully programmable including the incline...and was at the lower end of the pricing range for these features. The consumer reviews on this unit were generally spectacular, with one common negative theme that I can't comment on, which was company customer service and support after the sale. I hope the company takes those reviews to heart, but again I can't comment as I have not had to contact the company for support as of yet. Although there were several distribution options, including ordering from Dick's Sporting Goods locally, we decided on Amazon, as the pricing was the best (even better than direct), shipping was included, and I've had good results with high ticket items at Amazon in the past, so product ordered.br /br /The unit was delivered by ABF Freight within a week. Weighing in at almost 300 pounds, I was thankful that the driver helped me move the box inside. After slicing open the box around the bottom, I was pleasantly surprised at the packing quality. Everything in place and tied down. Of course another common theme in reviews was the "putting together time". After moving the pieces into place, it does take a good 3-4 hours of putting together, but the instructions are laid out nicely, all parts well decribed and fasteners blister packed in "sections" to eliminate confusion. Even the tools needed were provided.br /br /So now I've used the product daily over a month and feel that I can now comment on the product quality and features. The programming is very intuitive and the display is loaded with info but laid out nicely. There are several "canned" programs (that can be modified), and 2 user programs. The programs are broken down into 20 segments, so depending on your total time program, each of the 20 segments is evenly distributed over that time. Each segment contains your level of resistance (on the flywheel) and the incline of the back ramp. The display is broken down into 3 levels of display info which can be scrolled through or automatically scrolled during use. Info includes the program level and ramp level (graphically displayed), rate, calories, power, RPM, distance, heart rate. The heart rate sensor is built into the stationary bars in front of the display, and can be taken at any time during the workout by grabbing the stationary handles. The package also included a remote heart rate sensor but I haven't tried that. The oscillating bars also have controls to adjust the level and ramp up or down on the fly.br /br /And as for quality and sturdiness, this thing is both. The fluidity of the moving parts is without any "jerking". It is totally quiet. I have it upstairs on ceramic tile (placed on a Stamina mat the fits nicely), with no vibration to the downstairs. You can't hear or feel this in the next room or downstairs. It is solid and heavy and does not move around on you. I don't know how a larger person would move it around (I am 170 and wife is much less than that:) ), but the overall feel of this unit is gym quality. I have no hesitation is recommending this unit and purchase outlet to anyone that is searching in this price range. And I don't think you need to spend twice the money on another manufacturers product to get the features and quality you want and need.br /
Sole E35 Elliptical Trainer Feature
- Boasting a heavy 25-pound flywheel
- Contains unique oversize foot pedals
- Features a 2-degree inward slope that reduces the ankle and knee stress
Enjoy an efficient full-body workout without heading to the gym with the Sole E35 elliptical trainer. Boasting a heavy 25-pound flywheel, a high gear ratio not found on most comparable models, and a pair of upper body handles, the E35 delivers an extremely smooth workout with plenty of top-end resistance. Users will also appreciate the unique oversize foot pedals, which were designed in collaboration with a leading physical therapist and sports enthusiast. The pedals are not only extra large, but also feature a 2-degree inward slope that reduces the ankle and knee stress that's common in other elliptical machines. And thanks to the stationary handle bars with built-in pulse sensors, it's a breeze to monitor your heart rate as you exercise (a chest strap is also included for highly accurate wireless monitoring).p Workout specifics include 16 resistance levels, ten total programs (including one custom program), and a 20-inch stride length. Perhaps the handiest feature from a user perspective, however, is the easy-to-use electronic console, which integrates a blue backlit LCD display, a cooling fan, and a water bottle holder. The E35, which offers a maximum weight capacity of 350 pounds, carries the following warranties: lifetime on the frame and brakes, five years on all parts and electronics, and two years on the labor.pstrongSpecifications:/strongultable align=right width=400 cellpadding=10trtdimg src="http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/stores/sport-goods/sole-e35-console.jpg" border=0 align=topbrbrsmallibThe E35's LCD display will track your key workout metrics./b/i/small/td/tr/tableliAssembled Dimensions: 82 by 27 by 68 inches (L x W x H) liStride Length: 20 inches liFront Drive liSteel Frame: 38mm liResistance Type: Eddy Current Braking liAdjustable Pedals liArticulating Pedals liFlywheel: 25 pounds liResistance Levels: 16 liPower: Plug in liUpper Body: Yes liPulse Grips: Yes liHandlebar Adjust: Yes liDisplay Type: Small LCD liHeart Rate Control liHeart Rate Telemetry Belt liTrack Display liColor: Backlit Blue liAudio System liIncline: Power liSix Standard Programs liTwo User-Defined Programs liTwo Heart Rate Programs liCooling Fans: Standard liWater Bottle Holder liRear Rail Shroud liWeight Capacity: 350 pounds /ulpstrongManufacturer's Warranty/strongbr frame and brakes - lifetime, parts / electronics - 5 years, labor: 2 yearspstrongAbout Sole/strongbr Sole brings over twenty years of treadmill and fitness product design and manufacturing to the table in their line of innovative equipment designed for fitness-conscious people. The company's treadmill line is simple in design, with an emphasis on quality and warranty all at a great price. Sole's easy-to-use treadmills offer a great value and feature a convenient, space-saving portable design. The treadmills have a very stable base with four wheels for ease of movement, folding decks to conserve space, and a 30-year motor and lifetime deck and frame warranty. Sole is always looking for ways to make their equipment better, more efficient, with higher quality at a great price.pstrongAbout Elliptical Trainers/strongbr Elliptical trainers represent the next wave of advancement in low-impact cardiovascular exercise machines and continue to grow in popularity. By simulating motions experienced through walking, stepping, cycling, and skiing, elliptical machines allow for a smooth and fluid motion while building strength in the arms and legs. Similar to the exercise position for treadmills, elliptical trainers are used by standing in an upright position while holding the handrails of the machine. With elliptical trainers, however, your feet remain in the foot pedals throughout the exercise regimen and circulate in a smooth and seamless motion, resulting in little to no impact on the knees, back, and hips.p Elliptical trainers are compatible for all ages and fitness levels and allow you to select the difficulty level through the incline and intensity settings. Additionally, elliptical trainers allow you to determine the complexity of your workout based on your needs, all while listening to music, watching television, or reading a magazine while exercising in the comfort and safety of your own home.p Although different types of elliptical trainers offer an assortment of features, many of them include an array of challenging programs, forward and reverse directional movement, EKG grip pulse handles, a lightweight portable design with easy fold-up capability, and a monitor displaying calories burned, distance, speed, time, and heart rate. Other types of exercise machines, namely treadmills and bikes, offer excellent cardiovascular exercise and muscular training for the legs in a forward-motion exercise. Elliptical trainers take this to the next level by offering an upper and lower body workout with dual motion, challenging and diverse programs, and a low-impact exercise machine that won't strain sensitive joints.p
Easy to use electronic console with blue backlight LCD display. Includes a built-in cooling fan and water bottle holder. Fluid natural motion provided by a whisper quiet drive system. The combination of a heavy 30 lb. flywheel and a high gear ratio not found on comparable models means an extremely smooth feel with plenty of resistance at the top end for a machine that will provide a challenging workout. Upper body exercise provides a total body workout. Stationary handle bars with built-in pulse sensors for monitoring your heart rate. A heart rate chest strap is also included for hands free pulse monitoring and heart rate interactive programs. Oversize foot pedals for a comfortable workout. These unique foot pedals were designed in collaboration with a leading physical therapist and sports enthusiast. Sole engineers have designed in a 2 degree inward slope to the foot pedals which reduce ankle and knee stress that is common in other elliptical machines. The four real wheels which ride on heavy duty rails provide a smoother more stable feel and reduce side to side foot pedal motion. A feature found only on more expensive models
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I call it 'The Monster.' - Jamie M. Seabolt - Dahlonega, GA
Well...The reason I didn't give this machine 5 stars is simply because I refuse to LOVE any piece of equipment that inflicts pain. However, I do give it 4 stars because it does what it is supposed to do---provides one heck of a workout! I named it 'The Monster' because it is quite imposing looking. People walk into the room where I have it set up and the first thing they say is, "Man! That thing is HUGE!" It was a breeze to put together according to my friend Jeff---he managed it in about 2 hours. The hardest part was moving it 20 feet across the room because the big central one-piece section weighs as much as a small elephant. I've had it a month now and am quite pleased with it. It is super quiet, and the rotational gait is smooth as butter. I like the fact that the foot platforms are adjustable. You totally FEEL the action in your butt and thighs---I was sore as Hell after the 1st 2 workouts! :) The fan on the console is a joke. Seriously?? I mean, dang! It's like they had this small space left over and as an after thought stuck in a little fan for decoration. They should have just used the spaced as a holder for a big water bottle. But overall, it's a sweet elliptical. Much better even than the ones I used at the gym. If you intend to drop a wad of cash on an elliptical and wonder if this one is worth the money----I say do it. The Sole E35 is a good machine.
Oct 27, 2010 16:57:04
