The 2009 Sole E35 is an excellent buy for $1,299.I recently purchased one.Below are some considerations to take into account. First, Be ready to take about half a day to move the box and assemble the machine -- the box is about 290lbs (gross weight) and feels all of 300lbs.Worse yet, if you take the machine out piece by piece so that it's lighter (say, if you want to move the machine up a flight of stairs) you will be very unhappily surprised to find that the fly wheel is bolted to some articulated arms, which are EXTREMELY hard to finagle around and to move when the machine is out of the box.
I cannot stress this enough: IF YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR E35 SET UP IN THE SECOND OR THIRD FLOOR OF YOUR HOUSE JUST PAY THE EXTRA $99 FOR THE DELIVERY COMPANY TO DO IT.Unless you have (not exaggerating) 3 or 4 healthy, strong guys to move this box, forget about getting it upstairs if it's just you and one other person.I really wish I had just paid the extra money for the shipping company to move it up the stairs of my house.
Once you get the box situated where you want to set up the machine, however, you're good to go.The assembly instructions are VERY well written and very clear.There are a lot of parts and steps, but none of them are very complicated or require a lot of dexterity or "handyman" knowledge.Also, if you need any help, SOLE's customer support is great.
Once I got the machine put together, there was no comparison -- I tried out a few different Ellipticals in the $800 - $1,500 range, and the E35,with its power incline (the power incline works great), 25lb flywheel, 350lb maximum weight capacity, and silky-smooth movement are far and away more than you're going to get with any other machine in this price range.While the display is fairly simple, it comes with some nice extras like a heart-rate monitor that hooks up to the display (this all comes with the machine) so that you don't have to hold on to the heart-rate sensors throughout your workout.
I used Precor machines for years at a big gym.If you're not familiar with them, they're easily the most expensive Ellipticals out there and cost well over $3,500 for their mid-grade model.The Sole E35 isn't a Precor 5 series, but it has a LOT of the features that the Precor does.I would say it's 80% or 90% as good as a Precor, where the only detracting factor for the Sole is that it's not as stable as the tank-sized Precor (the Precor machine is probably 350+lbs) and doesn't have as refined features as the Precor, much like the difference between a really nice, fully loaded Cadillac and a Rolls Royce -- you can tell a difference, but either way, you're very happy with what you've got.
Finally, I'll share what I did as far as working out a deal.If you find a comparable machine or a licensed dealer on E-Bay selling Sole's ellipticals, Sole's customer service people will match prices if you are diligent.In my personal case, I found a 2008 E35 on Ebay being sold by a Sole dealer for $999 shipped, so I called Sole and asked if they would match the price, and they said they would.I paid them the $999, and lucky for me, when the machine came, I saw "NEW 2009 MODEL" on the box, and it was obviously really cool.So through doing some research and spending time before I made the purchase figuring out what I could work out with Sole, I got it for 30% less than the Amazon.com price.Just keep this in mind -- the elliptical / work out equipment machine market is VERY competitive and the companies will often bend over backwards to get your business.
Very last, I just want to mention that the 2 year in-home service / 5 year parts warranty is better than any comparable machine, and actually better than the warranty on some of Precor's models.So, all in all, I would highly recommend the 2009 Sole E35.
UPDATE AFTER ONE MONTH: Still solid as a rock, with just a few clinks here and there while in full motion on the machine.Heart monitor works great, power incline still functioning perfectly.No problems to report.
UPDATE AFTER THREE MONTHS: Still going very strong.Haven't had to call customer support about anything.I have experienced a little bit of "knocking" that suggests a bolt might be loose somewhere, but I think this is a common issue that comes up.When I put the machine together I realized that I had made a mistake tightening the bolts that connect the fly wheel arms with the handlebars.I corrected the mistake, but I think I might have overlooked something, so I'm guessing that the "knocking" is probably my fault.I'll fix it sometime and then update -- not really a big deal or that annoying.
Otherwise, I'm really starting to appreciate the refined features of the machine like the heart rate monitor and the power incline. While these things were off my radar when I was looking for a machine, I now appreciate them after using the machine 5 or 6 days a week.Sole really designed these features well, and they work just like they're supposed to.I'm still very satisfied and I think the E35 is a great piece of home equipment.
UPDATE AFTER FIVE MONTHS: Still no complaints.Holding up nicely.I've lost 20+ pounds and this has been a great, really convenient way to work out in the morning before heading to work.I tightened some of the bolts in the joints and now it works with minimal squeaks or creaks.
Though I stated this before, it is even more true now: when you get into the routine of using this machine4 - 6 times a week you REALLY start to appreciate the power incline and resistance settings, which have held up very nicely.Likewise, the heart rate monitor has held up well and it is another feature that I felt "so what" about when I bought the machine, but now greatly appreciate as a feature.
Again, given that I got my unit for $1,000 shipped, I feel like I got an exceptional bargain for how well this machine has held up and continues to work basically exactly as it did out of the box after months of frequent use.
Just make sure that you clean the rails and the wheels.They are magnets for dog hair and dust, but cleaning them once a month or so seems adequate.You can't go wrong at this price point for the value you get.
10 MONTH UPDATE: Still works nicely and no problems or complaints.I have had to tighten the bolts again at the point where the arms connect, but this really isn't that big of a hassle and is probably something that has to be done on all elliptical machines from time to time.Still very glad I invested in this machine.
Product Description
Enjoy an efficient full-body workout without heading to the gym with the Sole E35 elliptical trainer. Boasting a heavy 30-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).
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.
Specifications:
- Assembled Dimensions: 82 by 27 by 68 inches (L x W x H)
- Stride Length: 20 inches
- Front Drive
- Steel Frame: 38mm
- Resistance Type: Eddy Current Braking
- Adjustable Pedals
- Articulating Pedals
- Flywheel: 25 pounds
- Resistance Levels: 16
- Power: Plug in
- Upper Body: Yes
- Pulse Grips: Yes
- Handlebar Adjust: Yes
- Display Type: Small LCD
- Heart Rate Control
- Heart Rate Telemetry Belt
- Track Display
- Color: Backlit Blue
- Audio System
- Incline: Power
- Six Standard Programs
- Two User-Defined Programs
- Two Heart Rate Programs
- Cooling Fans: Standard
- Water Bottle Holder
- Rear Rail Shroud
- Weight Capacity: 350 pounds
The E35's LCD display will track your key workout metrics.
Manufacturer's Warranty
frame and brakes - lifetime, parts / electronics - 5 years, labor: 2 years
About Sole
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.
About Elliptical Trainers
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.
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.
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.
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