I have been researching home ellipticals for a while now.I was spoiled with the LifeFitness machines (20 inch stride) at the gym and I know many home ellipticals fall short - they feel shaky, flimsy, the stride is short...I had read great things about Sole machines and went to a local store to try them out.They had the e95, e35, and e25 in new 2009 models as well as an old (2008) e55 being sold as a floor model.I had originally thought I wanted the e55 but the new e35 is actually better than the old e55 so that ruled out the floor model, even at a killer price.
I looked mainly at the e35 and the e95.
Both are very, very, very sturdy machines.I was amazed at how much they feel like the LifeStride - very solid and a nice, long stride.I am only 5'4 but anything less than 20" in stride length feels choppy to me - I don't know how anyone can stand most home machines!
If I really, really got going hard and fast, I could feel a slight difference in sturdiness between the two machines.I should point out I am between 140-150 pounds - the sales guys said if they were me, they'd go with the e35 but someone of a higher weight would notice the difference more than I did.The difference in sturdiness alone was really too slight to justify the difference in price, but since we could afford to go higher, I wondered if we should.
The other thing I debated, though, was the computer.For the most part you can do the exact same thing with both machines, but the computers are a little different.The e95 is flashy red LED and has a numeric keypad.The e35 is blue LCD and has arrow keys for input (ie it says "Input age" and it starts with, I think, 32 - you then have to toggle to the right age).It's a little annoying but something that will be annoying at the start of the workout and that's all.Again a case of we can afford to pay more and this would be nice, maybe we should.
Both machines have buttons on the handlebars for adjusting resistance and incline- VERY cool.Both machines allow you to adjust the foot pedals although the e95 has a knob you turn so you can adjust to any angle within the range whereas the e35 has a lever you pull out and then lift the pedals which have 2 or 3 notches in them that catch on the lever when you push it back in - like an exercise bike seat - so you may not get THE perfect adjustment.
So it seems like if you're willing to spend the cash the e95 is the way to go, right?Not so fast.There was one big drawback to it and one small drawback.The small was, I didn't care for the padded footbeds.They neither added nor detracted from the workout but I didn't see the need to pay extra and I worried about the padding breaking down over time.If you're wearing tennis shoes who needs padded footbeds?The biggest drawback was, the e95 has fat, molded handgrips.I found these felt chunky and sticky in my hands.Maybe if you are a 6' plus beefy guy with bigger hands, you would prefer this, but I really didn't like it and it would bother me the entire workout.The e35 has thinner, smoother handgrips, like I was used to at the gym.I did not want to pay extra for the e95 and hate those handgrips.
In the end I ordered the new 2009 e55 from Sole because it has all the features I like - a little sturdier than the e35, numeric keypad though screen is LED not LCD, smooth handgrips with buttons, killer warranty, fully adjustable and non-padded foot beds.I wish I could have tried this one in the store but I liked both the e35 and the e95 so much I am quite sure this was the right choice.These really are great machines but the handgrips on the e95 were a deal breaker for me.
If you have a Dick's near you - try this machine, you will be amazed.I really don't think you can go wrong with any of the models - it all comes down to slight differences between them.(But of course as you go up in weight, they say the heavier flywheel does make a bigger difference)
Product Description
Enjoy an efficient full-body workout without heading to the gym with the Sole E95 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 E95 delivers an extremely smooth workout with plenty of top-end resistance. Users will also appreciate the unique oversize and adjustable 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. The collaboration also produced a revolutionary foot pedal angle adjustment not found on any other elliptical. Taking into account that not everyone walks the same way, Sole engineers made the E95's pedals adjustable to fit the way you walk. This also reduces the likelihood of numb toes and sore Achilles tendons.
Workout specifics include 20 resistance levels, 10 total programs (including two custom and two heart-rate programs), 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 red/green display, a cooling fan, and a water bottle holder. Additional features include stationary handlebars with built-in pulse sensors for monitoring your heart rate; a heart rate chest strap for hands-free pulse monitoring; heavy-duty rails with smooth-riding wheels on the back; and a rear plastic shroud that adds additional stability for aggressive use. The E95, which offers a maximum weight capacity of 400 pounds, carries the following warranties: lifetime on the frame, five years on all parts and electronics, and two years on the labor.
Specifications:
- Assembled Dimensions: 82 by 33 by 68 inches (L x W x H)
- Arm Spacing: 23 inches
- Arm Stride: 30 inches
- Step Up: 15 inches
- Foot Spacing: 5.5 inches
The E95 features an LED console to track your workout metrics. - Stride Length: 20 inches
- Front Drive: Yes
- Steel Frame: 38mm
- Resistance Type: ECB
- Adjustable Pedals: Worm Drive
- Articulating Pedals: Yes
- Flywheel: 30 pounds
- Resistance Levels: 20
- Power: Plug in
- Upper Body: Yes
- Molded Hand Grips: Yes
- Pulse Grips: Yes
- Handlebar Adjust: Yes
- Display Type: LED
- Heart Rate Control: Yes
- HR Telemetry Belt: Yes
- Auto Pilot: Yes
- HR % Graph: Yes
- Windows: 2
- Track Display: Yes
- Audio System: Yes
- Incline: Power
- Six Standard Programs
- Two User-Defined Programs
- Two Heart Rate Programs
- Cooling Fans
- Water Bottle Holder
- Rear Rail Shroud
- Weight Capacity: 400 pounds
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.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Sole E95 Elliptical Trainer (2009 Model)
No comments:
Post a Comment