If you're looking for a low-impact cardio machine that delivers impressive results, consider adding the Sole E35 Elliptical to your home gym lineup. Ellipticals are a top choice for home exercise equipment because they are easier on the joints and allow you to perform a variety of heart-pumping, calorie-burning workouts like high-intensity interval training and steady-state cardio.
What's more, the moveable handlebars on the Sole E35 Elliptical allow for synchronized motion between the foot pedals and handles, giving you an upper and lower body workout at the same time. Additionally, the pedals move forwards and backward, allowing you to target different lower body muscles depending on the direction you're going. For example, the quads and glutes work hard when pedaling forward, but the hamstrings and hip extensors kick into high gear when you reverse the motion to pedal backward.
Are you wondering if the Sole E35 is right for you? Here, we review the SoleE35 Elliptical to help you decide if it's the best piece of home workout equipment for your cardio needs.
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A Quick Look at Sole E35 Elliptical
Sole Fitness is a well-known manufacturer of high-quality treadmills, exercise bikes, and ellipticals. You may recognize the name if you've used a hotel gym while traveling, and that is because Sole Fitness is known for selling to various hotels worldwide. They've also become a major player in the home fitness equipment market.
The Sole E35 is a top-rated, sturdy front-drive elliptical trainer that is equipped with 20 resistance levels, 20 levels of incline, and a 20-inch stride length—the distance the pedals move front to back—giving you a gym-quality workout experience in the comfort of your own home. Plus, it's built for a wide range of fitness levels and body types, making it ideal for most people.
The built-in heart rate monitoring system is another fan-favorite, especially since you can activate it in two ways: by grasping the Contact Heart Rate Sensors on the stationary handlebars or wearing a chest strap transmitter, which comes with the elliptical. It also has Bluetooth speakers, a USB port, tablet holder, stationary and moveable handlebars, and oversized foot pedals.
The E35 sits close to the middle in terms of features and price in the Sole E series lineup, making it an excellent choice for home use due to its affordability, available features, and quality. Here are some of the key takeaways of the Sole E35 Elliptical.
SPECS
- Footprint: 71"H x 82"L x 31"W
- Motor: Front drive system—small servo motor, flywheel, and magnetic brake
- Incline: 1-20 levels
- Bluetooth capability: Yes
- Monitor: 7.5" LCD, white back-lit
- Weight: 231 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 375 lbs.
- Flywheel weight: 25 lbs.
- Standard programs: 5
- Custom programs: Yes
- Warranty: Lifetime frame, 5-year electronics and parts, 2-year labor
Footprint
While not the largest elliptical on the market, the Sole E35 is a good-sized machine that requires accommodation. Once assembled, the E35 is 71-inches high, 82-inches long, and 31-inches wide. It does not fold up, so you will need to find a space to house the elliptical without worrying about moving it.
Motor
The internal mechanisms that power the elliptical and create resistance are a small servo motor, a flywheel, and a magnetic brake. The Sole E35 Elliptical has a front-drive system, meaning the flywheel or motor that powers the machine is in front of the elliptical. There are 20 levels of magnetic resistance possible with the eddy current magnetic resistance system.
Incline
The E35 has a fully adjustable ramp angle from 0 to 20 that moves in one-percent increments. It also has a computer-controlled power incline, a feature unique to this model. You can control this by the buttons on the console or the swing arms. In addition, it will automatically adjust via the incline motor when you exercise using the built-in workout programs. The incline system is housed in the rear of the elliptical and consists of a small motor and a lift that elevates the dual rail system.
Bluetooth Capability
The E35 is Bluetooth compatible and comes with Bluetooth audio speakers on the console, allowing you to listen to music from your smart devices. Bluetooth technology also allows you to transfer workout data from the elliptical to your smart device using the Sole Fitness App. You can also transfer fitness data to Fitbit, Record, MapMyRun, and Apple Health.
Monitor
The Sole E35 Elliptical comes with a 7.5-inch display console with a white backlit LCD screen and built-in speakers. The console tracks and displays distance, total distance, time, RPM, speed, pulse (heart rate), and watts. You can view speed and distance in Metric or English units. New to the E35 is an integrated tablet holder that allows you to use a device like a tablet or a smartphone to stream media, access the internet, or follow your workout routine while exercising. It also has a USB port to charge your device while working out.
Weight
There's no denying that the E35 is a heavy piece of equipment. But that's to be expected with its sturdy steel frame. However, keep this in mind when choosing a place for the elliptical. You probably won't want to be hauling it up and down the stairs. One of the key benefits of the Sole E35 Elliptical is its maximum user weight. Set at 375 pounds, this is one of the more generous weight limits available for home gym equipment.
Standard Programs
The standard or preset programs that come with the E35 include:
- Hill: The hill program relies on a steady increase in the pedal resistance (going uphill) followed by a decrease (going downhill) during the workout.
- Fat Burn: Slow and steady is the focus of the fat burn program. By using a lower exertion level that remains at an even pace, you can potentially maximize your fat burn as you train.
- Cardio: The cardio program incorporates a higher level of exertion with slight fluctuations in work to increase your cardiovascular function and endurance.
- Strength: This program steadily increases resistance to a higher level, requiring you to sustain it. The focus is on building muscular strength and tone in the legs and glutes.
- HIIT: High-intensity interval training takes you through higher levels of intensity followed by lower-intensity levels. The lower levels serve as recovery periods.
All these programs have factory preset work level profiles for achieving different goals.
Custom Programs
The E35 allows you to customize programs and use the manual program feature. With this feature, you control the workload yourself. You can also build and save your own custom user-defined workout program based on time, intensity, and incline. Also included with custom programs is the heart rate program operation. This comes with two programs: HR1 and HR2. HR1 is set to 60 percent, and HR2 is set at 80 percent of the maximum heart rate. You can use either of these programs with the heart rate sensors on the stationary handlebars or by wearing a chest strap transmitter.
PROS- Comes with a 30-day risk-free trial.
- Sole Fitness App syncs with the elliptical and works with select Apple and Android devices.
- Industry-leading frame, electronics, parts, and labor warranty.
- Frame is made of heavy thick steel that supports user weights up to 375 lbs.
- Oversized foot pedals designed in collaboration with physical therapists come with a 2-degree inward slope which reduces ankle and knee stress. The footbeds are also adjustable for customized comfort.
- Electronic console has a built-in cooling fan and a USB port that allows you to charge smart devices while working out.
CONS
- Does not come with an HD touchscreen for interactive live or on-demand classes.
- Resistance level is not as varied as other ellipticals, so it may not offer a challenging enough workout for advanced fitness levels.
- Does not fold up like other elliptical machines, so it requires a decent-sized area for storing. Plus, it is heavier than other models.
- Assembling the machine is time-consuming and a bit challenging, but Sole offers expert in-home assembly in some areas for an additional cost.
Final Thoughts on Sole E35 Elliptical
The Sole E35 Elliptical is an excellent cardio machine to add to any home gym lineup. Its smooth ride, versatile workout programs, heavy-duty steel frame, and ability to accommodate a wide range of body types and fitness levels, make this machine a top pick.
Specifically, the power incline feature and 20 incline settings allow users to target different lower body muscles and increase the workout intensity. We also appreciate the very generous warranty, which is one of the best in the industry. The built-in Bluetooth audio speakers, USB charging port, tablet holder, built-in heart rate monitor, and console fan are some of the other great features of this machine.
The Sole E35 Elliptical doesn't come with an interactive HD touchscreen; however, the newest update does have an integrated tablet holder that allows you to use a tablet or a smartphone to stream media, access the internet, or follow your workout routine while exercising. This development is in addition to the display console that comes with the machine.
Another thing to consider is the step-up height. When set at its lowest point, the pedal has a step-up of 14 inches, which may be challenging for some people. The good news is the Sole E35 Elliptical has stationary handles that you can grip while getting on the machine.
And finally, while it's not considered a budget pick, the E35 is one of the best ellipticals in this price range. On average, the MSRP for the Sole E35 Elliptical is about $2,799.99 but is discounted frequently on the Sole website and other online retailers.
Sole E35 Elliptical Customer Reviews
Wondering if the Sole E35 is as good as we say it is? Don't just take our word for it. Check out these customer reviews courtesy of Dick's Sporting Goods, Amazon, and Sole.
Sole E35 Elliptical FAQs
Are Sole ellipticals any good?
Sole Fitness has some of the best elliptical machines currently on the home exercise equipment market because they offer durable designs, excellent ergonomics, and a competitive price. The Sole Elliptical line includes seven models, all with varying price points and specifications; this consists of the E20, E25, E35, E55, E95, E95S, and the E98, which is a commercial-grade elliptical.
How long do Sole ellipticals last?
The Sole elliptical trainers are constructed using the highest-grade steel, making them sturdy, durable, and built to last. Sole guarantees the frame with a lifetime warranty on top of the five-year warranty on the electronics and parts. With such a generous warranty, it's safe to say that the Sole ellipticals have the potential to last for at least five years and possibly, much longer, especially the frame. Even if you have to replace the electronics or parts out-of-pocket, the frame will be good for life meaning this elliptical can be with you for a long time–just make sure to adhere to proper maintenance standards.
Is Sole better than NordicTrack?
Sole and NordicTrack are both top manufacturers of workout equipment. Deciding if one is better than the other primarily depends on personal preferences, workout goals, budget, and what specs you want to prioritize.