SOLE e25 Elliptical Machine Review: Is It a Great Investment?

These days most people are leaning toward the use of ellipticals over treadmills or other popular aerobic fitness machines because ellipticals offer one of the best low impact workouts. If you have been in the market for an elliptical for your home, you have probably heard of SOLE fitness.

SOLE fitness is known for making durable and trusted fitness equipment and for offering a 30-day trial period and warranty to prove their confidence in their products. SOLE provides high-end quality machinery at affordable everyday prices. The e25 is even known as the best elliptical available for a budget price.

If you have been considering purchasing the SOLE e25 elliptical, this review is designed to help you decide if this machine is the right fit for you.

However, if you are pressed for time…

Click here to see today’s price for the SOLE e25 elliptical.

How does the SOLE e25 elliptical work?

The SOLE e25 brings together a high ratio gear and a heavy 20-pound flywheel with a whisper quiet drive system to make this elliptical operate both quietly and with a natural fluid motion.

As an added bonus it operates in both forward and reverse to help you target different muscle groups.

The e25’s ramp angle adjusts from an even level up 20 varying inclines, meaning it can raise up to a total of 30 degrees. Operated by a simple power incline button, which is not typical for an elliptical in this price range, you can add difficulty to your workout.

This flexibility in incline and resistance is perfect for working out the lower portion of your body and helping you reach your goals.

The e25 comes with two sets of handlebars. The stationary handlebars come equipped with pulse sensors for monitoring your heart rate and the moving handlebars are adjustable to provide more comfort to your workout.

The SOLE e25 operates on four rear wheels on heavy-duty rails and uses ECB resistance. This design cuts down on annoying and unbalancing side-to-side motion and delivers a more steady, smooth, and safe workout. Plus, research shows ellipticals that run on rails are likely to last longer.

Ankle and knee stress are not a problem when operating this elliptical. This is owing to the custom foot pedals designed by SOLE engineers and alongside physical therapists and in combination with a two-degree inward slope to the foot pedals.

What are the features of the SOLE e25 elliptical?

Heart Rate Monitors

In addition to the pulse sensors on the stationary handles, there is also a heart rate chest strap used to incorporate heart rate programs and continually monitor pulse. This is a great feature for those looking to improve cardiovascular and lung health.

Bluetooth

This feature is crucial for the tech-savvy fitness user. SOLE’s Bluetooth technology allows users to track and transfer workout data from their elliptical to their smart device. SOLE even has their own fitness app to help you track and achieve goals. If you do not want to use SOLE’s app, the fitness data is also transferable to Fitbit, Record, Mapmyrun, and Apple Health.

Adjustable Foot Pedals

At Sole, they have realized that not everyone walks the same way. As such, they have made foot pedals for their ellipticals that adjust to the way each individual walks. This reduces numb toes and sore tendons.

Transport Wheels

Wheels are equipped on the base of the frame so that you can tilt the machine and maneuver it should you have to reposition the trainer. Moving your elliptical from room to room has never been so easy.

LCD Console, Fan, and Sound System

The LCD display on the SOLE e25 is large and vibrant white with a backlit LCD display. Controls are simple and easy to find as well as intuitive to users. The console includes a built-in cooling fan. The fan is less than cooling, but it is a nice addition for a little relief.

The console also comes with built-in speakers allowing you to hook up your MP3 player to help power you through your workout. The console also includes a water bottle holder and water bottle so you do not have to worry about finding the right size bottle to fit the holder.

What are the workout programs that come with the e25?

With five preset programs, two customizable programs, and two heart rate programs, there are more than enough workout program options to suit any and every user.

The five preset programs each target different goals:

‘The Hill’ is intended to simulate walking up and down hills and as such build varying muscle groups. This program can be set at different levels and resistances.

‘The Fat Burner’ suits its namesake. With its goal being a lower and steady exertion workout, you can expect to burn fat using this program.

‘The Cardio’ program is designed to focus on lung and heart function by working through high levels of exertion.

‘The Strength’ program is designed to tone legs and glutes by using high resistance. This program will slowly work its way up to the highest resistance set, and stay there. Consumers report this one could also be called ‘The Burn’.

‘The Interval’ program trains your body to use oxygen more efficiently by taking it through levels of high intensity where it depletes its oxygen, then through levels of low intensity where it can replenish its oxygen.

Each of these five preset programs can easily be chosen by selecting their corresponding buttons on the console and following the prompts.

As for the two customizable programs, all you need to do is press the ‘User 1’ or ‘User 2’ key and follow the prompts. The user programs allow you to customize your workout by selecting your age, weight, desired duration, and max level of exertion for your workout. The SOLE e25 even lets you name your workout for a more personalized touch. These custom workouts are great for the more knowledgeable fitness user who knows their goals and how they want to achieve them.

Lastly, the heart rate programs are designed for cardiovascular and lung strength as well as weight loss. SOLE fitness has made it clear that the saying “no pain, no gain” is not one they agree with. As such, they have designed their heart rate programs to use the consumer’s age to determine the desired beats per minute and take that calculation to create an enjoyable and maintainable level of workout that best benefits the heart.

What are the dimensions of the Sole e25 elliptical?

The SOLE e25 is 5 feet 4 inches tall, 5 feet 10 inches long, and 2 feet wide. When considering in which room to put your SOLE e25, keep in mind that while using the machine you will be anywhere from one to two feet from the ground. So add two feet to your height and compare that to your ceiling height to make sure you will have enough clearance to operate this machinery comfortably.

Built with a heavy-duty 38mm steel frame, on its own this elliptical weighs 212 pounds. While the e25 is on the lighter side for ellipticals in terms of weight, it is not to be underestimated. With a weight limit of 350 pounds, a wide range of people can step onto this piece of exercise equipment and work up a sweat without fear of it buckling under the pressure.

Some consumers have reported that because of the Sole e25’s weight, it requires a two person set up especially if you have plans for it to go to the second story of your house.

Is the SOLE e25 difficult to assemble?

Being a larger piece of equipment, the SOLE e25 elliptical will take some time and patience to put together. And while it can be put together by one person, it is better to have two people to assemble it, mainly due to its weight.

Some consumers report the manual being too small to see or follow clearly. If that is the case for you, you can pull up the manual in a .pdf form online and zoom in on the harder to see areas to clarify what steps are next. If you are unsure what the next step is, do not hesitate to consult the manual online or call SOLE’s customer service.

It is important to know what you are doing when assembling this fitness machine. SOLE’s warranty will not cover any damages received during the assembly of this product.

That being said, you will want to lay out all pieces of the machinery and inspect them for damages before assembling so that you are able to replace any pieces under the warranty. It is also important to ensure all the pieces are there before starting assembly.

The SOLE e25 comes with the necessary tools to put the elliptical together. So if you are not the handy type, you do not need to worry about your lacking toolbox. Not having that Allen wrench or screwdriver is not a problem.

Another tip to keep in mind is to not fully tighten all the screws until the machine is completely assembled. Wait until the entire machine is erected to go back and tighten up every screw. This will help with proper alignment.

While the SOLE e25 elliptical is a fairly complex piece of machinery to put together, it is doable. It will come together a lot easier and quicker if you have someone to help you and if you pull up the instructions online so you can zoom in and out as needed. Consumers have reported any difficulty had during assembly is outweighed by the benefits and functionality of having this machine up and running.

Are there any negatives to having the e25 SOLE elliptical?

A lot of the cons associated with e25 SOLE elliptical come down to personal preference, but a few do include general manufacturing.

Similar to the SOLE e95, the personal cooling fan built into the console is less than cooling. And while you are working out to build up a sweat, we advise you to place an extra fan in your room in addition to the one built into the e25 elliptical.

Also similar to the SOLE e95, the built-in speakers are less than high quality. However, as an elliptical available in this price class, having speakers at all is an added bonus. And while they do work just fine, they are just basic audio speakers.

There is no magazine or book rack built into the SOLE e25. If you are like the majority of people and enjoy reading a novel or browsing a magazine to keep yourself distracted, it can be annoying to have to hold your reading material for the duration of your workout.

As for general manufacturing, some consumers report the wheels skipping off the tracks after limited usage which can be very dangerous for the user. While within a certain timeline this malfunction would be covered under the warranty, it is still frustrating to experience and requires having a SOLE technician to come and address the problem.

What is the warranty offered by SOLE?

As stated in our previous articles, SOLE offers some of the best warranties in the game. The warranty protects against defects in both material and workmanship. The frame of the SOLE e25 elliptical is covered for life. If the frame were to ever weaken or crack, SOLE will fix or even replace it under their discretion. The warranty also includes three years coverage on electronics and parts and one year on labor.

All service done to the e25 will be done in-home by a SOLE technician, which adds convenience and eliminates the stress of having to figure out how to transport such large equipment.

When looking to buy SOLE fitness equipment, keep in mind that their warranties are only valid for the original purchaser. So if you are debating between new and used, we recommend buying new so you can have the peace of mind that your machine is covered were anything to happen.

What is Our Verdict?

If you are looking for a budget elliptical that does not lack in durability or features, the SOLE e25 is a major one to consider.

Built with 38mm steel and running on rails, you will easily see that the SOLE e25 outshines other ellipticals available in this price range.

With great warranties and a trial period, you can invest in the SOLE e25 without a worry of not getting your money’s worth.

This machine will help you work up a sweat and lose those unwanted pounds while staying within your budget.

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