Sole E55 Elliptical Trainer
- Features a 27-pound flywheel and dual-action functionality for an upper and lower body workout
- Grip pulse monitoring and heart rate chest strap; oversize and adjustable foot pedals
- Sixteen resistance levels and ten programs for a challenging workout
- Offers a 20-inch stride length, LCD display monitor, cooling fan, and water bottle holder
- 350-pound maximum weight capacity; measures 82 by 27 by 68 inches (L x W x H) when assembled
Amazon. com Product DescriptionEnjoy an efficient full-body workout without heading to the gym with the Sole E55 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 E55 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 E55’s pedals adjustable to fit the way you walk. This also reduces the likelihood of numb toes and sore Achilles tendons. Workou. . . More >>
Sunday, 17. January 2010 23:36
I’ve run thousands of miles in my lifetime but a meniscus tear several years ago effectively put an end to my dreams on running into old age. I’ve also cycled for cross training, rolling over countless miles but I’ve always preferred to run. While doing physical therapy recovering from knee surgery, I was put on an elliptical and I remember thinking how very much like running is was. I looked forward to those therapy sessions, just to get on that elliptical. So, tiring of cycling as my lone form of aerobic exercise, I recently decided to get an elliptical trainer. I did extensive research and decided on the Sole E55 Elliptical Trainer (2009 Model). I’ve had it for three weeks. It’s wonderfully solid and it’s a smooth machine! However, my single complaint is that when standing on the elliptical, one’s weight is thrown forward. If the elliptical was designed with runners in mind then the assumption was that runners run on the balls of their feet. This is true for sprinters but not for distance runners, who pretty much universally, run heel-to-toe (we strike the ground with our heels then roll forward pushing off with the front of the foot). I’m up to one hour workouts but the frustrating thing is that I can’t lean back in my stride for that comfortable long run. Every time I try to lean back I’m forced forward and my quads are required to do work I never needed on those 8 mile runs I so loved to take. The odd thing is that the pedals are adjustable. The heel can be raised by 10 degrees so, while they were at it, why didn’t they allow those of us who would prefer it, to be able to lower the back of the pedal so as to adjust it to our running style? I’m quite mystified by this and I’m hoping the good folk at Sole read these reviews and will take the opinion of this old runner to heart and make future models with a greater adjustment range for their pedals . . . please?
Rating: 4 / 5
Monday, 18. January 2010 1:55
After much research we chose the Sole E55 through Amazon, couldn’t ask for a smoother experience! Tedious but simple to put together once we figured out removing the pre assembled arms from the flywheel assembly would enable us to move to the desired location. Took about 2 hours to put together with well written instructions and bolt diagrams, if you follow them and match up the parts carefully it’s extremely simple. Very helpful to have 2 people for the assembly as many of the parts are cumbersome and move with the flywheel as you are trying to bolt together, an extra hand is priceless! A ratchet set also made assembly much easier than the included mini wrench and screwdriver. Extremely stable, very sturdy, very smooth(and we are not lightweights-5′11 200+ and 5′8 175+)We found our 8 foot ceilings more than ample for us. Programing is very user friendly, it is much easier on my knees than the treadmill and gives all the workout you could possibly need at any level! Have used daily for about a month and couldn’t be more pleased with our purchase!
Rating: 5 / 5
Monday, 18. January 2010 2:08
The hardest part is the set up,and carry it down a flight of stairs. Took about 1 and 1/2 hrs to set it up,the directions could have been better. So far so good,i’m 225# and use it 4 days a week for 3miles. seems sturdy,and quiet,except for a small noise from the left foot pedal on in a while,which goes away after some lube spray.
Rating: 4 / 5
Monday, 18. January 2010 4:53
The elliptical went together alright. There are some mislabeled items in the directions and a few parts that aren’t included or talked about. I used it for 20 minutes the night I put it together to test it out, some minor noises. I went through all of the documentation on noise problems and did everything it suggested. Nothing really improved. On top of that I now have a rattle noise coming from the Incline and Decline controls on the swing arms. I contacted Sole Customer Service about my problem on 9/7 and the only thing I can get is that my ticket has been ’sent to a technician’. I’ve had it for a week and so far it is one expensive clothes rack. Hopefully someone from Sole will get back to me soon.
9/23/09
Someone from Sole actually called me about a week later on the 16th. By that time I already arranged to have it exchanged with Amazon. Finally scheduled a date and time with CEVA to pick it up, made arrangements to be home, get the customary “We’re 30 minutes out” phone call, and come to find out they’re going to the wrong address, in the wrong state. So someone is ’supposed’ to get back to me to setup another day to have it picked up.
9/25/09
CEVA (Amazon’s Shipping Company) came today. No appointment, no phone call. They just showed up out of the blue. They destroyed my elliptical mat and I carried down just about everything myself, but hey it’s gone. They weren’t all that careful moving stuff either, as in probably more parts are broken now. Kinda disappointed nobody came with a sorry or we’ll replace it for you in regards to my elliptical mat being destroyed by CEVA.
10/6/09
My replacement Sole E55 Elliptical was dropped off today. Scuffed up like crazy, scratches on the black parts and huge black rub marks on the gray parts. To anyone putting this together I suggest using your own tools (metric ratchet will help out a lot if you have one) and an easy way to feed the wires through the center mast piece is to use your cellphone charger cable. During assembly keep in mind that you really want to get things right the first time so if you mess up and have to take things apart you’ll find the fit isn’t as snug (mainly the plastic protective pieces).
10/7/09
Well, 2-3 minutes this time before I found something wrong. Not a huge problem, but the incline buttons on the left swing arm don’t work. I looked back at all of the places where you plug in wires during assembly, disconnected, reattached everything, and double checked that everything was snug. Still didn’t work. Popped the swing arm top off (it’s soft plastic so flat tip takes it off easy) and saw the wire was unplugged. So I have about 4 hours of assembly and maybe 25 minutes of actual use over 2 machines. Hopefully it works great after I get that wire plugged back in, but not impressed so far.
10/16/09
Received a kit today to fix the swing arm incline button. It consists of a 2. 5-3′ wire that runs through the swing arm (plugs into the incline button on one end and wire on side of center mast on the other), a thin spool of wire to snake wire, and an incline button (it’s just a paper thin piece of plastic). Invoice states if everything isn’t return I will be billed $600. Nice.
10/22/09
(2) 40 minute sessions on it and it’s back to making loud noises. Creaks like an old house at anything over a resistance level of 4 and makes a clapping noise at anything 3 or under. In my experience that either leads to some major being broken in the long run and in the short run black out rage fits. I talked to Sole today and asked for it to either be fixed or taken away. At this point I wouldn’t recommend a Sole brand anything to anyone. I hope this isn’t simply a case of you get what you pay for. My $400-500 treadmill lasted 7 yrs until it broke and it was cheaper for the company to give me a new one over fixing it.
Rating: 1 / 5
Monday, 18. January 2010 5:27
Assembly takes some time, but is pretty straight forward. Console is easy to use. The heavy flywheel provides a smoth operation. The incline and adjustable pedals allow a varied work-out. Product has a few noises but seem to be going away with addition of some lubrication and tighening
Rating: 4 / 5