Sole E55 Elliptical Trainer Review

I was recently at Dick´s Sporting Goods and was checking out their line-up of elliptical trainers. They had several brands, and the models that stuck out were from Sole Fitness. Sole sells treadmills and elliptical trainers. Their treadmills have won several "Best Buy" awards, and their elliptical trainers are of equal quality.

A perfect example is the Sole E55 - a mid-priced elliptical that combines some excellent features with an industry leading warranty. The stability and durability of this machine is more what you would expect in an elliptical costing hundreds more.

Sole E55 Features…

Long Elliptical Stride – The Sole E55 comes with a comfortable 20" stride. This gives you a smooth and even elliptical motion. This is in comparison to models with small and choppy strides, where you feel like you are bouncing up and down.

Dual Wheels – With most front design ellipticals, the pedals roll on wheels along rails. Many have single wheels that roll on a rounded rail. Not the most stable design. The E55 has two wheels per pedals, each with a concave shape that runs along beveled rails. This gives it a very stable motion.

200 Lbs. Unit Weight – Also contributing to the stability is the 200 lbs. weight. I´ve been on ellipticals that are considerably less weight and they tend to shake back and forth. The E55 feels very solid and stable, with no rocking motion.

27 Lbs. Flywheel – The heavy flywheel gives a very smooth elliptical stride, which is apparent when you start up or slow down. The machine responds in a gradual fashion.

Generous Warranty – If there is one feature that makes a statement about the overall quality of the Sole E55 elliptical, it is the warranty. It comes with a 5-year parts and 2-year labor warranty. You will not find comparable coverage for any elliptical at this price.

Wireless Heart rate Control – This allows you to manage the level of your exertion with your heart rate. Many experts claim that using your heart rate to adjust your level of exercising will optimize your workout. This technique is use by many professional athletes.

Built-in Speakers with MP3 and iPod Plug-in – Although the speaker quality is not great, it is nice listening to music or books on tape without have to bother with earphones.

Adjustable Articulating Foot Pedals – Articulating foot pedals angle with the elliptical motion. This further reduces the stress and strain to your feet. Furthermore, it minimizes the numbness many people experience with non-articulating pedals. You are able to adjust the angle of these pedals to your own comfort level.

The Sole E55 is a Value Proposition

The Sole E55 may not be comparable to the commercial grade ellipticals you may find in your local health club, but at $1,500 it is one of the best deal out there for a residential model. You are getting a quality machine that has an impressive service record. At this price range you won´t find a more durable and solid elliptical trainer.

Fred Waters worked in the fitness equipment industry for a number of years and offers his expertise at the Elliptical Trainer Review site, where you can read his Sole E55 Elliptical Trainer Review. You can also get reviews on over 50 other popular elliptical trainers.