Sole E55 Elliptical Trainer (2009-2010 Model, DISCONTINUED)

by Sole

Product Features

• 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

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Enjoy 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.

Workout specifics include 16 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 blue backlit LCD display, a cooling fan, and a water bottle holder. The E55, which offers a maximum weight capacity of 350 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 27 by 68 inches (L x W x H)
• Arm Spacing: 23 inches

  The E55 offers an LCD display on the console to track your key workout metrics.

• Arm Stride: 30 inches
• Step Up: 15 inches
• Foot Spacing: 5.5 inches
• Stride Length: 20 inches
• Front Drive: Yes
• Steel Frame: 38mm
• Resistance Type: ECB
• Adjustable Pedals: Worm Drive
• Articulating Pedals: Yes
• Flywheel: 27 pounds
• Resistance Levels: 16
• Power: Plug in
• Upper Body: Yes
• Molded Hand Grips: No
• Pulse Grips: Yes
• Handlebar Adjust: Yes
• Display Type: LCD
• Heart Rate Control: Yes
• Heart Rate Telemetry Belt: Yes
• Auto Pilot: No
• HR % Graph: No
• Windows: 1
• Track Display: Yes
• Color Backlit: Blue
• Audio System: Yes
• Incline: Power
• Six Standard Programs
• Two User-Defined Programs
• Two Heart Rate Programs
• Cooling Fans: Standard
• Water Bottle Holder: Yes
• Rear Rail Shroud: Yes
• Weight Capacity: 375 pounds

Manufacturer's Warranty
Frame and brake - 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.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 66 x 33.5 x 22.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 265 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• ASIN: B001G60YJO
• Item model number: E55-09
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #129,182 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #94 in Sports & Outdoors > Exercise & Fitness > Cardio Training > Elliptical Trainers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You won't be disappointed with this machine, December 14, 2008

By 

PghYinzer "more of myself after winter" (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sole E55 Elliptical Trainer (2009-2010 Model, DISCONTINUED) (Sports)

I've written a review on the e95 as well - I'll say go read that rather than have me write a complete novel here. :-)

After deciding the e95 had some features I didn't like and that the e35 would suit my needs but I'd like just a little beefier machine and a computer with a numeric keypad - I ordered this one directly from Sole. The box came... it was HUGE. The delivery guy helped slide it down our cellar steps so getting it in the house wasn't too hard but you might want to spring the extra cash for in-home delivery if your situation is more complicated. (The box is about the size of a small-ish fridge... I've turned it in to the best box house ever for my son. If you have kids, they'll love this)

Once it was in - assembly took maybe 2 hours but we weren't exactly trying to break any records. Assembly is very straight forward and the nuts and bolts are packaged in a tray with little compartments so you have just what you need for steps 1, 2, 3, and 4.

One complaint about assembly - this beast is HEAVY. Which is a good thing, for when you're working out on it - but I look at this thing and I think, my god, it's never coming back out of this house. We bought this house 3 months ago and I am not sure it's our "forever" house. So I wonder if an elliptical adds to the value of a house. Not that we're going anywhere any time soon with the market having just dropped but... I do wonder, will it ever come back out.

Working out on this machine is AWESOME. It compares *very* favorably to the LifeFitness machines I used at the gym before I got pregnant with my twins. They're now 8 months and I had to stop using the elliptical pretty early in my pregnancy so I'm really not in the best shape now - and this machine kicks my butt. Which is good! But it's kind of humiliating. I am using resistance level 3 for now and hope to get better soon.

So far I only use the manual setting on the computer and my one complaint is you can't add time on the fly like you could with the LifeFitness machines. You have to wait until the program is over and then you can hit "start" to do it again - but it does keep going from your current distance and calories burned, at least, so it's LIKE just adding time - it would just be nice to be able to add time. (For all I know though maybe you can - and I just haven't figured it out. Such a small annoyance, though!) (Update - I've figured out if you want, you can just hit "start" twice when you get on and it will count up, rather than down, so you can just keep going as long as you like)

All in all I am very pleased with this machine. I can't help but wonder if the e35 wouldn't have worked out just as well but I wanted a little beefier flywheel and I have it.

The only mechanical issue we've had with the machine is you need to keep the tracks greased or it makes a noise like styrofoam coming out of a cardboard box. EEEK! Machine comes with a tube of grease (actually a white tube with "LUBE" written on it in large black letters, the most generic thing you can imagine... we thought it was hilarious...)

Great machine, very pleased.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent machine great service, February 9, 2009

By 

Jyothsna Kudrathaya - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sole E55 Elliptical Trainer (2009-2010 Model, DISCONTINUED) (Sports)

I have owned this machine for a month now. Overall I am very satisfied with my purchase.

The elliptical is well built and I marvelled at the the engineering expertise when I started putting this together. The designers' attention to detail is noteworthy.

After assembly I found two parts that were nosiy. The rails on which the wheels glide had to be lubricated and two plastic arm covers had to be loosened a quarter turn.

The manual is reasonably well written. It took me about 3 hours to assemble the machine. The elliptical is heavy with a long footprint. This increases machine stability while providing a smooth workout.

I felt that the resistance levels are adeqaute. In combination with the incline feature this goes a long way in providing a challenging aerobic workout. I love the fact that the arms have incline and resistance controls. Water bottle holder is setup in an awkward way but this is not an important criteria for me.

Amazon delivered it through Ceva, however the driver only dropped it off at the front door. The paperwork mentioned that this was a 265lb pakcage. When I mentioned that I needed help to move this upstairs, the driver told us that it would be easy to carry if we moved it in parts. Trusting his words I let him go. This was my first mistake. The central housing with the flywheel and the connectors is heavy and is difficult to manage for two people (moving/flopping parts). I had to invite some friends to help me move it. Finally it took three of us to carry this over a flight of stairs.

An option (if you do not want to get the white glove service which costs $250) would be to slice open the top and remove all parts that are not attached to the flywheel and carry the box (can reseal box for safety). While reducing the total weight of the box, this will minimize the risk of moving (flopping) parts and two (skinny)people can move it. This is different from the instructions on the box, which tells you to cut the box an inch above the base.

All in all a great machine for the price.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Workout!, January 30, 2009

By 

James W. Ricci Jr. (Eva, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sole E55 Elliptical Trainer (2009-2010 Model, DISCONTINUED) (Sports)

As the prior reviewer indicated in his good review, this machine is great! I was going to purchase the E35 but decided at the last moment to go with the larger and slightly more advanced E55. I have had it since January 15th or so and have not been disappointed. Our whole family uses it from the 50 year old (ol' man) to my 9 year old daughter. A very heavy duty unit that can take my 6'5" 275 Lb frame and not go limp! Simply an excellent machine that provides and incredible work-out. I checked on many other manufacturers and the Sole was the only one to come close (if not better than) those in the gyms I used to go to!