Sole Fitness E55 Elliptical Machine Review

We wrote extensively about Sole Fitness and their background in our review of their E35 elliptical trainer. The company regularly wins "best of" awards, and holds valuable contracts with some of the big hotel chains. Their home models are less expensive than commercial models and will offer slightly reduced features. Still, those home models are still some of the best you can buy for your home gym, with an ideal intersection of price and quality. The E35 may be pricey, but spending the money means you will have a cardio machine that is reliable and will last a long time.

Everything about the Sole E55 elliptical trainer is designed to keep you comfortable and give you an effective, trouble-free workout. For one thing, the drive system is so quiet as to almost be silent. If you have roommates or a family, your workouts won't disturb their activities. That is important if you use the machine before housemates awaken, but also applies if you want to exercise while they watch a movie or do something similar. You won't disturb or distract each other, although the large frame and commercial weight of the Sole E55 mean you can't easily fold or stow it when you need it out of the way. Having a room just for your gym stuff is ideal if that is possible. Those of us with limited space will need to look for a more compact elliptical trainer.

The foot pedals use ergonomic, body-friendly design to reduce joint impact and ankle or leg pain. They are also oversized and textured to keep your feet in place, even during the high-intensity portions of any HIIT or Tabata workout. You will also appreciate the ergonomic shape, consistent rotation, and textured surfaces when you pedal backward for a change of pace. The contoured handles will keep you upright either way while providing strength training for your upper body.

The steel frame is covered forever under the warranty, and the Sole E55 has a generous user weight capacity of 375 pounds. That is far more flexible than the 250 pounds we usually see on home elliptical units. An adjustable stride length would have been a welcome touch, but 20 inches is enough for most users and body types.

Although it does not fold up, the E55 is advertised by Sole Fitness as being the light and compact offering of the product family. It is 64 inches high and 71 inches long, weighing in at 214 pounds. It is 27 inches wide, and you have to step up 14 inches to get to the lower pedal and start working out.

All objective facts and numbers in this system came from the Sole Fitness product page for the E55. If you'd like to know more, the user manual is easy to find on the Sole Fitness website. Sole Fitness provides all their user manuals, for free, so you can take a look at installation and space requirements before you make a purchase decision.

The Sole Fitness E35 has both audio speakers and Bluetooth connectivity, if you want to listen to music, stream a movie or play an audiobook while you work out. There is also an integrated tablet holder. We wondered what that is, too, but Sole Fitness does not say. Looking at pictures, it looks like a plastic extension that you can snap your tablet into, where it will be held in place horizontally or vertically. Maybe that's what it means? It's frustrating when a company of Sole's caliber uses unclear language.

Aside from the tablet holder and sound system, you get a USB charging port and included chest strap for heart rate, dual cooling fans, and a 9 inch backlit LCD display. Those are all great features, but we are nerding out over the chest strap. You almost always have to buy one of those to go with a compatible treadmill. With the strap, you can easily integrate a Polar or other accurate, reliable heart rate monitor. It will beat the handlebar sensors and the sensor on any wearable fitness tracker (which is something even tracker and cardio manufacturers are honest about).

There are 6 built-in programs, and you can customize two more. Those programs do include heart rate target programs. Though there is no social media, iFit capability, or third party compatible apps, you still get a good choice of activities you can do on the Sole E55 elliptical. There is also always the manual setting, so you can dial in the resistance and incline however you like it. When you change either setting, the transition happens quickly and seamlessly.

Finally, rounding out the features, the console is adjustable so you can change the viewing angle. That is a bigger deal than you may think since fixed screens can lead to neck pain and fatigue. It is not clear if the tablet holder is angle adjustable, but it is high up enough that most of us won't have to crane our necks too much. There is a water bottle holder, which can also hold your keys, phone, earbuds, protein bars (see what MyProtein has to offer), and other odds and ends.

It may be compact, and the 20-pound flywheel weighs less than the E35 flywheel (that one is 25 pounds), but Sole Fitness did not skimp on comfort when its team designed the E55. The display is easy to read and navigate, and the pedals were actually designed with input from physical therapists. The solid steel frame and motion transfer system guarantee zero or close to zero strain, even on sore joints. The 20-inch stride length, though not ideal for everyone, means kids can get cardio time on the E55 just as comfortably as elderly users can.

The programs are not confusing, either, even for beginners. You can cycle through all 8 of them quickly using the soft-touch buttons. The LED display is bright and easy to read, and it is backlit if your eyes need extra support. For the custom programs, you can set up a profile that lets you resume a workout without having to re-adjust all your settings and preferences.

Although there is no iFit and you cannot download any new programs, the E55 is compatible with many third-party apps. This lets you export your workout data. There is also a Sole Fitness app. Any app you use with the elliptical will work via Bluetooth, so you have to have your device close for the signal to reach. The Sole E55 trainer has the smallest footprint of any elliptical in the Sole Fitness family, so it is the best choice for small apartments and other tight spaces.

The Sole E55 is pricey, but still a bargain over what an actual hotel or commercial gym elliptical would cost. That is true even if you find the unit on sale (not a difficult task). If you can afford it and are sure you will get your money's worth via regular use, then the E55 may be a great choice for you.

It is durable and will perform the way you need it to every time. It takes up less space than comparable products, though of course, it is not as compact as a folding cardio machine. Resistance and incline both adjust quickly, with the incline settings available from the handles. The display gives you all the information you need, and it is both adjustable and legible. Perhaps the best things about Sole products, too, are the ways the company supports customers with an easy to reach staff and lifetime warranties.