Sole E25 elliptical review: the one we recommend to most people
The Sole E25 is the elliptical we'd recommend to most people: the stride, flywheel, incline and frame are all right, and it usually sells for $999 to $1,299. Very tall users and anyone who wants classes on a screen should look elsewhere.
We may earn a commission from links. It never changes our picks. How we make money
70 × 24 in openSole E25 Elliptical
Our take: Nothing under $1,300 matches its stride and build. The console is plain, and that's fine.
Usually $999 to $1,299 (list $1,299). Prices change often, so the retailer has today's.
Pros
- 20-inch stride suits most adults
- Power incline with 20 levels
- 189 lb frame stays steady
- Lifetime frame warranty
- No subscription needed
Cons
- Doesn't fold and is 70 in long
- Long assembly with many parts
- Stride feels short above 6 ft 2 in
- Plain 9-inch LCD console
We haven't bench-tested our own Sole E25 yet. This review is built from the published specs, the warranty and how the machine is designed. When our measurements are in, they'll appear on this page and the update history at the bottom will say so.
Is the Sole E25 worth it?
Yes. The Sole E25 is the elliptical we recommend first, and the reasons aren’t exciting. The 20-inch stride suits most adults. The 189 lb frame is what keeps an elliptical from rocking. The 20 lb flywheel keeps the pedals from surging at the top of the stroke. And the power incline is the one feature that really changes an elliptical workout. The frame has a lifetime warranty, and the E25 typically costs $999 to $1,299.
There’s no touchscreen and no subscription. The console is a 9-inch LCD with buttons and Bluetooth, which we think is right for this machine and for most people who buy it.
We haven’t bench-tested our E25 yet, so this review is built from Sole’s specs and how rear-drive ellipticals like it behave at home.
Using it
The stride decides an elliptical, and 20 inches feels like a natural walk for adults from about 5 ft 2 in to 6 ft 2 in, with no sense of reaching or stepping in place. The pedals sit close together, which keeps your hips square, and the rear-drive layout gives a flat, walking-like path. Raise the incline and the path tilts, your glutes do more, and the effort climbs without the pace changing.
Resistance has 20 levels on a magnetic brake. A 20 lb flywheel is roughly the weight at which the stroke stops catching at the top, and that matters more than any other spec in separating a $1,100 elliptical from a $500 one. A slow cadence is where a light flywheel gives itself away, so that’s where we’ll judge it.
The handlebars move with the stride, and there’s a fixed set for when you want to rest your arms. The programs are the usual hills and intervals. Ignore the heart-rate grips and use a chest strap if heart rate matters to you.
Space and setup
Ellipticals take more work to build than treadmills. The E25 arrives as rails, pedal arms, handlebars, a console mast and a wiring harness that runs through the uprights. The machine weighs about 189 lb, so you’ll want two people to move the box. We expect a one-person build to take more than an hour, and we’ll time it.
On the floor it takes 70 by 24 inches, less than an open treadmill and a bit more than a folded one, and it doesn’t fold. Height catches people out. On rear-drive ellipticals the pedal at the top of the stroke typically rises about a foot off the floor, so a 6 ft user needs roughly 7 ft 6 in of ceiling with a little to spare. Measure the basement before you buy.
It should be quiet in the way only ellipticals are. There’s no foot strike, so nothing thumps through the floor. The magnetic brake is silent, and the loudest part is the incline motor, which runs for a few seconds at a time. It plugs into a standard 120 V outlet.
The console
A 9-inch LCD, resistance and incline buttons on the console and the moving arms, a tablet shelf and Bluetooth. It follows the same idea as Sole’s treadmills: it starts instantly, reads clearly while you’re moving and never asks for money. Put a tablet on the shelf and you’ve got entertainment covered.
If you want trainer-led classes that set the resistance for you, the E25 isn’t that machine, and the NordicTrack ellipticals are.
Where it falls short
Height, at both ends. Under about 5 ft 2 in, the 20-inch stride starts to feel long. Over about 6 ft 2 in it starts to feel short, and the Sole E95, with its 22-inch adjustable stride, is the answer for tall users.
Space. Seventy inches isn’t small, and it doesn’t fold. If budget is the bigger constraint, the Horizon EX-59 costs $599 to $799 with an 18-inch stride and a lighter 145 lb frame, though at 74 inches it’s actually a little longer. For a small room, start with our compact elliptical picks.
Coverage. Lifetime on the frame, three years on parts and electronics, one year of labor. That’s good, and the E35 stretches parts to five years.
Against the Sole E35
The Sole E35 is the E25 with a 25 lb flywheel, a 375 lb rating, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, five years on parts and two years of labor, for about $500 more. It’s also bigger, at 82 inches long. For a daily user over 300 lb, or anyone who wants the screen, it’s worth it. For most people, the E25 is the one. Our Sole E25 vs E35 comparison goes line by line.
What we’ll measure
With our retail unit built in a 12-by-12 spare room, we’ll measure noise at 60 and 80 strides a minute from three feet with a 180 lb user, the ramp angle at the top incline setting with a digital level, frame rock under a 250 lb tester at a fast cadence, stroke smoothness at a slow cadence, pedal height at the top of the stroke and watts at the wall, then use it for a month. How we test explains the method. If you’re still choosing between machine types, see treadmill vs elliptical.
How we rated the Sole E25
- Stride and flywheel
- 4.3
- 20 in stride, 20 lb flywheel, 350 lb limit
- Resistance and features
- 4.1
- 20 resistance levels, 20% incline
- Warranty
- 4.2
- Lifetime frame, shorter motor and parts cover
- Fits a home
- 4.4
- 70 x 24 in
- Value
- 4.1
- Fair for what you get
Our rating is out of 5 and uses the same formula for every machine in a category: motor and deck, features, warranty, how well it fits a home, and value for the typical price. Until we bench test a machine, the score comes from its published specs. How we rate
What we measure
Bench test scheduledWe haven't measured this one yet. When our unit is set up, it gets the same checks as every machine, and the results go here:
- Noise from 3 ft at 3, 6, 9 and 12 mph
- Incline at the top setting, with a digital level
- Watts at the wall, idle, walking and running
- Assembly time for one person
- Folded size, measured with a tape
Floor plan, from the maker's dimensions
Who should buy the Sole E25
Buy it if
- Anyone whose knees complain on a treadmill
- Users from about 5 ft 2 in to 6 ft 2 in
- Rooms where a quiet machine matters
Look elsewhere if
- Tall users with ceilings under 7 ft 6 in
- Anyone who wants a touchscreen with classes
Usually $999 to $1,299 (list $1,299). Prices change often, so the retailer has today's.
Sole E25 specs
| Specification | Sole E25 |
|---|---|
| Stride | 20 in |
| Flywheel | 20 lb |
| Resistance | 20 levels |
| Incline | 20% |
| User weight limit | 350 lb |
| Footprint (L × W × H) | 70 × 24 × 64 in |
| Folded | Does not fold |
| Machine weight | 189 lb |
| Console | 9 in LCD, Bluetooth |
| Power | 120 V outlet |
| Warranty | Lifetime frame, 3 yr parts and electronics, 1 yr labor |
| Status | Current model · 2009–present |
Manufacturer's published specs. We check dimensions with a tape when our unit arrives.
How it compares with its closest rivals
Swipe sideways to see every model
| Sole E25(this review) | Sole E35 | Schwinn 430 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 | 3.6 / 5 |
| Typical price | $999–1,299 | $1,499–1,899 | $799 |
| Belt | 20 in stride | 20 in stride | 20 in stride |
| Incline | 20% | 20% | 0% |
| Weight limit | 350 lb | 375 lb | 300 lb |
| Footprint | 70 × 24 in | 82 × 31 in | 70 × 28 in |
| Folds | No | No | No |
| Warranty | Lifetime frame, 3 yr parts and electronics, 1 yr labor | Lifetime frame, 5 yr parts and electronics, 2 yr labor | — |
Manufacturer specs. Measured noise is added once we've tested a machine.
Usually $999 to $1,299 (list $1,299). Prices change often, so the retailer has today's.
Is the Sole E25 right for you?
Answer three quick questions and we'll give you a straight answer. No email needed.
Sole E25 questions, answered
Is the Sole E25 good for tall people?
Up to about 6 ft 2 in, yes. A 20-inch stride feels like a natural walk at that height, without reaching or shuffling. Above that, the pedal path starts to feel short, and the Sole E95, with its longer 22-inch stride, is the better fit. Check the ceiling too, because tall users need more headroom when the pedal is at the top of its stroke.
How loud is the Sole E25?
We haven't measured ours yet; we'll test at an easy and a hard cadence from three feet. Magnetic-resistance ellipticals are the quietest cardio machines you can put in a home, usually in the 40s dB, and the incline motor is the loudest thing on them. With no foot strike, nothing thumps through the floor to the room below.
Does the Sole E25 have incline?
Yes. It has a power incline with 20 levels that raises the ramp, which steepens the stride and puts more work into your glutes without changing your pace. You adjust it with buttons on the console or on the moving arms. We'll check the ramp angle with a digital level at the top setting when we test our unit.
What is the Sole E25 weight limit?
The rating is 350 lb, which is high for an elliptical at this price. The 189 lb frame is why we expect it to stay steady under a heavy user at a fast cadence, since a light elliptical frame starts to rock long before it breaks. We'll check that with a 250 lb tester. Over 350 lb, the Sole E35 is rated to 375 lb.
How long does the Sole E25 take to assemble?
Longer than a treadmill. Ellipticals come in more pieces: rails, pedal arms, handlebars and a console mast with wiring that runs through the uprights. Expect it to take one person more than an hour, and get help moving the 189 lb machine into place. We'll time our own one-person build from box to first stride and publish the number.
How much space does the Sole E25 need?
Sole quotes about 70 in long by 24 in wide on the floor and 64 in tall at the console. Leave some room around it to step on and off. Then check the ceiling: the pedal rises about a foot at the top of its stroke, so add your height plus about 12 in and make sure the room clears it.
Does the Sole E25 need a subscription?
No. The 9-inch LCD console runs all its programs from buttons, and Bluetooth can send your workouts to the Sole app and a few others if you want a record. Nothing is locked behind a membership. If you want classes, put a tablet on the shelf and use whatever app you already pay for.
Sole E25 or E35?
The E35 adds a heavier 25 lb flywheel, a 375 lb rating, a 10.1-inch touchscreen and five years of parts coverage for about $500 more. It's also 12 in longer. It's worth it for a daily user over 300 lb or anyone who really wants the screen. For most people, the E25 is the better buy.
Sole E25 or Schwinn 430?
The Schwinn 430 was the budget favorite for years and is now discontinued. Both have a 20-inch stride, but the E25 has a heavier frame, 189 lb against 169, a 20 lb flywheel against 18, power incline and a 350 lb rating against 300. If you find a 430 cheap, it's fine. Buying new, get the E25.
Is an elliptical better than a treadmill for bad knees?
For most people with knee pain, yes, because there's no impact: your feet never leave the pedals. Your knees still bend through their full range on every stride, though, so start with short sessions and low resistance. If the pain is new or getting worse, ask a physical therapist before you start, and stop if a session makes it flare.
Ready to buy the Sole E25?
Nothing under $1,300 matches its stride and build. The console is plain, and that's fine.
Usually $999 to $1,299 (list $1,299). Prices change often, so the retailer has today's.
Update history (2)ShowHide
- November 5, 2026Rewritten for clarity. Added key takeaways, pros and cons, and our rating.
- October 18, 2026First published, written from the manufacturer's specs ahead of our bench test. Test figures are illustrative until our measurements replace them.