Sole E25 Elliptical Trainer

Sole E25 Elliptical Review: A Solid Budget Rear-Drive Machine

The Sole E25 is one of the most recognizable names in budget ellipticals — and for good reason. It packs a 25 lb flywheel, motorized power incline, and a power-adjustable stride into a price point that most of its competitors can’t match on specs alone. For a home athlete who wants a real workout machine without the $1,500+ price tag, the E25 has historically been a top-three recommendation.

That said, this is a machine with a long history and real trade-offs. The display is basic, there’s no Bluetooth or streaming connectivity, and some users have reported quality-control issues over extended use. Our honest take: the E25 is still a strong buy if you want a durable, no-frills cardio machine — but it’s not the unchallenged winner it once was.

Here’s everything you need to know before you buy.

Who the Sole E25 Is Best For

The E25 hits a very specific sweet spot. It makes the most sense if you:

• Want a rear-drive elliptical under $1,000. Rear-drive machines with motorized incline at this price are rare. The E25 punches well above its weight class on drive mechanism quality.
• Weigh up to 350 lbs. The 350 lb capacity is genuinely higher than most budget ellipticals (many cap at 250–300 lbs), which makes it a rare accessible option for heavier users.
• Are 5’4″ to 6’3″. The power-adjustable 20–22 inch stride accommodates a wide range of heights. Shorter users set it at 20″; taller users dial up to 22″ for a fuller, more natural stride.
• Don’t need streaming or app connectivity. If you’re fine using your own phone for music and don’t need iFit or Peloton-style guided classes, the E25’s basic console does everything you actually need.
• Want something that lasts. The Sole brand has built a reputation for durability. The lifetime frame warranty backs that up. This is a machine designed for years of daily use.

Build Quality and Stability

Pick up on the E25 and the first thing you notice is that it feels solid — heavier and more planted than you might expect from a sub-$1,000 machine. The steel frame doesn’t flex or creak during use, and the 25 lb flywheel contributes meaningfully to the smooth, consistent feel of each stride.

The covers are plastic, which is standard at this price and not a concern for function. The moving parts — pedals, handlebars, drive mechanism — all have a quality feel with minimal slop or play. Sole is known for building machines that hold up well over time, and the E25 is consistent with that reputation.

One genuine caveat: some users have reported issues with the roller wheels and pedal retention over extended use. These are not universal problems, but they’re documented enough to take seriously. The good news is that Sole’s warranty and parts supply are reliable — if something goes wrong, you can get it fixed.

The Stride: Power-Adjustable and Natural-Feeling

The E25’s power-adjustable stride is one of its standout features at this price. You can switch between 20 and 22 inches via the console without stopping your workout. That flexibility matters:

• At 20 inches, the stride is comfortable for users around 5’4″–5’9″ and mimics a brisk walking pace.
• At 22 inches, it opens up into a fuller running-style stride suited to users 5’10” and taller.

The stride shape itself is circular and natural — as you’d expect from a rear-drive design. Your body stays upright throughout, which keeps stress off the lower back and knees. If you’ve ever felt awkward or hunched on a front-drive elliptical, the E25’s rear-drive geometry usually feels immediately more comfortable.

Incline: Motorized and Genuinely Useful

The power incline goes up to 30% — one of the higher ranges you’ll find at this price. At a steeper incline you shift load from your calves (flat) to your quads and glutes (inclined), and the calorie burn climbs noticeably. The incline adjusts via buttons on the console handlebars, so you can change it mid-workout without breaking your rhythm.

Compared to budget ellipticals with fixed or manually-adjusted incline, the motorized ramp is a legitimate advantage. It allows structured interval training (flat recovery, steep push) in a way that a fixed machine simply can’t.

Display and Console

The 6.5-inch blue-backlit LCD display is functional and readable. It tracks:

• Time
• Distance
• Calories burned
• RPM
• Resistance level
• Current incline
• Heart rate
• Program name and current program state

Each of the 10 programs has its own dedicated button on the console — no navigating menus to find your workout. Incline and resistance also have quick-adjust buttons on both sides of the display for easy mid-workout changes.

What’s missing: no Bluetooth, no tablet mount, no streaming integration. If you want Spotify, YouTube, or a coaching app while you train, you’ll use your phone propped nearby. For many users that’s perfectly fine — just know what you’re getting.

Heart Rate Monitoring

The E25 includes both contact grip sensors (built into the stationary handlebars) and a wireless chest strap — a combination that’s genuinely valuable. The chest strap heart rate monitor is more accurate than the grip sensors, especially during high-intensity intervals when a firm grip isn’t practical. Batteries are included in the strap.

Two of the 10 programs are heart rate-controlled, automatically adjusting resistance to keep you in your target zone. For best results in these programs, use the wireless chest strap rather than the grip sensors — the grip sensors show about a 5 bpm average discrepancy during cardio, which is enough to throw off zone-based training.

Programs

The E25 ships with 10 training programs:

• 6 standard preset programs: Manual, Hill, Fat Burn, Cardio, Strength, and Interval
• 2 user-defined programs: Save and replay your own custom resistance/incline profiles
• 2 heart rate programs: Cardio and Fat Burn targets, auto-adjusted via chest strap

The Interval program is particularly useful — it alternates between high and low resistance automatically, making it easy to get a structured HIIT-style session without manual adjustments. The Hill program cycles through incline changes to simulate varied terrain.

Assembly

Assembly takes 1–2 hours and is rated medium difficulty. Sole ships the unit largely pre-assembled — the main tasks are attaching the handlebars, console, and base components. The included paper manual has small images and fine print; download the PDF version from Sole’s website and zoom in for clearer guidance.

Two people strongly recommended, not because it’s technically impossible alone, but because holding the handlebar column in place while threading bolts is genuinely awkward solo. The unit is heavy (189 lbs assembled) — unbox it in the room where it will live.

Useful tip: the first two base components you attach are a carry bar and transport wheels. Attach those before anything else and the heavy base becomes much easier to position where you want it.

Have a look at the assembly video (this video is for the E35, but assembly process is nearly identical for the E25).

Sole E25 vs E35: Which Should You Buy?

How They Compare

	Sole E35	Sole E25
Stride	20-to-22-inch (power-adjustable)	20-to-22-inch (power-adjustable)
Programs	10	10
Display	7.5″ (blue backlit)	6.5″ (blue backlit)
Dimension	27 × 58 × 83 inches	27 × 58 × 71 inches
Handle bar
Machine Weight	215 lbs	189 lbs
Flywheel	29 lbs	25 lbs
Pedal Width	15-inch	15-inch
Adjustable Pedals	Yes	No
Weight Capacity	375 lbs.	350 lbs.
Frame Warranty	Lifetime	Lifetime
Parts Warranty	5 years	3 years
Labor Warranty	2 years	1 year

Bottom line on E25 vs E35: The E35 adds adjustable pedals (important if knee alignment is a concern), a heavier 29 lb flywheel (noticeably smoother at high resistance), a larger display, better warranty terms, and a higher weight capacity. At around $300 more, it’s a meaningful upgrade — not a luxury one. If you’re close to $1,000 and can stretch to $1,300, the E35 is worth it. If $1,000 is your firm ceiling, the E25 is an excellent machine and you won’t feel short-changed.

Common Complaints: What Real Users Report

No review is honest without addressing the issues. Here’s what comes up repeatedly:

• Roller wheel wear: Some users report roller wheels developing noise or wobble after 1–2 years of heavy use. This is replaceable under warranty. Sole’s parts supply is good; the fix isn’t expensive.
• Pedal retention: A smaller subset of users report pedals loosening over time. Proper assembly (following step 4 of the manual carefully) and periodic bolt checks eliminate this for most users.
• Customer service speed: Sole’s customer service is generally responsive but can be slow during peak periods. Email tends to get faster results than phone for warranty claims.
• No connectivity: The E25 predates Bluetooth-era ellipticals. If you want app integration or guided workouts, you’ll need a Bluetooth speaker and your own device — or a different machine like the NordicTrack FS14i.

Warranty

The current Sole E25 warranty covers:

• Frame: Lifetime
• Parts and electronics: 3 years
• Labor: 1 year

The lifetime frame warranty is unusually strong at this price and reflects Sole’s confidence in their build quality. The 3-year parts coverage is adequate for most users. Note that the E35 extends parts to 5 years and labor to 2 — another reason to consider the step-up if budget allows.

Day-to-Day Workout Experience

Using the Sole E25 daily over several weeks reveals a few things you won’t find in a spec sheet. The first is that the machine genuinely gets quieter as you break it in. Out of the box there’s a slight mechanical noise from the drive system; after a week of regular use, it smooths out considerably. By week two, most users report a near-silent experience even at high resistance and cadence.

The 25 lb flywheel earns its keep at moderate to high resistance settings. At resistance levels 8 and below, the machine is perfectly smooth but the flywheel weight doesn’t matter much. At levels 10–16, you start to feel the difference — the momentum carries through each pedal arc without the choppiness you get from lighter-flywheel budget machines. It’s not a 30 lb flywheel, but it punches well above what you’d expect for the price.

The power-adjustable stride deserves a callout for longer-limbed users in particular. Being able to switch from 20 to 22 inches mid-workout — without dismounting — means you can warm up at 20 inches and extend to 22 when you’re loose and ready for a full range of motion. It’s a small convenience that adds up over thousands of workouts.

Incline makes the biggest fitness difference. Flat elliptical training is fine for steady-state cardio, but going to 15–20% incline transforms the E25 into a genuine glute and quad builder. A typical 30-minute session might look like: 5 minutes at 10% incline to warm up, 20 minutes alternating between 5% and 25%, 5 minutes flat cooldown. With the motorized ramp and 16 resistance levels, you have enough variables to keep sessions interesting for years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sole E25 still worth buying in 2026?

Yes, with caveats. The E25 holds up well on core specs — rear-drive mechanism, motorized incline, heavy flywheel, high weight capacity, and lifetime frame warranty — that newer budget competitors still struggle to match at the same price point. What it lacks is Bluetooth connectivity, a modern display, and app integration. If those features matter to you, look at the NordicTrack FS14i or Schwinn 470. If you want the best mechanical value per dollar and don’t need streaming, the E25 is still a strong pick.

What is the difference between the Sole E25 and the older model?

The current E25 improved significantly over the original version. Key upgrades include: flywheel weight increased from approximately 19 lbs to 25 lbs (meaningfully smoother performance), weight capacity increased from 325 lbs to 350 lbs, and the warranty improved from 3 years parts/1 year labor to the current terms. Always confirm which version you are purchasing when buying from third-party sellers, as older stock occasionally surfaces on marketplace sites.

How noisy is the Sole E25?

Very quiet once broken in — especially compared to treadmills or fitness cycles. The magnetic resistance system produces no friction noise. The main sound is a low, rhythmic whoosh from the flywheel and a soft mechanical sound from the pedal track. At a comfortable pace (resistance 6–10), a normal conversation is easily possible nearby. At maximum resistance and speed, noise increases but remains well within apartment-friendly levels. It will not wake people in adjacent rooms.

Can I use the Sole E25 if I am over 300 lbs?

Yes. The E25 is rated for up to 350 lbs, which is notably higher than many competing ellipticals in its price range. Sole engineers the frame with extra capacity headroom, so most users who fall under 350 lbs find the machine feels solid and stable with no flex or movement in the base. For users near the capacity limit, the rear-drive design’s low center of gravity is particularly beneficial for stability.

Does the Sole E25 fold for storage?

No. The E25 does not fold. It measures 27 × 71 × 58 inches assembled and stays at those dimensions permanently. It does include transport wheels on the base, so you can tip and roll it to a new position, but it cannot be compacted for a closet or tight storage area. If storage is a concern, a folding elliptical like the Nautilus E614 or Cubii series may suit better — though they trade significant performance for the fold.

Our Verdict

The Sole E25 remains one of the best-equipped ellipticals you can buy under $1,000. The power-adjustable stride, motorized incline, 25 lb flywheel, 350 lb capacity, and wireless heart rate monitor together represent a feature set that most budget competitors can’t touch. Build quality is solid, and the rear-drive mechanism delivers the natural, joint-friendly stride that makes elliptical training worth doing.

The machine’s age shows in its display and connectivity — it won’t stream classes or connect to your fitness app. But if you want a durable, well-engineered cardio machine that will last years and challenge you at every fitness level, the E25 delivers that without question.

Buy it if: You want maximum mechanical quality per dollar and don’t need app integration.
Skip it if: You want guided workouts, Bluetooth connectivity, or adjustable pedals (look at the E35 instead).

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