Sole E95 elliptical machine – should I buy one?

Is the Sole E95 elliptical machine any good? Keep reading to find out

Sole E95 elliptical machine
(Image credit: Dick's Sporting Goods)

The Sole E95 elliptical machine is a low-impact exercise machine that’s designed to help you tone muscle, lose weight, and better your cardiovascular fitness. It’s one of the most popular ellipticals on the market. But is this cross trainer worth the hype? To help you figure this out, we’ll be detailing the pros, cons, and all the need-to-know features before you (and your pocket) takes a hit.

We crowned the Sole E95 Elliptical as the best elliptical machine for most people. It also scooped a spot as one of the best exercise machine to lose weight. To find out why, keep reading. We’re delving deep into everything you need to know about this elliptical machine so you don’t have to. 

Investing in one of the best elliptical machines is a hard choice to make. With a seemingly never-ending range of these exercise machines on the market, how do you know what’s the right cross trainer for your fitness goals, space, and budget? Many of the premium elliptical machines can set you back up to $3,500/£2,650. And on a bad day, the Sole E95 is around that price range. However, you can usually find it for nearly half of this price, at around $1,799/£1,360 if you search a few different retailers.

Sole E95 Elliptical: pros

  • 20 resistance levels 
  • Built-in speakers 
  • LCD monitor  

The Sole E95 Elliptical comes with 20 different levels of resistance and it also has an adjustable stride length of 8-24 inches. This makes it suitable for a vast number of people who are looking to get their bodies moving in a comfortable and customizable way.  Plus, you can adjust the ramp angle to up to 40 degrees, to target every muscle and its 10-inch LCD monitor and built-in Bluetooth speakers mean you can watch and listen while getting your exercise on. The Sole E95 Elliptical also comes with a built-in fan, oversized foot pedals, and a water bottle holder.

Sole E95 Elliptical: cons

  • Not foldable  
  • Difficult to set up 

Unlike a handful of other elliptical machines, the Sole E95 Elliptical is unable to fold up once you are finished with it. This means you’ll need to make sure you have a dedicated space, like a gym or a spare corner, where you can place your machine all year round. Another con to the Sole E95 Elliptical is the assembly of this machine, as we’d say it can be tricky to set it up when you first unbox it.

Sole E95 Elliptical

(Image credit: Dick's Sporting Goods)

Sole E95 Elliptical: design

The sturdy Sole E95 Elliptical is suitable for users up to 400lbs. That’s because it’s designed with a heavy-duty steel frame which is available in black. It’s finished with red and white highlight details, both of which give the elliptical a sleek-looking finish that you would expect to find in one of the best gyms.

As we touched on, the Sole E95 Elliptical comes with 20 different levels of incline so you can make your workout harder or easier as and when you need.  These can be adjusted easily by using the controls in the handlebars. Another feature of Sole E95 Elliptical is its oversized foot pedals. This design feature makes the machine suitable for a range of people, no matter your foot size. The pedals, which are designed with a two-degree inward slope, are also kitted out with durable foam cushions which allow for added comfort while you move. According to Sole, the adjustment to the slope reduces pressure on your ankles and knees, which is always a plus if you’re planning to spend more than 15 minutes on the machine. 

Now onto the tech. The console of the Sole E95 Elliptical is kitted out with a 10-inch LCD display and built-in Bluetooth speakers, so you can listen to your workout routines or favorite songs whilst on the move. Plus, the integrated tablet holder and USB port mean you can charge and watch your favorite shows as you work out. If you’re looking for an elliptical that comes with heart-beat tracking capabilities, the Sole E95 Elliptical does just that thanks to its pulse grips. What’s more, if you don’t like being hot as you train, the Sole E95 Elliptical comes with a built-in fan. So you can have a cool ride.

The frame design comes with a brilliant lifestyle warranty, while you’ll get a five-year warranty on the electronics and parts.

Sole E95 Elliptical: sound

The Sole E95 Elliptical is on the quiet scale when it comes to sound levels. That’s because this cross trainer comes with a heavy 27 lb. flywheel. This might sound like a negative thing, but in the world of ellipticals, it’s not. The heavier the flywheel the smoother and quieter the machine should be.

Sole E95

(Image credit: Sole)

Sole E95 Elliptical: user reviews

The Sole E95 Elliptical scores an average of three out of five stars on Amazon (UK version), with 15% of these reviews scoring five stars. These reviews praise the machine for its usability and how quiet it is, especially when compared to the sound of running on a treadmill. One reviewer also highlighted that they found this cross trainer to be easier on the knees. However, a handful of reviews noted the difficulty of the set-up process with one buyer claiming it took them three hours. While another person criticized the power of the fan and claimed that after several uses, the cross trainer has gotten ‘noisier’ and now makes ‘a lot of squeaks’.

Should you buy the Sole E95?

Overall, we’re big fans of the Sole E95 Elliptical. Not only did we rank it as one of the best elliptical machines, but we also found it to be a top contender for the best exercise machine to lose weight. Along with its smooth and near-silent sound, its 20 different incline levels and adjustable pedal slope means it’s a great all-rounder and built with comfort in mind. What lets this machine down is its high price tag and the fact you can’t fold it once you are finished with it. Although to get around the former, we’d suggest acting quick and investing in the machine whenever you spot a discount. 

Becks Shepherd

Becks is a freelance journalist and writer with more than 7 years of experience in the field. She writes health and lifestyle content for a range of titles including Live Science, Top Ten Reviews, Tom’s Guide, Stylist, The Independent, and more. She also ghostwrites for a number of Physiotherapists and Osteopaths. 


Health has been a big part of Becks’ lifestyle since time began. When she’s not writing about the topic of health, she’s in the gym learning new compound exercises. And when she’s not in the gym, she’s most probably reading.