This is currently one of the top selling ellipticals at NordicTrack. And with these features and this price it's no surprise why.The Sole E95s Elliptical Offers Power Adjustable Stride For All Users
Overview: The Sole E95s is one of the newer elliptical machines in the lineup with an adjustable stride from 18″ to an industry-leading 24″, allowing much more freedom of motion and accommodating users of all sizes. So far it is a welcome addition to the lineup, and incorporates Sole’s new Bluetooth workout tracking.
Let’s take a look at some of the highlights…
Power Adjustable Stride
We have to start with the feature that sets the E95S apart: its power-adjustable stride. The regular E95 has a fixed 20″ stride, while the E95S adjusts from 18″ all the way up to 24″. This gives you more freedom to find a comfortable motion, especially if people of different heights will be using the machine. You can keep the stride short for more of a stepping motion or open it up to 24″ for a motion that feels closer to running.
Strong Construction
The Sole E95S is a substantial machine with a 30 lb. flywheel and a 400 lb. weight capacity. It felt solid when we tried it, even as we changed stride lengths and increased the resistance. That sturdy feel is something I’ve come to expect from Sole, although you’ll need to make sure you have room for it: the current model measures 84″ long and 32″ wide.
Oversized Pedals
Sole is known for its oversized pedals, and the E95S has cushioned, articulating pedals that give your feet room to move. We found them comfortable during our workouts, particularly when switching between shorter and longer strides. The adjustable stride is the bigger comfort feature here, since it lets you settle on a motion that feels right for you.
Bluetooth Technology
Bluetooth workout tracking was a welcome addition when we first tried the E95S. We were able to sync our workouts and view them on an iPad, which was something Sole had been lacking at the time. The current machine has moved well beyond that setup, with a 13.3″ touchscreen, Bluetooth audio and access to the free SOLE+ app for workouts and tracking. We haven’t tested this newer console ourselves, but it’s a significant upgrade on paper.
Strong Warranty
The E95S still comes with a strong warranty, although the coverage has changed since we first reviewed it. Sole now lists lifetime coverage on the frame and flywheel, three years on the magnetic brake, parts and electronics, and one year on labor. There’s also a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Shipping charges and promotions can change, so I’d check those when you’re ready to order.
Sole E95S Elliptical Test Drive
We were lucky enough to try an earlier version of the E95S. Its adjustable stride reminded us a little of hybrid trainers, which can combine the feel of two or more types of exercise machine in one. The E95S is still an elliptical, but changing the stride gives it a wider range of motion than most fixed-stride models.
Once you open up the stride toward 24″, it starts to feel more like running—unless you’re seven feet tall, in which case it may still feel like an elliptical to you :). What impressed us was that the motion stayed smooth, natural and quiet at the different stride lengths and resistance levels we tried. It felt like a quality machine throughout the workout.
We went through the 10 workout programs on the machine we tested and found plenty of variety. We also enjoyed being able to adjust the stride while working out, although we usually preferred sticking with one motion for a while instead of changing it constantly. That really comes down to personal preference. The current E95S has a different console and workout setup, so the program count from our test shouldn’t be taken as a specification for today’s model.
We synced our workouts to our Fitbit account and watched the information on an iPad as we worked out. It was nice to have that feature, which was relatively new for Sole equipment at the time. Today’s model uses the SOLE+ app and a much larger touchscreen, but we haven’t personally tested how that newer setup compares.
Any negatives? Unlike the E95 and E98, the E95S does not have incline capability. We wondered if Sole left it out to accommodate the extended stride, although we can’t say for sure. It didn’t take much away from our workouts because changing the stride gave us another way to vary the motion, but at this price it’s something you should know.
Conclusion
The E95S remains an interesting choice in Sole’s lineup because of that 18″ to 24″ adjustable stride. We enjoyed the smooth motion, solid feel and comfortable pedals on the earlier machine we tried. The current version adds a larger touchscreen and more workout options through SOLE+, though I haven’t had the chance to test those updates myself.
If you’re sharing an elliptical with people of different heights, or you simply want the flexibility to change your stride, the E95S is worth a look. If you don’t think you’d use that feature very often, compare it with the E95 and E98 before spending more.
Sole currently lists the E95S as sold out, so check current availability and if it’s not there consider some of the other models instead.
