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The Sole E95 Elliptical is a high-end elliptical with entertainment and training content. Read more about the Sole E95 Elliptical in this review of its performance and construction.
Updated: December 4, 2023
The Sole E95 Elliptical continues Sole’s trend of providing smart cardio equipment with impressive training and performance options. The 13.3-inch touchscreen display does not lock you into one type of content like many other brands do. Instead, this elliptical offers plenty of onboard programs, third-party training and entertainment apps, and screen mirroring capabilities. The Sole E95 is a great elliptical for exercisers who are looking for a full-body workout and enjoy a variety of training and entertainment options when exercising. This review of the Sole E95 Elliptical recounts my experience testing this machine and evaluating its performance.
The Sole E95 Elliptical has a frame covered by a lifetime warranty. There are three stabilizers: rear, middle, and front. Only the feet on the middle stabilizer and rear stabilizer are adjustable. The other two are fixed, which is okay if you have a level floor. If the area where you plan to store the elliptical is not quite level, you may have some trouble with the machine rocking, though the middle and rear stabilizer feet improve any issue you may encounter. The frame is very supportive and has a 400-lb weight capacity. This makes the elliptical a good choice for larger users, so overall my impression was favorable.
The Sole E95 Elliptical has a 27-lb flywheel to create smooth resistance. This elliptical has a front drive. This construction is the most common for home ellipticals.
The E95 has oversized pedals. They are adjustable from 0 to 10 degrees of downward tilt to point the toes downward and lift the heels. This range of adjustability is a little overkill, because the 8 to 10-degree position puts a lot of pressure on your knees. There’s nothing wrong with the adjustability, and I quite like that it helps you combat foot soreness, but I would advise users to avoid the more extreme end of the range. The pedals do not have the level of cushioning I have come to expect from NordicTrack ellipticals like the AirGlide 14i or the Commercial 14.9 Elliptical. The Sole E95’s approach to angling the pedals was effective at keeping my feet from going numb or feeling sore once I found the right angle.
The Sole E95 has a stride length of 20 inches. At 5’4”, I was comfortable with the stride length of the E95. While most users should find the 20-inch stride comfortable, users who want more variation should consider the Sole E95s or the NordicTrack FS14i.
The E95 elliptical has moving and stationary arms. The moving arms have looped handles that provide a variety of grip options. For a shorter user like me, the bottom middle grip is very comfortable. There are also incline and resistance controls on the moving arms. These allow users to easily change the elliptical settings without interrupting their workouts. The stationary handles allow users to isolate their legs for targeted exercise. The stationary handles are also equipped with EKG pulse sensors, so users can check in on their heart rates regularly.
The Sole E95 is a large cardio machine that will require a dedicated space. Like most ellipticals, it does not fold for more compact storage when not in use. The E95 has a rear grab bar to lift it onto its front transport wheels. The elliptical weighs 242 lbs, so it’s heavy. I am able to lift the elliptical and move it short distances on my own, but it is not something I recommend users plan on doing often. Moving the elliptical will likely feel like more of a hassle than it is worth, which could impede your likelihood of exercising.
Twenty levels of magnetic resistance create a challenge for beginners and experienced elliptical users. The highest levels are difficult for me to sustain for long periods of time. The E95 is great for an endurance workout or for shorter, more intense bouts. With an elliptical, I recommend increasing resistance rather than increasing your speed.
The Sole E95 has 20 levels of incline. This feature raises the two ramps that the elliptical legs glide along. The ramp position does not add much resistance or difficulty, but it does tax your muscles differently. An incline is becoming a standard feature on home ellipticals, but it doesn’t add as much training variation as an incline does on a treadmill. Whether or not you like the incline, the resistance the E95 offers is great.
The Sole E95 Elliptical has so many options for training. Sole does its best to give its customers the most options for training and entertainment. This elliptical has a lot of features packed into a small square console. The E95 is a great elliptical option for exercisers who do not want subscription training content. It’s the perfect elliptical to change your mind and change your mind again about how you want to train.
The E95 elliptical’s console is dominated by its touchscreen display, but it also packs a lot of features into a compact space. Still, the console is easy to navigate. There are a few physical buttons located beneath the screen. These buttons include start and stop buttons. There is a button for turning the fan on or off. The last button on the console, the display button, toggles between the three training screen options. These buttons are simple and assist with the elliptical operation if the onscreen controls prove too tricky to navigate while training.
The Sole E95 has a 13.3-inch touchscreen display. The screen quality may not be up to the standards of NordicTrack or Peloton cardio equipment displays, but it offers a wider variety of content. The screen is slightly adjustable, as the entire console can be tilted. The height and positioning of the screen should be appropriate for most users, and the adjustability should help.
The Sole E95’s speakers are loud and front-facing. I was able to hear all of the content and music I wanted through the E95. The speakers are Bluetooth, so you can hear audio from your device as well as the built-in content options.
The Sole E95 Elliptical has a single cup holder directly in front of the console. There’s a device and small item shelf at the bottom of the console. Lastly, there is a device rack at the top of the console where you can view content on a phone or tablet. This device rack has an adjustable clip at the top for holding your device in place.
The device shelf that I mentioned is conveniently placed in front of the wireless charging pad. Thus, you can place your phone on its side and keep your battery full while you train. This feature is not compatible with all phones, so be sure to check if your phone model supports wireless charging if you wish to use this feature.
While the Sole E95 has a fan, it is another instance where Sole just hasn’t figured out how to make a fan effective. The breeze created is very weak, and if you are working hard, you will probably want the extra help of an overhead or floor fan. It’s a minor detail, so I hate to be too hard on Sole when so many of the other features are spectacular.
Bluetooth connectivity allows users to pair a heart rate monitor, Garmin watch, or smart device. The speakers are Bluetooth, so you can hear audio from your device. Pairing your phone also allows you to set up a profile on the Sole+ app, which tracks your training and can connect with other apps like Garmin Connect and Strava. A Garmin watch or other heart rate monitor allows the user to complete heart rate-based training programs found onboard the E95.
The Sole E95 doesn’t just allow you to access a range of third-party apps on its console. It throws the door open to training and entertainment possibilities by allowing iPhone and Android users to screen mirror their devices. We have had some trouble getting Android devices to work with the screen mirroring, but I am happy to report a solution has been found. The E95 and other Sole cardio equipment provide instructions for pairing your phone for screen mirroring. While the recommended process works for iPhone users, it does not work for Android devices. The app the QR code takes you to is out of date. Instead, you can locate the working app by searching the app creator ‘Sunrise Technology CO., LTD’ or by finding the ‘ANPLUS Screen Mirroring’ app. With this app, I was able to find and pair my Google Pixel phone with the E95. Just make sure you are on the same WiFi as the equipment.
The connection is smooth and has a very short delay with a good internet connection. I was able to stream training content and read my Kindle. It’s a really fun and effective way to view your training and entertainment content on a larger screen.
This isn’t my first rodeo with a Sole E95 elliptical. I used an older model quite consistently during high school and college. In fact, my parents are still using it. The newest edition is packed with smart features that I only wish I had had back then. The E95 provides a challenging level of resistance and great features. The thing I love the most about the E95 is how many training options I have. There are training programs, customizable options, and the ability to screen mirror any training apps I wish. But on most of my training days, I want to be entertained. You don’t have to pick between a training option and entertainment, because you can view content while in one of the onboard training programs. The E95 is a great elliptical for almost any type of training, a flexibility I really appreciate.
The Sole E95 has onboard training programs that do not require any subscriptions. The preset workouts include strength, cardio, HIIT, Fatburn, and Hill. You can also create custom and template workouts. The Fitness Test is an 85% heart rate test that can vary in length of time depending on your fitness level. This fitness test estimates your current VO2 max. Though this test is not as accurate as other VO2 max tests, it can provide a great baseline for improving your fitness level.
The E95 allows users to access digital training platforms. You can use the built-in Kinomap app, which provides free and paid content for virtual training. You can also screen mirror apps like iFIT to follow along with trainer-led content.
For entertainment, you will find a host of apps. The E95 has YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, ESPN, CNN, Max, Disney Plus, Audible, and Peacock. These apps may require their own subscription to access content, but if you already have an account, you don’t need to do anything further to watch your favorite shows and movies.
The Sole E95 elliptical is an impressive machine with extensive training and entertainment options. Twenty levels of incline and resistance provide great training variability. The Sole E95’s frame and flywheel are covered by lifetime warranties. The E95 is a great cardio option for the exerciser who wants a full-body workout and doesn’t want a subscription training platform. The adjustable pedals, heavy flywheel, and multi-grip handles create a smooth training experience. I recommend the Sole E95 for users who want to maximize their training options and onboard features.
