The Sole E25 is the most solidly built elliptical you can get near $1000, as long as you buy it on its frequent ~$899 sale rather than the $1,199 list price. BarBend and Garage Gym Reviews both score it around 4.2/5, praising the heavy, stable frame, 20 in stride, and 20 levels of resistance and incline. It is low on flashy tech, but the durability and 350 lb capacity make it the value pick for serious low-impact cardio.
Full review
Real-World Performance
The Sole E25 wins this category on stability. At roughly 212 lb it is the heaviest elliptical here, and reviewers consistently report that the mass translates into a smooth, planted stride with no rocking even during hard intervals. BarBend rated it 4.2/5 and called it one of their favorite ellipticals on the market thanks to its high-quality construction and price. The full 20 in stride accommodates taller users that shorter-stride machines cramp.
Garage Gym Reviews echoed the sentiment, scoring it 4.2/5 and summarizing it as a solid piece of equipment built to last that does not chase crazy technology. With 20 levels of magnetic resistance and 20 levels of power incline, the E25 offers enough range to make workouts genuinely challenging, and the magnetic resistance keeps it quiet. Treadmill Review Guru's takeaway is blunt: if you don't need high-tech features, you don't need more than the E25.
Build Quality and Design
Sole built the E25 to feel like gym equipment rather than a home compromise. The heavy steel frame and 350 lb weight capacity, the highest in this roundup, are the headline. It is a front-drive elliptical with a 20 lb flywheel, and while the flywheel is modest on paper, the overall mass keeps the motion smooth.
The console is deliberately simple: an LCD display with Bluetooth, plus a tablet holder, cooling fan, and speakers, rather than a large interactive touchscreen. Sole bundles free access to its app, so there is no required subscription. Ten preset programs, including HIIT, Hill, and Fat Burn, cover most training needs. The trade-off for the durability is bulk: assembly is a two-person job and the machine is hard to move once built.
What Reviewers Loved
Durability and value dominate the praise. Across BarBend, Garage Gym Reviews, and Treadmill Review Guru the consensus is that the E25 is built to outlast its rivals, with the heavy frame and 350 lb capacity cited repeatedly. Reviewers appreciated the 20 in stride for taller users and the dual 20-level resistance and incline ranges.
The no-subscription approach also drew approval. Where the ProForm Carbon EL leans on iFIT, the E25 gives you onboard programs and a free app, so the cardio experience does not come with a monthly fee. For buyers who value substance over screens, that is a meaningful advantage.
Where It Falls Short
Pricing is the main asterisk. The E25 lists at $1,199 and only reaches the sub-$1000 mark on Sole's frequent ~$899 sale, so it stays under budget only with good timing. Buyers paying full list price would technically exceed the category limit.
The tech is also basic by 2026 standards. There is no large touchscreen and no built-in class library, which buyers cross-shopping the ProForm Carbon EL's iFIT integration will notice. And the heavy frame that makes it so stable also makes it bulky to assemble and nearly immovable once set up, a poor fit for spaces where the machine needs to be stored away.
How It Compares to Alternatives
The E25 is the build-quality leader. Against the Schwinn 470 and Schwinn 430 it is heavier, more stable, and rated for more weight, and reviewers consistently rank it above both for durability. The Schwinns counter with more onboard programs and, in the 470's case, motorized incline, but neither matches the E25's planted feel.
Versus the ProForm Carbon EL, the E25 trades the iFIT touchscreen ecosystem for a sturdier frame and a free app. And compared to the Horizon EX-59, the E25 is heavier and more capable but larger and pricier. For buyers prioritizing long-term durability, the E25 leads; for tech or footprint, the alternatives make their case.
Who It's Best For
The Sole E25 is for the buyer who wants the most durable, stable elliptical near $1000 and does not care about a built-in touchscreen, ideally bought on its ~$899 sale. If you are tall, heavier, or simply want a machine that feels like gym equipment and will last, the E25's heavy frame and 350 lb capacity make it the standout.
It is less ideal for buyers who want interactive screen-based classes, where the ProForm Carbon EL fits better, for those on the tightest budget, who should look at the Schwinn 430, and for anyone needing a light machine to move and store, where the Horizon EX-59 is easier to live with.
Strengths
- +Heaviest and most stable build in the class at around 212 lb
- +Full 20 in stride length suits taller users
- +20 levels each of magnetic resistance and power incline
- +High 350 lb weight capacity, the highest here
- +Lifetime frame warranty with no required subscription
Watch-outs
- −Lists at $1,199; you need the frequent ~$899 sale to stay under budget
- −Basic tech; no large touchscreen, just an LCD and Bluetooth
- −Heavy and bulky to assemble and move
- −Front-drive design with a modest 20 lb flywheel
How it compares
The most stable and highest-capacity machine here, ahead of the Schwinn 470 and Schwinn 430 on build and weight rating. It skips the iFIT touchscreen tech of the ProForm Carbon EL and the lighter footprint of the Horizon EX-59 in favor of a heavier, more durable frame.
Who this is for
At a glance: Buyers who want the most durable, stable elliptical near $1000 and don't care about a built-in touchscreen, bought on its ~$899 sale.
Why you’d buy the Sole E25
- Heaviest and most stable build in the class at around 212 lb.
- Full 20 in stride length suits taller users.
- 20 levels each of magnetic resistance and power incline.
Why you’d skip it
- Lists at $1,199; you need the frequent ~$899 sale to stay under budget.
- Basic tech; no large touchscreen, just an LCD and Bluetooth.
- Heavy and bulky to assemble and move.
Rating sources
“Due to its high-quality construction and affordable price tag, the E25 is one of our favorite ellipticals on the market.”
“The E25 is one of the best ellipticals for the price. It doesn't have crazy technology but it is a solid piece of equipment built to last.”
“If you don't need high-tech features, you don't need more than the Sole E25.”
Our 4.3 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
