5 comments about Sole E95 Elliptical Trainer (2008 Model).

1. I did not have any problems with neither delivery nor assembly. It came within 3 days (with the free delivery option), delivery guy helped me bring it down to the basement. After pretty hassle free assembly, it works great, smooth, quiet and very nice looking. My wife loves it, she thinks it a bit to hard though for the level 5 and up.
   Overall, great buy, amazing delivery speed, excellent buying experience with Amazon. Will be back shortly :)



2. I have lower back problems, and the treadmill I was using was killing me. My Chiropractor recommended an elliptical to me, so I did a full nights research. I found a lot of companies claiming to be the best, but only Sole had the glowing customer reviews I was looking for. I saw the Sole E95 was at the top of the elliptical review pile, and the top of my price range. Everyone basically said this was the best elliptical for the money. After a day, I bought it, and received it within fourteen days.
   
   After two months of daily workouts with this I'm a new person. I love the motion, smoothness, and programmable workout routines. My back never hurts from this particular kind of exercise. I just wish I would have known about ellipticals before I wasted the money on a treadmill.



3. THis ellipitical rocks! Its huge....though i wud like something smaller...but fits well in my Loft...after a lot of research and deciding between the shwinn 438 and sole e 35...i just went for the E.95...both are the same for buyers out there...just that the E95 has a covered shroud. which is rather cosmetic as u cant even step on it. so for people seekin to save a few bucks go for the E35..even the Assembly booklet is the same.
   As far as the E95...its sturdy..quite and really smooth...has a fan which is useless and the speakers are super cool...its way tooo powerful for its size.
   
   Assembly is a pain...as the instructions are written separately from the diagram ..which are really not illustrations...either ways...this elliptical is replacing a Horizon Treadmill i got more than a year back..which was also super sturdy..i also toyed with the idea of gettin a horizon elliptical...but ratings for the sole were better...and the flywheel wt was best in Sole...
   
   
   i hope i can work this well for a few years...got it to reduce the joint impact that the elliptical is best known for...
   
   so far...i am loving it...will keep u updated...Also i got this from gnc with a lot of promotions and offers..during memorial day for $1100...I checked if Amazon cud offer the same price..i guess not so soon..but then..have had lots of great deals from amazon apart from this one...just hope amazon reads this and the rest of the potential buyers can benefit from lower rates. ;-)



4. I'll come back to this review again soon, having gotten this unit just recently. For now, I'll focus on assembly while it's still fresh in my mind. In case it matters, the instruction packet that we got is 2008 version B, as marked at the bottom right of page 2 in the manual. This is a long review, mainly because of the cost outlay. Please accept our apologies for any wordiness.
   
   Pro:
   -Unit is sturdy and smooth... it is very solid-feeling.
   -Assembly of the 22 steps using the 4 CAD illustrations took me 2 hours using their basic (but acceptable) tools. They provided most everything you need, with only the eyeglass screwdriver not being included, which is needed to put the watch battery into the cordless heart monitor.
   -There were some clear signs of clever thinking to help the consumer with the assembly process. For instance, a "wire tie" was added to one of the cables that you'll need to feed through the handle bar post. That wire tie added length making it easier to feed, plus gave me a way to secure the cable to keep it that way while I did other things... thank you!
   -Most everything went together without any binding, cajoling, or extra effort. The screws did not strip/show wear after tightening like many "some assembly required" items that you find today
   -Many pieces came pre-assembled, minimizing your assembly effort, time. Also, the hardware was well-packaged (see the related photo that we uploaded)
   -Hardware illustrations are mostly to a 1:1 scale, meaning you can hold the screw/bolt/washer/etc. up to the "assembly pack check list" drawing and quickly identify most hardware items (see Cons for exceptions)
   -We used a "white glove" delivery option that delivered the pieces/boxes to our second floor room... this thing is very, very heavy and a little awkwardly shaped to carry! I'm 6' and 200# and it gave me a good workout just moving it around in the room. It was expensive, but it was worth it. I think that two people are required for a safe lift up or down stairs.
   -Has little wheels for moving the unit within a room. Lift at the back about 3' and the wheels engage the floor (see Cons for more details).
   -Instructions are pretty good, but there are some flaws (see Cons below)
   -Lubricant, used to alleviate potential squeaking, is supplied. No specific action to add it except a brief mention deep into the manual
   -While you can't step on the black cover at the back end of the elliptical (you'll crack it for sure), this appears to be is a good safety feature. This shroud should help keep fingers/toes away from moving parts and related pinch points. Since we have a two-year old, this is a nice feature.
   
   Con (at the moment, please keep in mind that most cons relate to set-up, a one-time thing):
   -Parts list, assembly instructions, and assembly illustrations are on different pages, so you must flip back and forth and back and forth constantly
   -E35 and E95 elements are somewhat intermingled, and each page is labeled as such in the bottom right. If you bought the E95, I recommend ripping those pages out, and/or crossing those pages out with a big thick black marker when the page can't be removed. This will avoid working to the wrong drawing and flipping fewer pages.
   -The 1:1 scale was lost with either poor representations of part #81, #87, and #97 or there were part substitutions that put the instructions out of sync with the hardware. There are ~19 unique pieces of hardware so more were right than wrong in fairness to Sole.
   -Typographical errors are few, most notable is on page 9. Here, I think hex bolt #130 is really #103. Other typing errors while embarrassing, should not affect you.
   -The little wheels for moving the unit within a room are in our opinion too small, and don't work on carpet well.
   -They warn you to be careful of the computer cable that runs through the unit, but they don't tell you how to avoid it, so it's a meaningless warning because either you have no issue or you go "whoops!". All it does it stress you out needlessly, at least for most of us.
   -The cables that you connect are keyed, but I'd challenge the statement they make that you can't put them in the wrong way. Also, there was no positive snap or click to tell you connection was made. I pushed hard and hoped.
   -Unit requires power... you must plug it in. A more expensive unit will use human power, a few pumps and it's primed and ready, but not this one. Sole, please fix this (see photo for more).
   -The drink holders don't look very good, tall drinks will not stay, as the holders are oddly shaped and tilted forward nearly 45 degrees. Sole, please fix this (see photo for more).
   -Cord supplied for MP3 units is not iPhone/super minijack compatible... you'll need an adapter (see our other reviews to find a good adapter).
   -Fan is not very strong, it runs and moves air quietly, but I don't feel it on my face or body
   -MP3s play nicely (I needed an adapter) but there's no power, so you'll need a charged player
   
   Neutral:
   -This unit will raise you up at least a foot off of the floor, so keep that in mind when putting this into a room with a ceiling fan, low ceiling, and/or other overhead issues like pipes or light fixtures.
   -Manual is 22 double-sided pages. About 6 of these pages can be pretty easily eliminated as they relate mostly to the E35.
   -I used the stepper feet, which are recessed, to hold many of my parts. Less opportunity to lose hardware.
   -Take nothing out of the bags until they're needed. The bags clutter your space and a few are labeled left and right. Probably should be added to the plastic molds.
   -Not for use outdoors (or near high humidity, like an indoor pool) or on plush, heavily padded or lush carpets. You might trying to circumvent the carpet limitation using plastic risers used on beds and sofas to prevent the weight from crushing carpet fibers. I think that these can be found at any hardware store, although I don't know if that'll work well or not. You'd need at least six of them.
   -Since this unit is powered by a socket, it is recommended that you plug it into a proper, high-quality surge protector.
   -Don't over-tighten any screw that goes into plastic. For this unit, that's any screw with a pointy tip.
   -Tools used/provided: 2 philips screwdrivers (one short/stubby, normal-sized one), 12 mm crescent wrench, 13/14 mm double-ended crescent wrench.
   
   Bottom line: Highly-recommended. Assembly was easier than expected and better than average despite the point made. We would recommend avoid paying someone else to assemble it for you (which is a common shipping option). Remember, you assemble it once, so cons made here, while annoying, aren't big and bad enough to tarnish the fact that this unit is truly a great machine.



5. Fantastic equipment for the price. Easy setup. However, free shipping from Amazon using CEVA was extremely slow. CEVA never delivered on scheduled date or even call or email to arrange a delivery day. I ended up calling CEVA to arrange a pickup at their warehouse which is 35 miles away. With todays gas prices, this was not cheap, but at least I got my machine!

No comments about Field House Competition Bench (EA).

No comments about Gazelle Freestyle Trainer w/ Thumbpulse.

1 comments about Evo Rev 300 Elliptical Trainer.

1. The instructions were very easy to read and I had it set up in under two hours including do-overs! The hardest thing was finding where the power transformer plugged in (in the back wheel by the serial number information). I have used it about three weeks and so far so good.

3 comments about Cap Barbell Omega Elliptical (Blue).

1. I purchased this Elliptical in March of 2008. It seemed alright at first, but it continually made noises and squeaked a lot. Then, in June, the Resistance inside the enclosed wheel (which already comes assembled from the factory - no user parts to mess up on assembly) on the elliptical snapped and it's pedals were completely free. I called Cap Barbell and it was under warranty and they shipped me a new one. I had a Computer problems with that one and they sent me just the computer, which I had to wire myself to fix. (oh, and that took 3.5 weeks to resolve) Then, at the end of September, the resistance on the second one snapped in the same way as the first one. I just got the third one in yesterday, and out of the box, when the resistance gets to 12 (out of 16 levels), it locks up completely. This is a very very very bad purchase, and I would avoid this elliptical at all costs. I thought it was something I was doing, but it isn't at all. Just a bad product. Oh, and btw - NONE of the pulse monitors worked correctly on ANY of these. They have all been completely inaccurate. And I don't mean slightly. Off by 50 BPM. Minimum. I would not recommend this product for ANYONE.



2. Good for the price but I found myself to have to keep tightening the side screws on the right side where the handle connects to the main machine. It comes loose not because I put it together wrong but I noticed each side is made of different parts/shape. So if you buy it make sure to keep the items (wrench-screw driver) used to put it together.



3. for the price I am very impressed and it looks good to.
   Very stable,even mine is on the carpet, easy to assemble and didn't even read the instructions and I started right away. Already into 1 month of using it, and I would've never have said that before but I do enjoy using it!

No comments about New Model 2008 Exercise Ultimate Magnetic Elliptical Fitness Cross Trainer.

1 comments about Life Fitness 95Xi Elliptical Cross Trainer REMANUFACTURED.

1. Overall, I think the 95Xi is a terrific bargin. I got mine two years ago and lost 70 lbs AND now I have a V02 max that would allow me to run in a marathon. I also bike, indoor row on a ConceptII rower; weight train on a total trainer; balance on a BOSU trainer, stretch with weighted bars; and walk a lot.
   
   However, the 95Xi is central to my exercise since ones aerobic capacity opens up doors that you can run through (trademark).
   
   The only shortcoming of the 95Xi was the company's support. They wouldn't help me because the dealer was responsible and I'm still wondering about a "slipping clutch sound" that the dealer hasn't addressed yet. LifeFitness: feel free to post contact information if you have the answer to this question!
   
   I got my 95Xi very early on and the dealer had to upgrade parts that wore out and that was a little frustrating since the replacement wasn't proactive. For example, I had to have the stabilizers replaced 3 times but now they seem perfect since Life Fitness now makes them stronger. I also had some plastic parts replaced since Life Fitness tried to use a single screw to hold them on and, therefore, they could be easily "bumped off."
   
   I also wish that, as a premium machine, it had the computer interface that my ConceptII rower has: that machine lets me look historically at all my workouts and only cost $1000.00.
   
   However, despite these oddities, I lost 70 lbs and have an awesome aerobic capacity. During the past two years, I've used it for 282 hours or about 23 minutes per day. That far excedes the time I spent with any other piece of equipment.
   
   The reason why I like the 95Xi so much is that it's more like a treadmill than a stair stepper. Their residential models and every one of their competitors seem to be closer to stair steppers since the elliptical motion seems hoppy and choppy. The 95Xi, on the other hand, has a very smooth, elliptical rotation that makes me think I'm walking on air and doing the moon dance.
   
   Overall, I recommend the 95XI hands down.

No comments about LifeSpan Fitness EX2 Elliptical Trainer.

2 comments about Stamina Programmable Elliptical Trainer.

1. This review pertains to model number 55-2000, but should be reflected upon during consideration of any of Stamina's products.
   
   After 3 years of normal use, the crank on the left pedal sheared off from where it connected to the pedal rail. This occurred while I was using it, but thankfully I was not injured during the incident.
   
   Just to be clear, the crank itself snapped into two pieces. It did not come loose due to faulty assembly.
   
   I weigh approximately 225 lbs, which is under the recommended limit of 250 lbs.
   
   I was told by Customer Service that parts were only covered for 90 days and I would have to pay to replace the crank. They could've made more of an effort to keep an existing customer happy since this COULD have resulted in an injury, but Stamina did not seem to see it that way.
   
   I was not filled with confidence concerning the quality of the machine based on my experience after only 3 years of use, so I declined their offer and purchased a recumbent bike from Schwinn.
   
   However, I will give it two stars because it did perform well for 3 years. Hopefully, the newer models are built a little better.



2. I purchased this Stamina Deluxe Elliptical , Aug 07 to use when I do not have time to hit the gym for a 2nd time in a day. It is a truly great buy for the money and worth every cent. It goes up to 16 levels of intensity and it is sturdy, and do not squeak . I had a friend that works at the local gym put it together. It took him under 1 hour. I was totally impress with the machine and how well he assembled the Ellip. This Ellip is just as good if not better than the Ellip machine in the gym. I m truly glad I took a chance with this vendor Stamina because I never heard of them. Buy this machine if you are looking for a quality Ellip . With Stamina Ellip you WIll NOT, AGAIN, YOU WILL NOT GO WRONG. I hoped my review helped .

No comments about Kettler HKS Cross !me Elliptical Cross-Trainer.