After spending big bucks for a "high quality" unit, I was dismayed with the quality of my E25 after assembling it. The main vertical column began squeaking loudly shortly after assembly. Within hours, the left roller slipped off the track during use, badly gouging the roller track. Several messages were left for Sole support without any response. Finally, after getting through to them, they sent a replacement runner assembly and mentioned that the runner surfaces needed to be greased. It did NOT indicate this anywhere in the directions and they certainly didn't provide enough grease to coat them. After an afternoon spent tearing down, greasing all the joints with vaseline (Sole didn't provide any grease), and reassembling, it is still sqeaking louder than ever and now in makes a thunk...thunk...thunk at high speeds. The squeaking and thunking are both caused by design flaws in the main tower assembly. Also, the plastic shields covering the grease joints are cheap and brittle. The screw assembly on one of them cracked while I was re-assembling after re-greasing. This unit has cost me a lot of time and grief. I can't recommend a Sole, as all the E series have the same basic design. I'll probably return mine and buy something else.

I have used Elliptical trainers for 10 years & have replaced them as needed (worn out)this machine fits my needs & for $1000 worth the price, it operates smoothly & is sturdy,well built & should last for for years used 5 times a week, It does have a small creaking noise coming from the main stem that is bolted onto the top stem it can be reduced by adjusting the bolt tensions on the 4 bolts to find the correct tension you just have to experiment but will help with the creaking noise. I would recommend this product for everyday use, the display is useful, the fan is not.

As a 50 yr. old woman who was overtaken by menopausal weight gain, I had to do something. I used to be a runner but my knees can no longer take the pounding. Swimming laps was too boring. I had tried some elliptical machines and some were fine for my knees and some hurt. I strongly suggest that you find a gym, fitness center, or sporting goods store and try out different models before you buy. This Sole elliptical has a 20 inch stride and I wouldn't go any shorter than that, and I'm a short person. The pedals also adjust the angle that is most comfortable for the user. I gather that the wrong angle can make your toes tingle.

I hated to pay the money for this machine but it is worth it. Setup took maybe and hour and wasn't difficult, although it is heavy so having a helper is good. Initially there was a rubbing noise but my hubby discovered that one of the factory installed bolts was not tight and fixed it. I have had it for 4 weeks and have lost 8 pounds and 3 inches (waist, hips, thigh). I work out for an hour each day. It's nice that I can vary the workout with the different programs. This machine can be used with or without using your arms. The controls are quick and easy to use and only took about 10 minutes to figure out. It is so smooth and quiet that I can watch tv or listen to music easily. My favorite thing is it has a sort of shelf on the console that I can prop a book on and read.... anything to keep my mind off how I'm feeling tired or other things I could be doing. The little fan cools your face. It has holders for a waterbottle (included), MP3, and I can hang a towel on the stationary handlebar. One feature I hadn't thought was important was the calories burned indicator. However, now that I know how hard I need to work to burn off that 150 calorie Little Debbie Cake, I am finding it easier to put them down.

So, I recommend this machine highly. The cheaper, lighter machines don't have the stability or smooth stride.

When I started looking for an elliptical trainer, I looked at the units at a couple of local stores and saw various models of Proform, NordicTrack, Horizon, etc. None of them were fully to my liking. The ones that approached the quality that I was interested in were ~$1000, but they still didn't "wow" me.

I read so many online reviews, and had just ablout decided on a model, when I went to another local store that had the E25 on display. After looking it over and trying it out, I was sold. This machine met every one of my expectations. It is ultra-smooth, well built, and has a better feature set than most of the reviews indicated. (It is now obvious that those reviews were for the 2007 model.) The machine now has 20 levels of reistance and 10 programs. In addition, it is slightly heavier and has a higher maximum weight.

The instructions were fairly clear, and it took me only an hour to assemble it. I'm extremely happy with this elliptical trainer!

The Sole e25 elliptical is a solid machine that does not take up as much room in the home as many other models. We have had the machine for about 6 months and it is used on a regular basis. It arrives mostly assembled and although others have indicated it takes several hours to put together the rest of it, we had it together in about 1 hour. While most of the assembly can be done by 1 person, the final stages you really need two people.

Shipping was fast and free through Amazon Prime. Note that the default delivery is curbside (literally), so if you don't want to haul this thing in from the curb, you might want to have a friend around to help get it inside (it's pretty heavy in the box).

The action is smooth and virtually silent. I am not even awakened by it when my wife uses it in the early morning in our bedroom.

Others have written here that after a few months, their machines began to make noise. Our experience has been that after about four months, dust collected on the rear rails. Since there is lubricant on the rails, dust can settle and collect in the lubricant. Our elliptical started to make a little noise from the friction. A simple 5 minute wiping down of the rails and relubing it solved that easily. A tube of clear lube came with the elliptical, which was convenient.

The screen is bright and clear. The workouts are varied and excellent. The speaker is decent for MP3 playing. The fan is almost useless, but a nice touch.

Very solid construction and we are delighted with our purchase.