The Sole F63 Treadmill 2008 Review - Still one of the best treadmills at any price

Ohiyo!

For more than 3 years now, the Sole F63 treadmill has been one of the dominant treadmills in the under $1000 price range. It has been one of the top sellers online and is one of the best reviewed treadmills at any price. This year Sole has upgraded the unit while keeping it at the same under $1000 price tag that consumers have gone crazy for.

The 2008 Sole F63 Treadmill comes with the same monster, cool running, low RPM 2.5 horsepower motor from years past. The F63 motor was the same one found in most of the Spirit treadmills as well as in last year's best buy award winning Sole F80 treadmill. When properly maintained, the motor on the Sole F63 should outlast the 20-year warranty it ships with.

It still has the same 10mph top speed, fantastic 15% incline, large precision machined 2.5" rollers and large 20"x55" deck. The only real changes in the Sole F63 this year are in its look and in the larger support tubing in the upright console supports. The large supports give the already solid SOle F63 even more stability and sturdiness, making the Sole F63 the single most stable and shake-free treadmill under $1000...and it gives higher priced treadmills a run for their money as well. Step on a Sole F63 after checking out a higher priced Spirit treadmill and you'll see the difference immediately. Gone are the shakes and bouncies often found in the Spirit XT175, Spirit XT275 or Spirit XT375 treadmills. The budget-priced Sole F63 out-performs them all.

I can say that I was glad that Sole Fitness decided to keep this best buy award winning treadmill unchanged aside from the cosmetic changes and the larger tubing. The Sole F63 was about as close to a perfect treadmill as you could find in the budget price range.

My one warning about purchasing the Sole F63 comes in where you buy it. A lot of online retailers are knocking a few bucks off of the price of the unit (you may see it listed at $995 some places), but they are tacking on a $99 shipping fee. What that means is that even with a promised 5% discount you'll still end up paying more than market value for the Sole F63. Check out Amazon.com for the Sole F63 priced at $999.99 with free shipping. Don't get conned into paying more by shady sales people, especially when you can get it at a lower price on Amazon as well as take advantage of Amazon's buyer protection.

For being a solid, best buy treadmill, the Treadmill Sensei gives the 2008 Sole F63 Treadmill 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

The Sole F63 gets a great 4.5 gold buddahs out of 5.




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2008 Sole F63 Treadmill Specifications
Horsepower: 2.5 HP
Max Speed: 10 MPH
Max Incline: 15%
Rollers: 2.5"
Belt: 2 ply
Deck Size: 20" x 55"
Display: LCD
Readouts: Speed, Incline, Time, Distance Traveled, Calories, Pulse, pace and 1/4 mile track.
Programs: 6 standard
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes
Heart Rate Control: No
Folding: Yes
Max Weight Capacity: 325 lbs.
Weight: 245 lbs.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The SportsArt E81 Elliptical Review - Highest quality, low price, fantastic elliptical

Ohiyo!

Today's review was actually written back in November when we received a number of SportsArt Fitness pieces in from a vendor in Arizona. The retailer was kind enough to let us borrow a few units for review since the Treadmill Sensei was having a bit of a difficult time in locating the ellipticals here locally.

SportsArt Fitness continues to be one of the leaders in quality and design for the fitness industry. It is fantastic to see SportsArt bringing that level of quality (normally found only in ellipticals priced in excess of $2500) to a more accessible price range.

If you are in the market for an elliptical in the under $2000 price range, then you're shooting yourself in the foot if you aren't taking a look at the SportsArt E81 and its little brother, the SportsArt E80. These two machines can best be described as the closest thing to a commercial elliptical feel in the price range.

As with the SportsArt E80, the E81 Elliptical was quick and easy to assemble -- the unit we reviewed came in fully assembled, but we broke it down and I handed it off to Hikaru to put back together. Hikaru is pretty skilled at assembly, which only took him about 20 minutes. For those of you with more average mechanical abilities, figure on the SportsArt E81 going together in about 45 minutes with very little to no cursing involved.

The E81 seems to have the same heavy duty, well-constructed steel frame as the SportsArt E80 elliptical. It also uses all bearings in its joints and pivot points. This is a great upgrade over lesser quality machines from places like Spirit which use much flimsier and break-down prone brass bushings. The bearings will provide a much smoother, quieter and more natural feeling workout as well as extend the life of the elliptical by years over an elliptical with bushings.

It was great to see that SportsArt has upgraded the number of resistance levels in the E81 over the old E80, which only had 10 levels of resistance. This allows SportsArt E81 owners to better fine tune their workouts and maximizing their exercise time. All-in-all, the SportsArt E81 is a fantastic upgrade to the very solid SportsArt E80 elliptical, and is easily one of the best ellipticals priced at under $2000. I'd look for this unit to be a heavy contender for the best buy elliptical award in 2008.

For being a fine example of a great commercial quality elliptical at a budget price, the Treadmill Sensei gives the SportsArt E81 Elliptical 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

SportsArt steps up their game with the new SportsArt E81 Elliptical.


We have found the best price for the SportsArt E81 Elliptical online. Get more information, Save More and protect your warranty by going factory direct.

SportsArt E81 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 19"
Flywheel: Approximately 22lbs
Display: LCD
Display Readouts: Level, strides per minute, time, heart rate, total strides, watts, distance and calories
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Resistance Levels: 14
Programs: 8
Unit Weight: 170lbs
Max User Weight: 350lbs
Price: Under $1800

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Fuel FT94 Treadmill Review - The Best Treadmill Available Under $1000

Ohiyo!

Every so often the Treadmill Sensei gets to take a look at a truly spectacular piece of fitness equipment here at the DOJO. That was the case about a month ago when a box labeled as the "Fuel FT94 Treadmill" was dropped off here at our warehouse doors. I've already talked a little bit about their great ellipticals, and due to high reader demand we decided to follow up and check out their two brand new treadmills.

I have to say that I was blown away by what we saw during our tests of the Fuel FT94 treadmill, especially considering the under $700 price. The test we ran were the standard, hardcore Treadmill Sensei tests - 12 days of running and walking workouts by two people (myself and my parter who actually exceeded the weight limit of the FT94) over the course of a two week period. The workouts were between 15 and 45 minutes in length and consisted of walking, jogging and light running by both of us. Keep in mind, we don't have any of the magical testing machines that other review sites claim to use -- it is just a couple of guys working out exactly the same way you, our loyal readers, will be using the machines. Although, to tell the truth, we're probably a bit rougher on the treadmills than the average user is going to be.

Out of the box, the Fuel FT94 treadmill was about average in ease of assembly. Figure on it taking around 30-45 minutes to put together. The unit we received had one hole in the console that was a bit hard to get lined up. At first we thought it was mis-drilled but we quickly discovered it was a little plastic burr that hadn't been cleaned out. As with all treadmills, putting the Fuel FT94 together is easier with a second set of hands helping out.

For those of you who are not familiar, the Fuel equipment is made at the same factory that the best buy award winning Sole treadmills and ellipticals are manufactured. In fact, the Fuel FT94 seems to be very similar in components to the Sole F63 treadmill. The only real difference seems to be in electronics and warranty -- the 2.25hp motor on the Fuel FT94 appears to be almost identical (if not the same) as the Sole F63.

The Fuel FT94 treadmill shares all the great features found in the higher priced Sole treadmills, including heavy duty frame, easy-assist folding, MP3 speakers, shock absorption system and hand grip heart rate monitoring. A quick glance "under the hood" seems to reveal the same "off the shelf" components that was found in the majority of the old Spirit, Sole and Esprit treadmills. The Fuel FT94 appears to be a case of putting a new name on an older unit. The only real difference between the Sole F63, Esprit or Spirit treadmills and the Fuel FT94 is in the shorter parts warranty on the FT94.

If you are in the market for a high quality home treadmill but don't want to spend the $1000-$1299 it normally costs, check out the Fuel FT94 for one of the best value treadmills for your money. Also, check out the Fuel FT96 for some great upgrades to the awesome Fuel FT94. The Treadmill Sensei gives the Fuel FT94 5 out of 5 Golden Buddahs for being the best bang for your buck under $1300.

The Fuel FT94 treadmill is one of the most stable treadmills available for under $700 and out-performs a lot of treadmills priced at $1000 or more!


Find out more information on the Fuel FT94 Treadmill and get the best price online.

Fuel FT94 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 2.25 hp
Speed: 10 mph
Incline: 10%
Unit Weight: 220 lbs.
Max User Weight: 270 lbs.
Running Surface: 20" X 55"
Belt: 2 ply
Rollers: 2.5"
Folding: Yes
Heart Rate Control: No
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Display: LCD
Standard Programs: 5
User Defined Programs: 2
Price: Under $700

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The 2008 Sole F80 Treadmill Review - A world class treadmill upgrade

Ohiyo!

This year Sole Fitness has tweaked their entire, award-winning line of treadmills and ellipticals. In general, most of that tweaking was cosmetic -- color, shape of console and thickening of tubing to make the units stronger -- but for the already spectacular Sole F80 Treadmill, Sole has gone one step further and added in a larger, cooler running motor. That's right, last year's great 2.5 horsepower motor was replaced with an even larger 3 horsepower motor that runs at low RPMs in order to extend it's life and give owners fairly care-free maintence.

It's very very easy to see why just about every fitness expert out there, as well as more consumers than you can shake a stick at, consider the Sole F80 to be the best buy treadmill for under $1500.

2007-2008 Ichi-Ban Best Buy Award Winner for treadmills under $1500.

Last year I talked about the sturdy platform and frame of the Sole F80 and how it would hold up to some fairly hardcore workouts. How runners and walkers alike would enjoy the stability of the machine, as well as Sole's patented shock absorption system. Well, that is all back this year, along with the extra large 2.75", precision machined rollers, heart rate monitoring and control programs, and one of the best hydraulic-assisted folding found in any treadmill at any price.

The 2008 Sole F80 treadmill continues to shine as the best buy treadmill award winner and one of the best machines in any class. For still being a great treadmill, the Treadmill Sensei gives the newly upgraded Sole F80 treadmill 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

For the second year in a row, the Sole F80 Treadmill gets 4.5 gold buddahs out of 5.




Get more information on the Sole F80 Treadmill. Find the guaranteed best price online, and Save More with FREE Shipping Now!

2008 Sole F80 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 3 HP
Speed: 11 mph
Incline: 15%
Unit Weight: 250 lbs.
Max User Weight: 350 lbs.
Running Surface: 20" X 55
Belt: Double Woven 2 Ply"
Rollers: 2 3/4 inches
Folding: Yes - with hydraulic assistance
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Heart Rate Monitor: Pulse grip and wireless
Display: LED
Standard Programs: 6
User Defined Programs: 2
Heart Rate Programs: 2
Cooling Fans: Yes
Price: Under $1500

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The 2008 Sole E55 Elliptical Review - A small upgrade this year

Ohiyo!

Today the Treadmill Sensei is going to continue with my reviews of the 2008 Sole treadmills and ellipticals. This time around I want to talk about the outstanding Sole E55 elliptical. This unit has been around for a few years now and Sole has done an excellent job with it. This year they've updated a few things but kept it almost exactly the same as last year. As with the other 2008 Sole equipment, this was a stroke of brilliance on the part of Sole management. Heck, when you've got a best buy award winning line of equipment, why would you change it?

For all intents and purposes the Sole E35 and Sole E55 ellipticals are the same unit. The only real difference comes in the form of the console and heart rate control programs the Sole E55 has. Yes, it has a slightly different monitor, but aside from the HR Control programs it doesn't do anything beyond what the console of the Sole E35 does.

In regards to the flyhweels being listed as being of different weights for each machine...as I've mentioned in a few other spots, the flywheels actually appear to be identical and one could be used for the other. I believe this is the same flywheel that was used in all of the Sole products last year (or one very similar). Strangely enough this flywheel was listed as being 30 pounds. I think Sole is just trying to help customers differentiate product with those different flywheel weights, but in reality I'm very much of the mind that they are the same.

So really what you've got with the Sole E55 is the exact same great elliptical as the Sole E35 but with the addition of heart rate control. HR Control, if you use it, is an outstanding feature and gives that extra little "Umph" to the Sole E55 and makes the elliptical well worth the additional $150 it costs. However, if you're like most owners, it is a feature you will never actually use and that makes it a bit of a waste. In other words, if you use HRC programs then the Sole E55 and its higher price tag make perfect sense, but if you're the average joe customer then you should save that $150 and stick with the Sole E35.

For being a top rated machine but for not being enough of an upgrade, the Treadmill Sensei gives the 2008 Sole E55 Elliptical 4 out of 5 Golden Buddahs.

The Sole E55 is a fantastic machine IF you make use of heart rate control programs. If you don't, then make sure to check out the 2008 Sole E35 elliptical instead and save yourself $150.




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2008 Sole E55 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 20"
Flywheel: 27 lbs
Articulating Pedals: Yes
Programs: 8
Resistance: 20 Levels
Display: LCD
Heart Rate Monitor: Pulse grip and wireless
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max Weight Capacity: 375 lbs
Elliptical Weight: 200 lbs
Parts Warranty: 5 years
Labor Warranty: 2 years
Price: Under $1450

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Fuel FE44 Elliptical Review - Big Quality for a Little Price

Ohiyo!

Today's review has bummed the Treadmill Sensei out a bit. It's bound to happen, but every so often a treadmill or elliptical is release just after we post our awards and misses out being included in them. Unfortunately, in this case, it is very likely the Fuel FE44 Elliptical would have won the best buy elliptical under $1000 Award with little effort.

Word of the Fuel ellipticals and treadmills started filtering in to us here at the DOJO a month and a half or so ago. A lot of you, my loyal readers, wrote in asking about these great feeling new ellipticals found primarily at Dick's Sporting Goods and online. As I mentioned in the Fuel FE46 Elliptical Review, everyone in the industry had been hearing rumors of Dick's getting their own line of budget treadmills and ellipticals, but I hadn't heard they were going to be out for this season. And, just like it's big brother, the Fuel FE44 Elliptical shows all the signs of being one of the best ellipticals under $1000 produced in a very, very long time.

When our Fuel FE44 Elliptical arrived here at the DOJO, my first thought was "Yup, that looks almost exactly like last year's Sole or Spirit equipment." The resemblence is remarkable and, if rumors proove to be true, the Fuel equipment can actually be found in Sole's warehouse here in southern California. It looks like Dick's has turned to one of the best sources for quality equipment for help in Sole Fitness out of Utah. Excellent choice on the part of Dick's.

The best way to describe the Fuel FE44 Elliptical is as a very slightly toned down version of the Fuel FE46 or Sole E25 or Spirit XE100/XE200 Ellipticals. Without having the Sole or Spirit to compare side by side, I'd say the Fuel FE44 has the exact same flywheel as the higher priced models. It may be a touch smaller, but I'm betting they are the same except for on paper.

The only real or significant different between all the units is in the stride length. The Fuel FE44 is listed as having an 18" stride. However, we've received numerous emails from readers saying they tried a Sole E25 side by side with a Fuel FE44 at a local Dick's and found them to feel almost identical in stride and elliptical motion. From my own tests here at the DOJO I'd say the Fuel FE44 Elliptical feels like it has closer to a 19" stride and is incredibly smooth and comfortable. It has the same articulating pedal design as the Sole equipment, which gives it one of the most natural elliptical feels around.

Fuel has produced the single best elliptical you can buy for under $700 in the Fuel FE44. I'd even go as far as to say that this is the best possible value for your money in an elliptical under $1000. For the price, the Fuel FE44 delivers the best workout you can find and is the most solid, sturdy and stable ellipticals in the budget price range under $1000. Through the force of its size and market strength, Dick's has taken what should have been an elliptical priced at $999 or more and dropped it down to a mind-blowing $699. This finally gives those of us on a budget the chance to own a high end elliptical without having to break the bank...or steal from our children's college funds!

For being nearly perfect, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Fuel FE44 Elliptical 5 out of 5 Golden Buddahs.

The Treadmill Sensei wishes the Fuel FE44 Elliptical had been available a few months earlier in time for the Ichi-Ban Best Buy Awards for Ellipticals because it would have blown away the competition.


Get more information on the Fuel FE 44 Elliptical Now. Save more with Free Inside Delivery and Pay No Tax!

Fuel FE44 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 18"
Articulating Pedals: Yes
Flyhweel: 19lbs
Display: LCD
Programs: 14
Resistance: 15 Levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 290lbs
Product Weight: 175lbs
Price: Under $700

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Reader Mailbag: Sole E95 vs Bodyguard E230X

Ohiyo!

To quote Jed Clampett...Weeeeeeeeell, Doggy! We've got a reader in the midst of an elliptical quandary. Erik is torn between two higher end ellipticals and can't figure out which to get. This time around it is the Sole E95 Elliptical versus the Bodyguard E230X in a duel to the death. Let's see which one comes out on top. Take it away, Erik!

Hello Sensei!

I love your site! I really appreciate your professional and honest opinions.

As you've mentioned many times, searching for the right elliptical is really tough! I've been struggling with that for weeks and I've finally come down to the Sole E95 vs. the Bodyguard E230X.

You've given both of them great reviews and the same high rating. The Sole would be $1700 delivered, then I haul it upstairs and assemble it myself. The Bodyguard is $2260 with tax but they deliver AND assemble.

Bodyguard has the best warranty of any elliptical, 3 years, and I'd have service from the same place I bought it, but Sole is also good at two years.

The Bodyguard feels more natural and seems to have a better console and programs but the Sole just feels "smoother".

I love the ride on the Bodyguard E230X but I don't like the armbars. They're too thin and too hard on my hands, not enough padding.

The rear shroud on the Sole E95 is very flimsy as you said in your review. It's crazy to have a shroud that will break if you step on it and have it in a place where you're always stepping.

I started out with a $1500 limit but I'm just not satisfied with anything in that range. The Bodyguard is way over my budget but I'd hate to go cheap on myself and end up unhappy. Those armbars on the E230X could be the dealbreaker. Should I spend all that money and then try to find some padding?

You'll probably say I'd be fine with either one but I need some insight. I'm dying here trying to decide.

Please throw something at me that will help! - Erik

Erik:

Thanks for your note and your great questions. Interestingly enough you've picked two ellipticals that we'll be re-evaluating here on treadmillsensei.com over the next few weeks. Both units performed well in our initial tests but both have had a few reader emails come in about problems (and, in regards to the Bodyguard E230X, quite a large number of reader complaint emails).

Let me go over what other readers have been saying. First, the Sole E95. Everyone who purchases the Sole E95 has absolutely loved it. They love the feel of the machine, they love its sturdiness, they love just about everything. The only problem that comes up every single time is the plastic guide rail shroud on the back of the machine. For some reason Sole decided get rid of the metal shroud the E95 elliptical had in previous years and replace it with the plastic shroud formerly found on the Sole E55. Unfortunately, while the old steel shrouds would hold up to someone accidentially stepping on them, the plastic shrouds tend to crack if too much weight is placed on them.

Aside from that one problem, the Sole E95 is a great unit with the excellent elliptical motion and smooth ride found in all of the Sole ellipticals.

As for the Bodyguard E230X, the comments and complaints are also almost universal in the emails we get. People first comment on the pedals and how they are cushioned to reduce impact. To which I always say, "Um...ellipticals are almost zero impact as it is and cushioned pedals, while nifty, don't add anything to that." That's right, the ultra cushioning found the in the Bodyguard E230X (and all their ellipticals) is just a bit of a marketing ploy. They're putting in a feature with a much higher perceived value than any real added benefit. They're also charging you more for that feature which isn't really doing anything for your workout. They do feel really nice, though.

The second thing people mention is almost exactly what you said: how god-awful the handlebars on the Boyguard E230x are. I'm not sure how much thought went in to their design, but they definitely aren't the most comfortable handles out there.

A lot of readers also talk about how the E230X feels great when you're just standing on it, but that it doesn't have the smoothest or most natural feel over the course of a longer workout. A number of readers compare it to more of a stepper feel. I'm not sure that is the most fair comparison. Perhaps they' just been on the units which ship out with 18.5" strides instead of the full 20.5" stride the E230x is capable of having.

My advice would lean more towards the Sole E95. I think you're getting a slightly better value for your money. It might be worth snooping around to see if you can find a 2007 Sole E95 with a metal shroud or ask around and see if you can have them ship you just a metal shroud instead. The shroud ships in a second box and shouldn't be too hard to replace. Plus, you can always drop the extra $150-200 for inside delivery and set up that most companies charge if you don't want to do the set up yourself.

I'd also suggest checking out the slightly cheaper Sole E55 elliptical. It has most of the same features as the Sole E95 (including the same sized flywheel, even if the manufacturer doesn't want you to know that) and comes without the annoying plastic shroud.

Another great option for the same price range is the SportsArt E81 which would give you the same higher quality components as the Bodyguard but with a much more comfortable workout feel. I'll be posting a review of the SportsArt E81 later this week if you want to check back.

Thanks again for your note, Erik. I hope I haven't rambled too much! Good luck with your fitness quest and feel free to write back and let us know how it turned out for you.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Reader Mailbag: What is the story with Sole vs. Spirit

Ohiyo!

Posts three days in a row?! The Treadmill Sensei is back! It's amazing what someone can do when they have an entire day to dedicate to one task, with no interruptions beyond doing laundry for their wife. I do the laundry, the dishes and take out the trash and for that my wife puts up with me without too much complaint. I also kill spiders and open jars.

For this installment of the Read Mailbag we have a reader who wants to know about the difference between Sole Fitness equipment and Spirit Fitness equipment in terms of quality. Let's see what Jen has to say. Take it away, Jen!

I like your site very much, and it seems to have alot of information that has helped me to start to figure out which elliptical to purchase.

Right now I have it narrowed down to the Sole E55 and the Spirit XE550. I know that they are basically the same, but I, of course have the guy at the specialty fitness store telling me that the Sole brand is just a lower level of Spirit, and that I should definately get the Spirit since it is basically the same price. Is this true or are they the exact same machine? Also, I have read a little about the new Esprit line, and that the EL-7 has an automatic incline ramp included as well. I don't see it on the Spirit site yet and I can't seem to find anything else about it. Do you know much about this new line and specifically the EL-7? -Jen

Jen:

Thanks for your note, Jen, and I'm glad you enjoy the website. I want to start off by addressing a very common misconception readers seem to have -- especially if they've spoken with some of the shadier retailers out there. Sole Fitness and Spirit fitness are two different companies. Sole is out of Utah and Spirit is in Arkansas. Spirit has been around since the early 80s and started off as a manufacturer, I believe, of farm equipment. Sole has been around since the early 90s and began as a supplier of bicycles. Both companies re-brand and sell equipment from an OEM company called Dyaco. OEM stands for "original equipment manufacturer" and is how a lot of companies do business. What it means is that Dyaco (with factories in Taiwan and China) manufactures the equipment and then paints and labels it for their clients. Dyaco became the 100% owner of Spirit Fitness back in 2004 (I believe) and, from what I understand, this past year may have purchased a stake in Sole as well (rumors were to the effect of 20% but I doubt anyone knows for sure).

In the past, Sole and Spirit bought the same basic equipment, had it painted different colors and sold it under their own label/brand name. So, for example, pre-summer 2007 you had a Sole E55 elliptical which was essentially the same as the Spirit XE350 elliptical. Different paint jobs, different labels but the same "under the hood" and using the same off-the-shelf parts. Where the two companies differed was in what happened with those units once they landed in the US. Sole and Spirit are two different companies in respect to their QC process and their customer service. A funny thing that I've heard about happening is that a customer will go in to purchase a Sole treadmill or elliptical and then a shady salesperson will "upgrade" them to a Spirit for a slightly higher cost. Do NOT buy in to this, especially with the 2006-2007 models because they are the same units and should be the same, lower cost.

This past summer (2007), Sole and Spirit both redesigned their equipment in order to help differentiate the two lines of product from one another. Because of my huge ego, I like to think it happened because our website opened up the flood gates back in 2006/2007 by letting everyone know they were selling the same equipment under two different names. Nowadays, you wouldn't mistake a Sole treadmill or elliptical for a Spirit one even in bad light. Sole has stuck to the fantastic feeling, longer frame ellipticals while Spirit has moved to shorter profile with more of a stepper feel to their ellipticals.

As for Sole being a lower level version of Spirit, this is definitely not the case and often comes from overzealous or borderline shady salespeople. The two companies sold the same equipment, although the Spirit versions tended to have a higher price for some inexplicable reason. That's still the true today -- you'll find that the Spirit equivilent will be priced $100 or more than its Sole counterpart. This may be because Sole has a much higher sales volume than Spirit and is able to bring in higher quality equipment for a lower price. To tell the truth, the two companies are very similar. Sole is the more experienced, cooler bigger brother while Spirit is still young and going through some growing pains because of its smaller sales volume. You'll continue to see a lot of good things from both companies.

Before I forget, you asked about the Esprit line in general and the Esprit EL7 Elliptical in specific. The Esprit line is basically just a repainted version of the pre-2007 Sole treadmills and ellipticals. Since Dyaco owned the molds that Sole used for their equipment in years past, they decided to re-release the units with a new white paint scheme to be sold exclusively online. It's a decent idea because it gives consumers the chance to purchase some great equipment for a very low price.

About the Esprit EL7 elliptical: the reason you're not finding a whole lot of information on it is, from what I'm hearing, because Spirit pulled production on the model and it is currently not shipping. I'm not sure why, but it may have resulted from issues with the new technology or it may have just been a reworking of their product mix. Spirit hasn't had an incline trainer in the past and this technology can be a bit difficult to get perfected. As with any new technology, it is best to give it a year or so for the manufacturer to get all the bugs worked out before buying in to it.

This may change in the future, but as of right now I'm hearing the Esprit EL7 ellipticals are not available. If anyone has any info to the contrary, please email in and I'll write and update.

I hope this helps, Jen, and thanks again for the great questions! Take care and good luck in your search for fitness!

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The 2008 Sole E35 Elliptical Review - The Best Buy Elliptical under $1500, Bar None

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei really hates fitness manufacturers because they keep putting out new treadmills and ellipticals every year. Sheesh, can't they just take a year off so I can catch up! Don't they see that I'm freakin' swamped here!!

Seriously, though, every year fitness manufacturers release either all new equipment or ugraded, updated versions of their older equipment. Just like the auto industry, the next year's new equipment starts appearing in June or August of the previous year. So what I'm going to do here at the DOJO for the next week or so is to focus on the new 2008 models of previously released equipment. This will, I hope, help everyone see what new offerings are available on some old favorite machines.

Today I want to talk about the brand new, 2008 Sole E35 Elliptical. With its newly redesigned ellipticals, Sole Fitness continues to deliver some of the best feeling, most comfortable and most natural feeling ellipticals available for under $2000. It's easy to see why the Hilton and Omni Hotels have chosen Sole to exclusively provide equipment for their hotel chains. For the past 2 years the Sole E35 has come away with the Ichi-Ban Best Buy Award for an Elliptical under $1500 and, if Sole keeps up their quality and innovation, I expect it to continue to win in the future.

Winner of the 2007-2008 Ichi-Ban Award for Best Buy Elliptical Under $1500.

In an effort to further differentiate their product from Spirit Fitness Ellipticals, this year Sole has redesigned the Sole E35 Elliptical. They've kept the best features from the past and fine-tuned the Sole E35 to be, once again, one of the best ellipticals available on the market today.

The first thing I want to mention about the Sole E35 unit we received in here at the DOJO is just how freaking great the new design looks. Now, I know that has absolutely nothing to do with the E35's performance but it is worth mentioning. The new Sole E35 has surpassed the great look of last year's model and is now one of the spiffiest looking machines I've had the pleasure to work on.

Next, I want to mention the flywheel on the Sole E35. Flywheels have been a bit of a shell game when it comes to elliptical manufacturers. It's really hard to tell what is there under the shroud and what a manufacturer is basing their weight estimates on. This year Sole has given different flywheel weights to all of its ellipticals. However, and this is based purely on our observations here at the DOJO, the flywheels all seem to be exactly the same again this year as they were last year (and actually look to be the same flywheel drive as last year). I truly believe they only gave the Sole E35 and E55 different flywheel weights in order to allow their salespeople to "upgrade" consumers to a "better" unit for more money. The only significant difference we found in the SOle E35 and Sole E55 ellipticals was in the heart rate control programs. That's it. The two ellipticals have the same exact feel when you get on them...and it's a very nice workout feel.

The elliptical itself is slightly beefier than last year's model, weighing in at about 15-20 pounds heavier and with an increased maximum user weight capacity (375 pounds this year versus 300 last year). This comes from a slightly heavier duty shroud around the flywheel and an upgrade in the unit's tubing. Individually it doesn't amount to much, but when you add it up you've got a much more solid elliptical in the new Sole E35 and one that will handle much harder and punishing workouts.

There are a few other changes as well, some upgrades and some features have been removed. Most interesting is the lack of heart rate control programs in the Sole E35 this year. Sole must have decided that users in this price range really aren't interested in the HRC programs and so saved them for the upgraded Sole E55. I do think the heart rate control programs are one of the most misunderstood features in treadmills and ellipticals both. While it is a nice feature to have, most users really have no need for it and will never actually make use of it. If you're an athlete doing heart rate training or you've been set up with one by your doctor for medical reasons, then you'll want to check out the Sole E55. For everyone else, the Sole E35 is going to be more than enough of an elliptical for your needs.

The 2008 Sole E35 elliptical has also been upgraded to 20 levels of resistance over 16 last year, which is a nice little bit of icing on the cake.

Aside from that, the Sole E35 still has most of the same best buy award winning features as last year - adjusting and articulating foot pedals with a 2% inward incline, a fantastic 20" stride, 8 programs, pulsegrip and wireless heart rate monitoring and the great Sole warranties and customer service.

Sole has done a great job in their redesign and it's nice to see a beefier, sturdier Sole E35 elliptical this year. For being the best buy awarding winning elliptical under $1500 for yet another year, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Sole E35 Elliptical 4.5 out of 5 Golden Buddahs.

Another "WOW" from Sole, the Sole E35 elliptical is a best buy elliptical with 4.5 gold buddahs out of 5.





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2008 Sole E35 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 20"
Flywheel: 25 lbs
Articulating Pedals: Yes
Programs: 8
Resistance: 20 Levels
Display: LCD
Heart Rate Monitor: Pulse grip and wireless
Heart Rate Control: No
Max Weight Capacity: 375 lbs
Elliptical Weight: 200 lbs
Parts Warranty: 5 years
Labor Warranty: 2 years
Price: Under $1300

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Reader Mailbag: Best deal - Sole E55 Elliptical or Sole E95 Elliptical?

Ohiyo!

Now that the holidays are over and the extended family has left, the Treadmill Sensei is ready to get back to work at being the internet's #1 source for information on treadmills and ellipticals. Interestingly enough, the Treadmill Sensei is also the internet's #1 source for unbridled machismo...or was that mo' cheese? I can never remember.

I'm sure that many of you, my loyal readers, have noticed I haven't dipped in to the reader mailbag for quite sometime. Now, this isn't from a lack of reader emails - heck, we get in around 50 reader emails a day here at the DOJO. What it comes down to is: your Treadmill Sensei has been a bit of a lazy bastard for the past couple of months. With work in the DOJO being at an all time high, treadmill and elliptical repairs have been taking up most of my time at work. Well, with the new year now upon us your Treadmill Sensei has made a resolution to answer more reader emails and to post more often in order to keep his readers more informed and better armed for when they head out to purchase their new fitness equipment.

As with most new years resolutions, we'll see how long it actually lasts...

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Our first reader email of the new year is from D.R. who has a question about the Sole E55 Elliptical versus its big brother, the Sole E95 Elliptical. Let's see what D.R. has to say. Take it away, D.R.

Hello,

I found your site through by googling ellipticals and WOW I’m impressed. Treadmillsensei is clearly the best review site on the Internet. Period. Congratualtions!

I have a quick question for you on the Sole line of ellipticals: Does the extra bulk/rigidity and fancier display of the Sole e95 justify spending the extra $200 versus the Sole e55? We would have 4 family members using the machines on a fairly regular basis, so it’s certainly no a club-style environment.

Thanks for your time and keep up the great work! God bless you, D. R.

D.R.:

Thanks for the note and for your very kind words. I don't know if we're the best review site on the internet, although my mother thinks so...not that she even knows what an elliptical is. We do try to hard to provide you, our readers, with the most up-to-date and valid facts we can put together in order to help you with your treadmill and elliptical research.

On to your questions. First off, I'm going to be doing new reviews for the 2008 Sole equipment in the next week. Sole has done an excellent job with their new upgraded line of ellipticals and has produced one of the best looking, best designed line of equipment to come out in a very long time. Their new line shows why Sole has consistantly been ranked at the top of everyone's list for best buy ellipticals for the past few years. They really do put out some very solid equipment and have a good customer service department to back it up.

In regards to the Sole E55 versus the Sole E95 and which you should buy: I hate to fall back to my patented answer to this question but, you'll be happy either way you go. However, if you're not in a commercial setting (a corporate gym, for example) then the Sole E95 may be a bit of an overkill for your needs. In fact, and the guys at Sole might kill me for saying this, I think you'd be better off going with the Sole E35 to get the best value for your dollar.

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Let me layout my somewhat convoluted thinking for you. There really isn't much of a difference this year between the Sole E35 and E55...and, in fact, even the E95 is very similar in features. First off, the flywheels. I know the three units are listed with different flywheel weights. From what I've seen in opening the units up, they all have the exact same flywheel system...and, it's almost the same as the "30 pound" flywheel system they had last year. I believe the differing weights are just there to help differentiate the machines and are a bit of creative copywriting by Sole. It's not anything out of the ordinary for a manufacturer to tweak their specs on paper. From what I've seen, every manufacturer out there does it.

Once you get past the size of the flywheel, the only significant difference between the Sole E35 and the Sole E55 comes in the number of programs - the Sole E55 has 10 versus 8 on the Sole E35 - and in heart rate control programs - the Sole E55 has them and the Sole E35 doesn't. The only differences in the E95 are the addition of the plastic guide rail shrouds on the back and the fancier LED monitor. Truthfully, the only reason for the guiderails is to make the unit a bit more stable for heavier users (and, in my thoughts, to make it look more like a commercial elliptical for the hotels which use the Sole ellipticals) and the upgraded console has absolutely no benefit for a home user. It's a great console, it just doesn't really do anything special for home users.

So what it comes down to is: will you miss those 2 extra programs and will you even use the heart rate control programs? Most people only use 3-4 programs and end up ignoring the rest and, more importantly, never even make use of the heart rate control programs (and, keep in mind, the two programs the E35 is "missing" are the two heart rate control programs).

Any of the Sole ellipticals are going to be very good machines, but if you don't need heart rate control you're going to be able to save yourself $200 by going for the Sole E35 over the Sole E55 elliptical...and you'll save $400 with the E35 over the Sole E95 elliptical.

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Thanks again for your note, D.R., and I hope this helps you in your elliptical search. I'll be back later with more from the Reader Mailbag!

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com