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Even though they are from the same brand, there are some important differences between the Sole E95 and Sole E98. Find out what these are and when they matter.
The main differences between the Sole E95 and the E98 are that the E95 is more budget-friendly, has a lighter total weight, and adjustable pedals.
On the flip side, the E98 has light commercial warranties and a heavier flywheel which offers smoother workouts. The main downside of this model is the high investment required.
Individuals who are looking for a solid elliptical machine to use at home likely want to choose the Sole E95. Even if you prefer the heavier flywheel of the Sole E98, the higher price tag may not be worth it.
Gym owners likely want to play it safe and get the Sole E98 for its light commercial warranties. Things can go wrong with your elliptical machine no matter what brand you choose. Especially if many people use the machine a lot.
This article will also explain a bit more in depth why, for who, and to what extent some of these differences matter. Additionally, there is a quick overview of the less important differences and common features.
Most important differences Sole E95 vs Sole E98
The Sole E95 and the Sole E98 are from the same brand but they are different in a few features which makes them separate models.
Some of these differences are more important than others. In the table below, you can find the ones that will be the most important for most people in the table below.
| Feature | Sole E95 | Sole E98 |
|---|---|---|
| Flywheel Weight | 27 lbs (12.3 kg) | 32 lbs (14.5 kg) |
| Adjustable Pedals | Yes, 10 Positions | No |
| Warranties | Lifetime Frame, 5 Years Electronics, 5 Years Parts, 2 Years Labor | Lifetime Frame, 5 Years Electronics, 5 Years Parts, 2 Years Labor + Shorter Light Commercial Warranties |
| Weight | 236 lbs (107 kg) | 249 lbs (113 kg) |
| Price | $$$ | $$$$$ |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
Other features Sole E95 and Sole E98
There are also a few smaller differences and many common features between the Sole E95 and the Sole E98. You can find most of these in the table below.
| Feature | Sole E95 | Sole E98 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight limit | 400 pounds (181 kg) | 400 pounds (181 kg) |
| Step Up Height | 14″ | 14″ |
| Dimensions | 82″ L x 31″ W x 71″ H | 82″ L x 31″ W x 71″ H |
| Foldable | No | No |
| Stride Length | 20″ (50.8 cm) | 20″ (50.8 cm) |
| Transport Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Additional Static Handles | Yes | Yes |
| Moving Handles | Multi grip | Multi Grip |
| Pedal Cushions | Yes | Yes |
| Screen | 10.1″ TFT LCD | 10.1″ TFT LCD |
| Bluetooth Audio Capabilities | Yes | Yes |
| Cooling Fans | Yes | Yes |
| Incline Options | 20 Levels, Power Adjustable | 20 Levels, Power Adjustable |
| Resistance Levels | 20 Levels | 20 Levels |
| Resistance Type | ECB (Magnetic) | EMS (Electromagnetic Braking System) |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Pulse Grip & Included Bluetooth Chest Strap | Pulse Grip & Included Bluetooth Chest Strap |
| Controls On Moving Handles | Yes | Yes |
| Workout Programs | 8 Included + 2 Custom | 8 Included + 2 Custom |
| Fit Test Program | No | Yes |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
Differences Sole E95 vs Sole E98 explained in-depth
If you are familiar with elliptical machine components, why they matter, and for who they matter, the table with the differences between the Sole E95 and the Sole E98 is likely enough to make a decision.
At the same time, some of these features can use some extra explanation to make sure you know what elliptical machine is the best for you personally.
Flywheel weight
Elliptical machines have a flywheel, a rotating disk, to which the pedals are attached. This component can vary from model to model in a variety of ways including the weight.
This also applies to the Sole E95 and the Sole E98. The flywheel weights of these machines are different.
More specifically, the Sole E95 has a flywheel weight of 27 lbs (12.3 kg), the Sole E98 32 lbs (14.5 kg). 5 pounds may not sound like much at first but this is an 18% increase over 27 pounds.
Heavier flywheels are typically preferred in an elliptical machine for a few reasons. First and most importantly, heavier flywheels tend to offer smoother elliptical machine workouts.
Because of the heavier weight, you build up more momentum. In turn, this reduces the risk and extent of suboptimal steps messing with your rotations. Your movements will generally be less jerky with the Sole E98.
Additionally, starting and keeping the rotations going, mostly in the “push” and “pull” parts, is slightly harder with a heavier flywheel. This allows you to make your workouts just a bit more challenging.
That being said, this last difference is very small since the heavier flywheel will also build more momentum.
In short, the Sole E98 has a somewhat heavier flywheel than the Sole E95. Most people will prefer this because it makes your workouts just that bit smoother.
Winner: Sole E98
Warranties
What makes a good elliptical machine is not only the features and component details. Things like warranties can play an important role in case something goes wrong.
Additionally, a good warranty is an indication a brand stands behind the quality of its product.
For at-home situations, the warranties of the Sole E95 and Sole E98 are the same. You get a lifetime frame, 5 years electronics, 5 years parts, and 2 years labor warranties.
Where these elliptical machines are different is that the Sole E98 also comes with separate light commercial warranties for locations like a gym.
In an environment like this, the Sole E98 has a lifetime frame, 3 years electronics, 3 years parts, and 1 year labor warranties.
How important these extra warranties are for gym owners depends on things like their budgets and how much they trust the Sole elliptical machines.
Winner: Sole E98 (for light commercial setting, for home setting the same as Sole E95)
Adjustable pedals
The Sole E95 has adjustable pedals with 10 different positions. This means you can customize the height of your heels and in turn the angle of your feet to your personal preference. The Sole E98 has static pedals.
These adjustable pedals can help you avoid numb toes and Achilles tendon issues and can simply make your workouts more comfortable.
Flat elliptical machine pedals will be more than good enough for most people but there will be a few individuals who really value this feature of the Sole E95.
Even if these adjustable pedals don’t make that much of a difference for you this can be a nice feature if you consider how many hours you will spend on the elliptical machine you choose.
So the Sole E95 is definitely the winner in this area. How much the adjustable pedals are worth it to you depends on things like how sensitive your feet are and your personal preferences.
Winner: Sole E95
Price
So far, whether you prefer the Sole E95 or the E98 depends on things like your flywheel weight preference, whether you are a gym owner, and the sensitivity of your feet.
Something else to keep in mind is that these elliptical machines vary a good amount in price at the time of writing. Exactly how big this difference is depends on where you buy the machines and varies over time.
Even if you would prefer to have a heavier flywheel weight in your at-home elliptical machine, the price of the Sole E98 is likely too big to pay for mostly this feature. In that case, the Sole E95 is still a quality option.
On the other hand, gym owners may want to get the extra warranties. With fitness equipment like an elliptical machine things can happen. Especially if they are used by many people for long amounts of time.
Winner: Sole E95
User reviews
The feature differences often offer a good idea of what elliptical machine is the best for you. Especially in the case of the E95 and E98 where you are comparing the machines of the same Sole fitness brand.
Even so, sometimes the customer reviews uncover some unexpected downsides of the elliptical machines.
In the case of the Sole E95 vs the Sole E98, the number of reviews about the Sole E98 is too low to make specific statements about this model.
Nonetheless, there are some general tendencies of the Sole elliptical machines you find in the reviews of the Sole E95 and other, more popular models.
Customers tend to be happy about the workouts themselves. Sole elliptical machines generally offer a smooth and silent workout.
On the other hand, these machines are not the most technically advanced. The functionality of the screens is not that impressive and the Bluetooth function can use some improvement.
Similar to other cardio machines, there are a few exceptional quality control issues here and there. Sole customer support tends to react relatively slowly in these situations.
That being said, customers tend to be positive about their Sole elliptical machines. You can likely expect the same from the E95 and the E98.
Is the Sole E95 or Sole E98 better for you?
In short, the Sole E95 has adjustable pedals, a lighter total weight, and a lower price. The Sole E98 has a heavier flywheel, static pedals, and light commercial warranties.
For individuals at home, the Sole E95 will be a solid choice that saves them some money. If you really want the heavier flywheel weight of the Sole E98 you could consider this model but it is a lot pricier.
Gym owners likely want to invest more into the Sole E98 for its light commercial warranties. There is always the risk of something being wrong with your elliptical machine.
Especially when many people use the machine for long amounts of time.
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