Best Ellipticals · head-to-head

Sole E35 vs Bowflex Max Trainer M9

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Sole E35 is cheaper at $1699.99. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the Sole E35 or Bowflex Max Trainer M9?

The Bowflex Max Trainer M9 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Sole E35 is the cheaper at $1699.99. Get the Bowflex Max Trainer M9 for the stronger spec sheet, the Sole E35 to spend less.

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices verified at capture; live price may differ.

Full spec sheet

marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec Sole E35 Bowflex Max Trainer M9
US price $1699.99 $1999
BrandSoleBowflex
Released2022
Type front_drive center_drive
Stride length (in) 20 in
Resistance levels 20 20
Power incline Yes No
Max user weight (lb) 350 300
Flywheel (lb) 25
Built in programs 10 4

Sources — Sole E35: soletreadmills.com (verified 2026-06-19). Bowflex Max Trainer M9: bowflex.com (verified 2026-06-19).

What's the difference between the Sole E35 and Bowflex Max Trainer M9?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Type: Sole E35 front_drive vs Bowflex Max Trainer M9 center_drive
  • Power incline: Sole E35 true vs Bowflex Max Trainer M9 false
  • Max user weight (lb): Sole E35 350 vs Bowflex Max Trainer M9 300
  • Built in programs: Sole E35 10 vs Bowflex Max Trainer M9 4

What reviewers say

Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.

Sole E35

Both whitelisted testers cover the Sole E35, but only BarBend hands-on tested it (dedicated tester, 13-category scoring, in-house photos); Garage Gym Reviews explicitly states it hadn't ridden the E35, extrapolating from the E25 plus aggregated customer reviews. Both praise quiet, smooth, stable operation, the 350-lb capacity, the bright 10.1-inch HD touchscreen, and 20 levels of resistance and incline. Both flag the heavy (211-231 lb) bulk that is hard to move and the oversized footprint. Neither reported independent instrument measurements. (2 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)

Praised: Quiet, smooth, and stable during use (BarBend tester felt zero shaking even when adjusting resistance and incline); 350-lb weight capacity, which BarBend notes is ~50 lbs above the elliptical average; Bright, clear 10.1-inch HD touchscreen (BarBend highlights iOS screen mirroring/streaming).

Flagged: Heavy (211-231 lb) and hard to move even with transport wheels; Oversized footprint (~15 sq ft per BarBend) needs a dedicated space and does not fold; Resistance awkward to adjust mid-workout.

Bowflex Max Trainer M9

Only one whitelisted tester covers the exact Bowflex Max Trainer M9: Garage Gym Reviews (Stacey L. Nash, CPT, 2026). It calls the M9 solid hardware undermined by software, praising the multi-service streaming, the included 1-year JRNY membership and heart-rate armband, and its compact low-impact footprint, while flagging mid-workout console crashes, a dial-style resistance knob, a shorter-than-competitor warranty and a forced sign-in every time. No independent hands-on measurements were captured on the page. (1 sourced review.)

Praised: Streams Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+ and HBOmax directly on the 10-inch touchscreen; Free 1-year JRNY membership and heart-rate armband included in the box; Compact, low-impact calorie-burner that does not dominate the workout space.

Flagged: Users report the console crashing mid-workout; Dial-style resistance adjustment instead of buttons or touchscreen; Shorter warranty than competitors, and must sign in every time.

← All ellipticals compared · Open data