Quick Summary
The Sole ST300 Strider is an especially flexible crosstrainer for all body sizes. Essentially it’s an elliptical-treadmill hybrid: Its stride range of 18 to 26 inches lets anyone get comfortable exercise in the traditional elliptical style, and its longest stride settings allow for low-impact walking and jogging.
Other key specs include a 25-pound drive, 16 resistance levels, moving handlebars and 12 workout apps.
Read on for our complete Sole ST300 Strider review.
Our Rating
Rating: 90.4/100. The ST300 is the lowest priced Sole Strider but it has enough heft and power to train almost anyone. Sole Striders (the ST300 and ST600) are hybrid fitness machines: With footpath settings of 18 to 26 inches, they serve as traditional elliptical trainers and as low-impact treadmill alternatives. You can use a Strider to climb, walk or jog without risking joint/ligament injury from repetitive impact. These fitness machines also have moving arm bars to use with total body training.
Both Sole Striders are high quality and carry competitive warranties. The main difference between the ST300 and ST600 is in stride adjustability. Both models have 18″ to 26″ options, but the ST300 stride needs to be adjusted manually before a workout. The ST600 can be adjusted electronically so that each workout can use different settings. When shorter strides are taken the Striders work like step machines, and with longer strides they are more akin to treadmills.
The ST300 has a 25-pound flywheel, 16 resistance levels and 12 workout programs. Its console supports multiple user profiles and has a wireless heart rate receiver. The sale price for this home fitness machine is $1,499, which is a good fit for the three-year parts warranty. Full price is $2,699.
Pros:
- Low impact
- Adjustable stride
- Moving handlebars
- Cushioned pedals
- 12 programs
- 25-pound drive
- Grip and wireless pulse monitoring
- Water bottle holder
- 325-pound user weight capacity
- Three-year parts warranty
- One year in-home labor
- Sole Fitness’ great customer service
Cons:
- Manual adjustment instead of electronic
- Not compact (73″ L x 34″ W)
Introduction
The Sole ST300 Strider is a unique elliptical trainer with generous stride range and moving arm bars. It lets trainees tall or small get traditional elliptical exercise with a customized stride, plus its adjustability allows for targeted muscle toning and walking/jogging with very low impact. Full price for this multifunction fitness machine is $2,699. An online sale price is $1,499.
Workout Programs
The Sole ST300 Strider has 12 built-in workout programs. These make it easy to quickly start an exercise session for interval training, a calorie or distance goal, target heart rate training and more.
Multiple users can set up profiles so that calorie burn estimates are accurate. Workout data are shown on a backlit LCD.
Smart Trainer Features
The defining feature of the Sole ST300 is the 18″ to 26″ stride range. Stride can be adjusted manually before a workout. A lever controlling stride length is at the front of the machine.
The ST300 has a 25-pound flywheel that uses touch-free magnetic braking. Sixteen levels of resistance are available, covering a wide range of user ability levels.
Moving handlebars are included for upper body toning and to increase calorie burn.
Pulse readers are built into the handgrips, and the pulse rate data can be used to control the challenge level with special heart rate workouts. Sole Striders are also compatible with wireless chest straps (not included) for the most accurate and convenient heart rate monitoring.
Warranty & Guarantee
The Sole ST300 residential warranty includes:
– Frame: Lifetime
– Parts: 3 Years
– Electronics: 3 Years
– Labor: 1 year
Service is performed in-home.
Conclusion
The Sole ST300 Strider is an ideal total body trainer for adults of most heights, weights and ability levels. It’s an excellent twist on the standard elliptical machine and is also recommended to treadmill shoppers as a low-impact treadmill alternative. Owing to the rather basic electronics the full price ($2,699) seems like an overshot but the $1,499 sale price offers great value for families and single-user households alike.