Sole Treadmill Review

  About Fred Waters

"Used by Hilton Hotels for In Room Fitness"

I just returned from the Sole corporate headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT, and met with Will MacFarlane, VP of Sales & Marketing. We talked at length about Sole treadmills and the philosophy behind them. The company focus is to build durable and solid machines that provide a rewarding workout, and sell them for the best value possible.

The result are several treadmills that are the best value in the $1,000 - $2,300 range. I've watched this company go from a relative unknown to a major player. That's what happens when you offer quality at a great price, and back it with an exceptional warranty.

Note: Sole sells direct and offers free shipping. Click here for the latest prices on Sole Treadmills.*

Also check out NordicTrack Treadmills. Several of the models include Android Internet browsers and the ability to incline and decline the deck.

Industry Leading Warranty

On most of their models Sole offers an industry leading 2-year service warranty (One year on the F63 & f65). For the first 2-years they pick up the tab on any repairs. You can't beat that! You also get a 5-year parts, lifetime motor, deck and frame warranty.

What is notable about Sole is that both the Hilton and Omni chain of hotels offer the F80 treadmills for in-room use. Having been proven in the rigorous hotel environment, this says something about the durability of the machines. When you consider these treadmills are moved constantly and used consistently, this indicates a treadmill that will excel in your home.

Sole treadmills have received a number of positive reviews and ratings, particularly for their folding models. Their success can be attributed to building well-engineered machines that utilize quality components — all sold at a valued price.

For example, they designed their treadmills with a 2¾" roller, which is the largest you'll find in this price range. The larger the roller the less wear and tear on the rollers, treadbelt, motor and the bearings. (F63 & F65 have 2.5" rollers)

You can expect the company to be around for the long-haul, which is a consideration for any treadmill company. They are built by Dyaco, which also builds the reputable Spirit treadmills.

If you buy online, all prices include delivery. Some companies will charge as much as $250 more for delivery. Sole also promotes delivery in 10-14 business days, which is better than average. Many companies take up to 3-4 weeks for delivery. You could put on an extra few pounds by then.

Our Review - Sole Treadmills

When testing the Sole treadmills I found them to be relatively quiet and have just enough cushion to provide proper support without being too bouncy. The motors are more than adequate, and even at high speeds they do not strain. They come with a lifetime warranty, and according to the company it is extremely rare when they have a problem with the motor.

The console and display is well designed, providing simultaneous feedback on speed, incline, time, distance, calories, pulse and pace. There is also a 1/4 mile track feature and a peak and valley graph. And for 2011 all their treadmills have built-in speakers where you can plug-in your MP3 or iPod player. (excluding the TT8)

We recommend you give Sole Treadmill a serious look. The combination of their price and the quality of their components, back by a solid warranty, make this a very good buy. Their track record within the hotel industry is a good indication that these are durable treadmills.

It should also be noted, in the five years we've been reviewing Sole treadmills and ellipticals, we have received only a couple of emails regarding minor mechanical problems, and no emails complaining about their customer service. In this industry that is the exception, rather than the rule.

Below are links to our individual Sole Treadmill Reviews:

Top Consumer Magazine

A very popular consumer magazine, whose name I cannot mention, gave the Sole S77 a "Best Buy" award in their most recent poll. It was rated it an "Excellent" for exercise range and a "Very Good" for construction. The review process consist of purchasing a model from a retailer and putting the machine through rigorous tests.

ConsumerSearch.com - Top Rating for Sole F80

Based on a variety of reliable sources (Including this site), ConsumerSearch.com rated the Sole F80 "Best mid-range folding treadmill." They mention it has comparable features found in more expensive models.

Customer Reviews

I really like the treadmill. It's solid and quiet and the programs are pretty good for alleviating boredom. I run about 15 miles a week. They made some changes to the display on the new model that give it a more finished look, and of course they added some speakers with an audio input. The sound isn't great but it's nice to take the earplugs out once in a while.

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Buying the Sole F80 has been nothing short of a life changer. I was finding less and less time to go to the gym and I was feeling the effects. Knowing that I needed more convenience in my work out schedule I figured getting something for home would be a good idea. I started the whole research process online and through talking to friends, Sole always came to the top. After deciding to buy a Sole F80 my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner! The treadmill is fantastic and more important to me than any of the furniture in my house. I look forward to working out now and the F80 performs just as well for me as any of the treadmills at the gym.

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The treadmill itself is everything it was advertised to be; solidly built, with a very cushioned running surface. We replaced our Proform treadmill because the running surface was hard and unforgiving, and too short. The Sole F85 provides a solid, extra-long track (60 inches) that feels very stable and comfortable underfoot. I'm more of a walker than a runner, but this treadmill makes running fun!

If you're looking for a fancy treadmill with all the bells and whistles, this isn't it, but if you want a solid, durable, comfortable treadmill that is backed by an excellent warranty and superb customer service, check out the Sole F-85.

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I bought the SOLE F80 from Home Gym Central three years ago this month. It's performed flawlessly the entire time. It's smooth, quiet and can take the pounding of a 200+ pound man day in and day out.

Two days ago I discovered that a weld on the deck frame had broken. I was sick, fearing they would say, "Sorry, nothing we can do for you three years later." WRONG!

One phone call to SOLE's service department and the problem was handled - a brand new F80 tread mill will be delivered to my door in 5-7 days AND, they will take away the broken one too.

This company not only makes a great product, but they stand behind it 100%!

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Note: One individual got curbside delivery and struggled getting the treadmill into the house. We highly recommend you get inside delivery. These machines are heavy, which is why they are so stable.

Sole Treadmill Features

Cushion Flex Decks - Sole Treadmills use what is called a Cushion Flex Decks. This is a low impact joint friendly design. Which is a claim just about any manufacturer makes, but these decks tend to be very stable, while providing minimal stress to hips, knees ankles and spine. (Not available on the F63 & F65)

According to Sole the deck "was recognized by a leading university as the industry's best, providing a 365% lower impact than walking or running on asphalt." Of course, any treadmill deck should be a vast improvement over running on asphalt. Regardless, I've run on these decks and found them to be stable, and yet forgiving to your joints.

"The Cushion Flex suspension system greatly reduces impact to feet, ankles, knees, hips and spine. This reduction in impact is an outstanding benefit to users with running and walking related injuries and has proven highly effective in therapeutic applications. Sole's all-steel welded frame design and Cushion Flex suspensions system provide the softest, safest and most stable running surface available."

Sole Treadmill Rollers - Bigger is Better

As mentioned Sole builds their treadmills with the type of rollers found in high end models. They use 2 3/4" rollers with a sealed bearing design and copper ground wires for each roller to reduce static. Larger rollers make for a larger contact surface against the belt and longer roller and belt life. This makes for smooth, quiet, static free motion that will extend the life of the treadmill. (F63 & F65 have 2.5" rollers)

Belts

On most of their treadmills they use a double woven 2-ply belts with four layers. The design consists of two rubber layers over a middle PVC layer with a nylon backing that rolls over the deck and rollers. The rubber provides the durability, the PVC stops the belt from over-stretching and the nylon provides a smooth static free surface to glide over the deck and rollers.

In laymen terms, these belts should have minimal slippage and overall last longer than most belts found on other brands.

For more information go to the Sole Treadmills web site.*


See the New Sole E55 Elliptical Trainer Review

Our Sole Treadmill Reviews are based on not only actually testing the machines, but also comments, testimonials, reviews and ratings of customers and third parties including company employees. We attempt to be as accurate as possible. Warranties, features and prices can change without notice.