Sole Fitness F65 Treadmill Review

   About Fred Waters

Although Sole has always had an impressive line-up of treadmills, they had a wide gap from their entry level Sole F63 treadmill to their popular Sole F80 treadmill.  In fact, it was a $500 gap from $999 to $1,499.  And they probably lost sales to individuals who wanted a slightly heavier duty machine over the F63 without spending 50% more.

Enter their new Sole E65.  It actually is similar in many ways to the 2010 Sole F80, but cost $200 less (The 2011 F80 has several upgrades).  However, the most important feature of this new model is the Sole treadmill quality.  Sole has built a reputation and a successful business on providing some very durable treadmills at a reasonable price.

Note: The Sole F65 treadmill typically sells for $1,299 with Free Shipping. Go to www.SoleTreadmill.comfor the latest deal.*

The Sole Fitness F65 Treadmill Features...

2.75 Continuous Duty HP Motor — The motor is design for both walkers and runners.  It will run quiet and effortlessly even at higher speeds. All the Sole treadmill motors are extremely durable.  That is why they come with lifetime warranties.

20" x 58" Treadbelt — The length is adequate for jogging and running. Taller individuals may want to upgrade to a 60" belt.

2.5" Rollers — Most potential treadmill buyers do not realize the importance of rollers.  They 're what the belt continually rolls over, and larger rollers extend the life of the belt, motor and bearings.  In particular with larger rollers the belt has more area to grip.  2.5" rollers are decent size for this price.

Speakers and MP3 iPut — Speakers built into the console with an MP3 input is getting to be a standard feature on treadmills.  Listening to music is a recognized motivator for burning calories and getting in shape.   There is also a cooling fan that targets your core.  It won't blast you away, but it does a decent job.

Console Design and Layout — Sole has always done an above average job of designing a user friendly console that also looks good.   There are a series of buttons to instantly change speed and incline.  You get a blue backlit LCD display that continually shows speed, incline, time, distance traveled, calories, pulse and pace.  There is also a 1/4 mile track feature and a Peak and Valley graph.

Speed and Incline Adjustment on Handrails — I've always liked this feature.  You can adjust the speed and incline right on the handrails rather than having to break your stride and make them on the console.

250 Lbs. Unit Weight — You'll find some companies don't list the weight of their treadmills, because they just don't match up to companies like Sole.  At 250 lbs. you are getting a heavy weight machine that will be very stable and have a solid feel.

Our Review — Sole F65 Treadmill

Here is my take on the first new treadmill from Sole in several years.  For $300 more you are only getting 3" more treadbelt length and an addition 0.5" horsepower.  I might suggest you save the $300 and settle for the slightly smaller Sole E63, or you spend $200 more and get the 2011 Sole F80 treadmill.  You get a longer running surface, a better constructed deck, wireless heart rate control, a slightly larger motor and rollers, and 5-year parts and 2-year labor warranty.  That is in comparison to the 3-year parts and 1-year labor warranty. 

Either machine is going to be durable and reliable, that is what Sole is all about.  It just seems that the Sole F80 is a better bargain, besides having an outstanding reputation.  It has won numerous "Best Buy" awards, including one from yours truly. 

Go to www.SoleTreadmills.com to learn more.*