Sole F80 Treadmill Review

  About Fred Waters

The Sole F80 Treadmill gets solid reviews for offering quality components at a moderate price. We awarded it a "Best Buy" in the $1,000-$2,000 price category.

For the money, you get heart rate control, large 2 ¾" rollers, an extended 20" x 60" running surface, powerful 3.0 HP motor, lifetime motor, and 2 year labor. You'll find few treadmills in this price range that offer more than one year of home service and repairs.

Note: The Sole F80 was on sale for $1,499 with shipping. Go to www.SoleTreadmills.com for the latest deal.*

Alternative: See the NordicTrack 1750 treadmill sells for the same price and includes a Google Android browser tablet display, 3.5 HP motor, 3" rollers and the ability to decline 3%.

The crowned 2¾" rollers are some of the largest you will find in this price range. In general, the larger the rollers, the better, since they have to revolve less often. They guarantee long life of not only the rollers, but also the bearings and the belt. Being crowned, the roller is slightly bigger in the center. This allows the belt to track better, reducing the need for adjustments and further increasing the longevity of the belt.

I was impressed with the Cushion Flex running surface which, in a study, was shown to lessen impact by 40%. This is an upgrade from the F60's treadmills. It does a better job of shock absorption and reducing the possibility of injuries and strains. Also, the deck inclines to a full 15% for those that like he intensity of hill training.

Note: The F80 was upgraded with a 3.0 continuous duty HP motor. This motor has sufficient torque to run smoothly and quietly at high speeds and steep inclines. It is covered with a lifetime warranty. In addition, the F80 now has built-in speakers, which allows you to connect your MP3 and iPod players.

Sole's folding frame design originated from the demand of hotels for a treadmill as mobile as a room service cart, yet still stable and powerful. So, whether it's a hotel room or your family room, you have the best of both worlds.

The Sole F80 treadmill has six preset programs, two customizable workout programs, and two heart rate programs. This will provide challenges for both the novice and the elite athlete.

Additional features on the F80 include cooling fans (I like cooling fans) and speed and incline controls on the arm rests. Having the controls on the arm rests makes for simple adjustments in contrast to awkwardly having to reach over to the console. This is especially true if you are running.

The console is one of the better designs we've seen. The 7.5" backlit LCD display is visually appealing, and new for 2011. You get speed, incline, time, distance, calories burned, pulse and pace displayed simultaneously. There is no need to scroll for information. There a 1/4 mile track and a peak and valley graph so you can visualize your progress.

You will also find the layout is very intuitive. You don't need a programming degree to activate programs or make adjustments.

Our Sole F80 Treadmill Review

There are a number of factors that resulted in the Sole F80 treadmill receiving our "Best Buy" award:

• For a folding treadmil,l it is very stable. At 250 lbs, you get a very solid feel.
• The best warranty at this price range, including lifetime motor, 5-year parts, and 2-year service warranty.
• An impressive track record with hotel chains. If it holds up in a commercial environment, think what it will do in your home.
• Excellent components and features, including the 2¾" rollers, 3.0 HP motor, 20"x 60" treadbelt, and wireless heart rate control.

The combination of price, quality, and features makes this an excellent buy.

It should be noted since reviewing both Sole Treadmills and Ellipticals, we have received only one email from a customer asking where to get a minor mechanical problem fixed. More impressive is the fact that we have never had a complaint regarding customer service, except for units bought through Dick's, which does their own service. It appears Sole does an excellent job standing behind their products.

One last not:, I was at a fitness equipment store that did not carry Sole, but stocked brands like Vision and Life Fitness. In talking to the store manager, he said if he had a choice of a treadmill at $1,500, he would go with the Sole F80.

This F80 will adequately accommodate both walkers and joggers. Serious runners should consider the Sole F85.

ConsumerSearch.com

Based on a variety of reliable sources, ConsumerSearch.com rated the F80 "Best mid-range folding treadmill." They mentioned it has comparable features found in more expensive models.

Customer Reviews

I purchased a Sole F80 for our home at the beginning of the year. I am an avid runner (25 miles per week) and my wife likes to run and walk daily. In addition, we have two 14 year old children who are also active in sports. We are very pleased with all aspects of our treadmill purchase. We looked closely at the inexpensive treadmills at Sears and decided on the Sole F80 because of the high reviews.

It is used daily in our home and currently lives in the corner of our family room. It is easy for my wife to move the F80 in to position and lower the deck and after use, put the F80 back. At 190 lbs, I was concerned with the construction of the F80 and found it to be very well made and very stable during use even with my weight and speeds. I currently am training at 8 - 8.5 mph.

Recommendation - Highly recommended and excellent value!

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"My wife and I have used our new sole treadmill for a few months now, and can say it has met every need that we have. This treadmill is very sturdy and super quiet. It has a pretty good speaker system on it too. It should last for many years. Much safer than running up and down a busy highway. Well built product/worth every penny."

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"I bought this treadmill online without even trying it in stores. This had me a little worried because I wanted a nice and stable treadmill since I like to run. Well, I was NOT disappointed in this treadmill. It is by far better than any treadmill I have used anywhere (including gyms)... Over all, this is a WONDERFUL machine, if you don't buy it its your loss."

MSRP $1,799.00, normally on sale at $1,499.

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

Sole F80 Manufacturer Treadmill Specs:

• Motor: 3.0 HP Continuous Duty Motor. Adequate for walking and running.
• Speed: 0.5 to 11 mph
• Incline: 15% maximum, rack and pinion gear design
• Machine Weight: 250 lbs. (Extra weight contributes to stability.)
• Deck Size: 33 X 78 - Custom Flex Whisper Deck. Sufficiently absorbs impact.
• User Weight: 300 lbs.
• Treadbelt: 20 X 60
• Belt: Double Woven 2 Ply
• Rollers: 2 3/4 inches (Large roller extends life of motor, rollers, belt, and bearings.)
• Folding: Yes, with the Easy Assist folding feature
• Heart Rate Control: Yes, with wireless chest strap included
• Hand Pulse Grips: Yes, and arm rest speed/incline controls
• Standard Programs: Six
• User Defined Programs: Two
• Heart Rate Programs: Two
• Cooling Fans: Yes
• Shipping: Free in the continental US

Warranty: Treadmill Motor, Lifetime - Deck, Lifetime - Frame, Lifetime - Electronics / Belt / Rollers, 5 years - Labor, 2 years