Justin’s Treadmill Review

Sole F85 Treadmill

Overview:

The top model in Sole’s folding series, the F85 treadmill is a great fit for serious workout enthusiasts. The F85 boasts a powerful 3.5-horsepower, continuous-duty motor–the most powerful in the Sole line–that delivers speeds of up to 12 miles per hour and inclines of up to 15 percent. The club-style tri-color LED display, meanwhile, includes a message board for clear instruction and feedback, while also tracking your speed, incline, time, distance traveled, calories, pulse, and pace. There’s even a 1/4-mile track feature that you can follow as you run and a peak-and-valley graph that corresponds to individual programs. And when you’re not using the treadmill, it folds into a compact footprint and locks securely in place, thereby saving a ton of storage space.

The F85 is outfitted with a host of additional user-friendly features, including six auto workout programs, two custom programs, and two heart rate control programs for cardio or weight loss. The heart rate programs are particularly valuable, as they automatically calculate your recommended target range based on your age, ensuring the safest and most efficient workout possible. And users with creaky joints with love the Cushion Flex treadmill deck, which is built to protect your knees from excessive pounding, with the ability to reduce impact up to 40 percent compared to running on asphalt. Other details include armrest incline and speed controls; an extra-large 20-by-60-inch running surface; a wireless chest strap that measures your heart rate; and armrest cooling fans. The F85 treadmill, which offers a user capacity of up to 400 pounds, carries the following warranties: lifetime on the motor, deck, and frame; five years on the electronics, belt, and rollers; and two years on the labor.

Specs:

• Motor: 3.5 HP continuous duty, DC type, ultra high torque
• Speed: 0.5 to 12 mph
• Incline: 15% maximum, rack and pinion gear design
• Weight: 280 pounds
• Deck Size: 33 x 80, Cushion Flex Shock Absorption Whisper Deck
• User Weight: 400 pounds
• Running Surface: 20 x 60
• Belt: Double woven, 2-ply
• Rollers: 2-3/4 inches
• Folding: Yes, with the Easy Assist folding feature
• Heart Rate Control: Yes, wireless chest strap included
• Hand Pulse Grips: Yes, and arm rest speed/incline controls
• Display Color: Tri Color (red, green, gold)
• Message Window: Yes, scrolling information
• Standard Programs: Six
• User Defined Programs: Two
• Heart Rate Programs: Two
• Cooling Fans: Yes
• Speakers and MP3 Plug-in: Yes

Real World Price:

This is top of the line, son. Starts at $2k.

Justin’s Commentary:

For 2008 Sole came out with a four-model line-up. This is the top of the line of the series and designed for the most diehard of runners. It has everything a serious runner/sprinter would want – powerful motor, long belt, and 12 MPH top speed. It supports up to a 400 pound fat-ass, so you might also consider this heavy-duty model if you are morbidly obese. Get this if you plan to run long marathons all the time or are rich, otherwise save your money for gas and look at the less expensive models. This is overkill for most people.

Sole F83 Treadmill

Overview:

Rated every bit as high as the F80 treadmill but with a step up in power and size, the Sole F83 treadmill is a great fit for serious workout enthusiasts. The F83 boasts a powerful 3-horsepower, continuous-duty motor, which delivers a wide speed range of 0.5 to 12 miles per hour and inclines of up to 15 percent. The club-style tri-color LED display, meanwhile, includes a message board for clear instruction and feedback, while also tracking your speed, incline, time, distance traveled, calories, pulse, and pace. There’s even a 1/4-mile track feature that you can follow as you run and a peak-and-valley graph that corresponds to individual programs. And when you’re not using the treadmill, it folds into a compact footprint and locks securely in place, thereby saving a ton of storage space.

The F83 is outfitted with a host of additional user-friendly features, including six auto workout programs, two custom programs, and two heart rate control programs for cardio or weight loss. And users with creaky joints with love the Cushion Flex treadmill deck, which is built to protect your knees from excessive pounding, with the ability to reduce impact up to 40 percent compared to running on asphalt. Other details include armrest incline and speed controls; a large 20-by-58-inch running surface; a wireless chest strap that measures your heart rate; and armrest cooling fans. The F83 treadmill, which offers a user capacity of up to 350 pounds, carries the following warranties: lifetime on the motor, deck, and frame; five years on the electronics, belt, and rollers; and two years on the labor.

Specs:

• Motor: 3.0 HP continuous duty
• Speed: 0.5 to 12 mph
• Incline: 15% maximum, rack and pinion gear design
• Weight: 260 pounds
• Deck Size: 33 x 78, Cushion Flex Shock Absorption Whisper Deck
• Maximum User Weight: 350 pounds
• Running Surface: 20 x 58
• Belt: Double woven, 2-ply
• Rollers: 2-3/4 inches
• Folding: Yes, with the Easy Assist folding feature
• Heart Rate Control: Yes, wireless chest strap included
• Hand Pulse Grips: Yes, and arm rest speed/incline controls
• Display Color: Tri Color (red, green, gold)
• Message Window: Yes, scrolling information
• Standard Programs: Six
• User Defined Programs: Two
• Heart Rate Programs: Two
• Cooling Fans: Yes
• Speakers and MP3 Plug-in: Yes

Real World Price:

This is brand new, expect to pay about $1800.

Justin’s Commentary:

So for $300 more over the Sole F80 you get a longer deck (good if you are taller or run your ass off) and a 1 mph top-end speed increase. This is a good choice if you are a serious athlete and like to run sprints. Anyone else should look at the less expensive models – the F80 and F63.

Sole F80 Treadmill

Overview:

The Sole F80 treadmill has earned a reputation as one of the best-quality treadmills in its price range thanks to its unbeatable combination of high-quality components and user-friendliness. The treadmill boasts a strong 3.0-horsepower, continuous-duty motor, which delivers challenging speeds of up to 11 miles per hour and inclines of up to 15 percent. At the same time, the F80′s Cushion Flex Whisper Deck is built to protect your joints from excessive pounding, with the ability to reduce impact up to 40 percent compared to running on asphalt. And when you’re not using the treadmill, it folds into a compact footprint and locks securely in place, thereby saving a ton of storage space.

The F80 is equipped with a host of user-friendly features, including six preset workout programs, two customizable programs, and two heart rate programs, along with a red display that tracks your speed, incline, time, distance traveled, calories, pulse, and pace. There’s even a 1/4-mile digital track that you can follow as you run and a peak-and-valley graph that corresponds to individual programs. Other details include a large stop switch for safety; a low-profile running hood; armrest cooling fans; speed and incline controls on the armrests; a wireless chest strap that measures your heart rate; and a 20-by-55-inch running deck.

Specs:

• Motor: 3.0 HP continuous duty
• Speed: 0.5 to 11 mph
• Incline: 15% maximum, rack and pinion gear design
• Weight: 250 pounds
• Deck Size: 33 x 75
• Maximum User Weight: 335 pounds
• Running Surface: 20 x 55
• Belt: Double woven 2-ply
• Rollers: 2-3/4 inches
• Folding: Yes, with the Easy-Assist folding feature
• Heart Rate Control: Yes, 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
• Speakers and MP3 Plug-in: Yes

Real World Price:

Starts at $1500. Watch for price-drops as this gets past the ‘brand new’ stage.

Justin’s Commentary:

So what do you get for $500 more than the Sole F63 entry model? A higher power motor (2.5 HP –> 3.0 HP), 1 mpg higher top-end speed, and a lifetime warranty on everything but the belt, rollers, and electronics. If money is no object, this is a great treadmill with nothing at all I could complain about. If you are on a budget though, like most of us are, all but the most heavy of users could save $500 and get the F63.

Sole F63 Treadmill

Summary:

Newly designed for 2008 with a heavy-duty frame and an MP3 plug-in and speakers, the Sole F63 treadmill has earned a reputation as one of the best-quality treadmills in its price range thanks to its unbeatable combination of high-quality components and user-friendliness. The treadmill offers a strong 2.5-horsepower, continuous-duty motor, which delivers challenging speeds of up to 10 miles per hour and inclines of up to 15 percent. The vibrant blue LCD display, meanwhile, closely tracks your workout progress, with information on your speed, incline, time, distance traveled, calories, pulse, and pace. There’s even a 1/4-mile digital track that you can follow as you run and a peak-and-valley graph that corresponds to individual programs.

Other details include six preset workouts, including cardio training and fat burning; a large stop switch for safety; a low-profile running hood; speed and incline controls on the armrests; armrest cooling fans; and a 20-by-55-inch running surface. Perhaps most conveniently, however, the treadmill deck folds into a compact footprint and locks into place when not in use, thereby saving a ton of storage space. The F63 treadmill, which offers a user capacity of up to 325 pounds, carries the following warranties: 20 years on the motor, three years on the deck, lifetime on the frame, three years on the electronics/belt/rollers, and one year on the labor.

Specs:

• Motor: 2.5 HP continuous duty, DC type
• Speed: 1 to 10 mph
• Incline: 15% maximum
• Weight: 245 pounds
• Deck Size: 33 x 75
• Maximum User Weight: 325 pounds
• Running Surface: 20 x 55
• Belt: 2-ply
• Rollers: 2-1/2 inches
• Folding: Yes
• Hand Pulse Grips: Yes, wireless chest strap also included
• Display Color: LCD Blue
• Message Window: Yes, single LCD
• Standard Programs: Six
• User Defined Programs: Yes, User 1 and User 2
• Cooling Fans: Yes
• Speakers and MP3 Plug-in: Yes

Real World Price:

Don’t pay more than $1000 for this. This is a new model – watch for price reductions as time goes on.

Justin’s Commentary:

This is the lowest priced treadmill in Sole’s 2008 lineup, but in my opinion represents the best value. Unless you plan to run marathons, I can’t see much reason to spend the extra money for the higher priced models. This treadmill is perfectly capable of supporting the average user who walks and does light running. It has all the basics of a solid treadmill – motor with decent power, large rollers, and a solid frame that supports up to a 325 pound lardo. It has all the modern dodads that are quickly becoming standard in new treadmills – speakers, fans, neat lights everywhere, etc. Like other Sole models this has an impressive warranty that should give you confidence in the product.

Although a fairly new product, the only negative comments on the treadmill I have found are users who say it is louder than they expected. Maybe that is why it includes speakers and an MP3 jack.