Sole Treadmill Review

  Treadmill Articles

"Used by Hilton Hotels for In Room Fitness"

I was recently at the Sole corporate headquarters in Logan, UT. I met with Will MacFarlane, VP of Sales & Marketing. We talked at length about sole treadmills and the philosophy behind them. The focus of this company 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 - $2,000 range. I've been closely watching this company for several years, and they have gone 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.

I believe that the Sole F80 and the Sole F85 are the best treadmills in their price range, and awarded both a "Best Buy" rating. Each machine has a very impressive service record. One of the most important features to consider when buying a treadmill.

Industry Leading Warranty

On most of their models Sole offers an industry leading 2-year service warranty (One year on the F63). 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. You would have to spend over $3,000 to find comparable coverage.

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 consistantly, this indicates a the treadmill 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.

You can expect the company to be around for the long-haul, which is a consideration for any treadmill company. They are owned by Dyaco, which is a mega bucks conglomerate.

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. Some 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 2008 all their treadmills have built-in speakers where you can plug-in your MP# 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 two years we've been reviewing Sole treadmills and ellipticals, we have received only one email regarding a minor mechanical problem, 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:

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 earbuds 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 peforms just as well for me as any of the treadmills at the gym.

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Note: A couple of customers complained about getting through to customer service, while others praised their experience with the service department. 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)

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.

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 www.SoleFitness.com


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