If you are in the market for a treadmill, you should check out the Sole F80. Numerous exercise magazines rate the F80 as the best treadmill for home use in the price range. That’s because of the quality of this exercise equipment exceeds standard home use designs. In fact, you will feel like you are at a professional gym when you use the F80 treadmill by Sole at home. It’s big, powerful, and has a lifetime warranty, so you don’t have to worry about things going wrong. This treadmill is the answer you have been looking for to boring exercise routines and crowded, smelly gyms.
The Sole F80 is not currently available through the manufacturer’s website. The company states shipping of products will begin in July 2020. Sole products are available on Amazon.com at this time.
Choosing the Sole F80 over competitor models is easy; no one else provides the technological and mechanical excellence of Sole treadmills. The truth is, the only other treadmill you may consider would be another model of Sole. They are simply the best you can buy today. Below, we will explain the features of the Sole F80 and demonstrate what sets it apart from competitors, and even the other treadmills from Sole.
Contents
What it’s Like to Use
The first thing you notice when you step onto the F80 treadmill is the comfortable belt. The belt provides 40% less impact than asphalt. This is a crucial benefit of the F80, as running on concrete results in damage to your knees and back. Sole calls the technology “Cushion Flex Whisper Deck.” The deck is similar to the type of belt the big, commercial treadmill manufacturers use for professional gyms all over the world. The F80 is several thousand dollars cheaper than these high-end commercial treadmills.
A new feature for the F80 is a mount for your tablet. The mount makes your workout so much more enjoyable. You can catch up on the news, watch TV shows or a movie, and even play games while you are working out. Sole integrates a USB plug into the F80, so your tablet stays at full charge even on those long workouts.
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Sole F80 Treadmill: How it Performs
The digital readout display is brightly lit and includes all the critical information you need to monitor your routine. The display shows you the speed you are going, the incline of the treadmill, the time and distance you travel, and even gives you calories burned, pulse rate, and your lap pace. These measures ensure you get the best workout of your life from a home treadmill. All of the information is easy to see and understand, without complicated menus and numerous buttons to push. Let’s face it, when you are in the zone, you don’t want distractions to get you off your workout.
The controls are easy to use and highly intuitive. You will find incline and speed controls on the armrests, where they are easy to adjust on the fly. The F80 features six preset workouts, two custom routines, and two programs just for exercising your heart. The programs give the user tons of control over how the workout will benefit. So whether you are trying to lean your body for summer fun, or trying to get your cardiovascular health in good shape, the F80 will meet your needs quickly.
Because the footbed folds up, the F80 also takes up less space than most treadmills. Sole makes the F80 with hotels in mind that need to have portable exercise equipment. The folding footbed makes it easy to move the treadmill to different rooms, or different areas of your home. It is also substantially cheaper than commercial models you typically find at hotel gyms.
The F80 from Sole features a 3.5 horsepower motor, which provides speeds up to 12 miles per hour. It has a safety off switch and starts from only .5 mph. Sole integrates cooling fans and speakers into the F80 treadmill to make your workout comfortable and fun.
Sole F80 Features
- 15-level incline settings
- Sturdy, welded steel frame
- Supports up to 375 lbs.
- 5 HP motor for speeds of .5 to 12 mph
- Smooth and friction-free action from flywheels and rollers
- Big, colorful 9” display with lots of information
- Impact-reducing cushion deck
- Bluetooth-enabled wireless speakers
- Onboard USB
- Built-in tablet holder
- Easy to use armrest controls
- Lifetime warranty on frame and motor, 3-year warranty on deck and electronics, 1-year parts
- Rated “Best in the price range” by consumers and magazines
Accessories Available
The Sole F80 includes almost anything you need to get working out right now. Optional accessories you might want to consider for the F80 are pulse grips and a chest strap to fine-tune your cardiovascular workout. The F80 includes these items, but better quality units might be of interest. It’s a good idea to have the right shoes for running or walking on a treadmill. Even though the belt does a great job reducing impact, proper running shoes will keep your feet and ankles in the correct position.
Pros
- Lifetime warranty
- Durable construction
- Best-in-class tread belt
- Easy to operate even for the novice
- Professional-level workout
- Integrated USB and tablet holder for entertainment
- Folds for storage
- One of the quietest in the class
Cons
- Very heavy and difficult to move
- Takes up a lot of space, even when folded
Price
The MSRP from Sole is $2,799. As of this writing, the F80 is advertised for sale at $2,200 on Amazon.com.
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| | Sole Fitness F80 Folding Treadmill | Check Price |
Appearance
One thing is for sure; the F80 is a professional-grade tool for working out. The moment you step on it, you can see the high level of build quality and design. The sturdy all-steel arms bolt to the chassis securely. Plastic trays give you a spot to rest your towel or water bottle. The bright display is easy to understand at a glance. Everything about the F80 indicates it is a high-performance workout tool. When folded, it takes up a space of about 3 foot by 3 foot and stands 6 feet high. Real-life users say it looks like a commercial treadmill more than competitor models.
Maintenance and Assembly
The F80 is shipped disassembled, and many users had problems moving it into the space they wanted to set it up because it is heavy and bulky. Most delivery companies will not place items inside your house, so plan on having help moving it. The shipping weight is 300 lbs, so this is a sturdy, heavy piece of equipment that isn’t easy to move by yourself. Assembly seems straight-forward with no reviewers indicating they had difficulty or missing parts.
User Concerns
The most common issue users reported is difficulty moving the treadmill. Because it is cumbersome, it is tough to move. Some users had problems with Bluetooth interference when using the treadmill that requires moving the device away from your workout area. Users of iPad products report some devices are not compatible with the USB plug.
Comparison to Similar Models
The Sole F80 is one of the mid-range options available from Sole. Comparing the F80 to other treadmills by the brand is challenging. They feature many of the same options with minor changes that might be a big deal to some users.
Currently, the F63 folding treadmill from Sole features similar size and all-steel construction to the F80, but that is where the similarities stop. The display of the F63 is smaller than the display on the F80, but both units feature the same options for settings. Both the F80 and F63 have two-ply belts, which are quieter and more durable, but only the F80 has the Cushion Flex Whisper Deck for the ultimate silent operation. The F80 has a more powerful motor than the F63.
The F63 is a newer version of the discontinued F65. Both treadmills are similar in design and cost about $800 less than the F80.
The closest competition to the F80 on the market right now is the ProForm 905 CST treadmill. The F80 is vastly better than the ProForm. Sole uses a much quieter and durable belt, has a higher rate of incline, a more powerful motor, and intelligently designed trays for convenience the ProForm lacks.
Conclusion
For the serious runner that knows they want the most out of a treadmill, the Sole F80 is a natural choice. It offers the most powerful and quietest operating motor in the class. The F80 really steps up where it matters; the Cushion Flex Whisper Deck reduces impacts to your knees and ankles by up to 40% over asphalt. Less impact leads to fewer injuries and enables you to keep going for longer to maximize the efficiency of your workout.
The brightly lit display gives the user all the most critical information right on one screen. All the information up front means you don’t have to fiddle through different menus to find the information you need, which puts you off your workout.
Bluetooth speakers and a built-in USB port give you the ability to watch your favorite workout, keep up on the news, or play a game while getting your cardiovascular health in order. The F80 is as close to gym-quality you can get for your home workout room.
Numerous consumers and professional equipment magazines have consistently said the Sole F80 is the best treadmill you can buy today in the price range. Sole backs that praise up with real-world action- if your treadmill has a problem, the extended warranty will help get it back into operation quickly without costing an arm and a leg. You really can’t go wrong buying a professional-quality treadmill from Sole.
Chris Jordan
Hey there, I'm Chris Jordan! I'm a certified personal trainer and dietician with over 11 years of experience in the fitness industry. I've helped thousands of people achieve better physical and mental health. When I'm not working, I love spending time with my dog.
