Sole F65 Folding Treadmill Review

The Sole F65 folding treadmill is a new model for 2011 that fits between the F63 and the F80 models in size, features, and price. The F65 has an upgraded 2.75 CHP motor, a longer 20” x 58” running surface, and an increased 350lb. weight capacity. The F65 also comes with a larger 7-inch LCD display.

The F65 has all the basic features in a compact, foldable form factor to satisfy walkers, joggers, and most runners. Six workout programs include both cardio training and fat-burning specific programs. The F65 has speeds up to 11mph and inclines up to 15%, more than enough to satisfy all but the most competitive runners.

The F65 has hand pulse grips to monitor your heart rate and includes a wireless chest strap. It does not have a heart-rate control program that automatically adjusts the speed and incline to maintain a target heart rate. Fitness experts recommend heart-rate training as the safest and fastest way to improve your fitness.

Like the F63, the F65 has a built-in MP3 compatible audio system with speakers so you can listen to your favorite music, podcasts and audiobooks while you exercise. It also has cooling fans and speed/incline controls on the hand rails.

The F65 has the same basic shock absorption as the F63, but lacks the more advanced Cushion Flex Whisper Deck that models starting with the F80 have. Like the F63, the F65 lacks the Easy Assist folding feature found on the F80 and F83.

The frame and motor have a lifetime warranty. Parts and electronics have a –year warranty, and labor is covered for 1 year.

The F65 has an MSRP of $1,999.99 but is on sale, with shipping included, for $1,199.99 direct from Sole.

Visit Sole Fitness for Current Sale Prices

The treadmill is so sturdy, whether running or walking with the incline at the highest percent it does not wobble or shake.

I love the features, its great to be able to hit a number button for the speed and incline changes instead of constantly hitting the up or down buttons.

The fan works well although I'm a little too short (5'2) for it to really hit me.

I am incredibly happy with this purchase. I bought this treadmill for interval running and it is perfect for that. I dont know if it is because it is new but this treadmill is better than the giant ones at the gym I go to. It doesnt budge and runs nice and smooth.

Great machine for the $$$. We had had this machine about a month -- And it's running and feeling good -- So far so good.

Well made with good performance that's worth the price. The F65's overall workmanship is solid. The rubber treadmill surface feels durable and hard enough that you'll want to cushion your feet and legs with sneakers or tennis shoes rather than work out barefoot or in socks.

Some of the bells and whistles on the operating console are very cool: There a mini-jack to connect your mp3 player of choice to small speakers that sound surprisingly good. They even threw in a short mini jack connector. My treadmill happens to be in an unfinished basement where sound gets lost and I prefer the headphone jack. Dual cooling fans with an easy to read on/off switch blow right at your face and once the warm weather rolls around should provide pleasant relief.

The speed and incline controls offer two levels of granularity: the large console buttons are in whole-number increments while the side handle buttons let you to fine-tune your settings in tenths. I found this very useful because the gradual response of the controls - particularly the speed - takes some getting used to for someone like me who's not that experienced with electronic treadmills.

The incline mechanism is really a blast: it feels very realistic, moves smoothly and really intensifies the resistance. The F65's motor is surprisingly quiet on a concrete floor. If you're in an apartment though, you'll probably want to ask around to see if floor thickness and sound/vibration transfer is going to be an issue.

The F65's folding mechanism allows you to easily raise and lock the treadmill base and wheel the unit around. The base lets down effortlessly to about waist-height where a hydraulic mechanism kicks in to slowly and safely lower it to the ground. It feels sturdy and well-balanced when you're wheeling it, which is important because it's heavy.

Overview

Best For: Walkers, Joggers, and most Runners

Pros:
-Folding treadmill
-Includes heart rate monitoring with hand grips and chest strap
-Sturdy machine with components found in higher-end treadmills

Cons:
-Only has basic cushioning system
-Only 6 preset programs

The F65 folding treadmill has some upgrades - larger running surface and more powerful motor - from the entry-level F63 and has all the basic features expected in treadmills today. It lacks some of the more advanced features of the highly-rated F80, so you might want to use our comparison tool to help with your selection.