Sole F63 vs Smooth 5.45 Treadmill: Which Is The Best Value Under $1000?

It isn’t always that you find a solid, reliable treadmill for less than $1,000 but with the Sole F63 and the Smooth 5.45 treadmills you get just that. Both are ideal for walking and light jogging and are both leaders in the budget treadmill category. In this Sole F63 vs Smooth 5.45 comparison, we try to find out which treadmill holds the edge over the other.

Basic Specs

The two treadmills boast a 2.5 HP continuous duty motor, an incline system that can be adjusted up to 15 percent, and speed ranges from 0.5 to 10 mph. These treadmills also have the same running areas of 20″ x 55″. On the basic specs alone, the Sole F63 and the Smooth 5.45 are identical.

When it comes to stability, however, the Sole F63 has the upper hand. It weighs a hefty 245 pounds compared to 210 pounds for the Smooth 5.45. With the additional 35 pounds of weight, the Sole F63 can support a maximum user weight of 325 lbs, while the Smooth 5.45 only encourages users up to 250 lbs.

Display and Programs

Both fitness machines use LCD displays that show the user’s important data such as the speed, time, distance traveled, incline, calories burned, and others. While each of the two treadmills has 6 built-in exercise programs, only the Sole F63 has the capacity for 2 user-defined programs. However, the Smooth 5.45 has a heart rate control program where the intensity of your workout is automatically adjusted based on your heart rate readings using the hand pulse grips. The Sole F63 does not have a heart rate control program. It only monitors your heart rate for your own information.

Both treadmills have hand pulse grips to check heart rate but the Sole F63 also comes with a wireless chest strap so you don’t have to use the hand pulse grips during your workout.

Added Features

For additional accessories, the Sole F63 has built-in cooling fans and speakers where you can plug in your MP3 player or iPod. These features may sound good, but according to customer reviews the quality of these features aren’t really the greatest. This isn’t surprising considering the price point of these treadmills. In order to keep the treadmill under $1000, these additional features can only be so good.

The Sole F63 does have a feature over the Smooth 5.45 that may give it the slight edge. The speed and incline controls are located on the arm rests instead of on the console as is the case on the Smooth 5.45. Having these controls on the arm rest makes them much easier to use during your workouts.

Price and Warranty

The MSRP on the Sole F63 is $1899 and $1497 on the Smooth 5.45. These treadmills, however, can be purchased regularly for just under $1000 buying direct from either Sole or Smooth. Both companies take pride in having some of the best warranties for their treadmills, although in this case, the Smooth 5.45 has a distinct advantage over the Sole F63.

For the Smooth 5.45, the frame, deck, and motor carry lifetime warranties, while electronic parts and labor have 3 and 2 year warranties respectively. The Sole F63 on the other hand, has a lifetime warranty for both the frame and motor, but only a 3-year warranty on the deck. Electronic parts also carry a 3-year warranty, and in-home labor service is guaranteed up to 1 year.

Smooth 5.45 vs Sole F63 - Summary

Priced at just under $1000, both treadmills provide unbeatable value for the money. So which should be named the best value for this price category? This is an incredibly tough call, but I’m giving the Smooth 5.45 the advantage. The Sole F63 is heavier so it’s going to be more stable. It also comes with a wireless chest strap for easy heart rate monitoring, has built-in speakers and cooling fans, and has speed and incline controls on the arm rests.

The Smooth 5.45 treadmill may not be as heavy but it will still be stable enough for most users. It also has a heart rate control program and better warranties. And even though it doesn’t have built-in speakers and cooling fans, these features probably aren’t that important to most users and according to customer reviews these features on the Sole F63 aren’t that good anyway. The only real advantages the Sole F63 has over the Smooth 5.45 are the speed and incline controls on the arm rests and the additional 35 pounds in machine weight. These aren’t enough to recommend it over the Smooth 5.45.

Regardless of which treadmill you purchase, both are terrific machines and should give you year’s of trouble-free use with proper care and maintenance.