Sole F80 Treadmill Review

Expert and consumer reviews of the Sole F80 treadmill have rated it as a “best buy”-and for good reason. It has components and features typically not found in its price range. And even though it’s a folding machine its incredibly stable and solid at 250 pounds. Still though, it’s shorter deck at 55″ is best for walkers and joggers. Runners will want to consider Sole’s higher-end models which have longer decks.

At around $1500, the Sole F80 is considered a mid-range treadmill but is one of the best values for a treadmill in this category. It has some of the best warranties you’ll find in its class with a lifetime warranty on the motor and frame, 5 years on parts, and 2 years of in-home service.

The MSRP on the Sole F80 treadmill is $1,999.00 but is regularly on sale for around $1499.99 and you pay no sales tax unless you are a resident of Utah.

One of the best values at $1500. -Fred Waters, Industry Expert

Our best buy winner in the $1500 range! -Treadmill Doctor

I've used it every morning for five months and the motor and tread have still maintained their quality. I use the built-in fan and iPod jack each time I run and I can't imagine working out without them! -Dick's Sporting Goods Customer

Perfect for the average runner who logs 25-30 miles a week. Sturdy and wide running surface, quite and easy to operate. -Dick's Sporting Goods Customer

Decent treadmill but my biggest complaint is that the running surface is too short. Next time I buy a treadmill I'll definitely get one a few inches longer. -Dick's Sporting Goods Customer

The controls are easy to understand and the machine is very stable. The motor is quiet, though running on deck does make noise..not too bad though. -Dick's Sporting Goods Customer

I love this machine. It has a great warranty and my family uses it daily. -Amazon Customer

My wife and I both like jogging. We've put 50 miles on it and we love it! It has a very firm foundation. Motor is quiet. Belt runs smoothly. Folding is easy. -Amazon Customer

I wanted something solid, with a good warranty, good deck, quiet, didn't need all the bells & whistles - that some other brands offered, and this treadmill more than exceeds my expectations. -Amazon Customer

This is my first treadmill so I can only compare it to the ones I've used at the gym. There is absolutely no loss in quality compared to the gym ones. -Amazon Customer

I've had it for a month now and I run on it 5 days a week, 3 - 5 miles each time. It feels sturdy and strong, and even though the running deck isn't as long/wide as a gym treadmill it is still comfortable to run on. -Amazon Customer

My wife and I have used our new Sole treadmill for a few months now, and I can say it has met every need that we have. This treadmill is very sturdy and super quiet. It has a pretty good speaker system on it too. -Amazon Customer

I cannot say enough about the console. The size, layout and data presentation is top notch. I've never been a big gym guy, but I've been to my share and I don't recall machines with such a good interface. This thing is solid, too. I'm currently 240lbs, and it never felt anything but rock solid even at a 6mph trot. Guess I'm a converted treadmill fan-or at least a fan of the F80. -Amazon Customer

Overview

Pros:
-Solid and durable at 250lbs.
-Excellent warranty
-Impeccable track record

Cons:
-Shorter deck is best for walkers and light joggers only
-Assembly instructions aren't the greatest

Based on expert reviews and a number of consumer reviews, there is very little to find wrong with the Sole F80 treadmill. Based on so many positive comments from consumers, it appears to truly be a "Best Buy" in the $1500 mid-range price category. It gets 4 1/2 stars out of 5 from both Amazon and Dick's Sporting Goods customers. The only negative review I found was the one mentioned above about the deck being too short for running.

If there is any real negative to this machine, that would be it - the 55" deck. If Sole lengthened it to 60", this would about as perfect of a treadmill as you could find-especially at this price point. Still though, many consumers commented that they could comfortably run on the Sole F80 so unless you're very tall, the length of the deck shouldn't be an issue.

Other comments I found were that the assembly instructions weren't the greatest but it was still relatively easy to put together. One reviewer also said the built-in speakers weren't the greatest but they "did the job." However, most commented that the speakers worked fine and a couple even said they were great.

Finally, there were mixed reviews on Sole's customer service. One consumer review said their customer service was horrible. Although his treadmill was ultimately fixed, it took several emails and phone calls to get it done. This doesn't seem to be the norm, however, since experts in the industry say Sole has one of the better track records when it comes to customer service. And one reviewer seemed to back that up. He had a minor issue with his Sole F80 and it was fixed in short order by Sole. He was extremely pleased with their customer service.

All-in-all, if I were looking for a treadmill for my home today in this price range, the Sole F80 would be a no-brainer!

Sole Fitness markets treadmills and elliptical trainers and is owned by Dyaco, a major conglomerate. Dyaco also manufacturers Spirit treadmills, which are a lower-end line of treadmills. Sole treadmills are made with higher quality components and are better engineered. Sole started out as a company providing treadmills to hotels. Today their treadmills can be found in the Hilton and Omni hotel chains. That should tell you something about the durability of their treadmills. They expanded to the consumer treadmill market in the early 2000's and have quietly become a major player in the mid-range treadmill category.

The warranties provided by Sole Fitness are some of the best you'll find in its category. Lifetime warranties on the motor and frame are standard and the warranties on the parts are from 3-5 years and in-home service is from 1-2 years depending on model. Sole Fitness has been very successful by providing quality machines at a great value.