Sole F80 Treadmill Review

Many mid-range treadmills offer a few extras, but they tend to sacrifice quality to save a little on the price.. But Sole is trying to debunk that by offering a sturdy treadmill with lots of features at a price that other mid-range treadmills would have trouble matching. You can find the Sole F80 at around $1,500 if you look hard enough and for that money you get a surprising amount of goodies.

There is a good reason that you would struggle to find a negative review of the Sole F80. Not because it offers better extras than other treadmills, but because of how long they last. But Sole has the upper hand over many treadmill companies in this area. For years, Sole was the line of treadmills that big-name hotels used in their gyms. They needed affordable machines that could stand up to any kind of runner and would last for years. They turned to Sole to fulfill this need and ever since, Sole has been churning out some of the most reliable treadmills you can buy.

The first thing that really grabs your attention is the generous warranty that Sole are offering their customers. When you buy an F80 the deck and motor are covered by a lifetime warranty, the major electronics are covered for 5 years and you even get 2 years parts and labor. It really is hard to find a better deal within this price range, however even the most comprehensive warranty can’t make up for a cheaply made product…so how does the F80 fare?

Fortunately, cheap only indicates the price and not the quality. You get a few extras that compete with other similarly-priced treadmills. There is dock for an iPod or MP3 player, which you won’t find in every treadmill. You also get the highly rated Cushion Flex deck, which reduced impact without springing back. You also get an often overlooked feature in the 2.75 inch rollers. Oversized rollers spin less and last a great deal longer without sacrificing any running quality.

The display looks good and offers good feed on your workout, but you also get armrest controls which mean no more reaching to change your settings mid-run. All of this weighs just over 200 pounds, giving the model a good stable feel while still offering a folding deck. The only real complaint would be about the short running belt. At 55 inches, it may not work well for power runners or people will long legs. But it is hardly a deal-breaker unless it completely prohibits you from using the model. For the price, the Sole F80 offers everything you need from a treadmill at a great price.