Sole Fitness is an American-based company that offers a wide range of award-winning fitness products. Some of their products include, but not limited to, treadmills, exercise bikes, and ellipticals.
In today’s article, I’ll compare two of Sole’s top-of-the-line treadmill units: the Sole F80 vs. F85. Which is the right machine for you? Is paying several extra hundred dollars for the F85 worth it, or should you stick with the F80?
Let’s find out!
What is Sole Fitness, And is it a Good Brand?
Sole Fitness, the name behind best-selling treadmills F80 and F85 provides some of the best exercise equipment in the market. Designed to stand up against continuous and rigorous use, Sole Fitness equipment are well-known for their durability, longevity, and lifetime warranties.
Sole Fitness initially distributed its products to hotels for on-premises fitness centers and subscriptions, but when consumer demand increased, the company decided to make its products available to everyone.
Its premium-grade units can easily stand toe-to-toe with some of the more well-known brands today, including Precor, Star Trac, and even Landice.
Sole Fitness’ gym equipment isn’t “cheap”—not by a long shot. However, their product’s quality parts, heavy-duty motors, and best-in-the-business warranties are worth the investment.
Furthermore, Sole prides itself on its “Sole Guarantee” policy. In the rare chance that its product doesn’t hold up against your training regime, the company will refund 100% of your purchase price, including any shipping fees you may have paid.
Is Sole Fitness a good brand? Yes, I’d say so! I own several of its products and almost never come across any issues whatsoever. Its reputation in the world of fitness is well-known and loved.
Sole F80 vs. Sole F85 Treadmill Overview
Before we get into the detailed comparison, let’s look at the F80 and F85’s primary features.
Sole F80 Key Specs
- Motor: 3.5 CHP DC
- Speed Range: 0.5-to-12 MPH
- LCD display: 7.5-inch display with blue backlit
- Weight capacity: 375 pounds
- Sound options: Built-in speakers, MP3-compatible sound system
- Maximum horsepower: 3HP
- Dimensions: 35 x 58 x 80 inches
- Workout programs: 10 total (6 standard, 2 HR-controlled, and 2 custom)
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty for the frame, motor, and deck warranty, 5 years electronics, and 2 years labor
Sole F85 Key Specs
- Motor: 4 CHP DC
- Speed Range: 0.5-to-12 MPH
- LCD display: 9-inch display with blue backlit
- Weight capacity: 400 pounds
- Sound options: Built-in speakers, MP3-compatible sound system
- Maximum horsepower: 3.5HP
- Dimensions: 37 x 80.5 x 56
- Workout programs: 10 total (6 standard, 2 HR-controlled, and 2 custom)
- Warranty: Lifetime warranty for the frame, motor, and deck warranty, 5 years electronics and other wear components, and 2 years labor
Also Read: Exercise Bike Vs Treadmill – Which Is the Better Exercise Machine?
Sole F80 vs. Sole F85: An In-Depth Comparison
The quick comparison above tells us that the F85 differs from the F80 in three primary things: power, weight capacity, and dimension. Everything else seems to be quite similar. Regardless, the F85 costs significantly higher than the F80—up to a couple of hundred dollars.
Let’s take a look.
1. Power
The F80 delivers a 3.5 CHP DC type motor with a continuous-duty 3HP, which is more than enough for regular joggers.
On the other hand, the F85 comes with a 4 CHP DC and a continuous duty horsepower of 3.5. While it doesn’t seem to be a significant difference, it’s important to note that the higher the HP, the more use the machine can handle. If you regularly use the treadmill, you might want to invest in the F85. This is especially true if you’re a runner, not a jogger.
The speeds available on both machines start from 0.5 mph to a challenging 12 mph. If you’re someone who significantly wants to improve your speed and stamina, you’ll find these speed options quite sufficient. The speed also changes gradually, so you won’t have to worry about pushing yourself in one go.
2. Weight Capacity
Along with the motor’s horsepower rating, another great difference between the F80 and F85 worth mentioning is their weight capacity.
The F80 weighs 265 pounds and has a weight limit capacity of 375 pounds. The treadmill itself measures about 35 x 58 x 80 inches (width x length x height), which is just enough to comfortably allow vigorous running.
The F85, however, weighs about 280 pounds with a weight capacity of 400 pounds. Measurements slightly differ as well, with the F85 coming at approximately 37 x 80.5 x 56 inches. This means that the F80 is just slightly shorter and narrower than its counterpart.
3. LCD Screen
The LCD display that comes with the F80 is about 7.5 inches, while the F85 is a generous 9 inches. Both have a vibrant blue screen and show helpful information such as heart rate, calories burned, pace, and speed in large, readable fonts.
Furthermore, Sole integrated a convenient “message board” on both machines that recap your workout progress after every session.
4. Quality Build
Sole Fitness claims that they use only the highest quality components and chassis in their treadmills. The frames are powder-coated and welded with heavy-duty. The inclines are incredibly stable, as well.
When it comes to the motors, Sole uses all-steel zinc coated balanced flywheels to greatly reduce the treadmill’s vibration while you’re running or jogging. The rollers themselves have a sealed bearing design, including individual copper ground wires to prevent static reactions.
Another thing to note is the two-ply woven belts that they’ve used on both models. The belts have four layers in total, including two rubber made with a nylon backing and a middle PVC layer that prevents the belt from stretching too far. Overall, both the F80 and F85’s construction is extremely high-quality.
To further prove this, Sole offers a lifetime warranty for both F80 and F85’s frame, motor, and deck. The internal electronics come with a five-year warranty.
5. Other Notable Features
The F80 and the F85 feature a fair number of functions and controls that make them one of the highest-selling models in the market.
For instance, both incline up to 15%, which is proven to aid significantly in weight loss as it burns more calories than treadmills without inclines. Although this is the case, I’ve seen treadmills with higher inclines—up to 40%—that costs about the same. If you love working out on inclines, you may not find the F80 or F85 quite as sufficient.
I also love the fact that the F80 and F85 come with a wireless chest strap that allows you to record your HR workout. It’s said that these straps come with a 99.9% accuracy rating, which will prove quite helpful if you want to track your progress. On top of the two HR programs, both machines also have six standard workouts and two custom workouts.
Both the F80 and F85 feature a shock-absorbing Cushion Flex Whisper Deck that helps cushion and lower the impact on your joints when jogging or walking on the treadmill. According to Sole Fitness, this technology reduces the impact by 40% when compared to running on asphalt and similar hard surfaces.
Other features found in both include cooling fans, handlebar speed, incline controls, built-in speakers, and a large ‘stop’ switch for extra safety measures.
Sole F80: What I Liked And Didn’t Like
Pros
- Made with commercial-grade, top-quality parts
- Folds smoothly
- Reversible feature allows you to flip the deck if one side has worn out
- Extremely quiet operation
- Sole Fitness mobile app compatible
- Great value
Cons
- Relatively small fan
- Motor isn’t as powerful as the F85
- Side rails aren’t as long as some runners prefer them to be
Sole F85: What I Liked And Didn’t Like
Pros
- High weight capacity
- Extremely well-built
- Built-in Bluetooth enabled speakers
- Folds easily and smoothly
- Exceptionally powerful motors
- Supports vigorous exercises including long-distance running, hill training, and interval training
- Sole Fitness mobile app compatible
- Spacious 22″ x 60″ running surface
Cons
- LCD isn’t touch-compatible
- Large footprint when unfolded
- Not the most affordable
- Limited workout programs for its cost
Read More: How Far Should I Run in 30 Minutes? (Targets | Miles | Distance)
Final Thoughts
Both the Sole F80 and F85 are some of the highest-quality treadmills in their price range. They’re both extremely well built and have powerful motors.
When you look at the specs, the F85 is slightly stronger than the Sole F80. It has a higher horsepower, which is ideal for regular runners. It likewise has a higher weight capacity of 400 pounds instead of F80’s 375. Furthermore, it comes with a larger LCD screen compared to the F80.
Do these differences warrant the extra investment?
Both treadmills will blow you away with their performance, but it isn’t a secret that the F85 is certainly better than the latter. Personally, I’d choose the F85 because I work out regularly. However, if you’re not planning to use the machine as much, the F80 will do quite well.
I highly recommend you choose a machine that fits your requirements. The good news is, you won’t be disappointed by either machine. Plus, Sole’s warranties are one of the best in the industry!