Sole F85 Treadmill Review

Well, put the words quality, performance and value for money together and you'd get close to understanding the appeal to both critics and consumers alike of the F85.

Often cited as one of the best fold-ups around, this machine is equally suited to the serious athlete as the casual home exerciser. It's also the treadmill found in the "in-room fitness rooms" of hotel chains like Hilton and Omni.

Just think about how much punishment the Sole F85 takes day in day out from bored executives on a stop over and you'll appreciate what a durable treadmill it is.

This is one of the biggest sellers that Sole makes, sales figures that make it an extremely popular model in the ultra-competitive mid-price range.

Since their relatively recent insemination, Sole treadmills have quite rightly carved out an enviable reputation and for me, the F85 is a big reason why - so how good is it?

Sole F85 Treadmill Review - What's it Like...?

Allied to the roomy 58" x 20" running surface and you've got a high performance, near commercial quality performer.

Large belts sometimes give smaller motors a problem, but the F85 remains quiet and in control at even the highest speeds - it maxed out at around 12 mph in our Sole F85 treadmill review.

The 15% incline provides added intensity if you need it, making for some challenging hill training if you're a glutton for punishment!

The superb Cushion Flex Whisper Deck found on most of the Sole range ensures a comfortable but responsive surface to run on, minimising foot impact and going easy on sore joints.

As with the F83, the F85 has oversized 2 3/4" rollers that reduce belt tension and friction and help to extend the belt's life.

Whilst the F85 folds, it's probably the most stable fold up I've tried. Some buyers perceive fold ups as a bit wobbly with more moving parts to break than a non-folding treadmill, but we've not found that to be a problem with this model.

Another factor that sometimes puts buyers off fold ups is the idea that they're heavy and therefore difficult fold.

Sole overcomes that with the Easy Assist folding feature, which makes raising the deck a task that even the most physically challenged user could managed!

It even unfolds automatically when your next workout beckons - move it into position, press the button and the machine opens out all by itself.

And speaking of user friendly, the clear and uncluttered tri-colour LED console display with message board provides a continuous display of workout data that's easy to read with the briefest of glances.

Add to that the six pre-set workout programs, two personal programs, two heart rate programs and the simple manual programming and you can feel completely in control of your run.

You can keep tabs on your heart rate via the pulse sensors in the handles and a wireless telemetry chest belt comes as standard.

The F85's incline and speed controls, which are mounted on the the arm rests are another feature designed with comfort and convenience in mind.

Another of Sole's big selling points are the warranties - you won't find better at this price with 30 years on the motor, lifetime warranties on the deck and frame, a five year warranty on the parts and a two year labour warranty.

Whilst usually listing at $2,499, our Sole F85 treadmill review found it for a discounted $1,999.99 at Sole with free shipping within the continental US.

Sole F85 Treadmill Review - How Does it Rate...?

I'm struggling to find fault with this treadmill and at the discounted price it's a bargain.

There are one or two contenders vying for the best fold up but for me, this is pretty much as good as a folding treadmill gets. It's not commercial quality - quite - but there's little more that can be said about its durability and build quality.

Our Sole F85 treadmill review would conclude that it's probably the best choice for the home user looking to make a long term investment in their health and fitness.

Check out the Sole Fitness website for the full range of features and the most up to date price on the Sole F85 Treadmill.

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