Sole’s F85 Treadmill offers a great combination of power and finesse.
Between the powerful motor, large running surface, and new fancy console, one could make a pretty solid argument that the F85 is the finest treadmill around in the $2000 price range.
Am I here to make that argument?
Hmm, not sure yet, but I’ll probably make my mind up by the time I finish this review.
Seriously though, the F85 is a stellar treadmill provided by one of the most impressive brands in home fitness. It’s no wonder this treadmill often finds itself near the top of annual “best in class” lists.
Anyway, this review is here to show you everything this treadmill has to offer.
In this review, I’ll go over all the specs and features this treadmill comes with, but I’ll also try to provide a little insight in how it stacks up against some of the other top options in this price range.
After reading, you’ll know everything you need to in order to decide whether or not the F85 is the right option for your home gym.
Sole’s F85 comes with a strong motor, heavy-duty components, and an updated touchscreen console that gives you access to entertainment apps and free streaming workouts. This would be a great treadmill for runners and incline walkers alike, but if you prefer a simpler console, you may want to consider Horizon’s 7.8 AT.
Sole’s F85 Treadmill
I want to start out by saying I’m a big fan of Sole Fitness’s work.
I love how understated they are. You never see a lot of fancy commercials or marketing for their products because their users’ reviews speak loudly enough.
And something all Sole products have in common is that they all use heavier-duty components than most competitors.
Strong motors, robust frames, large running surfaces… all good stuff.
And now that Sole has updated most of their consoles, you don’t have to choose between performance and features because you can have both.
Sole actually started out providing treadmills for hotel chains and gradually worked their way into the home fitness market.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Anyway, Sole’s lineup has several models to choose from these days and they offer models in just about every price range – from their budget friendly F63 to their non-folding TT8, they’ve got something for every home gym.
The F85 we’re here to discuss now is one of their most popular treadmills and it’ll likely cost ya right around $2300, give or take.
And this moderate price level is where we usually find the best deals (and the F85 is no exception).
Pros
- 22″ x 60″ running surface
- 4.0 CHP motor
- Top speed of 12 mph
- -6 – 15% incline/decline
- Sleek frame design
- 15.6″ touchscreen display
- Access to entertainment apps
- Free streaming workouts with Sole+
- Heavy-duty frame
- 375 lb max weight capacity
- 2.75″ rollers
- Bluetooth speakers
- Screen mirroring
- Wireless charging pad
- Quick touch speed/incline buttons
- Awesome warranty
Cons
- Console has been known to have a few glitches in the past
Running Surface
Personally, when I’m researching treadmills I always look at the running surface first. I think this is one of the easiest ways to tell a high-end treadmill from a dud.
And that’s because higher-end treadmills will come with larger running surfaces (usually- this is the rule, but there are exceptions).
And by larger running surface, I mean at least 20″ x 60″.
Treadmills with a running surface of 20″ x 60″ will be able to comfortably handle pretty much all users without any issues.
This means that you’ll be able to walk or run at top speed without having to worry about altering your stride.
Which is crucial for a comfortable workout experience.
I don’t know about you, but if I’m looking for a treadmill to run on, I want to make sure it’s long enough to accommodate my full stride.
Running surface isn’t as important if you’re just looking for a treadmill to walk on, but that said, larger is always better.
Well, the Sole F85 comes with a 22″ x 60″ running surface.
Not only does this meet our size goal mentioned above, but it actually exceeds it by 2″ on the width.
The extra room is a nice luxury because you’ll have plenty of wiggle room to work with.
So, if you sway a little while walking or running, you won’t have to worry about running out of belt space (or falling off the treadmill).
The running surface is generous, but the deck itself is pretty sophisticated too.
The F85 comes with Sole’s Cushion Flex Whisper Deck (great name)- this is basically just their shock absorbing system.
According to Sole, their Cushion Flex system can reduce the impact your joints experience by up to 40% – I don’t know about that, but most agree it provides a pretty comfortable feel.
I also like how heavy duty the frame is – this treadmill weighs 294 lb fully assembled and has a user weight capacity of 375 lb.
Both of these numbers are more impressive than most of the home treadmills we see these days, making it a great treadmill for the bigger and taller folks out there.
A larger, more robust treadmill like this is going to move and wobble less during your workouts.
It’s also going to be able to handle the stresses of daily use better, which is evident by the warranty Sole backs this machine with (more on that in a sec).
Oh, the F85 is also a folding treadmill.
I know, it’s surprising that a treadmill this beefy would also be able to fold, but it does.
So, if space is limited, you can easily fold this treadmill vertically and cut its footprint roughly in half when not being used.
Overall, the F85 scores very highly with its large, heavy-duty deck.
Motor
If the running surface is my first priority, the motor is my second because a good treadmill needs a motor strong enough to handle reaching and maintaining higher speeds.
Well, if you plan on running anyway.
Regardless of what your plans are, the F85 should be able to handle it.
This treadmill comes with a 4.0 CHP motor that’s capable of reaching a max speed of 12 mph.
It also comes with 15 levels of power incline to bump up the intensity level of any workout as well as 6 levels of power decline, giving you the option to train downhill if you like.
At 4.0 CHP, the F85 has plenty of muscle to maintain those higher speeds without crapping out, but it’s also packing one of the strongest motors in its price range.
Horizon’s 7.8 AT also comes with a 4.0 CHP motor, but it’s got NordicTrack’s Commercial 1750 beat by half a horse.
I always encourage runners to look for a treadmill with at least a 3.0 CHP motor under the hood.
This really should be the cutoff point for folks looking to log some serious miles on their treadmill and the F85 easily surpasses this.
Sole also built this treadmill with 2.75″ rollers to help this powerful motor provide a smooth and quiet ride.
FYI, rollers are the part that makes contact with the belt, propelling it along the track.
For the sake of comparison, many competitors use rollers in the 1.9″ – 2.5″ range, making Sole’s larger by quite a bit.
When it comes to rollers, larger is better because they make more surface contact with the belt, which reduces stress through both the rollers and the belt, prolong the life of both.
It also creates a smoother feel.
Sole also uses 2-ply belts with 4 layers – these thicker belts add a little extra cushion and also last longer because they’re less likely to stretch out over time.
Overall, Sole did a great job providing the F85 with a powerful motor and large rollers.
Features
The Sole F85 Treadmill comes with the following features:
15.6″ touchscreen display- the F85’s new console includes a large, touchscreen display that makes it easy to make all selections during your workouts. There have been some complaints regarding Sole’s software being a little glitchy in the past, but it looks like they’ve got that fixed with recent updates.
Entertainment apps- One of the nicest perks of that large screen is that it comes with several built-in entertainment apps, including Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+, and more (yes, you do need your own subscriptions for each).
Sole+ – Sole also offers free streaming workouts through their platform, Sole+. Membership is free when you purchase a Sole cardio machine, giving you the ability to access unlimited instructor-led workouts.
10 workout programs- you can access the same standard workouts Sole offers on all their machines, including 6 profiles, 2 custom workouts, and 2 heart rate guided options.
12 customizable programs- along with the preloaded profiles, you can also customize and save a dozen of your own workouts.
Bluetooth speakers- with the built-in bluetooth speakers, you can wirelessly connect your phone or mp3 player to the console and listen to your playlists through the treadmill.
Heart rate monitoring- this treadmill is compatible with strap heart rate monitors, so you can get more accurate readings if you want to.
Wireless charging pad- with the new upgrade, you can charge your phone wirelessly while you workout.
Screen mirroring- you can mirror you phone or tablet’s screen on the console, allowing you to access any fitness or entertainment app you want.
Cooling fan- this is pretty standard, but it might help keep ya a little more comfortable during your workouts.
Quick touch speed/incline buttons- this is a nice feature, especially if you like to do interval training. Hit the quick touch buttons and you can instantly set your speed or incline to one of the predetermined values.
Integrated tablet holder- the tablet holder is conveniently located above the console so you won’t block the screen when you’re watching Netflix on your tablet.
Assembly
Sole always does a great job with their assembly manuals.
I love that they show you ahead of time which hardware will be used for each step- and they also provide a to scale image of that hardware so you know what you’re using along the way.
Assembly for the F85 is pretty straightforward.
There’s only 9 steps and you’re basically just attaching the console to the deck via the support beams.
The most challenging part is probably step 4 where you have to connect the wires from the deck to the console before attaching the console to the supports.
It would be convenient to have another set of hands for this step, but you could always place the console on a table at roughly the right height and do it yourself.
The most challenging part of assembling this treadmill would be the fact of how heavy it is.
Keep in mind this machine weighs 300 lb. You’ll need some help moving this bad boy to its final destination prior to assembly.
Overall though, most fairly handy folks should be able to assemble the F85 by themselves (or with a helper).
Warranty
The Sole F85 comes with the following guarantee:
- Lifetime frame
- Lifetime motor
- 3 year deck/parts
- 1 year labor
The warranty on this treadmill is pretty great and it beats out what a lot of the competition is offering.
You can’t beat lifetime on the frame and motor and three years on parts and electronics is also really good (although Horizon does offer 5 years on parts).
A year on labor is par for the course, so nothing too special there.
Overall though, I think it’s a great guarantee for a treadmill in this price range.
Sole’s F85 vs The Competition
| Sole F85 | Horizon 7.8 AT | NordicTrack New Commercial 1750 | |
| Running Surface | 22″ x 60″ | 22″ x 60″ | 20″ x 60″ |
| Motor | 4.0 HP | 4.0 CHP | 3.5 CHP |
| Speed/Incline | 0.5 – 12 mph -6 – 15% | 0.5 – 12 mph 0 – 15% | 0.5 – 12 mph -3 – 12% |
| Rollers | 2.75″ | 2.36″/1.81″ | 1.9″ |
| Warranty | Lifetime frame/motor 3 year parts 1 year labor | Lifetime frame/motor 5 year parts 2 year labor | 10 year frame 2 year parts 1 year labor |
| Console | 15.6″ touchscreen | 9.3″ LED | 14″ HD touchscreen |
| Price | ~$2300 | ~$2000 | ~$2300 |
There are some impressive treadmills in the ~$2k price range, so the F85 has some stiff competition.
Case in point, the 2 treadmills mentioned in the table above.
Horizon’s 7.8 AT, which I’m happy to say I personally own, is as heavy-duty as any treadmill in this price range and it comes equipped with impressive performance specs all around.
It comes with a superior warranty and is a little cheaper, but the F85 has larger rollers, can decline, and comes with a much more sophisticated console.
NordicTrack’s Commercial 1750 is priced very similarly and it too comes with a large touchscreen console (designed for iFit), but as you can see, the F85 comes with a bigger running surface, stronger motor, and much longer warranty.
The 1750’s touchscreen console isn’t pre-loaded with entertainment apps either (and iFit certainly isn’t free).
Overall, I think the F85 can hold its own and then some against any treadmill in its price range.
Sole’s F85 vs Sole’s F80
I want to mention Sole’s own F80 as well because it’s a bit cheaper and a great treadmill in its own right.
So, if you like the F85, but are working with a smaller budget, the F80 could make a lot of sense.
The F80 is usually about $500 cheaper than the F85 and as such, comes with some notable differences.
| Sole F85 | Sole F80 | |
| Running Surface | 22″ x 60″ | 22″ x 60″ |
| Motor | 4.0 HP | 3.5 HP |
| Speed/Incline | 0.5 – 12 mph -6 – 15% | 0.5 – 12 mph 0 – 15% |
| Rollers | 2.75″ | 2.36″ |
| Console | 15.6″ touchscreen | 10.1″ touchscreen |
| Warranty | Lifetime frame/motor 3 year parts 1 year labor | Lifetime frame/motor 3 year parts 1 year labor |
| Price | ~$2300 | ~$1700 |
Specifically, the F80 comes:
- a smaller motor (3.5 HP)
- smaller rollers (2.36″)
- lower weight limit (350 lb)
- smaller touchscreen (10″)
- no decline options
These differences are pretty significant, but folks who don’t need such a powerful treadmill might want to save the extra money and go with the F80.
For more info, check out my full article on the F80 vs the F85.
Final Thoughts
Ok, I really like this treadmill.
I love that it has an over-sized running surface and one of the most powerful motors you’ll find on a home model.
I also love the generous warranty which provides some extra peace of mind when making a purchase of this magnitude.
The new touchscreen console is great and it’s cool to see that they’ve added entertainment apps and screen mirroring because that does open up a lot of possibilities when it comes to fitness apps.
And it’s nice that you don’t have to sign up for a streaming membership to get access to all the cool stuff this console has to offer (I’m looking at you NordicTrack).
All things considered, I think the F85 is awesome and easily one of the best treadmills in the ~$2000 price range.
But it’s got a lot of competition.
Horizon’s 7.8 AT is usually priced a little cheaper and it comes with the same sized running surface and motor, as well a heavier frame and better warranty.
But the F85’s new console is much more sophisticated than Horizon’s.
There’s also NordicTrack’s New Commercial 1750, which comes with a snazzy HD touchscreen console and all the iFit streaming features you can handle.
But the F85 comes with a larger running surface, stronger motor, and better warranty.
Of this group, the F85 offers a great combination of both console features and performance, giving folks looking for both a perfect alternative.
Anyway you look at it, this treadmill can easily hang with any competitor in its price range and it’s easy to see why this has become Sole’s most popular model.
Truly a great home treadmill. Highly recommended.
