Sole’s F85 often gets touted as being one of the best home treadmills out there (and rightfully so), but Sole has another model that may even outshine this fan fave… the TT8.
The TT8 doesn’t get as much exposure as the F85, but it too comes with great features and is priced reasonably for home use.
The F85 and TT8 are actually very similar, both come with 4.0 HP motors, 22″ x 60″ running surfaces, and the same 15.6″ touchscreen console.
The biggest difference is that the TT8 doesn’t fold and the F85 does, but if you don’t need this space-saving feature, you might appreciate the TT8’s larger rollers and heavier-duty frame.
But does the TT8’s extra robustness justify the additional cost?
That’s what I’m here to help you decide.
In this article, I’ll offer a thorough head-to-head comparison between Sole’s F85 and Sole’s TT8, pointing out all the areas where these 2 treadmills differ.
I’ll also offer my opinion regarding which treadmill I think is the smarter buy and for whom.
After reading, you’ll know which treadmill makes the most sense for your home gym.
Sole’s TT8 comes with larger rollers and a heavier-duty frame, making it a better option for homes with multiple users. Sole’s F85 is a little lighter-duty and folds, making it a smarter buy for single-user homes and gyms that need the space-saving feature.
Sole’s TT8 vs The F85 – Two Impressive Treadmills
I really like Sole as a brand and I think they easily have some of the best home treadmills available.
Their cardio machines usually come with heavier-duty components and better warranties than other competitors in their price ranges.
And now that Sole’s been busy updating their consoles, you don’t have to choose between performance or features because you can have both.
Sole offers a lot of great products, but it’s their treadmills that really put ’em on the map.
And their treadmill lineup is stronger now than it’s ever been.
Anyway, the F85 and the TT8 we’re here to compare now are 2 of their higher-end treadmills, meaning they come with stronger motors, larger consoles, and bigger running surfaces.
Let’s see how these treadmills stand up to each other in each category, starting with the performance specs.
| Sole TT8 | Sole F85 | |
| Running Surface | 22″ x 60″ | 22″ x 60″ |
| Motor | 4.0 HP 3″ rollers | 4.0 HP 2.75″ rollers |
| Frame | Non-folding frame | Folding frame |
| Warranty | Lifetime frame/motor 3 year deck/parts 1 year labor *Light-commercial as well | Lifetime frame/motor 3 year deck/parts 1 year labor |
| Console | 15.6″ touchscreen | 15.6″ touchscreen |
| Price | ~$2,799 | ~$2,399 |
Running Surface
A treadmill’s running surface refers to the size of the belt and it’s an important spec to look for because it tells you how much room you’ll have during workouts.
If you’re working with limited space, you may actively look for a smaller treadmill, but most of us would likely agree that larger is always better when it comes to running surfaces.
I mean the more room you have, the more luxurious the feel.
Well, the F85 and the TT8 don’t disappoint when it comes to size because both come with a generous, 22″ x 60″ running surface.
This is about as large as home treadmills usually come, so both treadmills have more than enough room to comfortably fit runners and walkers of all sizes.
So, when it comes to the running surfaces, the TT8 and F85 are identical.
Motor
Moving on, let’s talk about another key performance spec – motor strength.
Having a stronger treadmill motor is always a perk, especially when running, because it makes for a smoother experience.
Weaker motors may have a harder time keeping up with demand, which could result in increased noise and even a shorter life span for the motor.
Stronger motors can usually accelerate faster too, making for more convenient interval training.
For a sake of reference, most full size treadmills come with motors in the 2 – 4 HP range; most are also of the DC variety, as opposed to AC motors which are mostly found on commercial models.
With this in mind, consider that the TT8 and F85 both come with 4.0 HP motors.
This is as strong a motor as we’re likely to see on a home model, so both treadmills have plenty of horsepower to support smooth running at any speed.
Speaking of which, both treadmills also come with a top speed of 12 mph and an incline range of -6 – 15%.
Yup, that’s right, the TT8 and F85 can both decline to simulate downhill training.
The motor strength, speeds, and incline ranges are identical for the F85 and TT8, but we do see a difference in the roller size.
FYI, the rollers are the components at the front/rear of the deck that make contact with the belt, allowing it to glide smoothly across the deck.
And even though roller size isn’t the end-all-be-all when it comes to performance, the general consensus is that having larger rollers is a good thing.
Mostly because larger rollers make more contact with belt, which tends to make for smoother performance, while prolonging the life of the belt (and rollers).
For the sake of reference, most home treadmills come with rollers somewhere in the 1.8″ – 3″ range.
With this mind, the TT8 and F85 come with the following roller sizes:
- Sole TT8: 3″ rollers
- Sole F85: 2.75″ rollers
So, the rollers on the TT8 are a bit larger, but the F85’s rollers are quite large in their own right.
Based on this info, I’d say the TT8 is a little heavier-duty, but honestly, both treadmills come with robust rollers that are big enough to ensure smooth, long-lasting belt action.
Frame
So far, the TT8 comes with larger rollers (3″ vs 2.75″), but otherwise, these two treadmills are identical with regards to their running surfaces and motors.
But when we come to the frame design, we see the most notable difference between these models.
At first glance, these treadmills look very similar, what with them both coming with the same “Z-shaped” design and general appearance.
But the F85 is a folding treadmill and the TT8 is not.
As a folding treadmill, the deck on the F85 can easily be folded vertically after workouts, saving a few square feet of floor space when not in use.
With the TT8, you need to make sure you have the dedicated floor space for the treadmill because once you put it there, it’s staying there.
The fact that the F85 folds and the TT8 doesn’t is the biggest difference between these treadmills, but there are a few other subtle differences in the frame that are also worth noting.
Both of these machines come with the same assembled dimensions (82.5″L x 38″W x 66″H), so there’s no difference in footprint, but there’s a pretty big difference when it comes to their assembled weights.
More specifically, the F85 weighs in at 294 lb and the TT8 weighs 326 lb.
This means the TT8 weighs over 30 lb more than the F85, which is pretty significant considering their both the same size.
The larger rollers on the TT8 make up some of this difference, but the rest is due to the heavier-duty deck.
Non-folding treadmills tend to offer a little more stability since they don’t have to be designed for deck mobility.
Regardless, the extra bulk on the TT8 makes it quite a bit more robust and better suited for handling repeated use by multiple users.
This is also apparent when we consider that the TT8 comes with a light-commercial warranty, but more on that below.
The TT8 also comes with a slightly higher weight capacity than the F85 (400 lb vs 375 lb), again signifying that the TT8 is just a little heavier-duty all around.
Overall, the TT8 is a heavier, more robust treadmill with a non-folding deck, while the F85 is a bit lighter and can fold for storage.
Features
| Sole TT8 | Sole F85 | |
| Console | 15.6″ touchscreen | 15.6″ touchscreen |
| Workouts | 10 + 12 custom | 10 + 12 custom |
| Entertainment apps | Yes | Yes |
| Sole+ | Yes | Yes |
| Screen mirroring | Yes | Yes |
| Quick-touch speed/incline buttons | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth speakers | Yes | Yes |
| Cooling fan | Yes | Yes |
There are some significant differences between the TT8 and the F85 when it comes to their frames, but this isn’t the case when it comes to their console features.
In fact, these treadmills come with the same console and all the same tech features.
Both models come with a 15.6″ touchscreen that’s pre-loaded with all the most popular entertainment apps (Netflix, Prime, Hulu, etc) and compatible with screen-mirroring from your phone.
Both consoles also come loaded with 10 workout profiles (as well as a ton of custom options), bluetooth speakers, wireless charging pads, cooling fans, and tablet holders.
And both are also compatible with Sole+, Sole’s free streaming app that gives you access to instructor-led workouts and metric tracking (and again, it’s free).
So overall, the TT8 and the F85 come with identical consoles.
Warranty
There aren’t many differences when it comes to the warranties either.
Actually, the F85 and TT8 both come with the same residential warranty, but the TT8 also comes with an additional light-commercial warranty.
Sole’s F85 and TT8 both come with the following residential warranty:
- Lifetime frame/motor
- 3 year deck/parts
- 1 year labor
And Sole’s TT8 also comes with an additional light-commercial warranty, as follows:
- Lifetime frame/motor
- 2 year parts
- 1 year labor
The fact that the TT8 also comes with a light-commercial warranty is another sign that it’s designed for heavier usage.
Overall though, both treadmills come with the same impressive home warranty.
Sole’s TT8 vs The F89
That about does it for the F85 and TT8, but before I wrap things up here, I wanted to briefly mention Sole’s most recent release, the F89.
With the F89, Sole basically took the F85 and just gave it a larger console.
To be more exact, the F89 comes with a 21.5″ console, making it a good 6″ or so larger than the console found on the TT8 and F85.
Otherwise, the F89 and the F85 are pretty identical when it comes to performance specs and warranty (the F89 does weigh a few pounds more due to the larger console).
Meaning the F89 comes with the same 22″ x 60″ running surface, 4.0 HP motor, -6 – 15% incline range, and so on.
And like the F85, the F89 is also a folding treadmill.
As I’m writing this, the F89 is selling for around $2950, making it about ~$150 or so more than the TT8.
But if you like the idea of having an even larger screen for better viewing, it could be worth checking out.
Final Thoughts
Ok, that about does it for the TT8 and the F85.
This was a fun one to write because these are both impressive treadmills with a lot of great features to think about.
We’ve gone over every subtle difference between ’em, but again, the biggest difference between them is the fact that the F85 can fold and the TT8 cannot.
So, if your workout space is limited or you like the idea of being able to store your treadmill vertically when not in use, the F85 is the smarter buy.
The TT8, on the other hand, is a heavier-duty model, making it better suited for handling the added stress of multiple users on a daily basis.
So, if you have multiple family members who plan on using your treadmill on the reg, the TT8 may be worth the extra cash.
Speaking of which, I don’t think I mentioned this earlier, but the TT8 usually costs ~$400 – $500 more than the F85.
Which could be reason enough to opt for the F85, depending on your budget.
Personally, if I had to choose between these treadmills today, I’d go with the F85 – mostly because our treadmill doesn’t get a ton of heavy usage.
But regardless of which treadmill you go with, you can rest assured you’re in good hands with Sole.
