The F80 and F85 are two of Sole’s most popular treadmills and it’s pretty easy to see why.
Both treadmills come with impressive performance specs, large touchscreen consoles, and plenty of cool tech features to make workouts more entertaining.
They both also come from the same great brand and are backed with generous warranties.
But when you look closely, you start noticing subtle differences between these impressive treadmills.
Long-story-short, the F85 comes with a stronger motor, larger rollers, the ability to decline, and a larger console.
These upgrades come with a larger price tag of course, so the real question is whether or not the F85 is worth the extra investment.
And that’s exactly what I’m here to help you figure out.
In this head to head comparison, I’ll go over the key differences between the F80 and F85, but I’ll also throw my 2 cents into the mix regarding who would benefit from each treadmill.
After reading, you’ll know which Sole model is better suited for your home gym.
Sole’s F85 is heavier-duty and more powerful, making it a smart option for serious runners and homes with multiple runners. The F80 is a little lighter-duty, making it a good buy for folks who won’t be putting as many miles on their treadmill.
| Sole F80 | Sole F85 | |
|---|---|---|
| Running Surface | 22″ x 60″ | 22″ x 60″ |
| Motor | 3.5 HP 2.36″ rollers | 4.0 HP 2.75″ rollers |
| Weight Capacity | 350 lb | 375 lb |
| Features | 10.1″ touchscreen Entertainment apps Sole+ Screen mirroring Bluetooth Wireless charging Standard workouts | 15.6″ touchscreen Entertainment apps Sole+ Screen mirroring Bluetooth Wireless charging Standard workouts |
| Warranty | Lifetime frame/motor 3 year parts 1 year labor | Lifetime frame/motor 3 year parts 1 year labor |
| Price | ~$1799 | ~$2299 |
Sole’s F80 vs The F85
I want to preface this comparison with a few quick notes on Sole in general.
Personally, I think Sole is one of the best home fitness brands around these days.
I like them so much because their machines are heavier-duty than most and they back all of their products with great warranties.
I also think as a brand, they’re pretty fairly priced.
All of their products are high-end, but it’s probably their treadmills that stand out the most.
Sole actually started out as a provider of treadmills to hotel chains for their fitness rooms and whatnot.
They became popular, so they did the next logical thing and expanded into home fitness.
Well, the F80 and the F85 are 2 of their most popular models and both are priced well for home use.
Let’s start things off with a rundown on how these treadmills differ with regards to their performance specs because this is where we see the most notable differences.
P.S.- if you’re interested in other Sole models, check out my complete Sole treadmill guide, where I go over their entire lineup.
Running Surface
This spec refers to the usable size of the belt and it’s an important one because it really tells you how much room you’ll have at your disposal during workouts.
Generally speaking, bigger is better because having a more spacious feel is never a bad thing.
However, if you have limited floorspace, you might have to opt for a smaller treadmill (with a smaller running surface).
Well, when it comes to the F80 and F85 there aren’t any differences here – both come with a 22″ x 60″ running surface.
This is as big as most home treadmills come, so both treadmills will offer a spacious feel for users of all heights.
But again, when it comes to the running surface, Sole’s F80 and F85 are identical.
Motor
Since both of these treadmills have the same running surface dimensions, let’s move right along and check out the motors.
One of the most easily recognized differences between these 2 models is found in the strength of the motors.
The F80 comes with a 3.5 HP motor and the F85 comes with a 4.0 HP motor.
When it comes to treadmills, having a stronger motor is always nice, especially if you’re a serious runner or your home has multiple family members that’ll be using the treadmill.
Mostly because a stronger motor doesn’t have to work as hard as a weaker one, meaning it can provide a smoother, quieter experience.
That said, a 3.5 HP motor is pretty strong.
Even though the F85 is a bit stronger, both treadmills come with the same top speed of 12 mph and both models come with the same 15 levels of power incline.
However, the F85 also comes with 6 levels of power decline, giving you the extra option of training downhill.
If you’re an elite runner, looking for a treadmill that can handle serious mileage week in and week out, having the F85’s stronger motor would be beneficial.
But the rest of us should do just fine with the muscle the F80 is packing.
Something else worth noting is that the roller sizes for these 2 treadmills are a little different too.
Like motors, when it comes to treadmill rollers, larger is better.
Larger rollers make more contact with the belt as it slides and this makes for smoother belt action, but it also puts less stress on the belt, the rollers, and even the motor.
With this in mind, the F80 comes with 2.36″ rollers (which are large) and the F85 comes with 2.75″ rollers, which are very large for a home model.
Both of these treadmills score highly in the roller department, but the F85’s are a bit larger, making for an even heavier-duty machine.
So, when it comes to the motor, the F85 is packing more horsepower and comes with larger rollers when compared to the F80.
Frame
The F80 and F85 both come with updated Z-shaped frames and they both come with the same footprint (82.5″ x 38″), so there’s no real difference in the size of these treadmills.
The F85 is a bit heavier however.
The F80 comes with an assembled weight of 274 lb and the F85 weighs in at around 294 lb, so the F85 has a little additional bulk.
This extra weight is likely due to the larger rollers and bigger console, fyi.
Personally, I like seeing a heavier treadmill because it means the machine will feel more stable during use.
But both treadmills are pretty robust, so that shouldn’t be an issue with either.
The other performance spec you’ll notice a difference in with these 2 models is the weight capacity each can handle.
The F80 comes with a weight capacity of 350 lb, while the F85 comes with a weight capacity of 375 lb.
This isn’t a huge difference, but it’s certainly something larger folks might want to consider when deciding.
Overall, the F80 and F85 both take up the same amount of floorspace, but the F85 weighs about 20 lb more and comes with a weight limit that’s 25 lb more.
Features
Ok, that’s about it for the differences in performance, so let’s move on to the fun stuff: features.
The following table will help display all the key differences in features between the F80 and F85:
| Sole F80 | Sole F85 | |
|---|---|---|
| Console screen | 10.1″ touchscreen | 15.6″ touchscreen |
| Entertainment apps | Yes | Yes |
| Sole+ | Yes | Yes |
| Screen mirroring | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth speakers | Yes | Yes |
| Workout programs | 10 profiles 12 custom | 10 profiles 12 custom |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate monitoring | Grip and telemetric | Grip and telemetric |
| Chest strap included | No | No |
| Cooling fan | Yes | Yes |
So, yeah, the only real difference between these consoles is the size of the screen – the F85’s is about 5″ larger.
Both treadmills include access to entertainment apps, like YouTube and Netflix, as well as screen mirroring from your phone.
Both treadmills also come loaded with Sole+, Sole’s free streaming fitness app that gives you access to thousands of free instructor-led workouts.
That’s right, free.
You’ll also notice both treadmills offer the classic workout profiles found on all of Sole’s cardio machines.
That means that the F80 and F85 both offer access to entertainment apps, free streaming workouts, and built-in classic workout profiles.
In other words, Sole’s new consoles are pretty sweet.
Overall, the difference in screen size is the only difference between the F80 and F85 when it comes to their features.
Price
Alright, that about does it for all the differences between these treadmills except for one: price.
Keep in mind that prices will vary throughout the year, what with ongoing promotions and whatnot, but these treadmills usually cost the following:
- Sole’s F80: ~$1800
- Sole’s F85: ~$2300
Again, I apologize if these numbers are a little off by the time you read this, but generally speaking, the F85 usually costs about $500 more, give or take.
Personally, given the stronger motor, decline capabilities, and larger console, I think the F85’s additional cost is warranted.
Actually, I think both of these treadmills are well priced, considering everything each has to offer.
But the real question is whether or not the F85 is worth the extra cost for you.
That’s obviously a personal question and it depends largely on your budget, but I think it also depends on the following…
You Should Choose Sole’s F80 If:
- You’re working with a smaller budget
- Not planning on putting as many miles on your treadmill
- Only one person will be using your treadmill
- Don’t care about downhill training
- Are comfortable with a smaller console
You Should Choose Sole’s F85 If:
- You’re a serious runner planning on putting serious miles on your treadmill
- Multiple family members will be using treadmill regularly
- You like the idea of decline training
- You want a larger console
- You want the best treadmill your budget will allow
Final Thoughts
Alrighty guys, that’s about it for the F80 and the F85.
Before I wrap this up, I’d like to put everyone at ease by saying this: if you’re stuck between Sole’s F80 and their F85, there’s no wrong answer.
Both of these treadmills are awesome.
So if you’re staying up late, not eating, losing hair, or otherwise stressing yourself completely out about this decision, just take a deep breath and relax- I got you.
The performance specs are very similar for both models.
The F85 has a few subtle upgrades, like the 4.0 HP motor and larger rollers, which do make it a little heavier-duty than the F80.
But I don’t think these upgrades are significant enough for the average home-gymer to necessarily notice that much of a difference.
That said, more advanced runners (or homes with multiple runners) might want to pick the F85 for its stronger motor and overall heavier-dutiness.
And these treadmills are really similar when it comes to their console features too, but if you like the idea of a larger screen, the F85 makes more sense.
There’s always the decline function to think about too.
Long-story-short, if you plan on putting some serious mileage on your treadmill, it probably makes more sense to go with the F85; if not, I’d save the cash and go with the F80.
Alright, I hope you found this comparison helpful.
If you’d like any more info on either treadmill, you can read my full reviews for each by clicking on the following links: Sole F80 review, Sole F85 review.
