Sole f80 Treadmill Review

Aren’t all treadmills pretty much the same?

Hi, I’m Joshua Mathiason, a fitness trainer and personal exercise coach. Treadmills all work on much the same principals, but the construction and workmanship in a treadmill is going to make a lot of difference in how well it holds up and whether it will eventually need repair. I already knew a bit about treadmills when I started researching for this article since I worked for several years for one of the major health clubs. The Sole products we purchased did have very low repair rates and the manufacturer always provided excellent customer service.

This is definitely a check-mark in the “plus column” for the Sole F80. We used the more expensive models like the Sole 85 because our machines often got 10 or more hours of use for most days of the year.

If you’re shopping for a treadmill for home-use, which I assume you are, you don’t need a commercial grade machine unless you have the extra money to spend and just want one, or unless you’re a professional runner or are doing professional level training.




Sole F80 Treadmill Review: What features should I look for when buying a treadmill?

Treadmills are large, there’s no getting around that. If you have limited space you’ll want a treadmill that has a folding design. The Sole F80 is currently the least expensive treadmill on the market with such a design. That was a big selling point for me personally, and the folding design on the F80 was the coolest I’d ever seen for the low price.

In the instruction manual, they call it the Easy Assist Folding Deck. It’s pretty fun. You just unlock the deck and watch it unfold itself (you can a demo in the video lower on the page). That certainly eliminates a common excuse people come up with for not exercising — it’s just too much trouble to get the machine out. Not so in this case.

Other features you get on the F80 include six built-in workout programs plus two user-defined programs (for you to make up), two heart-rate programs with a wireless heart monitor, heart-pulse detectors in the hand grips, stereo speakers you can plug your mobile music device into and a couple of small cooling fans (for the user, not for the motor).

I should mention that if you’re one of those people that gets uncomfortably hot when exercising, these cooling fans will probably not provide enough wind to cool you down, once you really get into your workout.

Sole F80 Treadmill Review: Benefits of the F80 compared to other treadmills.

In the health club where I worked, we had several brands of treadmills available for our customers. Most of our customers preferred the Sole models which often were all in use before people started using the other brands on the floor.

When I asked people why they liked the Soles better, responses were usually comments such as, “It’s just more fun to use,” or “It’s a lot more comfortable.” People would often use adjectives like “smooth,” “cushy,” and phrases like “gentle on the body.”

It was only after I started researching treadmills for my own purposes that I discovered the explanation for this. The Sole F80 treadmill was the first among the folding machines to offer what the manufacturer calls the Cushion Flex Whisper Deck.

This design is a combination of over-sized rollers, along with two 2-ply rubber belts, sandwiched around a PVC layer with a nylon backing. I knew from our customers that it was a comfortable design but apparently it’s tough as well, since they will replace it free if it ever wears out. Warranties that offer free replacement for the lifetime of the product are one of my requirements for a big purchase like this.

Those over-sized rollers on the F80 treadmills are rollers you’ll find on far more expensive treadmills — in the range of $4500 and higher. Other factors to consider when comparing treadmills are the horsepower of the motor (3 horsepower on the Sole F80) and the top operating speed (11 mph on the F80).

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. A squeeze water bottle comes with it too. LOL.

Sole F80 Treadmill Review: What does the Company claim and can they back it up?

As was pointed out in the video above:

• The Sole F80 Treadmill did take top awards as the Treadmill Sensei’s Best Treadmill Under $1500.

• The decking we described earlier was apparently shown in a University study to provide over 40% less impact on the human body than would result when doing the same activities on asphalt.
  

• The company points out that “not only does the deck perform like other commercial brand treadmills (costing literally thousands more), it’s also covered by a lifetime warranty.”

I did a search online to see what other people who purchased the F80 Treadmill had to say. I found that almost all the feedback was positive.

And that was the gist of the majority of the testimonials. Amazon has the F80 with four out of five stars for the total reviews submitted.The consensus of the testimonials and other review sites seems to be that for the money it’s the best deal and people who bought it are happy with their purchase.

Sole F80 Treadmill Review: What is the best way to purchase a Sole F80?

Personally, I think this is one of the most important question to address, at least it was for me, because that choice can make all the difference as to whether or not you actually get a great deal. Obviously there are a lot of websites, and stores too, offering these exercise machines at varying prices, and it makes a very big difference where you make your purchase.

It’s almost always a lot cheaper to buy online, but shipping is a major factor that can increase your purchase price significantly. Plus we all know that you have to always be on the alert for scams online, so you absolutely need to buy from a place you know you can trust. Just remember, buying online is completely secure when you use the trusted, well established sites.

Sole F80 Treadmill Review: $500 Dollars Off on Amazon — Right Now

Fortunately, at this time Amazon.com has the 2011 Sole F80 Treadmill at the best price currently available. Also if you’re looking for a really good deal and don’t mind used-equipment they have those available too. Amazon is currently offering $500 off the retail price of the new 2011 model of the Sole F80.

Sole F80 Treadmill Review: Free Shipping on Amazon

The Sole F80 is also eligible for Amazon’s FREE Super Saving Shipping. You just select that option under shipping when you place your order and you’ll pay nothing at all for shipping. Add that to the $500 discount they are currently offering and you’ve got a pretty unbeatable deal.

Sole F80 Treadmill Review: Lifetime Warranty

You’ll also get a lifetime warranty on the motor, a lifetime warranty on the deck and frame, a five-year warranty on electronics, belt, and rollers and a two-year warranty on labor.

 

CLICK HERE to buy the Sole F80 Treadmill

using Amazon.com

and get $500 off — and FREE shipping.

 

Hope you enjoyed this Solef80 Treadmill Review