Best for Home Use
Best for Serious Runners
Best for Walkers
Best for Seniors
Sole F85 Review (2024)
Brian is a regular competitor and national qualifier in the National Physique Committee events of bodybuilding and classic physique. A veteran writer and editor of more than 24 years, he's published numerous articles on fitness, health, and exercise.
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Why You Should Trust Our Review Of The Sole F85
At TreadmillReviews.net, we bring you comprehensive reviews of treadmills so you can decide which one is right for you. Our staff thoroughly test all the treadmills we review. We install them, walk on them, run on them, and try out all of the features. We get to know each and every treadmill we review extremely well. Our reviewers log miles on the deck. We listen and record the sound of the motor, we test and measure the incline/decline, try out all aspects of the console and try the treadmill’s features, such as the apps built into the F85, or the Sole app.
Every treadmill we review undergoes the same rigorous process. That way we can compare and contrast them and give you an honest review of what we think.
Our reviewers are treadmill and fitness experts. Brian, the author of this review, is a competitive bodybuilder, and is a 7-time national qualifier in both men’s bodybuilding and classic physique within the NPC competitions. He has coached and been coached on cardiovascular training, HIIT, and nutrition, particularly as it pertains to weight loss for competitions. He is an expert at treadmills, has been on this treadmill, and you can trust his opinion on all of the treadmills he reviews.
In Brief
The 2023 Sole F85 is a great treadmill for those comparing it to the NordicTrack 1750. It has a kick ass warranty, a powerful motor, automated incline and some amazing built-in programs. It also comes in at under $2500, which, while pricey, is not bad for what you get for this unit. A low maintenance track, 15.6″ screen, charging pad for devices and built in apps such as Netflix make this treadmill an amazing addition to your home gym. In our experience, this treadmill was fun to run on, and the high tech additions made it easy to be distracted when completing a 5 mile run. If price is an issue, you can consider the cheaper Sole F80.
- Lifetime warranty on the frame, motor, and deck.
- Great built-in workout programs, and built-in Netflix and other applications
- Superior roller sizes: 2.75-inch rollers in the front, and 2.36-inch rollers in the rear
- Larger (82.5 inches), heavier (319 lb) machine relative to peers
Sole F85 Treadmill (2024) - Key Specs:
| Star Rating: | 4.9-stars |
|---|---|
| Motor: | 4.0 HP |
| Incline: | -6 to 15% |
| Running Area: | 22" x 60" |
| Folding: | Yes |
| Top Speed: | 12 MPH |
| Weight Capacity: | 375 LBS |
| Dimensions: | 82.5" L x 38" W x 66" H |
| Built-In Programs: | 6 built-in, 12 custom templates you can save |
Sole Fitness likes to describe their F85 as “The Best Folding Treadmill On the Planet.” Sole’s top-of-the-line folding treadmill is understandably a best seller year after year. It has everything a serious runner or power walker could expect for effective indoor training: a powerful motor, a spacious workout area, great cushioning, and an automated incline.
The new F85 also brings for free the U.S. Military Fitness Tests as built-in programs. These include the standard Personal Fitness Tests required by the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The 2023 model also brings an improved console design, a tablet holder, multiple cooling fans, and a wireless two-amp charging pad. The Sole F85’s sale price of $2,399 includes a best-in-class lifetime warranty on the motor and three years on parts and electronics, making it a best buy under $2,500. If you’re shopping for a treadmill right now, be sure to check out our Five Step Treadmill Buying Guide loaded with useful tips.
A top pick for any serious treadmill buyer, from experience, I’d say the Sole F85 is a strong rival to the NordicTrack 1750, also a perennial favorite. This year the company made some significant upgrades to the model and introduced a new Z-shape frame, as well as a 15.6-inch touchscreen display. This comes atop its tablet holder meaning you can have the visuals any way you want them. The Sole F85 screen comes with seven preset apps, including YouTube and Netflix, but also allows for screen mirroring, and it does connect with the new Sole+ App which can be downloaded from either the Apple or Android stores. Purchase comes with a 90-day trial of the Studio Fitness App, but if you don’t want to continue with payments, the machine has 12 customizable programs, including the U.S. military fitness tests.
Sole+ App. Image courtesy of Sole.com.
Other upgrades include the two-amp charging pad for devices and more cooling fans. A folding treadmill, the machine measures 82.5 inches in length by 38 inches in width and 66 in height when operating. Folded, it’s 44 inches in length and 71.5″ in height. The unit weighs 319 pounds, so be prepared to take that into consideration when placing it. Second floor rooms are probably not a good idea unless you want rattling below. Meanwhile, the treadmill sports an impressive 375-pound user weight maximum and 2.75-inch rollers in the front, with 2.36-inch rollers in the rear. As we’ve written extensively before, roller size makes a huge difference in overall product quality and the sizes offered in the F85 guarantee a good, durable ride. The running deck is 22 x 60 inches, which is plenty for runners and walkers alike, and it features a comfortable step-up height of eight inches.
Sole F85 Running Deck. Image courtesy of Sole.com.
The Sole F85 is Bluetooth-enabled and features heart rate monitors in the handlebars if you don’t want to utilize a wireless unit. The system operates off a 4.0 HP motor with speeds between 0.5 and 12mph, and the ability to decline and incline between -6% and 15%, among the better ranges offered on the market. One of the biggest indicators of quality is the warranty offered here. Sole is bringing a lifetime guarantee on both the frame and motor, which is superior to other models which top out around 10 years. The deck and other components have a three-year warranty with one-year for labor and 90 days for cosmetics.
2023 Sole F85 Console. Image courtesy of Sole.com.
- High quality parts: The F85 is Sole’s highest quality folding treadmill. Patterned after a Sole treadmill made for elite hotels, it’s more than capable of meeting the cardio training needs of any home gym for many years.
- Motor: The Sole F85 has a quiet 4.0 HP motor that smoothly supports sprints of up to 12 mph and a maximum user weight of 375 pounds.
- Track: All Sole treadmills have two-ply tracks that require little maintenance. The F85 also has some of the largest track rollers in the industry at 2.75 inches in diameter, which promote quiet operation and machine longevity.
- Deck: CushionFlex Whisper Deck technology can reduce joint impact by up to 40% compared to outdoor training surfaces. It also exceeds the impact reduction offered by many other fitness brands. In addition to cushioning the impact of running, Sole’s top treadmill deck muffles the sound of running to be more home-friendly.
- Incline/Decline: The track has a potential of 15% incline and a great -6% decline as well.
- Console: Workout data is displayed on an easy-to-read 15.6-inch screen with TFT touch panel and Android system. Multiple built-in programs and 12 custom templates are available to support cardio training, weight loss, and muscle toning. Two users can store profiles and save customized programs for quick-start convenience.
- Pre-loaded apps: Netflix, YouTube, ESPN, CBC News, NBC News, and CNN News
- Foldable: The F85 Treadmill can fold quickly to save space. Folding is made easy with hydraulic assist, and unfolding is gentle with a soft-drop system. In both positions the treadmill is securely locked for children’s safety.
- Heart Rate Monitoring: The F85 has built in heart rate monitors embedded in the grips. These calculate target heart rate based on age, gender, and other variables. Touch pulse sensors are included as well.
- Quiet Motor: The Sole F85 features a quiet motor. In fact, the sound of your feet hitting the running surface is louder than the machine.
- Warranties: Sole warranties are among the best in the business. The sale price for the new F85 includes a lifetime warranty on the frame, motor, and deck.
What We Don’t Like:
- Heavy Unit: A 319 pounds, the unit will certainly be stable, but take this into consideration when placing.
- Size: This treadmill can fold, but certainly it isn’t space-saving when in use. It’s 82.5 inches long.
- Short Siderails: The handrails provided for stability aren’t as long as some runners would like.
- Poor Customer Service: There’s no chat option, and email response is very slow if you receive a response at all.
Sole treadmills in general are highly recommended. Buyers get top-notch customer service and the peace of mind that comes with owning quality equipment. This particular model is the most advanced in the lineup, and Sole isn’t overreaching when they claim it’s the world’s best folding treadmill. Many shoppers would be just as happy with the cheaper F80. It all depends on your budget and workout standards.
New for 2023
- 15.6″ TFT-LCD touch panel + Android system
- Wireless charging pad
New for 2022
- 10.1″ TFT-LCD touch panel + Android system
- WiFi Phone or Tablet mirror capability
- Seven new Fitness Tests and 12 Custom Workouts
- Seven pre-loaded apps: Netflix, YouTube, ESPN, CBC News, NBC News, and CNN News
Recent Updates
- May 11, 2023: Updating pricing and specs.
- October 5, 2022: Included additional FAQs, updated specifications to most current model.
- July 13, 2021: Added some FAQs to the page
Sole F85 FAQs
How do you fold the Sole F85 treadmill?
The Sole F85 has a folding deck that you can simply raise up and latch into place. There is a lever that releases the deck to pull down. You can see a demonstration in our video above.
How much does the Sole F85 weigh?
The Sole F85 weighs 319 lbs. with a user weight capacity of up to 375 lbs.
What is the running surface of the Sole F85?
The running surface or track area of the Sole F85 is a spacious 22" x 60".
What kind of extra features does the Sole F85 have?
The Sole F85 treadmill has USB and Bluetooth compatibility, WiFi Technology and an integrated tablet holder to store your smart devices.