TTR Review
When I was a kid, my dad brought home this great little puppy named Champ. Over the years Champ grew into a versatile, dependable, much loved family friend. He didn’t cost us thousands of dollars from an expensive breeder, he was always eager to please and he was happy doing any activity we were doing. He was the perfect “entry level” dog.
Yeah, I know it’s a bit corny, but the Sole F63 struck me as the treadmill version of Champ. It’s versatile, dependable, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg—essentially it’s the perfect entry level treadmill. Sole has always had a philosophy of building quality treadmills at a reasonable price. And the Sole F63 Treadmill is no exception.
The F63 is Sole’s entry-level model and is their lowest priced unit at $999. It’s a wonderful treadmill for beginners, but would perform just as well for the serious fitness enthusiast. The F63 is powered by a very capable 2.5 continuous duty HP motor that runs quietly and efficiently—providing speeds from 1 to 10 mph. While the incline motor raises the treadmill deck to a mountainesque 15% grade.
The phenolic deck features a built-in shock absorption system that kept our tester running comfortably mile after mile. The running surface–a 20″ x 55″, 2-ply belt–is fairly standard for this category and rolls along on a set of 2-1/2″ rollers.
Along with the solid construction and great performance, the Sole F63 provides some nice creature comforts as well. One feature we really liked was the iPod input placed conveniently on the console, complete with a set of speakers to play your favorite tunes while you run. Another perk are the dual built-in fans atop the console. Some people like fans, some people don’t. But it’s nice to have the option.
The Soul F63 boasts a well designed, easy-to-use console featuring a digital 1/4-mile track display, one-touch speed and incline controls and 6 preset workout programs. We also liked that Sole includes a wireless chest strap for heart rate control in addition to the console-mounted hand pulse grips.
TTR Recommendation
If you haven’t noticed by now, we really like the Sole F63 Treadmill. It’s a wonderful treadmill that is more reminiscent of a higher end model than an entry-level treadmill. The F63 comes with all the bells and whistles, but doesn’t sacrifice quality or performance in the process. The Sole F63 also comes with a lifetime warranty on the motor and frame and a 3-year warranty on everything else, so you can rest assured this machine was built for the long haul. And at an ultra-reasonable $999 price point, we’d say this treadmill ranks right up there with man’s best friend.
