We’ve done quite a few reviews on TTR about the quality folding treadmills that Sole Fitness offers. Now it’s time to compare and decide on which Sole Folding Treadmill is right for you? We’ve compiled a little bit of a cheat sheet when it comes to the four folding treadmills Sole offers. As you look through the Sole treadmill comparison chart you’ll see there are fairly minor differences. With that being said, you really can’t go wrong when you purchase a Sole Folding Treadmill.

The biggest difference between the Sole Folding Treadmills is the motor HP. If you’re planning to jog or run primarily on your treadmill, we would recommend buying the Sole F80, Sole F83 or the Sole F85. The motor HP of the Sole F63 is more suitable for someone looking to primarily walk on their treadmill.

To help with your decision making process we have compiled the TTR reviews we’ve compiled. These reviews were written after we had a group of test runners hop on all of the Sole Treadmill models.

Sole F63 Treadmill Review

Sole F80 Treadmill Review

Sole F85 Treadmill Review

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.

Click here to learn more about the Sole F63 Treadmill.

What is Continuous Duty Horsepower (CHP) on a Treadmill?

The maximum hp the motor can produce continuously. Continuous duty ratings are based on motor temperature limitations.

When considering a new treadmill, one of the biggest factors to look for is the Continuous Duty Horsepower or CHP. Each treadmill has a different continuous duty horsepower.  This is different then the treadmills “peak horsepower.”  When running on a treadmill for a longer period of time it’s a good idea to have a high CHP.  This will allow you to have a much better workout on your treadmill.

Recommended CHP for your Treadmill

When considering a new treadmill here is a quick guideline to follow when making your purchase.

• Walking – 2.0 Continuous Duty Horsepower
• Jogging – 2.5 Continuous Duty Horsepower
• Running – 3.0 Continuous Duty Horsepower

Be sure to decide what will be the primary use of your treadmill when purchasing a new treadmill.  Working out on your treadmill will be more exciting and enjoyable!

Here are some Suggested Treadmills with Great Continuous Duty Horsepower

Sole Treadmills

For the past 2 years in a row, the Sole Treadmill has been known as the “Best Buy” Treadmill. Each Sole Treadmill comes with at least 2.5 CHP and all the way up to 3.5 Continuous Duty Horsepower.

Sole F63 Treadmill – 2.5 CHP

The F63 treadmill has been reviewed as “Simply the best quality treadmill in its price range” by numerous consumer resources. “At the sale price of $999, the F63 is an unbelievable value.”

Learn more about the Sole F63 Treadmill.

Sole F80 Treadmill – 3.0 CHP

The strong, 3.0 Cont. Duty HP motor delivers challenging speeds up to 11 mph and inclines up to 15%. And when not in use, the treadmill deck safely locks into place, 100% secured.

Learn more about the Sole F80 Treadmill.

Sole F83 Treadmill – 3.0 CHP

The F83 is rated every bit as good as the F80 treadmill but better with a step up to a larger running surface and reinforced framework giving it a higher user weight limit, more motor output with a heavier flywheel, and a heart rate zone graph on the console electronics to help you visually stay where you want when monitoring your heart rate.

Learn more about the Sole F83 Treadmill.

Sole F85 Treadmill – 3.5 CHP

The top model in the folding series and Soles number one seller. The F85 treadmill incorporates all the specs of the F83 plus features the longest stride running surface (60 in.), a six-window club-style display with message board and a truly impressive 3.5 Cont. Duty HP motor with output and performance second to none.

Learn more about the Sole F85 Treadmill.

This is just one of Top Treadmill Reviews tips and advice to help you buy the right treadmill. Feel free to browse through our site to find even more treadmill buying tips!

More to come…

When buying or using a treadmill one detail that is often overlooked is the incline functionality of the treadmill.  The standard incline of most treadmills is usually somewhere between 0%-10% When running, jogging or walking on a treadmill at an incline, the amount of calories burned increases tremendously.  In fact, if you were to walk at incline compared to jog on a flat treadmill, the amount of calories burned would be very similar.

One important factor to keep in mind when using a treadmill is your heart rate.  Sometimes running at 100% for 5 minutes isn’t better then walking at an incline for 15 minutes.   When an individual can keep a constant calorie burning heart rate up, the amount of calories burned will be greater.  This is why inclining your treadmill is so imperative with your workouts.

In the picture below you’ll see a Sole F85 Treadmill. Sole Treadmills are recommended by TTR for a number of reasons, one of them being the amount of incline each Sole Treadmill offers.  At the beginning of the article I mentioned the standard of most treadmill inclines was between 0%-10%.  When it comes to Sole Treadmills, each treadmill offers up to 15% incline.

Sole F85 Treadmill – Up to 15% Incline!

When considering a new Treadmill or when you’re ready for your next treadmill workout, test yourself by increasing the incline.  You’ll get a better overall workout and burn more calories.

Are you guilty of not using the incline?