Sole F85 Treadmill 2008 Model Review

Worth Every Penny!
H. Balke
I purchased the Sole F85 treadmill on 6/25/08 directly from Sole and took advantage of the free shipping they offer. They shipped it out the next day and I received it on 7/1/08 in perfect condition. It was incredibly easy to put together, it took about 30 minutes to do. I've used it everyday since it arrived. I walk 4-5 miles per day at 8-10 degree incline and so far no worries. I used to get terrible shin splints with my old treadmill at half the speed and no incline but since I've started walking on this machine I haven't had a single twinge of pain. No regrets on this purchase what so ever!

The only negatives I can really come up with are the built in fans and H.R. display. Because I'm only 5' tall the fans can't be adjusted low enough to hit me. No biggie. The other thing is the with the H.R. display. When I wear my Polar H.R. monitor it comes up on the LCD display but is inaccurate. Off by up to +20 bpm in comparison to the Polar H.R. setup I wear. Since I use a Polar monitor it really isn't an issue with me but could be an issue for others.

Pros:

Warranty

Reputation

Very quite...Just a slight wooshing sound of the belt turning.

Controls on handles for speed and incline. Very easy to adjust on the move.

3.5 HP motor

Folds and unfolds effortlessly.

Cons:

Fans
H.R.display 

Made for a runner  
George W. Plesa (Pine Mountain Club, Ca United States)
I have a late 2006 model which is identical to the 2008 model as far as the specs. There has been a slight cosmetic design change but nothing drastic. My wife and I have been running and walking on this machine for over a year and a half and we've had no problems. The heart rate monitors could be better but I'm not convinced any of the treadmills offer anything more accurate. They get you in the ballpark. The warranty is what really matters and few machines match Sole's much less alone exceed it. The best site for unbiased treadmill reviews is www.treadmilldoctor.com . I've spoken with Sole on several occasions and the customer support is superb. No overseas call center and instant response from a company that wants your business.

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