Sole F85

Let’s talk about Sole F85 treadmill. I have tried and experimented with so many different treadmills at my gym before but for the last three years, I have been exercising on the Lifefitness’ commercial model treadmill. It works fantastically for me and I have never had anything to complain about but it is bulky and meant for professional training. I did some research and found it is also quite expensive and not affordable for the more common person. It is worth the price if you wish to buy it for a wellness or fitness center as it is built for commercial use. I was shocked to find that you can expect to pay at least $5000 for the treadmill!

You could buy a car for that amount. It does not get any better because even the non-commercial treadmills will cost you in the region of $3000 to $4000. However, I really do not find that any more affordable than the commercial model. Then I came across the Sole F85 and I was amazed to find it at only $2000, which is less than $5000 and oh so affordable. It even has free shipping! The Sole F85 should be your first choice like it is mine as it comes with all the same benefits as the Lifefitness’ expensive treadmills but at such a lower price!

I am a female and normally assembling a big exercise machine would be a problem but it was so easy assembling the Sole F85. It took me about one hour and everything was there. I was surprised that there were no parts missing as you can expect that with anything you order these days. The instructions were not easy to follow but I still managed to understand it. The only thing is, the machine is quite heavy so you should assemble it where you want it to be unless you have a big man to help you!

I may have experience with Lifefitness treadmills but generally, I think anyone can understand the machine’s controls and figure out how to use it. It is not overly complicated. The buttons are a big size so they are accessible and they all respond to the touch! This is an advantage when you are running fast and want to adjust your speed. There is a safety key, which actually works effectively, and the gradual change in acceleration and deceleration was quick. There are keys of convenience on the bars, which you hold when you are running, for the speed and incline of the treadmill. The treadmill is not bumpy at all and its smooth compared to other machines.

Comfort is important when choosing a machine to exercise with. The Sole F85 is slightly smaller in width to larger Lifefitness models, but it was comfortable for me to exercise on. Another important aspect is shock absorption. You should not experience any pain when running on the treadmill, as it can be detrimental to your knees in the end. I have run about 4 times a week for 3 months now and I have not experienced any pain at all. I am so grateful for this because I have very weak knees. The machine should also be soundless. The Sole F85 is quieter than other models of Lifefitness’ but at a certain speed, the noise is about the same. This is an advantage if you wish to run at night without making noise and waking everyone up.

There are some more features of the Sole F85, which I find beneficial. The treadmill has a cooling fan, well actually, two cooling fans above the LCD screen. You cannot move the fans but you can adjust the speed at which they work. I did not expect to feel much cooler with them on, because they are not very big but I was surprised to find they actually cooled me down a lot! The wind from the fan is not hard; it is more like a gentle relaxing breeze, which helps if you have been running a lot. The treadmill is not overloaded with the latest technology and USB compatible ports. The deck is adjustable in different positions, which can help save space. My favorite thing about this treadmill is that it is simple and easy.

There are some negative aspects concerning the treadmill. There are small bottle holders under the dashboard, which are inconvenient to place your water bottles whilst running. It is awkward to avoid your moving knees and trying to grab a bottle at the same time. Another negative is the speakers on the treadmill. The quality of the speakers is extremely low, considering the price of the machine I expected better as I like to connect my iPod and listen to music when I run.
I really do recommend the Sole F85 for anyone who wants an affordable, reliable, easy treadmill. It comes with warranties and really is worth it if you take care of it.