Sole treadmills have a reputation for being some of the best treadmills on the market, and the Sole F63 is no exception. For the budget minded consumer the Sole F63 Treadmill offers what seems to be an excellent compromise between price, quality and value. At $999.99, the Sole F63 is a rather inexpensive entry level treadmill with a set of features disproportionate to its price. (You can buy the Sole F63 here: Buy the Sole F63 at Amazon.com)

It has been named a “Best Buy” more than once by a consumer magazine, has a 2.5 horsepower motor and can provide a top speed of 10mph. The bright LCD display makes it easy to keep track of your workout and has 6 pre-installed exercise programs. The Sole F63 comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame, 3 years on the electronics/deck and 1 year for labor.

When the features of the F63 and the reputation of Sole treadmills are taken into account the F63 is an excellent choice for a consumer looking for a budget treadmill in the sub $1000 range.

You can buy the Sole F63 here: Buy the Sole F63 at Amazon.com

As treadmills go, the Sole F63 is generally viewed as one of the most value packed treadmills on the market. With a price that makes it affordable for most consumers and features and specifications that are more commonly found on higher end machines the Sole F63 has the making of the perfect budget line treadmill.

Price: Usually in the area of $1000 or so, though it will vary depending on the location.

Notable Features
One of the best things about the Sole F63 is that it offers a tremendous set of features, especially when compared to other treadmills in the same price range.

Foldable Deck: Perhaps one of the most useful features of the Sole F63, the foldable deck allows for compact storage in almost any location. This feature is especially useful if your home or apartment is limited in space. After your workout all you have to do is fold the treadmill deck in on itself and use the roller to store it in the place of your choosing.

Blue LCD Display: Allows you to track almost every aspect of your workout, including distance traveled, speed, pace, calories burned and length of the workout. The 6.5 inch screen is large enough so that you can read it no matter how intense the workout.

2.5 Horsepower Motor: With a maximum speed of 10 Mph the Sole F63 is great for walking or slow jogging, though you shouldn’t expect to be running anywhere on the Sole F63 anytime soon.

Warranty: When you buy the Sole F63 Treadmill one of the most valuable things that you get is the warranty. The 2.5 horsepower motor comes with a lifetime warranty while the rest of the treadmill has a 3 year warranty on parts and a 1 year warranty on labor.

The Good
For around $1000 you can get a treadmill with features and specifications that outclass other treadmills that sell at a similar price. When you buy the Sole F63 you also get the benefit of knowing that Sole is one of the most respected brands on the market that has a reputation for quality and reliability. At 245 pounds the Sole F63 also provides and extremely stable surface for your workout.

The Bad
With only a 2.5 horsepower motor this treadmill is adequate only for a walking and slow jogging. If you value a quite workout you also may want to think about looking at a more expensive treadmill.

Bottom Line
Can you get a similar treadmill for less? Absolutely, but the $500 treadmill you can pick up at Wal-Mart is outclassed by the Sole F63 in every category. Is the Sole F63 the perfect Treadmill? Not by a long shot, but it is as close as you will get in this pricing bracket. If you want an affordable treadmill that does not sacrifice quality for price and still has plenty of features found on higher end machines the Sole F63 is the machine you need.

You can buy the Sole F63 here: Buy the Sole F63 at Amazon.com

At $1499, the new 2011 Sole F80 treadmill is one of the most affordable mid range treadmills on the market. It is currently the best selling treadmill at Amazon.com, which is not a surprise, as it is $100 cheaper than the very popular 2009-2010 version, while also including a longer deck (20x60in vs 20x55in), improved display and attractive new look. It still offers its impressive lifetime warranty on the motor, deck, and frame, 5 years on the electronics and 2 years on labor. (You can buy the Sole F80 at the following link: Buy Sole F80 at Amazon.com)

Over the past few years the Sole F80 has been one of the most popular and best selling treadmills on the market and this pattern has continued with the new 2011 version. This treadmill boasts a 3.0hp motor, 7.5 inch LCD display, built-in workout programs, cushioned running deck and supports up to 350lbs.

You can buy the Sole F80 here: Buy Sole F80 at Amazon.com

In the treadmill market you have three basic types of treadmills, budget treadmills, mid-range treadmills, and high end treadmills. The price of the Sole F80 puts it firmly in the Mid-range category though its specifications and features wouldn’t be out of place on a high end machine.

Price: Although the MSRP for the Sole F80 is listed at over $2,000 you shouldn’t have any trouble finding this treadmill for $1500 or less.

Notable Features
Cushion Flex Whisper Deck: In addition to being extremely quiet, especially when compared to other mid-range treadmills, the cushion flex whisper deck also allow for a much smoother workout. The deck is advertised as being able to reduce the impact of your exercise by up to 40%, quite a significant improvement if you are constantly having trouble with your joints.

Folding Frame: This feature is especially useful for people that want to have a treadmill in their home but really don’t have the space to leave it sitting out every day. With the Sole F80 all you have to do is fold the deck of the treadmill up into the body after your workout for easy storage.

Heart Rate Chest Strap: Not only does the heart rate chest strap monitor your heart rate during the workout, it also serves as a safety device. If the heart rate strap ever comes unplugged during the workout the machine automatically shuts off; an especially useful feature if you are elderly or exercise by yourself.

3.0 HP Motor: The 3.0 horsepower motor that comes with the Sole F80 is powerful enough to allow or a maximum speed of 12 MPH. While you won’t be winning any sprinting contests on this machine it should suffice for workouts that center around fast walking and light running.

The Good
The warranty for the Sole F80 is absolutely superb and goes above and beyond industry standards. With the Sole F80 you get a lifetime warranty on the motor, the frame and the running deck and with the Electronics, belt and rollers you get a 5 year warranty for parts and 2 years for labor. Thanks to its whisper Deck the Sole F80 is also considered to be extremely quiet, which makes it great for exercising in the home.

The Bad
At the $1500 mark the Sole F80 is a bit expensive which puts it out of reach of many consumers looking for a treadmill for a casual workout. At the same time the 3.0 HP motor, while good in its own right, can only reach a top speed of 12 Mph. For a casual workout this speed is fine but for a more intense workout the Sole F80 may lacking the power needed.

Bottom Line
For a mid-range treadmill you can’t do much better. You could easily end up paying $500-$1000 more for a different treadmill with similar features and even then you wouldn’t get the benefit of knowing you purchased a treadmill with the Sole reputation of quality and value. There are better treadmills out there, but you won’t find many at this price.

You can buy the Sole F80 here: Buy Sole F80 at Amazon.com