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While their names are similar, the Sole F80 and F85 still vary in a few areas. One treadmill may be better than the other for your personal situation.
The main differences between the Sole F80 and F85 are that the Sole F85 has a slightly higher weight limit, somewhat stronger motor, a more extensive built-in screen, and a few more workout programs.
On the other hand, the Sole F80 has a lower weight and a price that is a nice amount more budget-friendly.
Something else to note is that customers are just a bit more positive about the Sole F80 than the Sole F85 at the time of writing. This seems to mainly be because of a few software bugs.
That aside, if you or other users have an above-average body weight but want to run fast you want to go for the Sole F85 and its stronger motor. The same applies if the users have intense exercise routines.
Besides these guidelines, what you like to do during your treadmill sessions and whether you have a tablet will be the things that mainly influence your decision.
If you already have a tablet or don’t care about being able to watch Youtube, Netflix, or the Sole workout app, the Sole F80 will likely be good enough. Choosing this model can save you some money.
If you don’t have a tablet but do want to watch the things mentioned, you likely want to invest a bit more into the Sole F85 for its screen with more functionality.
Differences Sole F80 vs Sole F85
While they are from the same brand and product line, the Sole F80 and Sole F85 still have a nice amount of differences. These will influence what model the best is for your situation.
| Feature | Sole F80 | Sole F85 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Limit | 375 Pounds (170 kg) | 400 Pounds (181 kg) |
| Motor Power | 3.5 HP | 4.0 HP |
| Screen | 9.0″ Backlit LCD | 10.1″ TFT Touch Panel + Android System |
| Color screen | No | Yes |
| Access To Certain Apps Through Wifi | No, Only Through Your Own Devices | Yes |
| Weight | 278 Pounds (126 kg) | 308 Pounds (140 kg) |
| Workout Programs | 6 Standard Programs, 2 Custom Programs, 2 Heart Programs, Free 30-Day Studio Trial, And Connectivity To Certain Apps | 6 Standard Programs, 12 Custom Programs, 7 Fitness Tests, Free 30-Day Studio Trial, And Connectivity To Certain Apps |
| Rollers | 2.5” Rollers | 2.75″/2.36″ Rollers |
| Price Category* | $$$$ | $$$$$ |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Price category at the time of writing
Common features Sole F80 and Sole F85
Before choosing either the Sole F80 or F85, you may also want to know about their common features. These can be important too in certain situations.
| Feature | Sole F80 | Sole F85 |
|---|---|---|
| Running Surface | 22″ x 60″ | 22″ x 60″ |
| Speed | 0.5-12 mph (19.31 kmh) | 0.5-12 mph (19.31 kmh) |
| Incline Options | 0 – 15 Levels | 0 – 15 Levels |
| Decline Options | No | No |
| Automatic Speed & Incline Control | With Certain Workouts | With Certain Workouts |
| Deck Height | 8″ | 8″ |
| Dimensions | 82” L x 37” W x 66” H | 82” L x 37” W x 66” H |
| Foldable | Yes | Yes |
| Transport Wheels | Yes | Yes |
| Device Holder | Yes | Yes |
| Shock Absorption | Yes | Yes |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Pulse Grip & Included Bluetooth Chest Strap | Pulse Grip & Included Bluetooth Chest Strap |
| Bluetooth Audio Capabilities | Yes | Yes |
| Speakers | Yes | Yes |
| Workout Fans | Yes | Yes |
| Warranties* | Lifetime Frame, Motor, And Deck Warranty, 5 Years Electronics And Parts Warranty, 2 Years Labor Warranty | Lifetime Frame, Motor, And Deck Warranty, 5 Years Electronics And Parts Warranty, 2 Years Labor Warranty |
| Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
*Warranties can vary from seller to seller
Differences Sole F80 vs Sole F85 explained in detail
If you are more familiar with treadmills and know what you want in them, a quick look at the feature and price differences could be enough to decide between the Sole F80 and F85.
On the other hand, you may still be unsure about what certain features mean, why they are important, and to what extent the difference should play a role in the decision.
You can find some of the most important and confusing differences explained in more detail below. This can help you make a better decision.
Weight limit
The weight limit of a treadmill is a relatively straightforward detail but it matters in more ways than one.
Before going into the consequences, the Sole F80 has a weight limit of 375 pounds (170 kg). The Sole F85 is slightly stronger with a weight limit of 400 pounds (181 kg).
The first reason you want to respect these numbers is that going over the weight limits can simply make the treadmills break down.
Even if they don’t, going over the weight limit can speed up wear and tear and void your warranties.
Besides these things, the weight limit is also somewhat of an indication of how strong the motor, materials, and construction of each treadmill are.
As you can see, the Sole F85 does slightly better in these areas. Likely not to the extent where it completely changes your decision but the difference is something to keep in the back of your mind when making a decision.
Winner: Sole F80
Motor power
The main concept behind treadmills is making a belt rotate in place. By doing this, you are able to walk or run while staying in the same location.
An important component in this concept is the treadmill motor. This part can vary between models in areas like the amount of power it can generate.
The Sole F80 has a motor power of 3.5 HP. The motor of the Sole F85 is slightly stronger than that at 4.0 HP.
A general recommendation is that you want a motor power of at least 3.0 CHP if you are an individual with an average body weight who wants to run fast.
Something to note is that the extra “C” which stands for continuous is an important detail. Motor power in CHP is stronger than the same number in regular horsepower.
People with an average body weight should still be able to use both the Sole F80 and Sole F85 for fast running. However, individuals with above-average body weights who want to train similarly likely want to go for the Sole F85.
Additionally, stronger motors tend to last longer in terms of individual workouts and over the years. The more and longer you plan to use your treadmill, the more you want to lean towards the Sole F85.
Winner: Sole F85
Screen
Big cardio machines like treadmills often have some form of screen to display workout measurements. These can help you adapt your workouts and motivate you to keep going.
Additionally, some brand models put even more attention into their screens to make them visually pleasing and more immersive.
The Sole F80 has a relatively basic-looking 9.0″ backlit LCD screen. You can use this screen to see workout measurements and select your workouts.
On the other side, the Sole F85 has a more advanced 10.1″ TFT touch panel + Android system screen. In simpler words, you can describe this as a tablet with limited functionality.
When everything works, most people will prefer the visuals and navigation of the Sole F85 screen over the relatively basic screen of the Sole F80.
One thing you do want to keep in mind is that the more advanced screen of the Sole F85 is also slightly more sensitive to software bugs. That being said, you will likely still prefer the Sole F85 in this area.
Winner: Sole F85
Access to certain apps through wifi
One of the consequences of the different screens is that the Sole F80 and Sole F85 come with different built-in functions.
More specifically, the screen of the Sole F80 is most for seeing exercise measurements and selecting your workouts.
You can also connect the treadmill to certain apps and/or put a device in the holder but for these things, you need a separate smart device.
The screen of the Sole F85 is basically a tablet with limited functionality. It allows you to watch Youtube, Netflix, and workouts on the Sole workout app.
On top of that, you can still put a smart device in the holder to connect to other apps.
While you still get workout measurements that are easier to read, if you already have a bigger smart device like a tablet, this difference in functionality between the Sole F80 and Sole F85 will not matter that much.
If not, these things are nice additions to the Sole F85.
Winner: Sole F85
Weight
Treadmill weights are another relatively straightforward detail but you may be unsure about how this influences your experience in any way.
In some exceptional cases, individuals have a floor with a limited weight capacity. In a situation like that, you want to double-check the weights of each treadmill.
That being said, people will typically care more about treadmill weights for moving the machine around. Both the Sole F80 and F85 can be folded and have transport wheels.
Moving the 278 pounds (126 kg) of the Sole F80 around will be slightly easier compared to moving the 308 pounds (140 kg) of the Sole F85.
If you plan to put your treadmill in one place and almost never move it again, this difference is likely not that relevant.
On the other hand, this difference can also be a nice addition to the Sole F80 for people who are not that strong but still want to change the location of their treadmill in between workouts.
Winner: Sole F80
Price
Both the Sole F80 and Sole F85 have their upsides and downsides. Something that could make your decision easier is any big price differences.
Exactly how much of an investment each machine requires depends on where you get them and can change over time.
That being said, at the time of writing, the Sole F80 is a nice amount more budget-friendly than the Sole F85.
Winner: Sole F80
User reviews
When comparing two treadmills from the same brand like the Sole F80 and F85, the feature and price differences are typically a good way to choose the right model for your situation.
Even so, customer reviews sometimes reveal unexpected downsides or trends in quality issues. This is actually the case when comparing the Sole F80 and Sole F85.
Both treadmills have some exceptional cases of faulty parts, early wear and tear, and squeaking. In these cases, Sole customer support can be a bit slow in terms of responses and solutions.
Additionally, there are customers who are disappointed with how basic the screens are.
Besides these things, the Sole F85 seems to have software bugs a bit more often than the Sole F80.
Customers are still relatively happy with the Sole F85 but at the time of writing the reviews of the Sole F80 are more positive.
Is the Sole F80 or Sole F85 right for you?
In short, the Sole F80 has a lower weight and a price that is a nice amount more budget-friendly.
On the other side, the Sole F85 has a slightly higher weight limit, somewhat stronger motor, a more extensive built-in screen, and a few more workout programs.
Something else to note is that customers are just a bit more positive about the Sole F80 at the time of writing.
First of all, for individuals with above-average body weights who want to do workouts that involve fast running and people with intense exercise routines the Sole F85 and its stronger motor are better than the Sole F80.
Besides that, the decision mostly depends on whether you already have a tablet and what you like to do during your treadmill workouts.
If you already have a tablet or don’t care about being able to watch Youtube, Netflix, or the Sole workout app, the Sole F80 will likely be good enough. Choosing this option can save you some money.
If you don’t have a tablet but do want to watch the things mentioned, you likely want to invest a bit more into the Sole F85.
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