Sole F85 Treadmill Review: Powerful, Quiet, AND Netflix?!

Dimensions/Storability

Even though the Sole F85 is a folding treadmill, you need to make sure you have plenty of room around the treadmill to train when it is unfolded. Its dimensions are 82.5″ L x 38″ W x 66″ H, but you will need extra room around the treadmill. After you are done using it, the clearance and space are not as important, because the treadmill shrinks to 44″ L x 38″ W x 71.5″ H.

The F85 weighs 319 lbs, but don’t worry too much about moving it around. The Sole F85 has four transport wheels so that you can push it. Most home treadmills only have two wheels, so you have to tilt them and roll. The system Sole uses is much easier, and we applaud them for it!

Moving and folding the Sole F85 is also pretty easy even though this is a large, heavy treadmill.

The deck offers assistance with the hydraulic system. There is a yellow handle that, once pulled, will unlock the deck, so it slowly lowers the treadmill to the floor.

Folding the deck requires a little bit of effort because you have to bend and lift, but you get assistance with the system. The deck feels a little heavier to lift than other models like the NordicTrack and ProForm, but it is manageable for most people.

What is nice about this deck is that even though it inclines and declines, it still has a slim profile. From the floor to the top of the side rails (at a neutral grade) is only about 8” high. This makes the F85 easier to step on and off of, and it works better for lower-ceiling homes.
Check out our blog post for more advice on the proper ceiling height for a treadmill.

Related: Moving a Treadmill Without Getting Injured: A Comprehensive Guide

Onboard Workouts & Apps

The Sole F85 has been updated to include even more tech and features than the previous model. Even with all of these features, I’m about to mention that the F85 still manages to be a treadmill that I can hop on, press start, and begin my workout on. You don’t have to pay a subscription fee to access all of these features; they’re included on the touch screen.

The F85 comes with nice workout options.

There are ten onboard workout modes available. These modes include hill, fat burn, cardio, strength, HIIT, 5K, 10K, and heart rate. There is also a manual mode and a custom mode. Each mode comes with preset speed and incline/decline levels; however, you can select the maximum speed and time before you hit start.

The treadmill will then automatically adjust to the preset settings during your workout. In custom mode, you have the option to create your own workouts and save them as templates. Of course, you can just use manual mode and adjust the treadmill as you go, too.

You can also take different fitness tests, such as Air Force, Marine, and Coast Guard tests, to see how in shape or out of shape you are. The workouts are standard but a nice feature on the F85.

You have access to 12 streaming apps on the Sole F85. These include YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock, Hulu, Spotify, ESPN, CNN, Audible, and Kinomap. This is an insane amount of apps, and all you need to do is log into your respective account on the screen for each app to start streaming.

Sole F85 Treadmill – Workout Modes

And if these apps aren’t enough, you can mirror content from your phone on the screen. So, really, the options are practically endless on the new F85.

The Sole F85 is also compatible with other apps, including the Sole+ App. This is a free app to keep track of your workouts. It also makes pairing your phone to the screen really easy so you can utilize all of the features. Once you pair, you can create a profile on the F85 with your Sole+ App profile.

There are classes for the treadmill and other Sole equipment on the app. These classes feature an instructor who guides you through each workout. These classes aren’t quite on the same level as iFit and Peloton, but the Sole+ app is free with the F85 and comes with several hundred workouts.

You can use the app on your phone and mirror the screen, although, in a future update, it would be nice to be able to utilize this app right on the touch screen.

Console

It has a 15.6” touch screen that’s large, responsive, and easy to use. As far as a console layout, I really like this design and the features it comes with. I do have a couple of gripes with the console, though, that I’m going to get into later.

The console on the F85 is streamlined to include just what you need.

The screen isn’t adjustable. So, you can’t tilt it up or pivot it to either side. It is angled back slightly so people of most heights can see it. On either side of the console are quick adjustment buttons for the speed and incline/decline.

While I like that these buttons are now here instead of below the screen, I wish they included every increment instead of skipping a few. On the left side, for instance, the available buttons for the incline and decline don’t include the max incline and decline that the F85 offers.

So, if I want to go to -6%, I have to use the buttons on the handlebar.

This is a small and probably nitpicky thing, but I feel like Sole is really close to nailing this design. The quick buttons make adjusting the treadmill fast and easy, so including more of these buttons would enhance the experience overall.

The speakers below the screen are clear and go really loud. They connect to Bluetooth headphones and will play content from your device. There isn’t a button to adjust the volume on the console though, only on the touch screen. The icon on the screen to adjust the volume is small, so it’s hard to increase or decrease the volume when you’re running. Having a button to adjust the volume on the console would be very helpful.

Another area for improvement is the fans. Well, kind of. There are two vents on either side of the console, but the airflow, for some reason, points outward to the sides of the treadmill. So, when I’m walking or running on the deck, I can’t feel the air. I can only feel the air when I put my hand in front of them.

I love the wireless charging pad.

The wireless charging pad sits in the middle of the console below the screen. It’s slightly angled, so when I put my phone on it to charge, I can still see the screen. It also keeps my phone well within reach when I need it. My phone case isn’t compatible with wireless charging, so I have to take it out of the case to use it. However, it’s convenient and a really nice feature. Keep in mind that this only works with phones that allow for wireless charging.

You can also put your phone or tablet on the device holder above the screen. It is adjustable for larger iPads. The Sole F85 has a surprising amount of storage, considering it is much sleeker than the previous model. While there isn’t a storage tray below the console anymore, we didn’t miss it because the 2 cup holders and smaller pockets hold everything we need. While I was running, my large 40 oz Stanley Cup also stayed pretty still in the cup holders.

These pockets are nicely sized to hold whatever small items you need nearby.

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Build Quality

One thing that I really like about the Sole F85 is that it still feels like a Sole Treadmill. Even though it looks vastly different from the previous model, the integrity of the construction is still intact.

We love Sole Treadmills because they’re quiet, powerful beasts and the F85 is just that.

It’s also great for heavy runners because it handles up to 375 lbs of user weight. Compared to other treadmills in its class, like the NordicTrack 2450, the F85 is better for larger users.

Related: Which Treadmill Wins? Sole F85 vs Peloton Tread Face-Off

Frame

The “Z-shaped” frame is made of steel. It’s streamlined and sleek. You might notice that the new design looks like NordicTrack’s new models, as well as the Peloton Tread. What Sole has accomplished with this design, though, is that the console and screen stay very steady and in place. There’s very little, if any, shaking of the screen, unlike the Peloton Tread, which shakes at high speeds.

The Sole F85 might have a slimmer design than the previous model, but it is still a heavy treadmill at 319 lbs. The steel frame supports the base of the treadmill, and steel uprights connect to the frame to hold the console. There isn’t a steel crossbar in between the uprights anymore, but the F85 doesn’t need it. It feels incredibly stable and solid.

I like the handles. The side handles are long enough to provide support and the front handle is one continuous piece so it is easy to grab. There are pulse grips built into the handle to read your heart rate when you’re holding them.

The handles are a little too thick for me to wrap my fingers around but I can rest my palms on the grips to get a reading.

Motor

The Sole F85 has a 4.0 horsepower motor.

In our testing, this motor is best for handling all kinds of heavy use, from multiple users to long-distance training.

It has a DC motor that is commonly found in home treadmills. It’s quiet, which is what we love about Sole treadmills. So, the F85 works in most home spaces because it doesn’t generate a lot of noise.

We tested the motor at four speeds (3 mph, 6 mph, 9 mph, and 12 mph) without anyone running on it. The F85 was 46.6 dB at 3 mph, 55.5 dB at 6 mph, 60.5 dB at 9 mph, and 64.8 dB at 12 mph. The ambient noise of the room with the treadmill off was 37 dB. For reference, a dishwasher is about 65 dB, so the F85 is quieter at its loudest than the average dishwasher.

When you are running on it, your foot noise will increase the amount of sound generated. Unfortunately, walkers and runners differ vastly in the amount of noise that they generate. Your weight, shoe cushioning, and running form can all drastically affect how loud your walking and running noise are.

The motor is pretty slow to adjust, so it makes interval training a little more difficult. However, you don’t have to worry about the treadmill getting up to speed too quickly before you’re ready. We timed the speed and incline adjustments.

The F85 takes 41 seconds to accelerate from 1 mile per hour to 12 miles per hour. The incline takes about the same amount of time (42 seconds) to go from level 0 to level 15. As for the decline, it takes 23 seconds to go from level 0 to level -6.

While these times are slower than some of Sole’s competitors, it does make the transition very smooth and safe. If you accidentally press a button, you have a lot more time to step off the treadmill or correct your mistake before you get going too fast or too steep.

The last thing we tested on the incline was the noise. The Sole F85’s incline did not add much noise to the noise already generated by the belt moving and motor running. At 3 mph, the noise level was 56 dB; at 6 mph, it was 60 dB.

As far as training capabilities, the F85 goes up to 12 mph to offer plenty of range of speed. It also inclines up to 15 levels and declines to 6 levels. Our measurement of the Sole F85’s incline and decline grade came out to be -5.1% to 12.6%.

While at a supposed neutral grade, the F85 measured as inclined to 1.4%. These results reveal that each level of incline and decline is not exactly 1%, but it is very comparable to its competitors in what it offers. This range of incline and decline allows you to effectively train your posterior and anterior muscles.

Plus, if you are training for an event that has some downhill terrain, the F85 is very beneficial in helping with that.

For folding treadmills, this is usually the largest-sized deck we see.

For the deck to decline as much as it does, this motor works to lift up the back end of the deck. When going from an incline to a decline, you can feel the deck shift smoothly. Plus, under the deck are swiveling feet that rotate slightly depending on the grade. This is a smart design and an effective way to include more training capabilities on the F85.

Related: Treadmill Running Form Tips that May Surprise You

Deck

The deck is spacious at 22” wide and 60” long. It’s plenty large to accommodate long-running strides and users who prefer more space to move around on.

When the deck is folded up, you can see the declining motor positioned below the deck at the rear.

What is nice about this deck is that even though it inclines and declines, it still has a slim profile. From the floor to the top of the side rails (at a 0% grade), it is only about 8” high. This makes the F85 easier to step on and off of, and it works better for lower-ceiling homes.

Overall, the deck is large, heavy, and firm to run on. The cushioning in the deck has shock absorption for your joints, but the surface is hard when running. It feels softer than running on the pavement outside, which doesn’t offer any shock absorption, but it isn’t as soft or springy as other models.

This is great if you’re a road runner or if you are training for a road race. Suppose you have joint sensitivities and issues when running. In that case, however, you might want to look into a treadmill with softer cushioning like the Horizon 7.8 AT or NordicTrack models like the NordicTrack 2450.

The motor hood is slim and sits out of your way. The only time we hit it was when we were trying to navigate the touch screen while running. If you’ve ever tried to use a phone or iPad while running or even walking, you probably know how difficult it is. That is how it feels trying to log into and use all of the streaming apps while running.

My recommendation is to have your show and workout set up before you begin your workout.

Warranty

We love Sole’s warranty. The brand includes a lifetime warranty for the frame and motor, three years for parts and other components, one year for labor, and 90 days for cosmetic items. Assembly is pretty straightforward, but having multiple people help with the setup is a good idea.

Should You Buy The Sole F85

I really love how solid and stable the F85 is to use. It handled our testing with ease, and each of our reviewers thought that this new model performed very well while being a little easier to use with this new design.

The Sole F85 has a great console loaded with features. The only drawback is that they feel a little too far away for my short arms. I’m only 5’1”, so that’s probably my problem. It’s a little easier for our taller reviewers to reach, but in a future update, we’d like to see the screen positioned a little closer and for it to be adjustable. Other than that, we love the layout of the console and the tech features that are included. The Sole F85 is a great choice for walkers and runners who want a large touchscreen with great features and no commitment to a subscription service.

We love the F85 for heavy runners, but it is also great for people who want a solid folding treadmill with thoughtful features. It’s a great choice if you want training and entertainment choices without having to pay an additional fee. It’s also a good option if you are looking for an easy-to-use treadmill that will last.

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Still confused? Check out our list of most popular Sole treadmills

Sole F85 Treadmill FAQ’s / Q&A’s

Which is better Sole F80 or F85?

The Sole F80 and F85 are very similar treadmills. The Sole F85 is Sole’s top folding treadmill. It has the largest screen and the most powerful motor, and it offers a decline, whereas the F80 only inclines.

If you run a lot or share the treadmill with other runners, the Sole F85 is the better option. If you weigh over 350 lbs but under 375 lbs, the Sole F85 is the better option. We have a written comparison of these two treadmills if you would like more information, but these are the main differences that may sway you one way or the other.

Can you watch Netflix on the Sole F85?

Yes! You will need a WiFi connection and your own Netflix account, but nothing else is required. You do not have to pay Sole to access the app, which is great! In addition to Netflix, there are apps for the following entertainment streaming services: Hulu, Max, Peacock, Disney Plus, and Prime.

If there are others you would like to access, you can also use the Bluetooth speakers and screen mirroring feature to display any streaming service you prefer.

Can you add apps to the Sole F85 treadmill?

Unfortunately, you cannot add apps to the Sole F85 at this time. It comes preloaded with YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, HBO Max, Peacock, Hulu, Spotify, ESPN, CNN, Audible, and Kinomap. You can also screen mirror content from your Apple or Android device for more entertainment options.

Which Sole treadmill is the best?

Here at Treadmill Review Guru, we have a lot of good things to say about Sole treadmills. They are durable, well-built, and powerful running machines. From the F63 to the F85 to the ST90, Sole treadmills have a lot to offer. The Sole F85 has the most to offer from Sole’s folding treadmill line, with its large touchscreen, powerful motor, and large incline/decline range. The Sole F63 is a great budget pick and supports both walking and running. If you really like the Sole F85 but can’t quite wrap your heart around the price, the Sole F80 is a great compromise between these two options!

How much does the Sole F85 treadmill weigh?

The Sole F85 weighs 319 lbs. It has four transport wheels, so it is much easier to push around. The Sole F85 treadmill is heavy and large, so I do recommend keeping it in one location if possible. Fortunately, it folds!

Is your Sole F85 Treadmill review a paid review?

We were not paid to conduct our review or testing of the Sole F85 or any other treadmills we’ve received. However, brands often supply these treadmills to us for free. Our process and opinions are our own, developed without the influence or guidance of any brands we work with.

So, how do we keep the lights on and dedicate so much time to the review process? We receive a commission when you use our links to purchase the treadmills we review. This commission does not add anything to the cost of your treadmill and helps support us!

We appreciate our audience and hope to bring you accurate and timely information to guide your treadmill buying process. Our rigorous process is designed to streamline your treadmill research process and help you match your training goals to the right cardio machine!

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