Sole and Horizon manufacture high-quality fitness equipment. Their attention to quality and thoughtful features are reflected in their treadmills. Not only does each brand back every model with a lifetime frame and motor warranty, but they also offer budget-friendly, entry-level models all the way up to premium models made for heavy use and running. All Horizon’s treadmills fold up, while Sole offers folding and a couple of non-folding treadmills. These treadmill brands have different features, specs, and training capabilities that make each manufacturer stand out. In this comparison review of Sole vs Horizon Treadmills, I’ll go over what you can expect from each brand and how they’re different. Whichever brand you choose from though, you’re getting a high-quality treadmill. That’s why you can find models from both brands on our best treadmills list.
Why You Should Trust Us
So, why should you trust us? Well, our team has been testing and reviewing fitness equipment, including treadmills, for years. We’ve tested over 150 models and counting. Several of those models have been from Sole and Horizon. We’ve used different models from each brand and different versions of the treadmills over the years. Along with our extensive resume of testing Horizon and Sole Treadmills, our team consists of personal trainers, fitness instructors, garage gym owners, and fitness enthusiasts whose passion is to help consumers find the best fitness equipment for them. We want you to take home a treadmill you’ll not only love but use regularly.
Pros & Cons of Sole Treadmills
- All of the treadmills are designed for running and are well-powered.
- The entry-level models have LCD screens and the higher-end models have touchscreens with preloaded streaming apps like Netflix.
- There are a wide variety of treadmills from folding and non-folding to choose from.
- The models are reasonably priced and backed by lifetime frame and motor warranties.
- The firm deck cushioning might not be best for those with joint sensitivity.
Pros & Cons of Horizon Treadmills
- Each treadmill has a quick-adjusting motor that is great for interval training.
- All of the consoles have LCD and/or LED screens with onboard workouts and the ability to stream content from your device.
- They’re all well-priced from entry-level up to the premium models.
- All of the treadmills fold up to save space and include lifetime frame and motor warranties.
- The consoles have less tech than other brands.
- Consoles: LCD Screens & Touchscreens
- Motors: 3.0 HP – 4.0 HP DC & 2.0 HP AC
- Frames: Steel
- Running Surfaces: 60” L
- Max Speeds: 12 mph
- Max Inclines: 15 levels
- Decline: 0 – 6 levels
- Weight Capacities: 325 lbs – 400 lbs
- Treadmill Weights: 224 lbs – 326 lbs
- Folding and Non-Folding Decks
- 2 – 4 Front Transportation Wheels
- Warranties: Lifetime frame & motor, deck, & parts, vary between 2 to 3 years depending on the model. Wear items vary between 1 to 3 years, and all come with 1-year labor warranties and 90 days for cosmetic items
- Consoles: LCD Screens & LED Windows
- Motors: 2.5 HP – 4.0 HP
- Frames: Steel
- Running Surfaces: 55” L – 60” L
- Max Speeds: 10 mph – 12 mph
- Max Inclines: 10% – 15%
- No Decline
- Weight Capacities: 300 lbs – 375 lbs
- Treadmill Weights: 180 lbs – 330 lbs
- Foldable
- Transportation Wheels
- Warranties: Lifetime frame & motor, parts & labor vary between 1-5 years
Sole vs Horizon Treadmills Overview:
Sole and Horizon make a wide range of treadmills that fit different budgets and training goals. Sole offers a bit more variety, but all of Horizon’s treadmills are foldable to save space. Each brand backs every treadmill with an impressive lifetime frame and motor warranty which helps to instill confidence in the overall construction of each treadmill.
Sole includes entry-level to high-end folding treadmills, as well as two non-folding treadmills. The higher-end models come with touch screens to include onboard workout programs and 12 preloaded streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify integrated into the treadmills. Sole Treadmills have firm deck cushioning that resembles running outside on concrete. Each model also has a great motor size for running, even the entry-level models. Sole offers a flat, slat-belt treadmill that makes for a challenging and varied workout experience, too.
Horizon Treadmills all fold up and the brand offers an entry-level model that’s best for mainly walking and jogging, and higher-end models that are great for heavier running and HIIT training. All of the treadmills have quick-adjusting motors designed to handle interval training with ease. The deck cushioning is also supportive and shock-absorbing to help lessen the impact on your joints while being comfortable underfoot. Each model comes with an LCD and/or LED screens to display your workout metrics and give you access to standard onboard workout programs.
Sole Treadmills
- Sole F63 Treadmill
- Sole F65 Treadmill
- Sole F80 Treadmill
- Sole F85 Treadmill
- Sole TT8 Treadmill
- Sole ST90 Treadmill
Horizon Treadmills
- Horizon T101 Treadmill
- Horizon T202 Treadmill
- Horizon T303 Treadmill
- Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill
- Horizon 7.4 AT Treadmill
- Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill
In-Depth Comparison of Sole vs Horizon Treadmills
Sole vs Horizon Content
As far as content goes, Sole and Horizon both include standard workout programs with all of their treadmill models. These are similar to what you can find on treadmills at your local gym. Each brand offers different options for entertainment that I’ll get into.
Sole Content
Entry-level models from Sole which include the F63 and F65 have LCD screens that include onboard workout programs. All of the other models such as the F80, F85, TT8, and ST90 have touchscreens that have integrated onboard workout programs and 12 preloaded streaming apps that include, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Disney+, Spotify, Max, Audible, Peacock, ESPN, CNN, and Kinomap.
You can also screen mirror your device to these treadmills’ touchscreens to stream content outside of the preloaded apps. You can also stream directly from your device by using the device rack that comes on every one of Sole’s treadmills.
Horizon Content
Horizon Treadmills overall have less tech on each model. They each include onboard workouts, and the higher-end Horizon 7.4 AT and 7.8 AT models have the HIIT training program Sprint 8 integrated into them, too. Horizon also lets you stream content from your phone or tablet while using their treadmills.
Sole vs Horizon Consoles
Horizon Treadmills have less tech than Sole’s higher-end models, but they still have good functionality. Sole Treadmills have LCD or touchscreens depending on the model and the layout for the consoles varies on what’s included from the budget treadmills to the midrange and high-end machines.
Sole Consoles
The Sole F63 and F65 are the lowest-end models in Sole’s lineup and they include LCD screens with adjustment buttons for selecting the different programs and for adjusting these treadmills’ speed and incline settings. All other Sole Treadmills have touchscreens. The F80 has the smallest screen of 10.1”, while the F85, TT8, and ST90 all have 15.6” touchscreens. Both sizes have good visibility, however, none of the touchscreens are adjustable which can make them a little harder to reach and adjust for some while running.
They do skip some specific levels, which makes them a little less seamless to use than Horizon’s treadmills. They do include nice additions on the consoles though. The low-end models with LCD screens have extra storage for your water and whatever else you need nearby. All of the treadmills with touch screens have wireless charging pads to charge your compatible phone as well as cupholders for your water. Sole’s treadmill fans aren’t the most powerful so you’ll probably want to plug in your own. They also have pulse grips to read your heart rate and each treadmill pairs with a Garmin Watch to track your heart rate more accurately.
Horizon Consoles
Horizon consoles overall have less tech and features than Sole’s higher-end models. All of the treadmills have LCD and/or LED screens to display your workout metrics. They include additional buttons to access the onboard workouts. Horizon’s treadmills also have quick-adjusting buttons that are numbered for adjusting to specific speeds and inclines. I like the layout of these a little better than Sole’s.
Every Horizon Treadmill comes with a device rack to put your phone or tablet on. Since there isn’t any subscription content available to stream from these treadmills, this is nice. Every model has cupholders for your water, pulse grips, speakers, and fans. The speakers and fans on some of the models are a little weak though, so keep this in mind.
Construction Quality & Durability
Both Sole and Horizon make high-quality treadmills. We have multiple models from each brand on our best treadmills list for a reason. They’re well-constructed, come with great warranties, and are pretty well-priced overall for their quality.
Sole vs Horizon Frames
Every model from each of these brands has a steel frame that supports the deck and steel uprights that extend up to hold the console in place. Both brands of treadmills feel stable and solid to use. All of Horizon’s models have decks that fold up, while only two models from Sole don’t fold up. The folding treadmills from each brand have a lift assist that helps you lift the decks and slowly lower the decks to the floor when unlocked from the folding position.
The non-folding treadmills from Sole include the TT8 and ST90. These treadmills are large and pretty heavy at 326 lbs each, so they require a designated space to use. We also recommend having a space for the higher-end Sole F80 and F85 treadmills and the Horizon 7.4 AT and 7.8 AT models because they’re heavier and larger.
Sole vs Horizon Motors
Sole’s treadmills overall have higher-powered motors as a whole.
The entry-level Horizon T101 on the other hand, has a 2.5 HP motor which is best for mainly walking and some jogging. Horizon Treadmill’s motors continue to increase the horsepower through their midrange all the way up to their premium models. The Horizon 7.8 AT for instance has a 4.0 HP motor and is best for heavy use like distance running.
Sole’s treadmills also increase their motor power throughout the models in their lineup. The Sole F80 has a 3.5 HP motor and Sole F85 and TT8 have 4.0 HP motors. The Sole ST90 has a 2.0 HP AC motor. AC motors are more commonly found on commercial treadmills and are built to handle the foot traffic that public gyms see. Most home treadmills have DC motors and this is the type that all of Sole’s other treadmills and all of Horizon’s have. AC motors are more powerful in comparison.
Both Horizon and Sole’s treadmills offer a good speed range. All Sole Treadmills go up to 12 mph, while all of Horizon’s go up to 12 mph, except the Horizon T101, which is the most affordable model. All of Horizon’s treadmills incline with the maxes going up to 10, 12, and 15% depending on the treadmill. None of them decline.
Sole has all inclining treadmills and a couple of declining models. Each model inclines 15 levels and the Sole TT8 and F85 decline 6 different levels. These two treadmills have two separate motors, one in the front, and one under the rear of the deck for the decline.
Sole vs Horizon Decks
For size, Sole’s treadmills overall are a bit larger because they each have 60” long decks. This means that all of Sole’s treadmills can handle most running strides. Horizon’s treadmills vary a little bit on their deck size, which is helpful if you need a more compact treadmill. The Horizon T101, which is best for walking, has a 55” long deck.
Some of our reviewers are only able to walk and jog. All other treadmills from Horizon have 60” long decks.
Horizon also has more treadmills with 20” wide decks than 22” wide decks. This slightly narrower deck side doesn’t inhibit your ability to walk and run comfortably but can help the treadmill fit a little better in your home. The only treadmills from Sole that have 20” wide decks are the F63 and the ST90, although the ST90 is a large, non-folding treadmill with a flat slat belt. The ST90 is a different kind of treadmill because of this, compared to all of the other treadmills from Sole and Horizon.
The slat belt has rubber slats instead of a regular belt. This treadmill is motorized so the motor controls and moves the belt, but the motor can be disengaged so you can move the belt manually, too.
Sole’s treadmills have low step-up heights at only 8” high (from the floor to the top of the side rails at a flat grade). The ST90 however, has a taller step-up height than all other Sole Treadmills as well as Horizon’s. Horizon’s treadmills have a 9-10” high step-up height.
Performance & Functionality
Overall, Sole and Horizon Treadmills are well-built with nice functionality and features. Each model feels stable and solid to use. I think from a brand standpoint overall, Sole Treadmills feel a tiny bit more stable, mainly due to their solid and heavy decks.
This translates to a hard feeling underfoot. Deck cushioning is the amount of give in the deck when each foot lands while running. The less give, the firmer the deck cushioning feels. This makes Sole’s treadmills great if you’re a road runner who wants a treadmill that resembles the feeling of running on the concrete outside. They don’t feel bouncy or give you as much of a spring in your step as other treadmills. The Sole ST90’s slat belt goes a step further. The rubber slats are shock-absorbing, but make this treadmill feel more challenging to run, to the point that it kind of feels similar intensity-wise to running in sand.
I would consider a Horizon Treadmill if you have joint issues or are looking for a well-cushioned surface to run on. Horizon’s motors are also much quicker to adjust the speed and incline settings than Sole’s. This makes treadmills from Horizon excellent for interval and HIIT training. Sole’s treadmills take a longer amount of time to change the speed and incline in comparison.
Both brands make quiet treadmills that are appropriate for most homes. Sole is slightly better for larger users since their treadmills have higher weight limits, but not by much. Sole’s weight limits range from 325 lbs up to 400 lbs depending on the treadmill. Horizon’s also handles a good amount of weight ranging from 300 lbs up to 375 lbs. 400 lbs is usually the highest limit we see on home motorized treadmills.
Even though most of Sole’s treadmills are heavier in weight than Horizon’s, they are fairly easy to move. All of the folding models have 4 transportation wheels so when folded, you can just push them around. The Sole TT8 and ST90 require the back of the decks to be lifted to engage the wheels and due to their heavy weights, are much harder to move in comparison. All of Horizon Treadmills have two transport wheels so you have to tilt them back when folded to move them. It’s much easier to do this with the lighter-weight, lower-end models, but the 7.4 AT and 7.8 AT treadmills can be moved when needed.
Warranties
Horizon and Sole include impressive lifetime frame and motor warranties with each of their treadmills. The parts and labor vary from model to model from Horizon. Sole’s other warranties such as the deck, parts, and wear items also vary. We love that both brands stand by their treadmills with extensive coverage.
BottomLine/Recommendation
We love both Sole and Horizon Treadmills for different reasons. Sole’s treadmills are a little bit larger and provide firmer cushioning making them great for outdoor runners. The higher-end models also include touchscreens with streaming from apps like Netflix so they’re a good option if you want streaming content on your treadmill. Sole includes a wider range of models to choose from with simple LCD consoles or touchscreens, as well as folding and non-folding options. The Sole ST90 is a bit different than other treadmills from both brands because it has a flat, slat belt that makes for a more versatile and challenging workout than regular motorized, belted treadmills. Horizon Treadmills on the other hand all fold up, have softer deck cushioning, and all come with LCD and/or LED screens with onboard workouts and the option to stream content from your phone or tablet. These treadmills have fast-adjusting motors that make them great for HIIT training, too.
These brands have different models to choose from, depending on your budget and goals. You can expect different features from Horizon and Sole, as well. Whichever treadmill brand you go with though, you’re getting a well-constructed machine that’s quiet.
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