Sole F85 Treadmill Review
The Sole F85 was already one of the best treadmills available last year, and that was before it was upgraded this year without a price increase.
For under $2,000 you get a 4.0 CHP motor, 22″ x 60″ running surface, 400 lbs. max user weight frame, Easy-Assist folding design, pulse grips and wireless chest strap heart rate monitor and adjustable cushioning on the deck.
The Sole F85 is also equipped with 6 pre-defined workout programs, 9″ LCD display, iPod/mp3 dock and built-in speakers.
Learn more by reading our full Sole F85 treadmill review below…
Wondering if the Sole F85 is your best bet? Compare it to similar treadmills at the pages below:
- Compare the best Sole Treadmills side-by-side
- Compare the top 5 folding treadmills
- Compare by price: $1,500 – $2,000 treadmills
Here are some other great treadmills you might be interested in:
- NordicTrack Elite 9500 Pro – Rating: 94.4% – Price: $1,999
- Yowza Fitness Keewadin – Rating: 86.4% – Price: $1,495
- Sole F80 – Rating: 88.1% – Price: $1,499
- Smooth 9.65LC – Rating: 94.9% – Price: $2,175
Video Overview of Sole Treadmills:
Properties
| Model | Sole F85 |
| Rating | 
Rating: 95.2%
|
| List Price | $2,999.99 |
| Best Price | $1,799.99 |
| Speed | 0.5 - 12 mph |
| Incline | 0 - 15% |
| Visit Site |  |
| Motor | 4.0 CHP |
| Deck | 22" x 60" |
| Belt | Cushion Flex Shock Absorption (2-Ply 1") |
| Folding? |  |
| Programs | 10 |
| Max. Weight | 400 lbs |
| Heart Rate | Pulse Grips & Wireless Chest Strap (2 Programs) |
| Dimensions | 80" x 35" x 58" Folded: 72" x 47" Weight: 265 lbs Rollers: 2.75" |
| Display | Backlit Blue LCD |
| Easy Fold Up | |
| Pulse Grips | |
| Cooling Fans | |
| Accessory Tray | |
| Music Ready | |
| Sound System | |
| Quick Controls | |
| iFit |  |
| Built-in TV | |
| Warranty | Frame: Lifetime Motor: Lifetime Deck: Lifetime Electronics: 5 Years Labor: 2 Years (In-Home) |
| Best Deal |  |
Full Review
Quick Summary
Rating: 95.2/100. Editor’s Choice. Rated as a “Best Buy”, the F85 folding treadmill is very popular. Powerful motor and comfortable deck for optimal performance.
Pros:
- Very powerful 4.0 CHP motor
- Large 22″ x 60″ running surface
- 9″ Backlit Blue LCD display
- Specialized heart rate workouts specific to you
- Comfortable shock absorption equals less strain
- Music friendly (iPod dock, speakers)
Cons:
- Could use a few more pre-set workout programs
- Difficult to assemble (common with high-end treadmills)
- Changing speeds is slow for safety
Introduction
Powerful. Check. Stable. Check. Durable. Check. Space Saving. Check.
The Sole F85 does a little of everything, covering all the vital areas of performance.
Consumers can exercise freely on the F85 thanks to one of the most powerful (and ultra quiet) motors on the market, find a treadmill that supports almost all ages and sizes (22″ x 60″ running surface, 400 lbs. max user weight) and enjoy many of the trainer’s extra features.
In addition to the quality specs, the folding treadmill also offers a stellar warranty package with lifetime coverage on frame, motor, and deck (more information, below).
Workout Programs
Quite possibly the only shortcoming with the F85, although subtle, is the less-than-average number of pre-set workout programs.
Six pre-defined workout programs is what Sole Fitness has made standard on all of its treadmills, and while the workout variety covers all the basic categories it would be nice to see a few programs for the price paid.
In addition to the six pre-set programs, the Sole F85 also has two heart rate programs that work with the built-in pulse grips or wireless chest strap included with purchase.
Sole says the heart rate monitors are 99.9 percent accurate and guaranteed to give you a max workout every single time you use the treadmill.
Treadmill Features
The Sole F85 treadmill provides a large 9″ vibrant LCD display that lists off all the important data (speed, incline, time, distance, pulse, etc) as well as information about your connected music player.
A lot of treadmills simply do not provide enough running room on their deck, a problem that the Sole F85 has avoided with an extremely spacious 22″ x 60″ deck.
Quick controls easily adjust speed and incline, or you can let the treadmill automatically take control by selecting one of the pre-defined workout programs. The F85 reaches speeds of 12 mph and 15 percent incline, adequate for high-intensity workouts.
The heart-rate control option automatically calculates your recommended target range based on your age for a fully customized experience.
The Sole F85 treadmill has Cushion Flex Shock Absorption, producing less wear and tear on your body compared to jogging/running outside.
The console also has built in speakers which allow you to hook up any MP3 player (iPod, etc.) for easy listening.
Lastly, the F85 features an integrated message board, which offers scrolling messages that not only walk you through the treadmill’s features but also the workout. Once finished, the message board recaps important information about your progress from workout to workout.
Warranty & Guarantee
The Sole F85 treadmill warranty and guarantee includes:
- Frame: Lifetime
- Motor: Lifetime
- Deck: Lifetime
- Electronics: 5 Years
- Labor: 2 Years (in-home)
Return Policy: 30 day trail-period guaranteed, contact Sole Fitness at 1-866-780-7653 for more information.
Conclusion
The Sole F85 is a versatile trainer perfectly suitable for first-time treadmill owners as well as seasoned exercise enthusiasts. It’s a little of everything, incorporating not only the aspects that we have all come to enjoy and appreciate about treadmills, but also providing some of the latest technology and innovative design.
Where to buy a Sole F85?
After extensive research online, we recommend buying direct from SoleTreadmills.com.
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37 Comments
Hello,
We purchased a Sole F-85 treadmill approximately eight months ago. In reviewing the accompanying owner’s manual, I am not able to find instructions on how to plug in and listen to my IPod, and listen to our songs through the treadmill’s external speakers.
On the right side of the treadmill’s panel, I am able to see a plug-in button with an image of head phones, into which I imagine I would insert my IPod device for listening through the earpiece/headset.
However, as there is another button located on the left side of the unit’s panel, with an image of a musical note, I wonder if this is the location where another device is inserted allowing the user to listen to music out load — that is, without having to use an individual earpiece.
Would you be kind enough to assist us in answering this question for us, to explain how we can listen to our Ipod’s music while using the treadmill, but listening to the Ipod’s songs without restricting the listening to only one person.
We thank you very much for any assistance you can provide!
Have a wonderful day,
Lisa and David from Florida
Hi Lisa and David,
This is Kyle, the founder of FitRated.com.
Thanks for your question! Great choice with the Sole F85. It’s actually the treadmill I purchased for my basement gym.
To plug in your iPod and use it with your speakers, you’ll just need the cable provided with the F85 to be plugged into the port on the left (with the music note), and plugged into the headphone jack of your iPod.
Once you’ve plugged it in, adjust the volume on your iPod and the speakers will work their magic. They actually have great sound quality…in fact, my family can hear the songs I listen to during my morning runs all the way upstairs on the 2nd floor!
I hope that helps,
Kyle
Quick update:
I have been using the Sole F85 for over a year now as a huge part of my workout routine (running 5x per week), and it is still going strong.
There have been zero problems, even after using it heavily at speeds of 10mph and incline up to 8.
Plus, my wife is training for a half marathon, so it’s been getting even more use, and it’s worked well for us this past year.
Kyle,
I am close to 400lbs and I am looking to buy a treadmill to start walking in my home for my fitness and weight loss program. I am have narrowed down my search two.. the Sole F85 and the Smooth 9.65lc.
As you mentioned, you have the F85 and I was wondering if you could disclose why you picked that over the Smooth.
Thanks,
Fred
Hi Fred,
Excellent question, thanks for the comment!
When I bought my F85, I had not reviewed the 9.65LC quite yet.
That said, they’re both significantly better than they were almost 2 years ago, so here are their major differences:
- Sole F85 folds up (crucial if you need the space)
- Smooth 9.65LC has more programs (35 compared to 8)
- Decks: F85 is 1″ wider, 4″ shorter than the Smooth’s (though 60″ is still awesome)
- The 9.65LC does not have cooling fans
- I have heard very few customer support complaints with Sole
They’re almost exactly the same price, so it really boils down to folding, programs and brand preference.
Either way, you’ll get a high quality machine that will last a long time.
Let me know if there’s anything else I can help with!
Have a great day Fred,
Kyle
Good morning! I’ve been conducting some research on treadmills before I purchase one for the family for Christmas.
I’ve narrowed down my choices to the Epic A42T and the Sole F85. I ran on both models at the store and both feel great. They are both priced at $2k and both seem like great choices. The Epic is full of features like iFit, wifi internet browsing, Active adjust and SafeZone. The Sole is just the basics, which appeals to me, but maybe not my teenagers.
My questions are…
How can they be priced the same when one has so many more features? Am I paying for quality on one and features on the other? Also, which would you recommend?
Thanks for the help! Love the website! Have a fine Navy Day!
Frankie, USN (Ret)
Hi Frankie,
Great questions, thanks for the comment!
These are both excellent choices for sure. There are a lot less customer ratings and reviews to go off of with the Epic, which is part of the reason we have not reviewed it yet.
It does have a bunch of nice features, though most of them are things the F85 also has with a different name (Exceptions: ActiveAdjust and iFit; SafeZone is neat but not a crucial feature).
I’m all for technology and advanced features, but I agree with you completely that quality is most important. With certain machines, it’s better to have the basics and a few luxuries (like Easy Assist folding and cooling fans), and focus on the quality.
From what we’ve seen, its quality is just fine, but again we have very limited data to go on for our rating algorithm.
Normally, the Epic is significantly more expensive, but it looks like they’re running a sale before Christmas.
Long story short, I went with the Sole F85 for my wife and I, and it has been a great choice we’re both really happy with, so that’s what I personally would recommend since it sounds like you’re not that concerned with the bells and whistles.
I hope that helps! Have a great day Frankie,
Kyle
Kyle- I currently have a 12yr old Smooth treadmill that has worked well but just died last night. Since it is so old I am thinking of replacing it instead of fixing it. I currently have problems with hip pain and foot pain which has limited my running for the last few years. Which treadmill do you think has the best cushioning? I was looking at the smooth 9.65LC or the Nordic Track with the adjustible cushioning after a quick review. Any ideas? Thanks.
Hi Karen,
That’s awesome that it lasted 12 years!
Cushioning is very important, and fortunately all the companies are doing a much better job with it than they were back then.
I like the “Cushion Flex shock absorption” of the Sole F85, but with hip and foot pain you might want to consider a TreadClimber TC10 or a Yowza Captiva elliptical.
Since those machines aren’t treadmills, they use different motions to burn calories, decreasing the impact significantly.
Let me know if you have any questions about them!
Have a great day,
Kyle
Kyle,
Any thoughts on the 2013 model? I assume you purchased the 2012 model- have you heard or witnessed any issues with the new model? Thank you and Merry Christmas.
Hi Bret,
My wife and I are still running on the 2011 model, and it’s held up wonderfully.
The 2012 model wasn’t as big of a step up as the 2013, but the two upgrades have been a great move in the right direction.
We have heard virtually no customer complaints on the Sole F85, and the 2013 is an improvement (with no reported issues in the months since it’s been out), so it’s definitely a treadmill we recommend.
Merry Christmas to you too!
Kyle
I want to get a treadmill for walking, running and interval training (where I would be going up to 10-11 mph for short stretches and then backing down to 3-5 mph for “rest periods”), but am having a hard time deciding between the Smooth 9.65LC, Sole F85, Nordictrack Elite 9500 and Nordictrack Elite 9700. The reasons I like/dislike these various models (so hopefully you can help guide me). I like all of these models because they have a wider running surface than the typical 20″. You see, I’m not the most balanced runner, and the extra inch or two will be appreciated. I like the Sole F85 and Elite 9500 because they fold up…not because having a fold up treadmill is a necessity, but it might be nice to fold it up and move it to the side sometimes. However, I have read some places that a fold-up treadmill is not as structurally sound because of the extra joint…and may not hold up as long. Perhaps this isn’t as true for these models as lesser priced models. Two issues I have with the Sole F85 are: (a) lack of iFit or something like mySmooth…because those programs seem pretty neat; and (b) I’ve read that the Sole decreases speed slowly (which might be an issue for me if I’m doing 3 mph – 10 mph intervals)…what’s your experience with this on the Sole and are the other models noticeably better? On the other hand, I understand that customer service for the Sole might be better than for either the Smooth or Nordictrack…and I hate hassles. All of these units seem to have pretty good cushioning systems (although the Treadmill Doctor rates the Sole last at 6.5 and the Smooth at 7.8)…what are your thoughts on the cushioning in these models? Thanks in advance for any input you might have.
Hi Hunter,
All great points, and excellent things to consider. You’ve really done your research!
Okay, so let’s break it down:
- Running Surface: All good choices
- Folding: If you won’t use it, non-folding is probably a better bet
- iFit and mySmooth: Both very cool, though iFit has been having technical issues lately
- Changing Speed: Very true. Sole changes speed slowly, so I hit the button early for speeding up and on time for slowing down when doing intervals (sometimes I will grab the bars and put my feet on the sides for a few seconds while it slows down if the 10 or 12 mph is especially difficult that day)
- Customer Service: From my personal experience, and what I’ve heard from customers of all 3 companies, Sole wins in this area
- Cushioning: Yep, the Smooth 9.65LC has better cushioning, though the F85 is quite comfortable to my wife and me
Let me know if there’s anything else I can help with,
Kyle
Kyle, thank you for the quick reply. This gives me some more information to consider in choosing one. I need to actually measure the footprint in the area where I intend to put the treadmill to figure out whether getting a fold up would be more ideal than I’m thinking right now.
No problem! That’s a great starting point for sure.
Please come back and let us know what you choose and how it goes.
Have a great day Hunter,
Kyle
Kyle, I wanted to follow up and let you know that I chose the Smooth 9.65LC. Once it arrives and I give it a good kick of the tires, I will post my objective thoughts for your readers. For now, I will explain why I chose the Smooth over the other treadmills I was considering. First, as exciting as the iFit sounds, I have read too many customer comments on this site and others regarding glitches in the android programming…and, worse, when the program isn’t working, you can’t even use the treadmill with manual control. Many folks struggle with motivation to exercise (me included at times). I would think that if you worked yourself into a routine, went to use your treadmill, and found out it wouldn’t run because the programming was done that day…that would have quite the cooling effect on motivation to exercise. (not only would you lose that moment where you were ready to exercise, but then you would have to “get excited” about placing a likely lengthy phone call to the service department and wait who knows how long for the repair). The possibility of that type of cooling effect is not worth the bell and whistle that is iFit IMO.
I ruled out the Sole treadmill because I have read a few places (you included) that the treadmill is quite slow when reducing speeds. For someone who like me who appreciates the benefits of HIIT (not just going up and down in a range of 2 mph…but going from a real intense level to a real resting level), this would be frustrating. I realize most folks don’t do actual HIIT (as compared with regular interval training) so this probably wouldn’t be as much as an issue for other folks. Additionally, the Smooth provided more pre-set programs, the option of using mySmooth (does not offer as many options as iFit, but still provides the opportunity to sync the machine with some virtual runs through my iPad.), and there are clips on the Smooth to hold a tablet (or magazine) so I can still have a similar experience that iFit provides without having my treadmill depend on the reliability of technology (I know my iPad works well, but even if it had a glitch, my treadmill would still work).
As far as customer service, most complaints I saw had to do with delivery, but pretty much everyone was pleased with the machine once they had it and was using it. Ultimately, the company has been in business long enough and I suspect they get the machines delivered even if it takes a little longer than expected.
Thanks again for your input.
Awesome feedback, thanks Hunter!
Hi Kyle,
We inherited a lightly used (pretty much new) early 2012(?) Sole F85 that replaced a Pacemaster Platinum Pro that lasted issue-free for a good 6 years(?) with no problems, average use and a little belt dressing now and then (motherboard went out. Besides the strange cool down programs and slow ramp up speeds we feel that this will be just as good a treadmill long term if maintained properly which I plan to do more religiously. I am a bit on the heavy side (OK, maybe more than a bit) and it seems to sound/feel like it is taking the pounding that I put on it at 3.2 or so just fine and at any incline.
Our only issue with this unit is the fan not working shortly after we hooked it up for the first time. Do you have any ideas?
Thank you for taking the time to answer all these questions about this great machine.
Hi John,
Congrats man, that’s awesome!
I honestly haven’t heard anything about the cooling fan not working.
It might have shorted out at some point, but if that’s the case I would recommend calling a local fitness equipment repair tech to take a look at it for you.
If this is a feature you really want, I’m guessing they could fix it for under $100 for you, so it could be worth the cost.
Hope that helps! Have a good day John,
Kyle
I appreciate your taking the time to reply Kyle and will make sure to go through your reviews first then click on any link for buying information to make certain that you get credit for any future purchase. (disclaimer: I do not know Kyle and only read how this website works on the home page in terms of his being able to readily answering my question). One more question before I attempt to tear this thing apart and hopefully diagnose/fix it myself…does anybody sell ‘bar extenders’ for this unit or any other as my wife has much longer arms than I and will probably not be thrilled with the ‘gorilla tape and foam’ fix I have in store for her (fits me fine while she’s hunched over trying not to fall off on the incline setting).
Thanks again and may you have a good day yourself, Kyle!
Thanks for the support John!
I haven’t seen any “bar extenders”, but I will keep an eye out for you and let you know if I see anything that could work for you.
Take care,
Kyle
Fred,
How about the precor 9.23? vs sold f85.
this is my dilemma…I cannot choose which one to get. please help
chad
Hi Chad,
The 9.23 has a focus on durability (like most Precor machines) over features and modern design.
The warranty is only 5 years, compared to Lifetime on the frame, deck and motor of the F85.
One of the only drawbacks of the F85 for some users is that it changes speeds slower than most treadmills. Personally, I am totally used to it and just switch the quick controls sooner than I need it to change, but it’s worth noting.
Hope that helps!
Kyle
Kyle,
I am looking at buying a used F85. A couple of questions… what are some of the things I want to look at to see if the machine was well taken care of and in good working order when looking at a used machine? Is there a way to look at the Total Miles run on the machine (like the odometer for a car)? Also, one of the concerns I have been struggling with looking at the Sole brand vs Norictrack machines is the number of programs installed. Do you find a problem with the limited number of programs on the Sole machines?
Finally, how can I identify the differences from year to year on the models of F85s? From what I can tell, it looks like there was a 2009, 2011, and 2013 model. What are the main differences between these 3 model years?
Thanks for the help.
Hi Andrew,
All excellent questions! Let’s jump in…
1. To make sure you get a used treadmill in good condition, it’s always good to ask the seller if they were the only owner, how long they ran on it (estimated miles/week), and why they’re selling it. I would also recommend wearing your running shoes to take a test run. Listen for loud noises, excessive shaking, etc. to make sure it’s running fine.
2. To see the total miles on the machine, the Sole F85 displays this data every time the safety key is plugged in, right on the console! I’m not positive exactly which year they started doing that, but I think all three you mentioned will have that feature.
3. I’ve had my F85 for almost 2 years now, and I’m still not bored of the programs. In fact, I just started mixing it up even more beyond the 2-3 I had been using this whole time. The manual program is always good, but the Interval, Hill and Cardio programs are amazing for mixing things up. I still haven’t gotten to a couple of the others, so in my opinion there are plenty.
4. The easiest way to tell the difference between the models is their consoles. The 2009-2010 model looks like this:
Here’s the new 2013 Sole F85 console:
The 2011 looks very similar to the 2013, but the 2013 has a 4.0 CHP motor, an upgrade from the 3.5 CHP motor in the 2011 model.
I hope that helps! Good luck finding a good deal on your F85.
Have a great day,
Kyle
P.S. – For those of you looking for the 2013 model, here’s the best deal.
Hi all, does anyone know the deck height of the F85? I have a finished basement with a 7 foot ceiling and am 6 foot tall.
TG
Hi Todd,
The running surface is about 7 inches from the ground, so you would have a 5 inch clearance from the 7 ft ceiling (at zero incline, giving you room for some incline, but not maxed out).
Have a good day!
Kyle
Hi Kyle,
Thanks for what you do here. I need your advice on a $1,700 budget. I weigh 400lbs. I have knee pain when I walk for longer than 40 minutes. I hoping that will improve with weight loss. I don’t need any frills at all on a treadmill. Just one to handle my weight and one with the best and longest warranty.
Hi Kim,
You’re very welcome, thanks for the comment!
At $1,700 the Sole F85 is just a bit over budget, and even more if you want to pay for inside delivery and/or assembly.
So, based on what you’re looking for, I would recommend checking out my Sole F80 review.
The F80 would leave enough room in your budget to pay for assembly if you’d like, and it’s still an excellent choice.
Hope that helps!
Kyle
I’m looking at buying the Sole F85. Would you recommend having them deliver and install it?
Hi David,
Sorry for the delayed reply…it was a busy weekend!
Anyway, I do recommend having them deliver and assemble it for you, yes.
It’s definitely doable with 2 people, and their instructions are clear and detailed, so many customers choose to assemble it themselves.
For me personally, though I love to exercise on fitness equipment, I’m not great at putting things together, so I always opt to have the pros bring it into the room, un-box it, put it together, check everything, and take away the packaging.
Let me know if there’s anything else I can help with!
Kyle
Hi Kyle,
I’m looking between three choices… The Nordictrack 1750 pro, the Sole F80, and the Sole F85.
I’m hesitant w/ the Nordictrack 1750 pro as the customer reviews here, as well as the reviews just about everywhere (including Sears) seem to indicate there are many problems, especially w/ the android system. Thus, unless you think the 1750 pro would be better than the sole 80 or 85, I’m likely not going to go w/ it. Are the 2013 models the same (i.e., still have problems w/ Android from what you can tell)?
As for the 80 v. 85, it’s about a $300 difference, and from what I can tell, the main difference is the better cushion and bigger motor. In your opinion, is the $300 worth it? What’s the advantage of the bigger motor, and as far as the cushion on the 80, how bad is it compared to the 85? basically, I’d appreciate your opinion as to going b/w the 2…
Thanks! David
Hi David,
These are all great choices, with very high ratings overall, so you’ll likely be happy with either of them.
You’re right about the 1750′s Android malfunctions; we are still getting complaints about it, though they seemed to have slowed down. Personally, I don’t like relying so heavily on one extra feature that isn’t essential to the workout, so I would narrow it down to the other two options.
My wife and I decided on the F85, because of the better cushioning it had at the time (though the F80′s cushioning is on par with it now).
Both that and the motor are things you won’t feel unless you compared them both, one after the other (and even then it can be tough for some). However, over time, your knees, hips and back will definitely appreciate the extra cushioning, especially if you plan to run often.
However, like I mentioned above, Sole has improved the cushioning of the F80 substantially in the past couple years, so they are very similar in this area now.
As for the motor, the main benefits to an increase in the CHP (the amount of power it can keep up throughout the duration of the exercise, which is different from HP, the peak horsepower like in a car) are a smoother, sturdier machine, especially at higher speeds.
Sorry for all the detail. Here’s a quick summary:
- If you want to do lots of running, like to run at 5+ mph sometimes, and plan on running distances over a mile or two pretty often, then the F85 is a better investment
- If you will walk, jog and rarely sprint (interval training, etc) or run really long distances, then the F80 will be a great choice to balance quality and price
I hope that helps! Have an awesome weekend,
Kyle
Thank you so much Kyle, that was helpful. As for the place where we get it, I’m leaning on sears bc they have no interedt financing for 18 mos (i have a sears card) whereas sole looks like they will cover the sales tax. I’m somewhat concerned w assembly and think whoever i go with ill get pay for the assembly. 2 questions. Do u know how much sole charges for assembly ? (I know sears is 129.00 w delivery and assembly). Second, would sole do a better job of assembling the unit since thats all thwy assemble (whereas guys from sears might not be aware of all the nuances)? Thank you!
No problem! I always like to buy direct from the manufacturer to make sure the delivery & installation is handled by the people they choose, and to cut out the middle man (sometimes this means better prices, in other cases it means the creators don’t lose money to the reseller), but it’s totally up to you.
I can’t speak to Sears’ delivery and installation for treadmills, though they did just fine with my washer.
I do know that Sole offers inside delivery for $99. Some people do this and use the assembly guide and video to setup their treadmill in under an hour.
If you want “Turn Key Delivery”, they can set everything up and test it out for you for another $140. As you mentioned though, not paying sales tax in every state except Utah and California means you’ll save around $125, so you could do inside delivery and assemble it to actually save money overall.
I hope that helps! Have a great week,
Kyle
I just wanted to weigh in on David’s question concerning delivery. Earlier this year, I ordered a Smooth treadmill directly from the company and arranged for in-room delivery. I can tell you that the folks who delivered the Smooth treadmill did not work for Smooth and that they were delivering things other than exercise equipment. I can also say that they did not appear all that proficient in getting the treadmill from the truck to my front door, let alone into the room. My neighbor and I did as much, if not more, of the work to get the treadmill into the house and then into the designated room than the delivery folks did. I set up the treadmill myself so I cannot comment on whether they had any specialized knowledge in setting up the treadmill. Anyway, perhaps Sole employs and trains its own delivery folks…but more likely, as with Smooth, they just work with a delivery company (probably a company with one of the lower contracted rates). I’m not trying to knock Smooth or Sole….but the chances of either company having a delivery person much more knowledgeable about how to deliver/set-up a treadmill than Sears is probably small.
If I had the option of buying the Smooth treadmill from Sears or similar “big box” company, I would have done that 10 out of 10 times because I know if I have a problem with the purchase, I can go back to Sears and straighten out the problem. Additionally, from my experience with other purchases from Sears, I can vouch for their extended warranty/service contract.
Good point Hunter. In my experience, specifically with setting up my Sole F85, there were two guys that came to deliver and assemble it that were also 3rd party contractors.
I asked them a couple questions, and could tell right away they knew their stuff. They mentioned that they had assembled the F85 a bunch of times already, so they knew enough to answer my questions, test it out, and give me some pointers on maintenance.
I have not paid for assembly from Smooth or Sears, so I can’t comment on how they handle it, but it sounds like Sears could also do a good job in this area. Also, Sole themselves have started recommending the user assemble the F85 themselves since it can be done in under an hour, so that’s definitely an option as well.
Thanks for the feedback! I appreciate it.
Have a good one,
Kyle