Sole F63 Treadmill Review – Pros & Cons of the Sole F63 (2018)

Quick Summary

The Sole F63 is the most affordable folding treadmill in a top-rated collection by Sole Fitness.

While this cardio trainer is entry level, it’s more robust than the simplest treadmills from other brands.

Specs making the F63 a great choice for runners include a durable 3.0 CHP motor, a 60″ track, a 12 mph top speed, and a commercial deck with excellent shock absorption.

Learn more from our full Sole F63 Treadmill review below.

Specifications

Model	Sole F63
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the treadmill's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	88.6%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$1,899
Best Price Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the current best price. Note: MSRP stands for Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.	$999
Speed Treadmill Speed is measured in Miles Per Hour (mph). Average running speed is 5-9 mph.	0.5 - 12 mph
Incline Treadmill Incline measures the angle of the deck, and how steep it is relative to the floor (0% is flat, and 15% is like a steep hill).	0 - 15%
Motor The Treadmill Motor is what turns the belt as you run. We recommend at least 2 HP (Horsepower) motors, 2.5+ HP for jogging, and 3.0+ HP for running.	3.0 CHP
Deck Treadmill Deck dimensions are measured in inches: Width x Length. The wider and longer the deck, the safer it is (55-60 inches long recommended for running).	20" x 60"
Belt The Treadmill Belt is the surface you run on. The thicker the belt, the less impact on your joints. At least 2-ply (1 inch) recommended.	Phenolic Deck w/ Shock Absorption 2-Ply (1")
Folding? Some treadmills are designed to conserve space by folding up. This is a convenient option, but some features might be reduced.
Programs Treadmill Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	10
Max. Weight Treadmill Max User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that it can safely support, which can represent durability.	325 lbs
Heart Rate Heart Rate programs allow you to track how many times your heart is beating per minute (bpm), and some control the workout for you.	Pulse Grips & Chest Strap (optional)
Dimensions Dimensions are included to help you figure out if this treadmill will fit properly (Length x Width x Height and Height x Depth).	82" x 35" x 57" Weight: 253 lbs Rollers: 2.5"
Display Treadmill Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	White Back-lit 6.5" LCD
Cooling Fans Treadmill Cooling Fans are designed to help keep you cool during an intense workout.
Accessory Tray Some treadmills include an accessory tray for holding items such as water bottles, wallets, keys, or MP3 players like iPods.
Speakers Treadmills that include a sound system allow you to listen to your MP3 player/iPod through built-in speakers (no headphones).
Quick Controls Quick Controls allow you to select speed, incline and even workout programs with the touch of a button (usually on the handles).
Warranty The warranty is a very important part of your investment. The longer the warranty, the longer you can get free/discounted repairs by the manufacturer.	Frame: Lifetime Motor: Lifetime Parts: 3 Years Electronics: 3 Years Labor: 1 Year

Our Rating

Rating: 88.6/100. Many treadmills get sale priced at $999 but few have the quality of Sole’s newest F63, a steel-framed folding unit designed for home use. The Sole F63 is quite possibly the most durable folding treadmill available under $1,000. It has an $1,899 MSRP but can be found for less at Sole’s website.

The F63 is just as stable as traditional non-folding treadmills and it features many of the commercial quality components found on trainers that cost twice as much. Following its recent makeover, specs for the F63 now include a 20″ x 60″ running surface, a 3.0 continuous horsepower motor, 30 levels of track incline and a 10-item workout menu.

Workout progress is shown on Sole’s new 6.5-inch LCD, which uses dark blue text against a white background for easy reading. Alternatively the user’s own tablet computer can serve as the workout monitor with a free mobile app named simply “Sole Fitness App.” One advantage of using this app during workout sessions is that it can sync with FitBit, MyFitnessPal and countless other apps that store exercise data.

If there’s $500 in the budget, we highly recommend stepping up to the F80 for many reasons.

Pros:

Sturdy yet foldable frame
3.0 CHP motor
20″ x 60″ track
Advanced shock absorption
30 incline levels up to 15%
Bluetooth connection for Sole Fitness App
Secure tablet holder
MP3 player port and speakers
Wireless heart rate receiver
Contact pulse sensors
Personal cooling fans

Cons:

Wireless chest strap not included with purchase
Slow acceleration compared with higher models
Short side rails

Introduction

The Sole F63 treadmill is budget-friendly but very well-made. It’s just as sturdy as traditional non-folding alternatives, and it has the high quality that other brands reserve for more expensive machines.

The newest version of the F63 builds upon this model’s earlier success with more conveniently located speed and incline controls, an improved console screen and enhancements for integrating wireless tech.

Read on for details about its workout programming and other features.

Workout Programs

The F63, like all treadmills in the Sole collection this year, has a 10-item program menu.

Six of the programs are preset workouts that control the treadmill’s speed and incline to focus especially on cardio endurance, calorie burn or muscle toning.

Another two programs use heart rate data to control the treadmill’s challenge level, keeping the user within a specified heart rate zone.

The final two programs are user-designed. Two user profiles can be saved with customized routines. A scrolling message center helps with program setup.

Sole F63 Features

The Sole F63 has a foldable frame. The folding is accomplished with hydraulic assist, and the machine does most of the work.

Entertainment is supported with an MP3 player port and console speakers. The newest F63 also has an improved shelf for holding a tablet computer, designed to make sure the device doesn’t tip forward.

The Sole Fitness App lets a tablet computer serve as a secondary program monitor. It can collect exercise stats in the background, letting the trainee watch Netflix or use other apps during training.

The Sole Fitness App can then sync with the user’s preferred fitness app for keeping all exercise data in one place.

Excellent conditioning is supported with an automated incline. It has 30 settings in half-percent increments up to a 15% grade. Incline controls are located on the handlebars and the console.

For heart rate monitoring, contact pulse monitors are built in and Sole treadmills are compatible with wireless chest straps. Two of the F63’s preset workouts are controlled by heart rate.

Sole’s CushionFlex Deck has been found to reduce joint impact by up to 40% when compared with outdoor jogging paths.

This treadmill has personal cooling fans, two bottle holders and an accessory tray.

Warranty & Guarantee

The Sole F63 warranty includes:

– Frame: Lifetime
– Motor: Lifetime
– Parts & Electronics: 3 Years
– Labor: 1 Year

Return Policy: Sole Fitness cardio trainers are sold with 30-day money-back guarantees.

Conclusion

Owning a Sole F63 is the most affordable way to get a club-quality treadmill workout at home. This product’s full price of $1,899 isn’t so competitive, but with a $999 sale price it’s easily a best buy.