Sole F63 Treadmill Review: Pros, Cons, Cost, and, More

Sole Fitness has been specializing in heavy-duty treadmills for years, they used to build their fitness gear for hotels and local gyms, and now they bring all that experience to their home treadmills. And even though the Sole F63 Treadmill is sitting in the mid-level price range, it still manages to feel heavy-duty. This treadmill weighs 255lb out of the box; that’s a heavy treadmill for the price point. That extra weight tells me it’s made from quality materials and that Sole used one of their rock-solid all steel welded frames for the build.

And in today’s review, I want to take a close look at everything the Sole F63 offers, including any drawbacks. At the end of the review, I’ll also compare the Sole F63 with the TRX4500, an impressive new release from Xterra Fitness.

Fits let’s look at the Sole F63 Treadmill Product specs and then move on with the review!

Why Do We Like The Sole F63 Treadmill?

I’ve already mentioned its the build you’re going to love most about this machine. It’s a solid treadmill. If you want to get as close to the feel of a commercial machine without spending a ton of cash, then the Sole F63 is the best choice out there.

These guys even use large rollers with sealed bearings under the running belt. Large rollers like this are usually reserved for treadmills costing $5k+, and it’s these small touches that separate Sole Fitness from the competition.

Sole has also used one of their all steel welded frames on this treadmill, giving it a lot of extra weight. And it’s that extra weight that’s going to help keep this F63 planted to the floor. It won’t feel unstable and cheap. Instead, you’ll feel like you’re on a proper sturdy treadmill. 

Large Running Belt

But it’s not just the build quality that impresses me about this mid-level treadmill from Sole. You also have a near commercial-size running belt. It measures 20″ x 60″. A 60″ belt will allow users up to 6’3″ to jog on the treadmill without feeling restricted.

Plus, you have a 20″ belt width, which is just 2″ off of the width of a commercial running belt. A wide belt like this will prevent any issues with stepping off the side of the treadmill in the middle of a session which is important, especially for faster-paced cardio.

Click here to check current price of F63 on Solefitness.com

 15 Level – 15% Power Incline

There are just two treadmills in this price range that can offer 15% power adjustable inclines, and the Sole F63 is one of them, and the Xterra TRX4500 is the other.

A decent incline is so important as it’s a feature that offers so many health benefits. Even walking or jogging on a 10% incline will burn three times more calories than on flat. You’ll also build and strengthen those hard to train muscles like your calves, glutes, and hamstrings. It’s an essential feature and something I always urge buyers to look for when choosing a treadmill.

To adjust the incline on the Sole F63 treadmill, you can use the large quick-touch buttons under the monitor. Quick touch buttons are a handy time-saving feature because they save you from having to scroll through any menus

Is The Sole F63 Monitor Disappointing?

Im sure some people will find this monitor disappointing. There aren’t tons of workout programs, a large HD color touchscreen, or any fancy fitness apps.

But this is a Sole Treadmill; these guys have always made fuss-free monitors, and I think it’s a good idea because by staying away from the HD color screens, you’re keeping the price of the treadmill down. Instead, you have a treadmill built by guys who prefer to focus on the essentials like the build, incline, belt size, etc, which is much more important than the tech.

Still, although pretty basic, there are some great features, like the 1/4 track feature, which many high-end treadmills don’t even have.

Plus, you get wireless heart rate monitoring, and they throw in the HR chest strap for free, which is excellent for those who love to train in your chosen heart rate zone. Wireless heart rate monitoring is a much more accurate way to monitor heart rate than the handrail pulse sensors.

You also have those large quick-touch buttons that allow you to access everything with a single touch of a button, and you get ten workout programs, a few heart and peak performance programs, cooling fans., Bluetooth and speakers.

Can I Run on The F63?

Usually, I wouldn’t recommend running on a mid-level treadmill because they typically don’t have the heavy-duty build, the power, or the belt size.

And I probably wouldn’t recommend running on the Sole F63 if you weigh over 200lb. You need a slightly more powerful motor to handle heavy loads at speed.

You have a 3HP motor with this treadmill. For heavy users that want to use a treadmill for running, you really need to look for a treadmill with at least 3.5HP or 4HP, like The Sole F85 treadmill.

So yes, I think anyone under 200lb will be okay using the Sole F63 for light running, there’s just enough power, and you definitely have the belt size.

Hydraulics Do All The Hard Work For You?

When you choose a treadmill, you want to try and make sure it comes with a hydraulic folding system, there are electric folding systems out there, but I avoid those because they are just something else that can go wrong. Manual hydraulic systems are best. Sole Fitness treadmills use the Easy Assist system, which is just another name for a hydraulic system. It’s super easy to use, and you can fold the treadmill deck with one hand. It’s that easy.

Flex Deck Cushioning

Sole claim their cushioning system for the running deck protects your joints from the impact of each foot strike by 40%, which is good news because running is a high-impact sport. You need as much protection as you can get.

I like the Sole Fitness cushioning system because it’s a little harder than others. It’s not too bouncy.

Still, you won’t find the best deck cushioning systems in this price range. The Flex deck isn’t adjustable like some systems I’ve used. An adjustable system is helpful for runners who want to replicate road conditions.

But you won’t need an adjustable system if you’re not a road runner and want to do indoor winter training on a treadmill. The Flex Deck from Sole is good enough for most of us.

Do I Need a Treadmill Mat?

A lot of the time, people buy treadmill mats because they help keep a lightweight treadmill from sliding around. The F63 is a fairly heavy treadmill, so purchasing a treadmill mat won’t aid stability much. The other reason you might want a treadmill mat is to prevent scratches on polished floors, and if you live in an apartment, a treadmill mat will help soak up a lot of the vibrations from your workouts.

Sole Fitness sells its own treadmill mats, but they’re a little pricey.

I find Sunny Health and Fitness make the best cheap treadmill mats. Click link below to view on Amazon,

View Sunny Health & Fitness Treadmill Mats on Amazon

1 Hour Assembly

The most challenging part of assembling the F63 treadmill is taking the running deck out of the box and getting it in place because it’s heavy. You’ll probably need two people for this. The rest of the assembly is pretty easy. It’s a six-step manual. Basically, all you need to do is attach the uprights to the treadmill’s deck and attach the monitor to the uprights. Unboxing and assembly of this treadmill take most people around an hour.

For maintenance: You’ll need to lubricate the treadmill belt; all instructions for this are in the manual. Also, keeping the treadmill belt clean is a good idea, as this will prevent debris from getting into the motor.

Related: How to clean a treadmill

Xterra Fitness TRX45000 Treadmill

Xterra are a company thats come a long way in the past five years. This company now rivals brands like NordicTrack, Sole Fitness, and Schwinn. Xterra makes some of the best fitness gear on the market right now. They are known for their quality and affordable prices. Bank for your buck; you get a lot with Xterra.

Only recently, they released their TRX4500 treadmill. This is a mid-priced treadmill costing around $1000, which is a great price for what’s on offer here. So is it better than The Sole F63? Well, both treadmills boast the large 20″ x 60″ running belt, and both include that impressive 15% 15-level power incline, hydraulic folding system, desk cushioning, and enough HP for light running.

The Xterra TRX4500 also has a fairly basic monitor. You don’t have an HD color screen, just like Sole Fitness Xterra likes to focus more on the essentials than the tech. But you do have wireless heart rate monitoring with HR chest strap included and 30 workout programs, built-in cooling fans, Bluetooth, and speakers, but there is no 1/4 mile feature.

As you can see, these two treadmills and very similar in specs.

However, the Sole is nearly 40lb heavier, which makes a difference because that extra weight gives the Sole a more stable feel than the Xterra, and if you plan on running on a treadmill, the more stable, the better.

For around $1000, the TRX4500 would be unbeatable if it wasn’t for the Sole F63. The TRX is one of the only treadmills that can be used for light running in this price range. It has the belt size, the build, and the power. It’s an impressive machine from these guys and a treadmill worthy of some serious consideration.

To Sum Up

There isn’t a better treadmill than the Sole F63 for around $1000 the Xterra TRX4500 does come very close, but the build quality of the Sole F63 pushes it over the winning line when you compare both machines. The Sole F63 is a great treadmill for walking, jogging even light running. It’s a machine without all the bells that gets all the important stuff right.

Sole F63 Treadmill FAQS

Is The Sole F63 Quiet?

Sole Fitness uses balanced heavy-duty flywheels with their motors. This results in a motor that draws fewer amps; not only does this keep the motor quiet, but it also prolongs the life of the motor. Sole F63 also includes large rollers with sealed bearings that run under the treadmill deck. Large rollers make for smooth, quiet, static-free motion.

How Many Workout Programs Does The Sole F63 Treadmill Offer?

The Sole F63 Treadmills comes with a total of ten workout programs, six of those are standard programs, such as HIIT, etc, two are heart rate programs, and two are custom. If thats not enough for you, you can always download their fitness app. It’s a paid subscription that has over 3000 workouts to stream.

Is The Sole F63 or Sole F80 Better?

The Sole F80 includes a slightly larger running belt ‘it’s two inches wider’ a more powerful motor, a larger LCD screen, and is slightly heavier. Still, the Sole F80 costs $500 more. So yes, it’s better, and it’s more of a treadmill for runners than the F63. However, everything else about these treadmills is very similar, and if you only need a treadmill for light to medium cardio, then the F63 is the best buy out of the two. 

Is The Sole F63 Foldable?

Yes, the F63 is foldable. It uses a hydraulic folding system. Once folded, the treadmill’s overall footprint is more than halved. You also have built-in transport wheels to help you move the treadmill.