Sole TT8 Treadmill Review: Commerical Grade Machine For Under $3k

The Sole TT8 even boasts a light commercial warranty. Yeah, that’s right, for under $3k! Sole Fitness are offering a commercial-grade treadmill, and they even have the confidence to back that up with a light commercial warranty.

I’ve been reviewing their treadmills for years. I know these guys well, and what always impresses me about this company is the solid build of their treadmills.

Even their mid-level treadmills, like the Sole F85 and F80, are heavy-duty beasts, and the TT8 Treadmill takes it one step further.

The Sole TT8 treadmill is an all-steel frame beast of a machine. It weighs 326lb and feels more solid than many of the $5k+ treadmills on the market. It’s been designed for 5 hours of daily use in residential or commercial settings. It basically will take anything you can throw at it.

Marathon runners and triathletes will love the TT8 because they’ll be getting a gym-quality machine without the commercial price tag.

So yes, the update really did make an already impressive heavy-duty machine unbeatable in this price bracket. Okay, it’s still not as techy as a NordicTrack Treadmill, but it doesn’t need to be. This treadmill’s commercial-grade build sells it, and the new console is just the icing on the cake we were waiting for.

Today, I’m going to take a close look at everything the Sole TT8 has to offer, all the pros and any drawbacks.

At the end of the review, I will compare it with the Sole TT8’s closet rival, the NordicTrack Commercial 2450, as it will be interesting to see how these top sellers match up.

First before we dive deep into this review, lets take a quick look at the Sole TT8 Treadmill product Specs!

Why Do We Like The Sole TT8 Treadmill?

The reason many runners are going to love this treadmill is the price and how much treadmill you get for it.  Sole are offering a commercial grade, well, near full commercial grade treadmill for well under $3k.

It’s a large, rock solid non-folding treadmill.

All the high-end machines don’t include a folding system, which is a good thing because it keeps everything more rigid. The TT8 feels just like a treadmill you would use in your local gym—it’s that good.

The reason Sole Fitness are so good at producing this type of treadmill at a lower cost is that they have so much experience making semi-commercial and commercial-grade equipment.

Before Sole made treadmills and ellipticals for residential use, these guys produced treadmills for health clubs and gyms. They decided to expand, and now they bring all that experience and put it into treadmills like the TT8.

It’s always a good thing to buy a treadmill from a company with a ton of experience behind it, like Sole. They have a lot of confidence in their products, and it really shows with the impressive warranties they offer.

Rock Solid – Running Machine

As I mentioned in the intro, the Sole T88 is a heavy machine, which is exactly what you want.

The heavier the treadmill, the better when it comes to buying a treadmill for home use. Why? First, the heavier the treadmill, the higher the quality of the parts used in its construction. Also, you need a solid, well-built machine if you’re going to use it for high-intensity workouts, etc.

The Sole T88 has been designed for at least five hours of heavy daily use, whether for light commercial or residential use. It will easily cope with marathon training or any other type of workout.

Commercial Size Running Belt

We know Sole got it right with the machine’s build quality, which is most important, but there are other essential features that are almost just as important, and the first is the size of the running belt.

You should expect a large running belt if you’re spending over $2k on a treadmill.

And you won’t be disappointed with the Sole TT8 running belt size. It’s a commercial-size running belt measuring 22″ x “60. It’s the same size as a gym machine belt, so it is large enough for all types of workouts and has a max height limit of around 6’3” for running.

Also, the belt is nice and wide, so you won’t have any worries about stepping off the side of the running belt in the middle of a session.

22″ x 60″ is about as good as it gets for running belts. You can get slightly longer belts, 62 “or 65″, but unless you’re over 6’4″, you won’t need a belt length of 62-65”.

Click here to check the price of Sole T88 on Solefitness.com

4HP Heavy Duty Motor

The power of the motor is always important when choosing a treadmill, the motor has to have enough power to move heavy weights at a fast pace for hours.

So you need to look for high torque, heavy duty commercial grade motors, and these things are expensive,

I’ve replaced a few treadmill motors over the years, and they are costly. Thankfully, you have a lifetime warranty on the SoleTT8 Treadmill motor, so you should never have to worry about purchasing a new one yourself.

The Sole T88 boasts a 4HP high-torque motor, which is the most heavy-duty and powerful motor Sole makes. It’s only used in two of their treadmills, the TT8 being one of them. As I already mentioned, it’s designed for five hours of daily use and should last a lifetime.

What’s also impressive about this motor is that it’s supported by 10-lb commercial-grade flywheel. I was surprised to see this, as I usually only see the heavier flywheel on the $5k plus treadmills.

The commercial-grade flywheel is going to prolong the life of this motor by preventing burnouts and keeping it running smoothly—a thumbs up to Sole for the heavy-duty flywheel.

Updated Monitor Control Console

The Sole TT8 finally had its monitor updated. It was the only thing holding the TT8 back.

The monitor was begging for an update, and this year, it’s here. And I’m impressed. The Screen is crystal clear, and it’s large enough to be viewed easily while running.

As with all Sole monitors, it’s nice and easy to use. There’s nothing overly complicated. The addition of the Sole+ app is a big bonus. You now have hundreds of workouts to choose from for free and can download all your workout stats to the app, which is very easy to do.

Thankfully, Sole didn’t go down the subscription road with the updated version of this treadmill.  There are no subscription apps to pay for. Nice.

Sole kept things free, with the option to pay for extra workout programs separately. However, there are a ton of free ones and 24 workout programs built into the machine.

Now, With Netflix and YouTube

The new 15.6 “screen comes with a load of pre-installed apps, including YouTube, Netflix, and some news channels. It’s nice to find a monitor that’s not restricted to workout programs.

There’s also Bluetooth and built-in speakers, which are surprisingly loud for a treadmill.

I should mention another feature they added, which is screen mirroring. I can’t say it is a feature I would use, but some might find it handy if they want to mirror something from their phone.

1/4 mile, 5k and HIIT

They kept all the good stuff from the old console, including the 1/4-track features, the 5k, and HIIT, which made me happy.

What’s also cool is how large the buttons are. The large one-touch buttons for incline and speed are situated on either side of the screen, and you also have the toggle adjustments for speed and incline on the left and right of the handlebars.

You’ll probably use the toggles the most, as they save you from reaching forward to the monitor when running.

OveralL a decent monitor, and a well needed updated for the TT8, best all they kept the treadmill subscription free which is what we all want when purchasing a treadmill.

Auto Incline – Best In Class

Not all runners will want or benefit from an incline feature, but I’ve always enjoyed the extra challenge of hill walking and running, so for me and many others, it’s an essential feature for a home treadmill.

All Sole Treadmills include an impressive incline feature. They are all power adjustable and have an incline max of 15%, which is more than enough for most people’s needs.

With Soles’ high-end treadmills like the TT8, you also get a decline feature, which is great to find on a sub $3k machine.

What I like most about the Sole TT8 incline is how smooth the incline feels when adjusting the levels, and this is down to the separate motors used for the incline and decline. Sole certainly went the extra mile with this treadmill.

To adjust the incline, you can use the large one-touch buttons on the side of the monitor screen or the toggle buttons next to the handlebars. 

Sole TT8 Deck Cushioning System (not adjustable)

You can feel the anti-shock system, it provides some cushioning for the joints, and it’s not too soft, which is a good thing.

It’s one of the harder deck cushioning systems, but many road runners using this treadmill for winter training will prefer a harder running deck.

Also, I should mention how smooth the belt is when in motion; you have the crowned 3″ rollers, which give it that high-end feel, which is exactly what you want. Again, crowned 3″ rollers are normally found on much higher priced treadmills.

So yeah, it’s a high-end running deck/belt. The only downside here is that the cushioning system isn’t adjustable.

Some commercial treadmills offer an adjustable system that allows you to choose between soft, medium, and hard settings. This can be useful depending on the type of training you’re doing. The lack of an adjustment feature for the deck cushioning isn’t a deal breaker, but it may be something Sole could add in the next update.

Will I Need a Treadmill Mat?

For stability, you shouldn’t need a treadmill mat. This is a heavy-duty 326lb treadmill that has more than enough weight to keep itself planted on the floor. There’s no movement when running on this treadmill. 

Another reason you may want to consider a treadmill mat is to protect your polished floors from scratches.

Lastly, if you live in an apartment, a treadmill mat is always a good idea, as it will help you soak up the vibrations from your workouts.

I found Sunny Health and Fitness makes the best cheap treadmill mats. I’ll leave a link below.

Sunny Health Treadmill Mats

Sole TT8 Assembly (2 hours)

Most of the complicated stuff has already been assembled, but some heavy lifting still needs doing, so I’d recommend a friend or two to give you a hand.

It’s not difficult; the uprights need to be bolted onto the deck, and you’ll need to connect the monitor, etc. The most difficult part is getting the treadmill in place and unboxed, it’s heavy.

Give yourself a couple of hours for assembly. It’s best to take your time and get it right the first time.

Other things to remember: I always rubricate a treadmill belt before first use, yeah they’re supposed to be lubricated at the factory, but you never know if they forgot or just missed it, so to be on the safe side, I’d recommend you lubricate the belt before running on it.

Also, make sure the belt is centered and not loose. If it feels a little loose or you see any folds, tighten it with an Allen key.

Alternative

NordicTrack Commercial 2450 Treadmill

I’ve reviewed a lot of NordicTrack gear, and sometimes, this company is at fault for putting the tech first and the treadmill’s essentials second. The quality wasn’t quite there with a few of their products. The tech was the best in the industry, but the quality of their products suffer sometimes.

Thankfully, most of the time, these guys do get the balance right, and their Commercial line of treadmills is excellent.

Their commercial series of treadmills my diamonds in the rough for NordicTrack; the build quality is high, and these treadmills are solid, heavy-duty machines that don’t leave you wanting.

The Commercial 2450 is my favorite treadmill from NordicTrack because it offers the most bang for your buck. It’s in direct competition with the Sole TT8, and there really isn’t that much between the two machines.

The 2450 is a 305lb beast of a treadmill, there’s no movement when running on this thing, it’s solid, not quite that gym quality feel you get from the Sole TT8, but it’s not far off, I’m splitting hairs here really.

You also have the commercial-size running belt, so just like the Sole T88, the NordicTrack 2450 is suitable for users with heights up to 6’3″ for running.

Most Powerful Motor In Class

The 2450’s most impressive feature is its motor. It’s a 4.25CHP (Continuous HorsePower) motor that peaks at around 7HP. This motor easily copes with any type of workout. You won’t find a better one on any treadmill under $5k.

The auto incline is impressive, too, with a 12% incline and 3% decline. Plus, you have app control. This feature allows you to choose workout programs, and the speed and incline are automatically adjusted for you based on your chosen workout. I like this techy future because it allows you to concentrate on your workouts fully without the need to adjust anything.

If you don’t want to use the app control, of course, you can adjust the incline yourself using the large console buttons or handrail control.

24″ Pivoting Screen

This is NordicTrack, so the monitor/control console is a feature. There’s too much to mention here, but let’s say there’s nothing else on the market that comes close to the tech on this treadmill.

NordicTrack truly is the king when it comes to the tech stuff. And with the 24″ pivoting screen, you’ll have no trouble viewing all of it.

Still, to get the most out of the features of the Commercial 2450, you’ll need to subscribe to iFit. That’s the catch with NordicTrack: You need to pay a monthly subscription, which is about $40. It’s an excellent app, but it’s too costly for some, and it’s what holds this treadmill back.

If you love the idea of a treadmill built around an App, then this is the treadmill for you. It’s an impressive machine. You won’t be disappointed with the quality; it’s very powerful, has a large running belt, and is solid, perfect for runners.

So yes, there isn’t much between the T88 and the NordicTrack 2450, the TT8 is slightly more heavy-duty duty, while the NordicTrack outshines the Sole TT8 on the tech side of things.

Both are excellent treadmills for the price point. If you love fitness apps, then I recommend the 2450. It’s one of those treadmills that will just keep impressing, it won’t disappoint.

To Sum Up

The Sole TT8 outshines everything else in this price range. For $2.5k, you’re getting a commercial-grade treadmill, and nothing else can match that right now.

NordicTrack’s 2450 is a pretty close second. I really can’t find much to fault about their heavy-duty offering; everything about it impresses. Still, to get the most out of the 2450, you have to pay a subscription, which is a shame.

Sole TT8 Treadmill FAQs

Does The Sole TT8 Treadmill Fold Up?

No, the Sole TT8 treadmill does not fold up. It is designed as a high-end, sturdy treadmill, which means it has a fixed frame that doesn’t include a folding mechanism. The TT8 is 66” high x 38” wide x 81” long. It has two transport wheels, so you must tilt it on one end to move it around. It’s a large treadmill, so we need its own dedicated space.

Is The Sole TT8 a Commerical Treadmill?

The Sole TT8 Treadmill is designed for light commercial use and has a light commercial warranty. So, while it’s not quite full commercial grade, it’s very close. It is also designed for heavy use up to five hours a day. The Sole TT8 is as close as you’ll get to a full commercial treadmill for under $3k.

How Much Does The Sole TT8 Treadmill Weigh?

The Sole TT8 treadmill weighs 326lb. It’s a heavy-duty machine that doesn’t fold. It needs its own dedicated room or large space in a home gym. It’s not the type of treadmill you can move and store after each workout.

Is Sole a Good Company For Treadmills?

Yes, Sole is considered a good treadmill company. Its durable, high-quality treadmills are suitable for home and light commercial use, featuring powerful motors and user friendly designs. The treadmills also come with various workout programs and incline options, making them a great choice for different fitness levels. Overall, Sole Fitness is a solid choice for reliable fitness equipment.