Sole F80 vs F85 Treadmill Comparison 2024

Updated: December 11, 2023

When it comes to a head-to-head comparison between two treadmills from the same brand, you may be wondering if spending more money is the way to go. The Sole F85 surely has the better features at its higher price point, but do you really need them? I really like both of these treadmills, so it will be a tough call for me. They have a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses. In this Sole F80 vs F85 Treadmill comparison, I will help you decide which treadmill is right for you based on your training needs. I have logged a lot of miles on each of them, and I am happy to share my experience on both.

---

Treadmill Comparison of The Sole F80 vs Sole F85

Build Quality

Frame

Side by side, these two treadmills are incredibly similar. They have the same frame shape, and often times when I am going to test them out, I mistake them for each other until I look at the console or the branding along the deck. They have identical footprints, but they have different weights and weight capacities. The reason for this discrepancy is the F85’s reinforced deck. The Sole F85 treadmill can support 25 lbs more than the Sole F80 treadmill, because it has two steel panels in the front and back of the deck to offer additional support. If you need a sturdier treadmill with a higher weight capacity, go with the F85, but if you are looking to minimize your treadmill’s weight, go with the F80. Despite its inferior deck reinforcement, the F80 is still very stable and supportive.

The F80 is only discernible from the F85 by its smaller screen and branding along the deck.

The Sole F85 has a stable frame and a reinforced deck which can support up to 375 lbs.

Motor

The Sole F80 has a 3.5 HP motor whereas the Sole F85 has a 4.0 HP motor. Either of these treadmills is great for walking and running. The F85 is the better option if multiple users are sharing the treadmill daily or if you are training for very long distances exclusively on the treadmill. When it comes down to it, I think the F80 is a perfectly viable option in most cases, while the F85 is the answer for a household of daily treadmill users.

Running Surface

Sole treadmills are not known for their cushioning. Both of these treadmills are pretty firm. This makes them perfect for runners who are preparing for a road race or don’t want the assistance provided by a soft and bouncy treadmill. Both running surfaces are 22 inches wide by 60 inches long, so you will have plenty of room. Check out our Sole F80 vs NordicTrack 1750 and Sole F85 vs NordicTrack 2450 if you want to see how these treadmills compare to softer, bouncy running decks.

The F85’s deck is so similar in appearance to the F80’s it would be hard to tell the difference between the two at this angle.

Folding/Storage

The Sole F80 and F85 fold. The F80 and F85’s folded dimensions are 44” L x 38” W x 71.5”. Both treadmills use a hand release lever to drop the deck softly to the floor. The decks are heavier than some of the other treadmill decks I have had to lift into a folded position. The F85 is heavier than the F80, so if you are looking for an easier folding treadmill, the F80 is the clear winner.

The Sole F80 does not have the under deck reinforcement that the F85 has, but it makes the deck lighter weight.

This is the reinforcement under the F85’s deck, its decline motor, and release handle.

Incline/Decline

While the F80 and F85 both incline 15 levels, the F85 is the only one with 6 decline levels. Runners looking for downhill training should choose the F85. The F85 has a motor located in the back of the deck to lift the far end of the deck to decline. It is a unique and stable way to add a treadmill decline.

The Sole F85 declines, but the F80 does not.

The Sole F80 has 15 incline levels like the F85 does.

Features & Accessories

There are very minimal differences between these two treadmills. For the most part, the features are identical. For most of these categories, I will give a brief overview of each feature rather than declaring a winner, because the F80 and F85 are so similar. For this reason, you may want to consider the F80 because of its lower cost. Yet, the screen is one area that demonstrates the F85 is the superior machine.

Console Overview

One of the most frustrating features about these treadmills is their buttons. The F80 and F85 have incline and speed quick adjust buttons that do not represent every level. The F85 is the worse offender, because you would not know its maximum incline or decline by looking at the buttons alone. There’s also no button for an incline of 0% on either machine! It may be a minor inconvenience to some, but it something I hope Sole fixes on both of these treadmills in the future. The only other thing missing on these treadmills’ consoles a button to adjust the volume. Though you can adjust the volume on screen or on your device, I wish there was a button opposite the fan button for volume. Otherwise, I really like how much the F80 and F85 offer on their consoles.

The buttons don’t show every incline and resistance level.

You wouldn’t know the F85 has 15 levels of incline and 6 levels of decline by looking at the buttons.

Screen

The F85 is the obvious winner when it comes to the screen size. The F85’s 15.6-inch touchscreen is just bigger than the F80’s 10.1-inch touchscreen. If you are drawn to these treadmills for the entertainment options, the F85 is going to give you a better viewing experience. That’s not to say that the F80’s is bad, but it’s not the better option of the two.

Speakers

Both treadmills have Bluetooth speakers. These speakers play the onscreen audio clearly. You can also pair your phone or tablet and play audio through them. Audio played through a Bluetooth connection can be hit or miss. Sometimes the audio is too low, and sometimes it is just fine. I wish that I could crank the volume up a bit louder, but overall, I like the F80 and F85’s speakers. The content from the built-in third-party apps sounds loud and clear, even if it isn’t quite as crisp as some competitors.

Bluetooth Audio

You can pair headphones to the F80 and F85. Either treadmill works just fine. Connecting your headphones or earbuds should be a breeze on either machine.

Heart Rate

You can connect a heart rate monitor via Bluetooth to either treadmill. Garmin watches can be paired to these treadmills, but you will have to pair them as if the elliptical were a phone. If you do not have a wearable monitor, you can use the built-in EKG pulse grips on the stability bar in front of the console on the F80 or F85.

The F80 and F85 have EKG pulse grips. Pictured is the F80.

Storage

The F80 and F85 have identical storage options. One tablet rack is positioned above the screen. There are two cup holders and two small item storage compartments.

Fan

I love Sole equipment, but their fans usually do not work well. Whether you go with the F80 or the F85, you will probably want a floor or ceiling fan to cool you off.

The fan is not the best on either treadmill. Here is the F85’s fan, which points away from the treadmill deck.

Wireless Charging Pad

There is one more storage compartment on both the Sole F80 and the Sole F85. The wireless charging pad is the perfect place to rest your phone and keep it charged while you train. It’s the perfect complement to the next feature offered by both of these treadmills.

The F80’s wireless charging pad is the same as the F85’s charging pad.

Screen Mirroring

You can screen mirror any content you want from an Apple or Android device onto the Sole F80 and F85. There’s no clear winner between the two treadmills here, but there is a clear winner between operating systems. Apple devices can use their native screen mirroring feature, but Android users will have to download the “Anplus” screen mirroring app to get it to work.

Performance

After all my running on the F80 and F85, I don’t think there is a huge difference between either treadmill. The main difference in performance is going to show up in the long term (much longer than I am able to dedicate to reviewing a single machine). The Sole F85 has the more powerful motor, so it will stand the test of time better than the F80 if you (and others) are putting a lot of daily miles on the treadmill. For one user or multiple users who aren’t using the treadmill every day, the F80 will be just fine. The F85 is the better option if you are consistently logging high mileage or sharing the treadmill with other daily users.

The Sole F80 is great for running and walking.

The Sole F85 is perfect for marathon training or sharing with other runners in your household.

Subscription & Content Options

Again, the Sole F80 and F85 are identical in this category. They both have built in third-party apps from entertainment streaming services and more. They have the have built-in training programs and the option to customize your own workout or save a past workout as a template. The screen mirroring feature lets you cast any content you want onto the screen. Yet, if you are looking for the optimal viewing experience, the F85’s larger screen is superior.

The F85’s larger screen is perfect for viewing Netflix and other content.

The F80’s smaller screen is still good for training and entertainment content.

Bottom Line Review: Horizon 7.0 AT vs Sole F63

---

The F80 and the F85 are incredibly similar machines. The F80 is the more affordable machine and may be the better choice for budget conscious shoppers. I think the F80 might be the better value option for many walkers and runners. However, there are a few cases where the F85 is superior. The F85 is the better option for larger users due to its reinforced running deck. It has the larger screen, which will appeal to users who want to make the most of the extensive content options. The F85 is also a must for a household of daily treadmill users. Its larger motor size will make a big difference over time. The F80 is better suited to a single user or a household of users who do not plan to use it daily. If you don’t fall into one of the specific situations that the F85 excels in or need a large display, the F80 is my choice.

Read More Popular Treadmill Reviews:

• Sole F80 Treadmill Review
• Sole F85 Treadmill Review
• Best Treadmills