Updated: February 14, 2024
This comparison of the Sole and Horizon treadmills presents the culmination of many, many hours of testing each brand’s machines. Horizon treadmills are the perfect option for budget shoppers and no-frills walkers and runners. Sole treadmills do not require a subscription but embrace high-tech features and a more sophisticated frame design. Below, I will cover all the ins and outs of each brand, so you know exactly which one fits your training preferences best.
The History of Sole and Horizon
Both Sole and Horizon are Taiwan-based companies. Sole’s parent company, Dyaco, is located in Taipei. Johnson Health Tech, Horizon’s parent company, is located in Taichung. Neither treadmill is their parent company’s only treadmill brand, so each is backed by an extensive treadmill manufacturing history from the residential level to commercial-grade machines. Both brands have reputations for making quality, durable machines. They have been slow to hop on trends and place a lot of emphasis on meeting consumer needs.
Who Sole Is Best For:
- Long-Distance Runners: Sole’s powerful and spacious treadmills are great for users who want to go the distance. With multiple entertainment and training options, you’ll never get bored.
- Exercisers Who Want Training Content on a Budget: Sole+ is free for Sole customers so that you can train along with studio content with no added cost.
- Netflix Watchers: Sole touchscreen treadmills are preloaded with apps from Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Max, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, YouTube, Spotify, ESPN, CNN, Audible, and Kinomap.
- Zwifties: Sole treadmills pair with the Zwift app and support screen mirroring so you can easily view Zwift or any other app.
- Road Runners: Sole treadmills have firm running decks that don’t help you as much as soft and bouncy treadmills. This is perfect for runners who are preparing for a road race.
Who Horizon Is Best For:
- Interval Runners: Horizon treadmills make super fast speed and incline adjustments so you are always on pace.
- Peloton Subscribers: Horizon treadmills make following along with Peloton’s content super easy. Just sit your phone or tablet in the rack and adjust your speed and incline with the dial controls.
- Low-tech Trainers: Horizon treadmills have simple consoles that put little in between you and your training. There are no touchscreens which eliminate updates and reduce start-up times.
Exercisers Who Want Cushioning: Horizon’s 3-zone variable cushioning provides a soft landing and a firm push-off zone. - Budget Shoppers: Horizon treadmills are some of the most affordable treadmills in their category. Runners and walkers will find it difficult to find a better deal.
What They Have In Common
Sole and Horizon have a few similarities because they both appeal to the customer looking for great value and dodging subscription services. There are many reasons both of these brands find solid footing in the home treadmill market.
No Required Subscription
Sole and Horizon are excellent alternatives to brands like NordicTrack, Bowflex, Peloton, and Echelon which require subscriptions. Sole has a service called Sole+, but it is free to Sole customers. Horizon does not have its own service but can connect via Bluetooth to many third-party apps. Similarly, Sole can connect to third-party apps and uses screen mirroring and Bluetooth speakers to further improve the training experience.
Folding
With the exception of the Sole TT8 and ST90, both brands’ treadmills fold. Sole uses a combination of hand-release and kick-release levers to allow the treadmill deck to softly lower to the ground when unfolded. Horizon treadmills unfold using kick-release levers.
Common Features
Sole and Horizon treadmills are not as sparse on storage as other treadmills. They have tablet racks and cup holders, and some models have additional storage trays. Horizon and Sole treadmills also have EKG pulse grips, Bluetooth speakers, and weak fans. We recommend using a floor fan with either brand’s treadmills.
Warranty
Sole and Horizon have very similar warranties. Most intriguing are their lifetime warranties on frames and motors. If you are looking for a long warranty, either of these brands are good options. Sole has a 2 to 3-year parts warranty and a 1-year labor warranty. Horizon has a 1 to 5-year warranty on parts and a 1-year warranty on labor.
Where The Horizon and Sole Treadmills Differ
Training Content
Both Sole and Horizon have onboard training programs. They can pair with third-party apps with varying levels of integration. But, that’s where the similarities stop.
Sole treadmills have standard built-in programs, preloaded Sole+ workouts, and fitness tests. You can also download the Sole+ app to your phone or tablet and mirror even more workout options to the touchscreen. Sole treadmills like the F63 and F65 do not have touchscreens, so you can only access the built-in workouts. However, you can pair these two treadmills to the app for more access. Sole treadmills with touchscreens also allow you to access the Kinomap app as well as screen mirror any content you would like from iFIT, Peloton, and more.
The Horizon treadmills have simple programs like you might find on a gym treadmill. You can set limits on the available programs to slightly customize them to your ability level. Some of the Horizon treadmills have Sprint8 programming to help you get a short and effective workout in. If you want more training options, you will need to use your phone or tablet in the provided rack and adjust the treadmill manually using the intuitive dial controls.
Cushioning
Sole treadmills are firm and almost feel like running on the pavement. This cushioning is ideal for road runners who want to prepare for road races. It is also useful for runners who want to see consistent training paces whether they are running indoors or outdoors. Horizon treadmills have 3-zone variable cushioning which provides a soft landing and firm push-off zone. Horizon treadmills are softer than Sole treadmills. The Horizon 7.0 AT would make a great recovery day treadmill for runners.
Tech Features
Sole’s F63 and F65 are very similar to Horizon’s treadmills when it comes to tech features. They have Bluetooth speakers, Bluetooth connectivity to third-party apps, and USB charging. The touchscreen Sole treadmills, including the popular F80 and F85, have screen mirroring, wireless charging, and built-in entertainment apps.
Performance Features
Horizon treadmills thrive during interval workouts. They have fast incline and speed adjustments that make hitting your intervals easy. Horizon’s dial controls and interval keys make adjustments even easier. Sole treadmills are rather slow to adjust. They are better for long, sustained efforts, and the speed and incline switches slow down your adjustments.
Treadmill Lines
Horizon has two treadmill lines: the Go series and the Studio series. The Go series are more compact walking treadmills with 3 HP or less motors. The Horizon T101 is the most affordable Horizon treadmill and one of the best value treadmills. The Studio series treadmills are designed for runners with more powerful motors and performance capabilities. Horizon’s most powerful treadmill is the Horizon 7.8 AT which is our pick for long-distance runners or active households.
Sole has more variation in their treadmill lines. The aforementioned F63 and F65 are very similar to Horizon’s treadmills. Sole also has their more powerful folding treadmills, including the premium F89. Then, it has a non-folding light-commercial treadmill, the TT8. Finally, Sole has a dupe for the Peloton Tread, the ST90.
Sole Treadmill Overview
Sole treadmills are divided into foldable and non-foldable treadmills. However, they can be further divided into touchscreen treadmills, a slat belt treadmill, and a non-folding, light-commercial treadmill. All of the treadmills except for the F63 and F65 have high-tech touchscreens and features.
F Series Low-Tech Treadmills (Best for Walking)
F Series High-Tech Treadmills (Best for Running)
ST Series Treadmills (Slat Belt Cushioning)
TT Series Treadmill (Non-Folding, Light Commercial Use)
Horizon Treadmill Overview
Horizon’s treadmills are divided into two categories. The compact Go Series treadmills are best for walking and are very budget-friendly. The Studio series treadmills have larger running decks and more powerful motors that are perfect for running.
Go Series Treadmills (Best for Walking)
Studio Series Treadmills (Best for Running)
Sole vs Horizon Treadmills Bottom Line
Sole and Horizon treadmills give runners and walkers a lot of training options rather than locking them into one platform. Horizon is the better option for runners looking for softer cushioning, low-tech consoles, and fast incline and speed adjustments for HIIT training. Sole treadmills are ideal for vast onboard training content, entertainment apps, high-tech features, and firm cushioning.
Horizon is a bit more affordable than Sole and is the best option for budget shoppers. However, when you factor in Sole’s inclusion of free studio content from Sole+, they are also a great bargain brand. Sole also has a wider range of treadmills from low-tech residential to light-commercial non-folding and slat belt treadmills.
With lifetime warranties on both brands’ frames and motors, shoppers will get a durable machine no matter which they choose.
Sole vs Horizon Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better Sole or Horizon?
Horizon treadmills are low-tech with faster speed and incline adjustments. Sole treadmills have better content options and high-tech features. Horizon treadmills are better for runners and walkers who want softer cushioning while Sole treadmills prepare you better for road running.
Is Horizon a good brand?
Horizon is a good brand for runners and walkers on a budget. Horizon treadmills are covered by a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor. They have dated constructions. They do not require a subscription and keep up well with third-party training apps on phones and tablets.
Is Sole a good brand?
Sole manufactures affordable running treadmills and light-commercial treadmills. Many Sole treadmills have impressive high-tech features like screen mirroring, wireless charging, and built-in third-party apps. With lifetime warranties on their frames and motors, Sole treadmills are trustworthy and durable.
Are Horizon treadmills quiet?
Horizon treadmills are quiet. Both Sole and Horizon treadmills are some of the quietest motorized treadmills we have tested.
Where are Sole treadmills made?
Sole treadmills are made in Taipei, Taiwan where their parent company Dyaco is located. Horizon treadmills are also manufactured in Taiwan.
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