EmailBest Reviewed
Treadmills
- Best cheap treadmill, short warranty Golds Gym 450 *Est. $400
- Best-value treadmill for walking Horizon Evolve SG *Est. $600
- Best value for walking and some jogging Sole F63 *Est. $1050
- Best treadmill overall Sole F80 *Est. $1500
- Treadmill for incline/decline training PaceMaster Platinum Pro VR *Est. $2400
- Heavy-duty treadmill for daily runners Landice L7 Cardio Trainer *Est. $3775
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Best value for walking and some jogging
- Sturdy, durable
- Wide 20-inch belt
- Solid warranty
- Good for walking and light jogs
- 15 percent incline
- Expensive if you only want to walk
- Belt short for tall runners
- Maximum speed of 10 mph
If you mostly walk or jog on your treadmill, reviews say you probably don't need to spend more than $1,000. Experts are most likely to recommend the Sole F63, which has the best warranty in its price range (lifetime motor and frame; three years deck, electronics, belt and rollers; and one year labor). You won't find a warranty like that on cheaper treadmills. The Sole F63 has a 2.5-horsepower motor, 20-by-55-inch belt and a maximum speed of 10 mph. While those specs make it suitable for running, most experts recommend this treadmill for walking or light jogging only. The Sole F63 gets good reviews from owners, although some say the assembly of this 245-pound treadmill can be challenging. If you plan to run a lot on your treadmill, critics say the Sole F80 (*Est. $1,500) is a better choice, since it offers more speed, a more powerful motor and bigger rollers than the Sole F63.
TreadmillDoctor.com and ConsumerReports.org test the Sole F63, score it on several measures and rank it against other treadmills. Reviewers at Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com and About.com make only brief comparisons between the Sole F63 and other treadmills, and they fail to mention testing the Sole F63 themselves.
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Our Sources
The Sole F63 is a runner-up on this site's "Best Buy $700 to $999" list. The dedicated Sole F63 page doesn't elaborate much on the treadmill's features, but TreadmillDoctor.com awards the Sole F63 numeric scores in eight subcategories (such as reliability and noise level).
Review: Sole F63, Clark and Jon Stevenson
2. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
ConsumerReports.org subjects 29 treadmills, including the Sole F63, to a mechanical test designed to simulate a year of use. Human testers also rate the treadmills' comfort, usability and more. A chart provides test results and ranks the treadmills from best to worst, but there are no individual reviews for each treadmill.
Review: Treadmill Ratings, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Feb. 2009
3. Amazon.com
Approximately 15 owners give the Sole F63 an overall rating of four stars (out of five). The overall consensus is that the Sole F63 is a good value, but a few owners report problems with unresponsive customer service if they have problems.
Review: Sole F63 Treadmill, Contributors to Amazon.com, As of Oct. 2009
4. Treadmill-Ratings- Reviews.com
Fred Waters acknowledges that Sole treadmills have a reputation for quality, but he recommends it only for "walking and light jogging." Waters also discusses the treadmill's main features.
Review: Sole F63 Treadmill Review, Fred Waters
5. About.com
The Sole F63 is one of 10 treadmills on this list of best budget treadmills. Bumgardner does not personally test the treadmills, but she refers to advice from outside experts. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Best Budget Treadmills, Wendy Bumgardner, May 8, 2009
Treadmills Runners Up:
3 picks including: About.com, Amazon.com…
2 picks including: About.com, Treadmill-Ratings- Reviews.com…
2 picks including: Runner's World, TreadmillDoctor.com…
2 picks by top review sites.
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