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The Sole F80 vs NordicTrack 1750 are both excellent treadmills from well-known fitness brands, so it’s no wonder you’re on the fence about which one is better.
Let’s take a look at how they differ, what they have in common, and which one may best fit your needs and preferences. I’ll give my recommendation at the end, but you can’t go wrong with the Sole F80 or the NordicTrack 1750. It really boils down to which features are important to you.
The Sole F80 treadmill boasts a strong, continuous-duty 3.0 HP motor that delivers challenging speeds up to 11 MPH; the Cushion Flex Whisper Deck reduces impact on your joints by up to 40% as compared to running on asphalt.
Contents
Main Differences Between the Sole F80 vs NordicTrack 1750
The main differences between the Sole F80 vs NordicTrack 1750 are:
- The Sole F80 has 10 preset programs, whereas the NordicTrack 1750 utilizes iFit for a variety of trainer-led workouts.
- The Sole F80 has a 9” screen that displays stats, whereas the NordicTrack 1750 has a 10” screen that lets you follow along with a trainer (and can also display stats and a leaderboard).
- The Sole F80 inclines from 0 to 15 percent, whereas the NordicTrack goes from -3 to 15.
- The Sole F80 offers a lifetime warranty on some parts of the treadmill, whereas NordicTrack maxes out at 10 years.
- The Sole F80 has a spot for your tablet so you can follow along with workouts or shows of your choosing, whereas the NordicTrack has a built-in screen for playing iFit workout videos.
- The Sole F80 doesn’t require or encourage you to pay for an extra service when you purchase the machine, whereas the NordicTrack 1750 comes with a year of iFit for the family, which will encourage you to keep it up when the year is over.
- The Sole F80 has a 3.5 HP motor, whereas the NordicTrack 1750 has a 3.75 HP motor.
What to Look for in a Treadmill
Some differences between treadmills are pretty obvious, but when you’re feeling overwhelmed, it can be easy to miss some things.
Here’s a list of what I recommend looking at when comparing and purchasing a treadmill:
- How much of an incline (and sometimes decline) you’ll get
- Warranty
- How powerful the motor is
- How fast it will go (most models will accommodate most runners)
- The dimensions and weight (Basically, can you and a friend or two carry it, or will you need movers? And once you get it to the place you want it, how well will it fit? Don’t forget to check the height, too—especially when high inclines are concerned—if you’re tall and/or have low ceilings.)
- Size of the running area
- Safety features (where is the stop button?)
- Is there a screen? How big is it?
- What metrics does it track as you work out, and can you send those to your smart device?
- If it measures your heart rate, does it use sensors on the handlebars, a chest strap, or something else?
- Are there built-in speakers?
- Does it come with a subscription to a fitness ecosystem, like iFit or Peloton?
- Is there a tablet holder?
- How convenient is the holder for your water bottle?
- How wide is the running area?
- How long are the handlebars? Do you feel that you could easily grab them if you tripped?
- How long will it take for your new machine to arrive?
- How fast will it go?
- Are there any special features, like a sled push? (Do you want that?)
- Does it fold up for easy storage?
- What kind of maintenance is recommended/required?
- Customer service’s helpfulness and timeliness in taking care of concerns (you’ll want to check recent reviews or join related Facebook groups to find this information)
- How many preset workouts are there?
The Sole F80
The Sole F80 is a wonderful pick and has plenty of perks to make it worth the money.
Let’s see what you get:
Features
- 9-inch screen
- Strong steel frame with a lifetime warranty
- Incline up to 15 percent
- Speeds up to 12 MPH
- 22-inch wide running area
- Speakers for streaming your music
- A screen that shows stats like heart rate, speed, incline, pace, and more
- A cushioned deck that reduces the impact on joints by 40 percent compared to running on asphalt
- Tablet holder
- Bluetooth compatible
- Easy to safely fold up, move on wheels, and unfold again
Pros
- You won’t feel tied to iFit with this treadmill, so you’ll be free to create your own programs manually, choose a random preset workout that you feel like doing that day, or use any fitness app you’d like without feeling like you “should” be doing some other workout
- Powerful motor
- Easy to fold up and move around when you want it out of the way
Cons
- Not a lot of preset workouts and no trainers to work with directly on the machine (though nothing is stopping you from downloading an app on a tablet and following along if you choose this machine)
- No built-in challenges or multi-week programs that keep you hopping on the machine to get your walks or runs in
The Sole F80 treadmill boasts a strong, continuous-duty 3.0 HP motor that delivers challenging speeds up to 11 MPH; the Cushion Flex Whisper Deck reduces impact on your joints by up to 40% as compared to running on asphalt.
Reviews
The overall reviews for the Sole F80 show that most people are pretty happy with their treadmills. Reviews at Dick’s Sporting Goods average out to 4.3 stars, with some users being impressed by the way it’s holding up to heavy use and others shocked that theirs stopped working after a handful of workouts.
People tend to love how easy it is to fold up, its sturdiness, and the way the speakers sound when they use Bluetooth to play their music. It is heavy, though, and some users aren’t impressed by the fan’s lack of power.
On Amazon, reviewers give about the same overall score. Some are impressed by how well their Sole F80 has held up, while others report error messages that mean the control board or motherboard isn’t working.
Reviewers comment positively on the placement of buttons and handles, the cushioning of the deck, and how quiet the machine is.
The NordicTrack 1750
How does the NordicTrack 1750 compare to the Sole F80 in features, pros, cons, and reviews?
Let’s see:
Features
- 10-inch screen
- Solid machine with up to a 10-year warranty (frame)
- iFit membership for the family for one year is included, so you’ll never get bored
- Incline range from -3 to 15 percent
- Speed up to 12 mph
- 22-inch wide running area
- Ability to listen to your music through the speakers
- You can switch between cushioned or real-road feel running deck
- Foldable
- Powerful motor
Pros
- Barring amazing sales, this is usually the less expensive machine and you get a year of iFit to try, too
- Signing up for an iFit program or monthly challenge could keep you going back to the treadmill day after day to stay on schedule or complete the challenge on time (and sometimes earn awards)
- iFit allows you to track stats in a way that the average treadmill won’t on its own
- You can use Google Maps™ to create your own workouts wherever you’d like with iFit
- You can walk downhill
Cons
- To feel like you’re getting the most out of your treadmill, you’ll want to keep the iFit membership up (wait for sales!)
- Because you feel locked into iFit, you may be hesitant to branch out into other apps or even manual workouts (not necessarily a bad thing, but something to consider)
- At the time of this writing, iFit’s search function could use some improvement, so the interface could feel a little clunky. However, they are actively working to fix this and have made progress toward a more user-friendly and intuitive system in the past few months.
Immersive 10-inch interactive HD touchscreen streams on-demand iFit workouts directly to your equipment and provides easy stats tracking; SMART-Response motor for effective running and cardio training.
Reviews
Not everyone loves these, and it’s often because they’ve needed to replace the controller or other part. According to reviews consolidated by Google, their customer service wait times aren’t exactly short, as of this writing, and the delivery date can sometimes be weeks from the order date (during the pandemic).
That said, if you’re not having the misfortune of needing a new part (for what it’s worth, I had this same problem with my NordicTrack and the process went smoothly), the machine itself is a joy to use, with the cushioned running deck and powerful fans to keep you cool. Reviewers love the automatic changes that mimic what the trainer is doing on the screen.
Reviewers say the machine feels sturdy and is easy to assemble (though it’s heavy!).
On Amazon, the reviewers feel mostly the same way, stating that the treadmill is sturdy, cushioned, easy to assemble and that it’s fun to travel the world with iFit.
Most of the complaints here have to do with ordering from Amazon (delivery snafus or missing accessories), but many do warn potential buyers that iFit is expensive after that first year. (Always wait for sales if you can. Sometimes you can get a year of iFit at 50 percent off.)
Comparison at a Glance
Here’s a quick glance at how the Sole F80 vs NordicTrack 1750 compare:
| Sole F80 | NordicTrack 1750 | |
| Price | Over $2500.00 but. sometimes goes on sale for less than $2000.00 | Under $2000.00 |
| Motor | 3.5 HP | 3.75 HP |
| Incline | 0 to 15 percent | -3 to 15 percent |
| Speed | 0.5 to 12 mph | 0 to 12 mph |
| Safety features | Large stop button | Safety key |
| Screen | 9” | 10” |
| Dimensions | 82” L x 37” W x 66” H | 78.8” L x 39.2” W x 63” H |
| Weight of machine | 278 lbs | 310 lbs |
| Size of running area | 22” x 60” | 22” x 60” belt |
| Speakers | Yes, they work with any kind of MP3 player so you can enjoy your playlists while you walk or run | Yes, you can use Bluetooth to play your own music from your phone |
| Weight limit | 375 lbs | 300 lbs |
| Fan? | Yes | Yes |
| Programs included | 6 standard, 2 custom, and 2 heart rate programs | Over 16,000 on-demand indoor, outdoor, live, and pre-recorded workouts are included with the one-year iFit Family subscription (not all are treadmill workouts, but the selection feels endless). |
| Additional perks | Controls on the armrests, integrated tablet holder, USB port to charge, screen tracks your distance, time, speed, calories, heart rate, and more while you work out, can transfer data to a smart device for long-term tracking, folds up, wheels, cushioned deck to reduce impact on joints, ¼ mile track feature | SMART-Response motor for less vibration and to keep the machine cool, stat tracking, automatically adjusts the speed and incline (you can override this if you need to), OneTouch® controls to adjust speed and incline, choose between cushioned running surface and real road feel, Bluetooth audio, EasyLift™ Assist to make folding and unfolding easy (plus it has wheels) |
| Warranty | Lifetime on frame, motor, and deck; 5 years on electronics and parts; 2 years on labor | 10 year on frame, 2 year on parts, and 1 year on labor |
FAQs
Question: Which Treadmill Is Better, NordicTrack, or Sole?
Answer: That depends on what you’re looking for. They’re both quality brands. Icon (NordicTrack’s manufacturer) has been in business since 1975 and Spirit Fitness (Sole’s manufacturer) has been around since 1983, so both are well-established companies with a lot of experience manufacturing fitness equipment.
Question: Are NordicTrack Treadmills Any Good?
Answer: Yes, NordicTrack Treadmills are really a great choice if you are looking for ways to increase your strength and energy, and also tone your body.
Question: Is Sole a Good Treadmill Brand?
Answer: Yes, Sole is among the best brands when it comes to treadmills for indoor use.
Question: What Is the Best Treadmill Brand for Home Use?
Answer: Again, it will depend on what you’re looking for. You can see some of my favorites here.
Question: How Long Do Sole Treadmills Last?
Answer: You can expect to get at least the average life expectancy of seven to 12 years from your Sole treadmill. Possibly more. They’re built to last which is why they come with such a price tag.
Sole F80 vs NordicTrack 1750: The Verdict
I vote for the NordicTrack 1750, mostly because of the automatically adjusting incline in trainer-led workouts, plus all of the perks that come with iFit for the same price or less than the Sole F80 (like extra yoga, rowing, weightlifting, and HIIT). I also like the feeling of being “in” a workout (like on a hiking trail on the other side of the world).
I don’t think the NordicTrack’s slightly bigger screen is that big of a deal, but it’s still a nice extra. I do like being able to walk downhill at a -3 incline. The running surface, top speeds, and top inclines are the same, so there’s no benefit to either one there.
The Sole F80 has a better warranty, though. Depending on the pricing of the treadmills when you decide to buy, you may be able to extend the NordicTrack warranty and still come out better financially.
Someone who really likes to manually change up their workouts (or doesn’t mind repeating preset workouts), go at a steady pace, or zone out and read or listen to music, and isn’t interested in cross-training won’t have as much use for the NordicTrack.
If you want to keep things simpler but still get a good workout in on a solid, quality machine, you’ll probably prefer the Sole F80 over the NordicTrack 1750. I see the NordicTrack as the machine that is more likely to challenge users to boost their physical fitness and keep them motivated to show up day after day.
The Sole F80 treadmill boasts a strong, continuous-duty 3.0 HP motor that delivers challenging speeds up to 11 MPH; the Cushion Flex Whisper Deck reduces impact on your joints by up to 40% as compared to running on asphalt.
Final Thoughts
I’d be happy with either of these treadmills. In either case (and with several other treadmill options, as well), you could get a bad control board or wait longer than you want to for customer service or delivery, so I wouldn’t let the users’ reviews sway me too much; instead, I’d pay attention to the features and spring for an extended warranty if possible.
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