Just bought a new Sole F80 treadmill and thought I would post a few thoughts and issues, in case anyone else was considering buying:
the good:
good power, wide belt, very smooth and comfortable running
good incline and speed
very solid construction and easy to assemble
the bad:
I find the plastic header at the front of the belt is too far towards the back, so that it is almost directly under the console. I usually run fairly close to the console because I have wired earphones or may have eg an ipad resting on it. This means that I am constantly stepping on/kicking the plastic casing when running. When I look at other treadmills in the gym the belts are positioned much further forward related to the console.
I constantly get a static shock when touching the console or especially the HR grips. The machine is grounded correctly, and Sole technical support said it is “normal” and I should either a) use static guard (didn’t work) or b) get an electrician’s grounding wrist strap from amazon. I’ve run on 100s of treadmills and I don’t think it’s “normal” to get electric shocks and my basement doesn’t have any more static than anywhere else. I don’t think I should have to run with a wrist strap and lanyard on a $1500 machine
I don’t use the programs but my wife said they aren’t too useful
In all, knowing the above, I probably would have bought the nordic track 1750 instead (the other one I was considering).
Hope this helps, and if anyone has any ideas re the static that would be great.
SS
I have an F80. I get shocked often, though not a majority of the time. My wife has never been shocked by it. One time it rebooted from a shock. We have only had it since fall and it had been quite dry in the basement. I can’t explain these findings.
PS: For what it is worth, I have not had any problems stepping on the plastic cover.
Maybe your shock problem is coming from having too dry a house…how is the humidity level in your place. I have the sole f80 tooand have nnever been shocked in the 5+ years owning it.
I rarely step on the plastic either, just slide back a bit.
bads:
get a headphone extension or use BT. Then move back a bitHave you ever had a treadmill in that room of your house? Static is often environment based (as mentioned earlier).Bummer for her! Can you manually input better programs?
I’ve had this treadmill for 2 years - had it in my garage all the time - temp varies from 25C in summer to -15C winter - treadmill works anyhow. I have never been shocked, and I am very pleased with the treadmill - comfy running! Programs I don’t know about - i set speed/incline to what I want and I’m good to go!
I had it for 6 months and so far so good; it does what it needs to do…
if u want something reliable that just works this is the one u want but if u are looking for extra screens, dif programs, and all the other fancy stuff then u better off with a norditrack.
we have the same unit we love it and beat it up almost daily. However, I get shocked a lot as well I run an extended aux cable from a computer or tv to earbuds and usually get 1 good shock from the earbuds and them im good the remainder of the run haha. Its annoying but I live.
I have an F80 as well. So does my dad, brother and sister. We all love them. No shocks here.
I bought a set of 20 dollar BT earphones for the treadmill cause I was getting tired of wires, best 20 I have ever spent!
Do you have it sitting on carpet? Have you tried putting a thick rubber mat under it? There were a couple treadmills at my gym that would shock the crap out of me, so I guess it’s sort of a normal thing to happen.
Hm I’m beginning to think the shocking is a defect in the unit. Presumably a treadmill maker knows that a runner will build up static and should have a discharge built into the machine, right? That said, I’m no electrician.
We have the Spirit, which is the cousin brand I believe. Same annoying shock problem, which has affected the electronics in the unit and got that replaced. Got a strap and fixed the problem, which was the rec from the mfg too.
Considered getting some antishock tinsel to contact the belt but opted not. It’s a bigger problem in winter when it’s dry.
Programs I don’t know about - i set speed/incline to what I want and I’m good to go!