Sole F85 vs NordicTrack 1750 Treadmill Comparison

Sole F85 vs NordicTrack 1750 Console

Both treadmills feature touch screens to access all of the content and to adjust the speed and incline levels. As far as their designs and console features, these treadmills are fairly similar.

Here’s a breakdown of each.

Sole F85 Console

The Sole F85 has a 15.6” touch screen. It’s a good size for streaming workouts and shows on Netflix. One aspect to keep in mind is that the screen isn’t adjustable. You can’t tilt it forward and back or pivot it to either side. This makes it a little harder to reach while running. I recommend having your workout and/or streaming app cued up before you start your workout on the F85.

The console comes with numbered adjustment buttons on both sides of the touch screen.

These allow you to jump from specific speeds and inclines with a press of a button. The speed levels are on the right and the incline/decline are on the left. The increments skip some levels though, so to get to certain speeds and grades, you’ll need to use the switch buttons on the front handle. These adjust to specific increments.

The F85’s console is streamlined but it includes everything you need. The speakers are front-facing and offer a nice volume range for listening to the included content or content of your own. When screen mirroring, the content plays on the treadmill’s screen and through the treadmill’s speakers.

The fans are nice to have but the air output projects to either side of the treadmill, rather than at you. If you want to cool off, you’ll need to use a separate fan.

There are 2 cupholders and 2 smaller compartments to put items like earbuds. The device rack above the screen is adjustable to hold your phone or larger tablet, in case you want to watch something directly from your device. There’s also a wireless charging port. This is convenient for compatible devices because you can charge while you use the F85. The port also works as a place to put your phone.

NordicTrack 1750 Console

The NordicTrack 1750’s console has similar features. The 14” touch screen is similar in size. This isn’t the largest screen, but it’s clear and easy to see and use. It is also very adjustable. The entire console that the screen is mounted into tilts forward and backward, and pivots from side to side.

This way, if you want to follow up your iFIT workout with an iFIT yoga session or strength workout, you can turn the screen and follow along from off of the treadmill.

The 1750 has numbered adjustment buttons surrounding the screen, too. I prefer these because they include all of the main speed and incline/decline levels. To adjust the 1750 to specific increments, there are adjustment buttons below the screen on the console, too.

With a subscription to iFIT, the 1750 automatically adjusts. iFIT has an Auto-Adjust feature that adjusts the speed based on your intensity from previous workouts, and the grade based on the terrain of the class. For instance, if you are hiking up a mountain, the 1750 will incline to match. This way, there’s no second-guessing what speed and incline setting you should be at. You can adjust the 1750 on your own whenever you want to, as well.

The speaker isn’t Bluetooth-compatible to connect your device to, but you can pair it with Bluetooth headphones. This is possible with the F85, too. The speaker offers a great range of volume and is clear for streaming iFIT workouts. The fan is also well-powered with 3 settings for the airflow.

The 1750 has 2 cupholders for your water, but that is it for storage. There isn’t a place to hold your phone or tablet to stream outside content. If you want to stream a movie or TV show, we recommend placing the 1750 in front of your TV.

Build Quality

The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 and Sole F85 are two of the most popular treadmills on the market, for good reason. Content aside, both are stable, functional, and quiet. In our testing, we’ve found them to be two of the best that we recommend to most people. They differ slightly, starting with the weight limits. We recommend the F85 for larger users because of its 375 lb weight limit. The 1750 has a 300 lb limit, which is standard for NordicTrack. Both treadmills should handle users up to their weight limits.

Sole F85 vs NordicTrack 1750 Frame

The NordicTrack 1750 and Sole F85 have similar designs. They feature steel frames at the base and steel uprights that extend up to hold the console and handles in place. Neither treadmill really shakes while running. Both feel stable to use whether you’re just walking or running.

I like the handles on both treadmills. The side handles are well within reach, and the front of each treadmill features a horizontal handle that you can grab for extra balance when you need it. The 1750’s is slimmer so I can wrap my hands around it, but the F85’s works just fine, too.

Sole F85 vs NordicTrack 1750 Motor

Even though the motor sizes vary slightly, both treadmills are designed for heavy use. When testing both, they handle long-distance training, so if you want to train for an event like a marathon, go right ahead on the F85 and 1750.

The NordicTrack 1750 has a 3.5 HP motor.

The Sole F85 has a 4.0 HP motor.

Both have a fairly low noise output. When measuring their sound output at 3, 6, and 9 mph, the F85 is slightly more quiet, but not by much. Both treadmills are appropriate for most home spaces and are non-disruptive to use in most home settings.

Both treadmills have a 12 mph max speed. This equates to a 5-minute mile running pace, so most people will have plenty of speed to work with. Both also incline and decline. The 1750 has a 12% incline and -3% decline, while the F85 offers 15 levels of incline and 6 levels of decline. When measured, both treadmills’ actual incline goes up to a 12.6% grade.

The F85 offers a steeper decline, but both include enough of a grade for downhill training. The 1750 measures at about -1% at its max and the F85 measures at about -5%.

When it comes to adjusting the speed and grade, the NordicTrack 1750 adjusts more quickly than the Sole F85. The 1750 takes around 23 seconds to adjust from 1 mph up to 12 mph. The F85 takes around 41 seconds in comparison. For interval training, the 1750 is the better option.

Sole F85 vs NordicTrack 1750 Deck

Another aspect where these treadmills differ is the deck. Both have 60” long decks which accommodate all running strides. We’ve found this length to be optimal for most.

The F85 has a 22” wide deck versus the 20” wide deck on the 1750.

When it comes to size and weight, the F85 is slightly heavier and larger than the 1750, so you’ll want to consider this if you have limited space in your home.

Even though it is 2” narrower, we don’t find the 1750’s deck to be constricting or limiting at all for running.

Even though the deck sizes vary slightly, the big aspect where they differ is the cushioning. Treadmill deck cushioning is the amount of shock absorption aka the give in the deck when each foot lands while running. This can be felt underfoot when using each treadmill. From a brand standpoint, NordicTrack has some of the softest and most absorbent cushioning, while Sole has some of the firmest.

We recommend the NordicTrack 1750 to most people, especially those who have joint discomfort and sensitivity while jogging and running. The Sole F85 feels more similar to running outside on the road. This treadmill is ideal for road runners and those who want to simulate the experience of running outside.

Warranty

Sole’s warranty is impressive. With the purchase of the Sole F85, the brand includes a lifetime frame and motor warranty. NordicTrack offers good coverage with the 1750 as far as the 10-year frame warranty, however, we appreciate Sole’s. Both brands back up the construction to help instill confidence.