Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Sole F63 vs Smooth 5.45: Choosing The Best Treadmill For Under $1000

Sole F63 vs Smooth 5.45: Choosing The Best Treadmill For Under $1000

by Torri Tompson

Trying to find a treadmill under $1000 that gives a solid performance can be somewhat difficult. Two of the best treadmills to consider in this category are the Smooth 5.45 and the Sole F63. Let's take a look at each of these superb treadmill choices and see which of the two ranks the highest in exercise equipment. Does the Sole F63 or the Smooth 5.45 deserve the title of the best budget treadmill for the light jogger or walker?

Reviewing The Basic Specs

The main features found in both treadmills are essentially the same when you compare them with each other. The motor power of the two treadmills is 2.5 HP, the surface provided for running measures 20 by 55 inches, and their speeds can go from 0.5 to 10 miles per hour.

If you consider the stability factor, then the Sole F63 gains the upper hand, as its weight of 245 pounds is higher than that of Smooth 5.45's 210 pounds. The difference of 35 lbs equips the Sole treadmill with higher supportive capacity as the Smooth treadmill cannot accommodate users weighing above 250 pounds whereas the sole treadmill has the capacity to accommodate even those who weigh up to 325 pounds.

User Friendly Console And Programming

Each treadmill machine offers an LCD display to keep tabs of the information that is most important to the user. These include time, distance traveled, and the speed, to name a few. Each treadmill unit comes with six programs built-in. The Sole F63 comes out on top with two user defined programs for added adaptability. The Smooth 5.45 and the Sole F63 both have hand pulse grips but again, the Sole F63 moves ahead with an inclusive wireless chest strap to allow for easier heart rate monitoring.

The Smooth 5.45 comes with a very useful program that conveniently adjusts the workout based on the heart rate as monitored through the hand pulse grips.

Extra Features

The Sole F63 comes with cooling fans and built-in speakers for a more pleasant workout session but the quality of these add-ons could be better. This model however, earns a few points over the competition when it was designed with the speed and incline controls located on the arm rest, making them easier to adjust even right in the middle of a workout.

Warranty And Price

The MSRP for Sole F63 and the Smooth 5.45 are $1,899 and $1,497 respectively. When you buy them online and direct from the companies however, they are both priced at just less than $1,000. And not only that, these machines come with the industry's best warranties although Smooth has the slight edge here giving lifetime warranties for the frame, deck and motor. The Sole 5.45 only has lifetime warranty for the frame and motor, while the deck is only guaranteed for 3 years.

Sole F63 vs Smooth 5.45: Which Treadmill Wins The Competition?

Hands down, both of these treadmills will give you more value for you money when considering those under $1000. It is difficult to say whether the Sole F63 or the Smooth 5.45 is better than the other. The Sole F63 ranks best in the aesthetics, but the features offered leave a little something to be desired. The Smooth 5.45 takes top seating when talking about the features. The Sole F63 has some nice qualities about it but they are not in the same class as the Smooth 5.45 when looking at the heart rate control program and the warranty it has to offer.

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