I was hoping to review this treadmill on the Sole site, but they've removed the ability to write reviews there. (Super questionable?!?!) Since this is the newest video here on YT, I'll put my review here in case anyone is considering purchasing and wants another perspective. I've had this for about 2 months now and I've put just over 200 miles on it. My review is based on using this machine in a very simple manner: I don't use any media or programming options - I just hit start and control everything manually. Pros: - Solid and stable feel (Unlike the reviewer in this video I think it feels pretty smooth; I'm not a fan of a super cushioned/bouncy feel though) - No need to lube the belt. I had all sorts of maintenance issues with my prior treadmill, a Sole F85 - Has decline mode Cons: - The touchscreen! They outfitted this model with a standard consumer-grade touchscreen. When I work out, I sweat -- and standard consumer-grade touchscreens can't handle sweat. One drop of sweat on the screen in the wrong place and it starts going crazy. This is a massive flaw especially in a machine billing itself as "light commercial." I "fixed" this issue by taping a piece of plastic bag over the screen. Which makes my new treadmill look just wonderful. I would purchase a properly fitted plastic cover if one were available... - The software. Seems stable enough, but has a lot of usability issues. Speed controls lock up every minute for about a second; on-screen speed controls are hidden under a weird menu; informational counters (e.g. pace, calories) that are configurable are not saved for next time; and so on. - The hood. As mentioned in the video, the geometry is odd and you have to tread carefully to avoid hitting it. In addition, at least in my case the hood rattled at higher paces. I had to put some rubber shims between it and the frame in order to silence it. (Why didn't Sole spend an extra $0.05 per unit to ship it this way..? This is a "high end" treadmill, really?) - In decline mode, especially at higher paces, the machine started slowly rolling forward when it was bare on the floor (high density rubber gym tiling). I had to fix this by fixing the front wheels in place using a board. Why is there no wheel lock on this "high end" treadmill? - Support. I wrote to support about some of these issues and didn't receive a reply until I followed up six weeks later. Took another three days, after which I was told that there's nothing that can be done about any of this. Overall... I feel like the main actual treadmill bits are solid and will last a long time (with the possible exception of the speed and incline adjustments on the side; I'm concerned that they're not sweat-resistant and will die quickly, but we'll see). However, between all of the hacks I had to do and the fact that the software is kind of crappy, I'm not super happy with this purchase. I've stayed in three different hotels since buying this machine, and have run on Precor and Lifetime Fitness machines; these real commercial brands have much better and smoother user interfaces, more solid speed control hardware, and touchscreens that don't mind a few drops of sweat. So at the moment I probably recommend passing on the TT8.
Great review. My only comment is that I wouldn’t recommend the x22i. The frame has cracked on me on three separate occasions. I’m 170-175 lbs for reference and run 9-11 miles per hour for 35 minutes or less. It’s a beautiful machine but built with cheap materials.
@@ThePtnut with a cracked frame you can’t fix it. They usually send a new one. I just asked them to send me the 2450 instead of a new x22i. There is something wrong with how they manufacture that machine
I was hoping to review this treadmill on the Sole site, but they've removed the ability to write reviews there. (Super questionable?!?!) Since this is the newest video here on YT, I'll put my review here in case anyone is considering purchasing and wants another perspective.
I've had this for about 2 months now and I've put just over 200 miles on it. My review is based on using this machine in a very simple manner: I don't use any media or programming options - I just hit start and control everything manually.
Pros:
- Solid and stable feel (Unlike the reviewer in this video I think it feels pretty smooth; I'm not a fan of a super cushioned/bouncy feel though)
- No need to lube the belt. I had all sorts of maintenance issues with my prior treadmill, a Sole F85
- Has decline mode
Cons:
- The touchscreen! They outfitted this model with a standard consumer-grade touchscreen. When I work out, I sweat -- and standard consumer-grade touchscreens can't handle sweat. One drop of sweat on the screen in the wrong place and it starts going crazy. This is a massive flaw especially in a machine billing itself as "light commercial." I "fixed" this issue by taping a piece of plastic bag over the screen. Which makes my new treadmill look just wonderful. I would purchase a properly fitted plastic cover if one were available...
- The software. Seems stable enough, but has a lot of usability issues. Speed controls lock up every minute for about a second; on-screen speed controls are hidden under a weird menu; informational counters (e.g. pace, calories) that are configurable are not saved for next time; and so on.
- The hood. As mentioned in the video, the geometry is odd and you have to tread carefully to avoid hitting it. In addition, at least in my case the hood rattled at higher paces. I had to put some rubber shims between it and the frame in order to silence it. (Why didn't Sole spend an extra $0.05 per unit to ship it this way..? This is a "high end" treadmill, really?)
- In decline mode, especially at higher paces, the machine started slowly rolling forward when it was bare on the floor (high density rubber gym tiling). I had to fix this by fixing the front wheels in place using a board. Why is there no wheel lock on this "high end" treadmill?
- Support. I wrote to support about some of these issues and didn't receive a reply until I followed up six weeks later. Took another three days, after which I was told that there's nothing that can be done about any of this.
Overall... I feel like the main actual treadmill bits are solid and will last a long time (with the possible exception of the speed and incline adjustments on the side; I'm concerned that they're not sweat-resistant and will die quickly, but we'll see). However, between all of the hacks I had to do and the fact that the software is kind of crappy, I'm not super happy with this purchase. I've stayed in three different hotels since buying this machine, and have run on Precor and Lifetime Fitness machines; these real commercial brands have much better and smoother user interfaces, more solid speed control hardware, and touchscreens that don't mind a few drops of sweat. So at the moment I probably recommend passing on the TT8.
Hey! I really appreciate your thorough review on this! - Linds
Great review. My only comment is that I wouldn’t recommend the x22i. The frame has cracked on me on three separate occasions. I’m 170-175 lbs for reference and run 9-11 miles per hour for 35 minutes or less. It’s a beautiful machine but built with cheap materials.
OMG my frame just cracked a week ago, how’d you fix it?
@@ThePtnut with a cracked frame you can’t fix it. They usually send a new one. I just asked them to send me the 2450 instead of a new x22i. There is something wrong with how they manufacture that machine
@@AliMohamed-tr1ii Thank you, staying away from the x22i.
@@adamhollon2634 save yourself the headache.
Any chance you could review the Echelon Stride 9S Pro? It's a new model.
I'll see if we are going to get in it! I would love to try it out! - Linds
I just bought the F80! a lot of great reviews on Sole
YES! Are you liking it so far? - Linds
@@garagegymreviewseverything it arrives today! Going to put it together as soon as it arrives
🏅 Honorable Mention
So it has a, "High horse POWDER motor" huh? 3:18 Tell me more Lyndsey....
Tomato - Tomato, right? HA! I didn't even catch that I said that! - Linds
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