Sole TT8 Treadmill Reviewed and Rated

The primary purpose of the Sole TT8 is as a dedicated training tool for athletes whose sport is running. The large cushioned deck, powerful motor, ease of adjustment, and programmed workouts work together to simulate roadwork conditions without causing joint pain from all the impact. You may find the TT8 in certain commercial applications, too, like hotel workout rooms. They are reliable enough for regular daily use by runners of all body types and fitness levels. But as Sole Fitness is quick to point out, the $2000+ you will pay for the TT8 is still a bargain when compared to heavy-duty gym units like those made by Precor, Cybex, and others.

With Sole Fitness, too, you get fast and responsive customer service. The TT8, like Sole's other machines, is backed by a comprehensive warranty. It consists of a lifetime frame and motor warranty, with more limited parts and service coverage. Sole's warranty is one of the best in the industry. It does not cost extra, so it takes the place of extended maintenance plans offered by some cardio makers.

Speaking of maintenance, one thing you will need to do with the TT8 is to lubricate it. There are complete instructions in the user's manual, which Sole makes available and easy to find on its website. You do have to use a certain kind of lube; using something else can damage the treadmill and will void the warranty. The lubing interval is every 180 hours, so it pays to keep track of your workouts. If you were to use the treadmill for an hour a day, every day, you could go about six months without having to apply a new lubricant. So we do not think this is a deal-breaker, or even an inconvenience, just something we want to make sure you know going in. To lubricate the belt and deck, you have to loosen the rollers. Other maintenance tasks include wiping dirt and dust off the belt periodically and wiping down the handles and console after each use. This extends the life of the equipment and also helps discourage bacteria growth from your sweat.

We got these specifications from the Sole Fitness product page. Sole Fitness is proactive about making detailed technical information easy to find, as well as sharing user's manuals directly on the website. This seems like a basic service, but we have had to search in weird corners of the internet before just to find manuals we could tell were accurate.

The fully assembled Sole TT8 treadmill weighs 322 pounds. The box this treadmill ships in measures 84 by 36 by 17 inches. It is a 2-person lift and will be a challenge if you are taking it upstairs. You can unbox the unassembled components and take them up one or two at a time if you have a safe spot for the rest of the unit on a ground floor or driveway. The step-up height is 8 inches, standard and accessible for most people. There are side rails, but they only extend a short distance. Incline and speed adjustment switches are in the rails.

The treadmill is Bluetooth compatible, both for the speakers and for syncing data to a mobile app. There are 2 speakers and 2 fans. You get 6 programmed workouts, 2 custom workouts, and 2 heart rate target workouts. The Sole Fitness TT8 is not iFit compatible. The heart rate sensors, located in the side rail grips, use a technology called Salutron. Salutron is an American company that began providing heart rate sensors for fitness equipment in 1999, and for wearables beginning in 2001. The company is a leader in the niche market of fitness heart rate sensors. You can also use a chest strap to get a more accurate heart rate. The strap is not included with the purchase.

The run deck is 2-ply, so it has extra reinforcement to take all your pounding. This also adds to the cushioning and reduces joint pain. The warranty breaks down along commercial and residential lines. If you use the treadmill in your home, warranty lengths will be different from those offered to a light commercial gym owner.

Sole Fitness is never shy about reminding us that the TT8 is for serious outdoor runners. It is not immediately obvious from the product page or most reviews, but the treadmill actually has 2 motors. They are located in different spots, and together they give the outdoor runner quite a bit of freedom in designing his or her own route and level of difficulty. The second motor has a huge impact on the incline and decline settings and transitions, taking some of the load off the motor that drives the rollers and deck. The larger, springier running surface, too, will add to a realistic feel. The frame is reinforced, giving the treadmill its 400-pound capacity while ensuring its durability over the long haul. Outdoor runners can use the TT8 as often as they are able, subjecting it to sprints, intervals, and long-distance runs with confidence in the treadmill's ability to perform.

The double-ply belt is comparable to the cushioning and support of most running shoes. It is like having an injected midsole and padded sole area. The deck is perma waxed, which means a coating of wax helps the inside of the belt moves smoothly over the rollers for the life of the machine. This is different from the silicone lubricant, and the waxing does not need to be repeated after you purchase the treadmill. The flywheel surrounding the motor is 10 pounds and made of heavy-duty components, helping protect the motor from damage and keeping operation consistent.

The last thing we'd like to talk about is the integrated tablet holder that sits above the TT8 console. "Integrated" means it can communicate with the console to open up new options during your training sessions. You can use the tablet to follow your workout numbers, such as distance and calories burned. You also have the ability to stream shows or other media while the tablet is in the holder. There is a USB cord to charge the tablet using the treadmill, and you can also connect to the onboard Bluetooth speakers to play any of your favorite music while you work out. If music is not your thing, then you can put a movie on to help keep you motivated.

We think you will want to keep using the Sole Fitness TT8 treadmill, once you get used to navigating its LCD console and other features. As with any new piece of equipment, even more so for ones that have any type of technology, it may take a while before you are comfortable navigating through all of the features. Don't get discouraged too quickly! It is also a very comfortable treadmill, making it that much more appealing. It comes with a large run deck that measures 22 inches, giving you that extra room to feel freer as you run and extra padding that only adds to the comfort level and helps lessen the impact on your joints. It also comes equipped with pulse grips on the handles and is compatible with a chest strap for heart rate that gives you a more accurate read. The 10-inch screen not only makes the features that much easier to navigate, but it also makes it much easier for you to read. The integrated tablet holder lets you use your tablet as a workout tool, and the sound system keeps you motivated with your favorite music.

Another great product we reviewed is the Sole F63 Treadmill, so make sure to check it out as well.

The Sole Fitness TT8 is a reliable training tool for running athletes who are looking to imitate their outdoor courses and routes using a home gym alternative. The treadmill is durable and dependable. If you are not a committed runner, you may want to look elsewhere because this treadmill is more expensive than a general fitness type of treadmill. Those treadmills will have smaller motors, a smaller footprint, and a lower user weight capacity. They will often be folding, portable types, too. The Sole TT8 is designed to be assembled, installed, and then left in the same place. It will take up significant space, so take that into consideration when you do your comparison shopping.