When it comes to home use treadmills, Bowflex, Sole Fitness and Fuel Fitness may not be names that come readily to mind. With a little digging, however, you’ll discover that these two companies do, in fact, offer quality across all price points in the treadmill market. In this article, we’ll put Bowflex Sole, and Fuel treadmills face to face to explain which one deserves to take pride of place in your home gym.
We’ve come to the conclusion that the Bowflex BXT116 is a better buy than the Sole Fitness F63. It has a more powerful motor, a larger running track and it comes with a chest strap monitor for the most accurate heart rate monitoring.
Bowflex vs Sole vs Fuel At A Glance
| Why It's Best | Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Bowflex BXT116 | A few less bells and whistles, but a workhorse that's worth your money. | ★★★★★ |
| Bowflex BXT216 | The most complete, durable treadmill you could ask for. | ★★★★★ |
| Sole F63 | A less expensive alternative to Bowflex that competes very well. | ★★★★★ |
| Sole F80 | Sole's alternative to the BXT116. | ★★★★★ |
| Fuel T4 | A high value product due to Bluetooth integration and its Cushion Flex Whisper Deck. | ★★★★★ |
| Fuel T6 | Similar to the F80 with its powerful motor at a reasonable price. | ★★★★★ |
The Bowflex Treadmill Line
There are three main models in the Bowflex treadmill stable. These are the . . .
- Bowflex Treadclimber
- Bowflex Max Trainer
- Bowflex Results
Here’s a quick overview of each of them . . .
Bowflex Treadclimber
The Bowflex Treadclimber is a hybrid between a treadmill and an elliptical machine. With the enhanced calorie burn that you get from moving from a flat training surface to a stepper, this machine allows you to burn a lot of calories. Bowflex claims that you will consume two and a half times more calories than if you were walking on a flat treadmill.
The Treadclimber replaces the conventional flat running bed with long side by side treadles that operate from moving belts. These are able to tilt by 40 percent, to allow you to lessen the pressure on your knees and ankles.
Bowflex claims that working out on a Treadclimber will allow you to get your workout in half the time that it would take on a conventional treadmill. However, these units are rather pricey, setting you back in excess of two thousand dollars.
Bowflex Max Trainer
The Bowflex Max Trainer takes the elliptical / treadmill concept and runs with it to provide a machine that is ideally suited for runners. It provides almost zero impact to your joints. The Max Trainer provides you with a 14-minute workout that claims to be the most effective cardio workout that are ever likely to get – burning as many as 600 calories in 30 minutes.
The latest incarnation of the Max Trainer, the M7, features enhanced dual mode LCD / LED displays, commercial grade handles, aerobar grips with burn rate and resistance level adjustments.
Bowflex Results Treadmill
The Bowflex Results Treadmill is a new offering from Bowflex that came out in 2022. There are two treadmills within the Results range, the BXT 116 and the BXT 216. These are mid treadmills. Both of them have folding frames.
The running belts on these machines are maintenance free and they both feature Bluetooth enabled consoles. These are high quality, low impact treadmills that feature advanced comfort cushioning and automatic incline.
The Bowflex Results BXT 216 Treadmill Up Close
- Solid construction
- 4 CHP motor
- 11 workout programs
- 22 x 60 inch running belt
- Generous warranty
Construction
The Bowflex Results BXT 216 is a well-constructed, stylish machine, as you’d expect from this manufacturer. This is a foldable treadmill, which is enhanced by the Bowflex shock assist system. You don’t see many treadmills with such a solid frame that are able to be foldable, so this nice to see.
Motor
The BXT 216 is powered by a 4 CHP belt motor. That is a lot of grunt. Most home treadmills top out at 3 CHP, so you are getting more than what most you’ll find on the majority of competing models here. This enhanced power means that you will be able to use the machine multiple times each day without any problems. The top speed on this treadmill is 12 miles per hour.
Programs
The console of the BXT 216 comes with eleven built-in workout programs. These include programs for weight loss, speed, performance, heart rate training zone and more. This gives you plenty of variety in your training, helping to keep your workouts interesting and keeping the results coming.
Running Belt
The running belt on the BXT 216 is large enough to allow most people to get the walking and running stride that they need. It measures 22 inches in width by 60 inches in length. In addition, the belts on the new Results treadmill range feature three-ply maintenance free workout belts. As a result, the belt will never need waxing and you won’t ever have to recalibrate them.
The belt rollers are 2.75 inches in diameter. This is a greater diameter than you find on most home gym treadmills. The wider the rollers, the reduced amount of wear you get on the running belt. A larger belt roller is also less taxing on the motor.
Console
The console of the BXT 216 is quite impressive. It allows you to see your per minute calorie burn. This is in contrast to most treadmills, which will only display your total calorie burn for the entire workout. Both the BXT 216 and the BXT 116 come with their own chest strap monitors so that you can get the most accurate heat rate monitoring.
The monitor features Bluetooth connectivity so that you can very easily export your workout data to your device for further analysis. Bowflex has put out the Results mobile app but the data can also be paired with such popular apps as MyFitnessPal and FitBit.
The console features a 9-inch color display and the built-in media shelf comes with a USB charging port.
Warranty
Bowflex provides you with a rather impressive warranty on the BXT 216, giving you 15 years on the frame and drive, 5 years on the motor and mechanical and 2 years on parts, labor and electronics.
Bottom Line
The Bowflex Results BXT 216 is a high quality treadmill that looks great and has some impressive features. You get a 4 CHP motor, that provides a max speed of 12 mile per hour, eleven workout programs and a generously sized running belt. In short, the BXT 216 impresses us a lot.
The Sole Treadmill Line
There are seven treadmills in the Sole Fitness stable. They are the following:
- Sole F63
- Sole F80
- Sole F65
- Sole F85
- Sole S77
- Sole TT8
- Sole TT9
The Sole F63 is the lowest priced unit in the range. It provides you with a 20 x 60 inch running belt, along with six customizable programs and two heart rate control programs. Each model adds features until you get to the top of the line Sole TT9 which supplies you with a 4 HP AC Drive motor.
The Sole F63 Up Close
- 3 CHP Motor
- 15 level incline
- 10 training programs
- Max speed 12 mph
- 20 x 60 inch running belt
Quality Construction
The Sole F63 is a high quality unit that features heavy duty materials that are truly commercial grade. This treadmill has been built to last and will definitely go the distance. It features superior cushioning, oversize belt rollers and a solid motor.
Good Sized Running Track
The running track on the Sole F63 provides you with a 20 inch by 60- inch surface. This should give all but the extremely tall the room that they need to stride out as they run. The two-ply belt provides you with plenty of cushioning to help absorb the impact on your joints. This is coupled with Sole’s CushionFlex Deck, which has been shown to reduce joint pain by between 35 and 40 percent compared with running on the pavement.
Power Incline
The Sole F63 provides you with a 15-degree maximum incline. This can be done automatically with the simple switch of a button. Inclining the angle of your workout will greatly increase your calorie burn. You can control the incline on the running belt either on the handlebars or on the console.
Built-in Workouts
The Sole F63 provides you with ten workouts to allow for versatility in your training. This has been upgraded from six programs. Programs include fat loss, cardio training and muscle toning. Two user profiles are able to be saved with custom programs to be used during your next workout.
Compact Design
The F63 provides you with a compact design so that you can put in even the most constricted of environments. This is a foldable treadmill that quickly and easily folds up for convenient storage. The horseshoe design of the unit makes for a very rigid and sturdy yet design.
Bottom Line
The Sole F63 is an impressive home treadmill that is built as solidly as a light commercial treadmill. It provides you with a generously sized running belt, a decent 3 CHP motor and ten running programs.
The Fuel Treadmill Line (Discontinued)
ng star in the treadmill market.
Fuel T6 vs Sole F63
The Fuel T6 and Sole F63 folding treadmills are great competing models that offer similar features at slightly different prices. The track size of the Fuel T6 is just a bit larger at 22″ by 60″ instead of 20″ x 60″, and the weight limit is similarly better at 375 pounds rather than 325 pounds from the Sole F63.
Both of their maximum speeds are the same and clock in at 12 miles per hour. In addition, both of their inclines feature the same degree of adjustment. As you can see, you can get the same intensity from your workout with either the Fuel T6 or the Sole F63. The motor on the Fuel T6 is marginally stronger at 3.5 CHP compared to 3.0 CHP.
As far as the performance of the treadmills, the same high torque motor and flywheel design is employed by both. The rollers on the Sole Fitness F63 are slightly larger and will likely extend the lifespan longer than the Fuel T6. This is due to lessened stress on the belts due to a larger roller.
The LCD display on the Fuel T6 is definitely larger than the Sole F63. The actual diagnostic and workout information displayed on both is very similar, so the Fuel T6 display wins out here due to its size.
The running surface on the Fuel T6 is padded quite well compared to its competitor due to its Cushion Flex Whisper Deck that reduces impact. The impact of running concerns some people, likely because of pre-existing health conditions in their knees that cause them pain. This makes the quality of running surface especially important.
Our breakdown of these two products and their features shows just how similar they really are. Either product is great, but little differences make a clear winner to us in the Sole F63. Its true that the Fuel T6 has a slightly better running surface and motor, but the Sole F63 is a much better value and will last longer despite slightly worse features.
Sole F80 vs Bowflex BXT116
The Sole F80 and Bowflex BXT116 are competing models in the same intermediate price range that fulfill most of the same needs. A few differences in features make the two models different, but overall the build quality and physical specifications are nearly the same.
We’ll begin with the running surfaces. The Sole F80 has a slight edge when it comes to this with its 22″ x 60″ belt as opposed to the 20″ x 60″ belt that comes on the Bowflex BXT116. Also included in the Sole F80 is the same low impact Cushion Flex Whisper Deck. Both models have the same maximum speed of 12 miles per hour and 15 degrees of incline adjustment.
Their rollers are the same size of 2.75″ and offer the same improved durability that larger rollers give a treadmill. This is what we mean when we referenced the consistent build quality between both the Sole F80 and Bowflex BXT116.
Another identical specification of the Sole F80 and Bowflex BXT116 is a weight limit of 375 pounds. Even their LCD screens come in at an identical size of 7.5″.
The one major mechanical difference between the two is a stronger motor in the Bowflex BXT116. Its motor has 3.75 CHP, which is the strongest of our comparisons so far, but the Sole F80 boasts a 3.5 CHP motor. There’s not much of a substantial difference between the two, and 3.5 CHP is already plenty strong.
As you saw in our comparisons, both the Sole F80 and Bowflex BXT116 are extremely close when it comes to build quality and features. However, the Cushion Flex Whisper Deck in the Sole F80 makes it a more enjoyable surface to run on. Their value is almost identical, so getting the treadmill with the most comfortable experience makes the most sense.
Sole F63 vs Bowflex BXT116
We already went over how the Sole F80 performs against the Bowflex BXT116 and that they’re pretty similar save for a few differences. Here we will step down on Sole’s line of treadmills to find out if their entry level models still compete just as well to the Bowflex BXT116.
The initial mechanical specs of both treadmills are initially very similar with a maximum speed of 12 miles per hour and 15 degrees of adjustment for the incline of the treadmill. Their running surfaces measure in exactly the same at 20″ x 60″.
The roller sizes vary slightly between these two models with the Bowflex BXT116 having the larger rollers. As we saw before, larger rollers are preferred for their contribution to your treadmill’s durability.
The 375 pound weight limit of the Bowflex BXT116 certainly beats the 325 pound limit of the Sole F63. The Bowflex also has a larger LCD screen, but only by an inch. Both treadmills feature Bluetooth connectivity. but the Bowflex allows you to use apps in conjunction with your treadmill. The Sole F63 simply allows you to use Bluetooth connectivity for music.
One distinct advantage of the Bowflex is its 3.75 CHP motor compared to the Sole’s 3.0 CHP motor. This means that the Bowflex can run at a higher continuous speed without burning out, so the treadmill can undergo more stress as you workout without risk of wearing out.
The Sole F63 simply can’t compete with the Bowflex BXT116 in many areas. We have to give it some credit for competing despite its lower price, but the Bowflex is superior in too many essential areas to pass it up. It’s well worth the money to invest in a higher quality treadmill.
About Bowflex
Bowflex is one of the true originators of the modern fitness industry. The Bowflex power rod system was introduced in 1986 with the Bowflex 2000X. Since then they have regularly reduced new models based upon the power rod resistance technology. With these products they became so successful that, in 1999, they changed their name to Direct Focus Inc. and purchased a number of fitness companies, including the Nautilus Corporation, Schwinn Fitness, and Stairmaster. The company is now known as Nautilus Inc.
Bowflex has steadily expanded the product range to include treadmills, elliptical trainers and unique machines that are hybrids between ellipticals and treadmills. All of these machines are built to a very high standard and have a stylish, upmarket finish.
About Sole Fitness
Sole Fitness is one of the largest fitness equipment manufacturers in the United States. They are the preferred provider of treadmills to hotels across the nation. Their move into light commercial treadmills has been a huge success. They provide treadmills, ellipticals and cycles for the home fitness market across all price points.
Their treadmill line is the most populated of the three companies represented here by far with 7 treadmills total. It’s no wonder Sole calls themselves “The Leader In Home Fitness” with such confidence.
About Fuel Fitness
Fuel Fitness is an up and coming fitness brand that specializes in providing both great features and high quality parts at an affordable price. Their product line focuses on fewer models, so making a purchasing decision with Fuel Fitness products is pretty easy. They offer two treadmill models, an exercise bike, and two ellipticals.
All in all their product line is small, but don’t underestimate them on this alone. Fuel Fitness is here to compete with the most recognized fitness brands in the world. The Fuel T6 specifically did quite well against competing products and represents another great addition to the ever growing treadmill market.
Which is Best?
Both the Bowflex BXT116 and the Sole Fitness F63 are high-quality mid-priced treadmills. They are on a par on many levels, however the motor on the BXT116 is more powerful. The BXT also provides you with a chest strap monitor whereas you don’t get this from the Sole Fitness F63. Finally, the BXT116 has a slightly larger running belt. All of these factors incline us toward the Bowflex BXT116 as our favored mid-priced home treadmill.
The Sole F63 is also a great selection if some of these additional quality of life features don’t matter to you, or if the price point of the Bowflex BXT116 is too steep to justify. It will get the job done regardless of some of its short comings compared to other competing products. It’s a high value item if the Bowflex is out of your price range.