Nordictrack 1250 vs Sole F80 Treadmill – Which is Best for You?

FitnessEquipmentGuide November 17, 2023November 20, 2023 0 Comments this vs that

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Trying to compare the Nordictrack 1250 vs Sole F80 treadmills?

Wondering how they stack up – and which is best for you?

nordictrack 1250 treadmill review — Nordictrack 1250 Treadmill

The Nordictrack Commercial 1250 is a new treadmill introduced this year. It came out as a more affordable alternative to the the super-popular Commercial 1750 and 2450 treadmills.

Because of the reduced price point (and high-grade features), it quickly became Nordictrack’s best-selling treadmill.

The Sole F80 has been around for years – known as a good mix between affordability and runner-friendly features.

However Sole didn’t update it for years – and it languished a bit. That is, until last year – when they upgraded the F80 treadmill to a new, touch-screen console and a more streamlined look.

sole f80 vs nordictrack 1250 treadmill — Sole F80 Treadmill

Which treadmill is right for you?

In this post, we’ll cover the main differences between the Nordictrack 1250 vs Sole F80 treadmills. So you can choose the best fit for you:

Nordictrack 1250 vs Sole F80 Treadmill – Price

As it stands right now, the Nordictrack 1250 treadmill has a slight edge – coming in around $1899 with Free Shipping and a Free iFit Offer Here.

The Sole F80 is just a bit higher. You can currently get it for around $1999 with Free Shipping direct from the Manufacturer here.

However it’s fair to note that since prices do jump around, these treadmills are often sitting around the same price point.

You may want to check the links above to make sure prices haven’t changes (since they are always changing from week to week, especially around the holidays).

Sole F80 vs Nordictrack 1250 – Console

You get full-color, touch-screen consoles with both treadmills.

Sole updated their console to an Android tablet-style screen this year and it measures 10-inches across as seen below:

You can use the screen to view your workout stats during your run.

Plus, you can also pair and mirror your phone or tablet to the screen.

This is handy since you can basically watch Netflix, Disney+, Youtube, etc (whatever you watch on your phone) on the console screen. And a lot of people love having this option.

However it’s fair to note that several buyers have complained that they’re having a lot of problems mirroring their devices to this console.

Some have complained that the tablet in the console is of poor quality and doesn’t seem to work very well (you can read the latest reviews at the manufacturer here).

This can be a common problem with newly updated treadmills. Oftentimes, the manufacturer hasn’t yet had time to work out the “kinks” in a new machine model yet.

Nordictrack also uses a full-color, touch-screen console for the Commercial 1250 treadmill. It’s about the same size as the Sole F80 at 10 inches across:

You can connect through this console directly to iFit – Nordictrack’s online streaming service – and run famous world trails or even take fitness classes from the comfort of your own home.

So while you can’t mirror your phone to the screen, you can connect with iFit, take fitness classes, run world trails, track your results etc.

Plus, because Nordictrack has been using this kind of console screen in their treadmills for years now, you don’t have the issues with the screens that the Sole may be currently experiencing.

The screen on this treadmill is also separated from the console base. Because of this design, it also tilts and swivels – unlike the Sole F80 treadmill.

So you can find the best viewing angle for you – or just turn the screen if you want to continue your workout off the treadmill:

Nordictrack 1250 or Sole F80 – Media Shelf

You may have noticed when comparing the consoles above that the Sole F80 treadmill does come with a media shelf above the console screen. This is a handy place for your phone or tablet.

So even if you can’t mirror your phone to the actual screen, you can always use your tablet or phone on the media shelf to watch shows that way. This is a small thing – but a lot of users really like having one.

The Nordictrack 1250 treadmill does not have a media shelf included.

Sole F80 or Nordictrack 1250: Incline/Decline

The Sole F80 gives you up to 15 levels of incline. This is a great way to change things up and add high-intensity intervals to your workout for more calorie burning.

The Nordictrack 1250 treadmill offers up to 12% incline. But since Sole measures their incline by “levels” and not percentage, it’s hard to really say which treadmill is better and gives you the highest incline.

nordictrack 1250 vs Sole F80 treadmill comparison — Nodictrack 1250 Treadmill

They both look very similar overall in terms of the highest level of incline.

There is one key difference however – decline.

The Nordictrack 1250 also gives you up to 3% decline. So you get a bit more in terms of crosstraining options here.

The treadmill also integrates with the iFit world trails to incline or decline automatically to match the terrain you’re running – giving you a more immersive and realistic training experience.

Nordictrack 1250 vs Sole F80 – Motor Power

The Sole F80 treadmill comes with a slightly stronger motor vs the Nordictrack 1250: 3.5 vs 3.0 HP.

While it’s not a deal breaker (and the 3.0 HP motor should be fine for most people), if you’re looking for the strongest motor here, then the Sole F80 has the edge.

A Few More Differences

There are a few other key differences that you should know when comparing between the Nordictrack Commercial 1250 vs Sole F80 treadmills.

The Sole F80 comes wireless phone charging pad on the console. While it doesn’t speak to the actualy quality of the treadmill itself, a lot of people do like this feature.

The Nordictrack 1250 comes with a unique Smart Response Drive system. This basically helps the treadmill to respond faster in real time to any changes that you make.

So it will also respond faster to any world trail incline/decline that you’re running with iFit- to give a more immersive, seamless feel. (You can often feel something similar in health club treadmills – they respond faster as you make changes).

Also, while Sole does have an online streaming/training app (Sole Plus), it’s not as advanced as iFit on the Nordictrack (which makes sense since iFit has been out for much longer).

You’ll get a lot more options with iFit like running famous trails all over the world, taking live fitness classes from your home, or even mapping out your own trail with Googlemaps and watching the scenery in the screen as you run.

It’s important to note that neither Sole or Nordictrack requires you to use their online subscription program in order to use the treadmill.

There are free versions of both Sole plus and iFit. But if you are thinking of using a training or streaming program with your treadmill, this is something you should know.

Bottom Line?

So which is better when comparing the Nordictrack 1250 vs Sole F80 treadmills?

Both treadmills give you high-end construction, longer belts, strong motors and excellent cushioning. These are all things that runners especially will love.

The Sole F80 treadmill has been updated with some impressive additions – including the new touch-screen. Plus you can also mirror your phone or tablet to the screen to watch shows – or even charge your phone on the console as you run. Plus it has a stronger motor.

The Nordictrack 1250 gives you a more advanced screen console that swivels and has a bit more of a clean, minimal look.

Plus it offers the decline for more crosstraining options. And with iFit world trails or live online classes you’ll never run out of new things to try.

At the end of the day it really depends on what you want in a home treadmill, your budget and preferences.

Regardless of which you choose, you can learn more about each treadmill – and even get Free Shipping – with the links below.