How to Compare Sole & Smooth Treadmills

If you want to get in shape but don't want to go to the gym, an at-home treadmill is a solid solution. When comparing treadmills, think about price, warranty and features. Both Smooth and Sole offer quality treadmills. Smooth 6.75 and Sole F65 treadmills are similar, making it more difficult to make a decision on which to buy.

Instructions

• 1

  Check out price and shipping costs. Sole Fitness folding and nonfolding treadmills range from $1,200 to $3,000, while Smooth Fitness treadmills can range from $1,200 to $2,500 with sale prices around $900, as of November 2010. Both companies offer free shipping, although Sole treadmill only offers it in the continental United States; consumers in Alaska and Hawaii must pay a $250 shipping fee.

• 2

  Compare models by warranty. Smooth Fitness treadmills have a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor, a 5-year warranty on electronics and a 2-year warranty on home labor. Sole Fitness treadmills offer a 30-day trial period and a lifetime warranty on the motor and frame, 3 years on the electronics and 1-year on labor.

• 3

  Look at features of interest side by side. The Smooth 6.75 treadmill, for example, includes a deluxe sound system, ultra quiet motor and whisper weave treadbelt, a two-speed fan, water bottle holder, 12 workout programs, can go up to 12 mph and inclines up to 15 percent. The Sole F65 treadmill features hand pulse grips and cooling fans, built-in speakers for MP3 players, six standard workout programs can go up to 11 mph and inclines up to 15 percent. The Smooth 6.75 has a running surface of 20 x 60 inches, slightly larger than the Sole F65, which is 20 x 58 inches. Maximum user weight for both treadmill models is 350 pounds.

• 4

  Compare by console features. Both treadmill's display speed, incline, distance traveled, time, calories burned and pulse. The Sole F65 also has a pace function, while the Smooth 6.75 has heart rate control.

• 5

  Try out each models' maneuverability and functionality at a local store before you buy, if possible. The Sole F65 folds and locks into place for storage. The Smooth 6.75 not only folds, but has transport wheels that allow it to roll.