Key Takeaways
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The four best treadmills compatible with Garmin are the SOLE F85, SOLE F80, Horizon 7.4 AT and Horizon 7.0 AT, all of which pair with Garmin watches over Bluetooth.
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The SOLE F85 and F80 touchscreens display live Garmin watch metrics, including heart rate, blood oxygen, stress level, respiration rate, and Body Battery, once paired.
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The Horizon 7.4 AT and 7.0 AT accept Bluetooth heart-rate signals from Garmin watches and send workout data to compatible apps through Bluetooth Fitness Machine Service (FTMS).
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Every Garmin connection runs one way, from watch to treadmill, so none of the four treadmills automatically writes its speed, incline, or distance data into Garmin Connect.
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SOLE builds commercial-grade home treadmills, and its Garmin-ready F85 pairs a 3.5 HP brushless motor with a 15.6-inch touchscreen, while the F80 runs 3.25 HP with a 10.1-inch screen.
*Note: SOLE does not manufacture or sell the Horizon 7.4 AT and Horizon 7.0 AT. This is an independent review of products for comparison purposes.
Which Treadmills Work With a Garmin Watch?
The SOLE F85, SOLE F80, Horizon 7.4 AT, and Horizon 7.0 AT all work with Garmin watches, but compatibility ranges from basic heart-rate pairing to a full biometric display. Most buyers read "Garmin compatible" as one standard feature, but each brand defines it differently.
The difference shows up after the run, too. Garmin logs pace and distance from its wrist accelerometer, which can drift from the console readout during intervals or steep incline work. Knowing this upfront helps you decide whether a deeper console display matters more to you than app-based data transfer.
SOLE Fitness takes the deeper route on its F85 and F80, bringing a full stream of Garmin watch data onto the touchscreen rather than a single heart-rate number in the corner. That puts metrics like stress and Body Battery at eye level, where they can actually guide your effort during a session.
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Top 4 Garmin-Compatible Treadmills
1. SOLE F85 Treadmill: Best for Full Garmin Biometrics on a Big Screen
The SOLE F85 treadmill has a 15.6-inch HD touchscreen that can connect via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
The SOLE F85 pairs a 3.5 HP brushless motor with a 22 x 60-inch running surface, giving taller runners and longer strides more room to work with. Speeds range from 0.5 to 12 mph, with incline adjustable from 0 to 15%, and the machine supports users up to 350 lbs. Its standout feature is the 15.6-inch HD touchscreen, which swivels and tilts and connects via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
What sets the F85 apart for Garmin owners is its ability to display live biometric information from compatible Garmin watches directly on that touchscreen. Depending on your specific watch model, this can include heart rate, blood-oxygen saturation, stress level, respiration rate, and Body Battery.
Beyond Garmin connectivity, the F85 includes Bluetooth speakers, USB-C charging, built-in cooling fans, and a secondary White-LED window that keeps key stats in view. It also folds upright with a hydraulic-assist lever, which helps if floor space is limited.
2. SOLE F80 Treadmill: Best Value for Full Garmin Data
The SOLE F80 treadmill has a 10.1-inch touchscreen console.
The SOLE F80 is the slightly more compact sibling to the F85, running a 3.25 HP brushless motor across a 20 x 60-inch CushionFlex 2.0 deck. Top speed still hits 12 mph with an incline up to 15%, and the frame supports users up to 350 lbs, the same capacity as its larger counterpart. Its console is a 10.1-inch touchscreen that tilts and swivels, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and screen mirroring built in.
Like the F85, the F80 can pull live data from a compatible Garmin watch with Broadcast HR enabled, bringing metrics onto the console screen during a workout rather than leaving them trapped on the wrist. It also has a built-in Bluetooth heart-rate receiver as a backup for runners who prefer a chest strap over watch-based tracking.
Rounding out the feature set, the F80 includes USB-C charging, Bluetooth speakers, a folding frame, and a library of built-in workout programs, making it a strong middle-ground pick for runners who want Garmin integration in a smaller footprint than the F85.
3. Horizon 7.4 AT Treadmill: Best for Interval Training
The Horizon 7.4 AT treadmill uses an 8.25-inch LCD. (Image source: Horizon Fitness)
The Horizon 7.4 AT offers a 22 x 60-inch running surface on a deck with shock-absorbing 3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning. Speed ranges from 0.5 to 12 mph with incline adjustable from 0 to 15%, and the frame holds up to 350 lbs. Instead of a touchscreen, it uses an 8.25-inch LCD screen paired with a 16-digit alphanumeric LED display. Horizon’s QuickDial controls handle fast speed and incline changes mid-stride.
On the Garmin side, the 7.4 AT accepts Bluetooth heart-rate signals from compatible watches and sends workout data to connected apps using Bluetooth FTMS. Horizon doesn't claim this model displays Garmin's broader biometric suite like blood oxygen or Body Battery on its console, and it doesn't promise that every workout automatically lands in Garmin Connect.
The machine also includes a built-in Sprint 8 interval program, a hydraulic folding mechanism, Bluetooth connectivity, and a bundled Bluetooth heart-rate monitor for runners who'd rather not rely on watch pairing alone.
4. Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill: Best Entry-Level Pick for Heart-Rate Pairing
The Horizon 7.0 AT treadmill has a 7.25-inch LCD screen. (Image source: Horizon Fitness)
The 7.0 AT is the entry point into Horizon's Garmin-ready lineup. It has a 20 x 60-inch running surface, a speed range of 0.5 to 12 mph, incline from 0 to 15%, and a max user weight of 325 lbs. Its console pairs a 7.25-inch high-contrast LCD screen with four LED windows, and it connects to most Garmin watches that support Bluetooth Smart or BLE, pulling in heart-rate data during a run.
As with the 7.4 AT, this connection is limited to heart-rate broadcasting and app-based data transfer. It doesn't display Garmin's wider metrics on the console, and it doesn't guarantee automatic syncing into Garmin Connect. Check that your Garmin watch can broadcast heart rate over Bluetooth and that your preferred training app supports Horizon's Bluetooth FTMS connection, since not every combination behaves the same way.
Horizon pairs these connectivity features with practical touches like a tablet rack for following along with outdoor workouts and a built-in fan, useful for runners who skip console-based programming and just want a reliable, Garmin-linked treadmill.
Best Garmin-Compatible Treadmills: Summary Table
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Treadmill |
Motor |
Running Surface |
Console |
Garmin Integration |
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SOLE F85 |
3.5 HP brushless |
22 x 60 inches |
15.6-inch swivel/tilt HD touchscreen |
Displays heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, respiration, Body Battery |
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SOLE F80 |
3.25 HP brushless |
20 x 60 inches |
10.1-inch swivel/tilt touchscreen |
Displays live Garmin watch data plus built-in HR receiver |
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Horizon 7.4 AT |
HP not listed by Horizon |
22 x 60 inches |
8.25-inch LCD with LED readouts |
Bluetooth heart-rate pairing, FTMS app data transfer |
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Horizon 7.0 AT |
HP not listed by Horizon |
20 x 60 inches |
7.25-inch LCD with four LED windows |
Bluetooth heart-rate pairing, FTMS app data transfer |
Start Your Garmin Runs With a SOLE Fitness Treadmill
Choosing a Garmin-compatible treadmill comes down to how much biometric data you actually want visible mid-run, not just whether a Bluetooth icon shows up on the screen. The deeper that integration goes, the less you're stuck glancing down at your wrist to check stress levels or Body Battery.
We built the F85 and F80 touchscreens to surface that Garmin data where you can actually see it while running, and both machines come with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and a lifetime frame and motor warranty. Browse the full treadmill lineup at SOLE Fitness and find the model that matches your training setup.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can Garmin track a treadmill?
Yes, Garmin watches track treadmill workouts using built-in accelerometer data, and you can calibrate the recorded distance against the treadmill's console after a run. However, not every treadmill automatically sends its own speed, incline, or distance figures into Garmin Connect, so accuracy depends on the specific watch and treadmill combination being used.
How does Garmin calculate treadmill distance?
Without a direct data connection to the treadmill, Garmin watches estimate treadmill distance using the device's internal accelerometer, tracking arm and body movement patterns to approximate pace and distance. This method can drift from the treadmill's own console readout, especially during interval or incline-heavy workouts.
How accurate is Garmin on a treadmill?
Accuracy depends largely on the watch's accelerometer estimate and whether you've calibrated it against the treadmill's console. Accelerometer-only tracking is usually less precise than the treadmill's console, especially for distance and pace during varied incline settings.
Is there an indoor run option on Garmin?
Yes, most Garmin watches include an indoor run or treadmill-specific activity profile that adjusts GPS settings and relies on the watch's internal sensors instead. This mode is designed for treadmill use and should be selected before you start an indoor session.
Can I connect my Garmin watch to my SOLE treadmill?
Yes, the SOLE F85 and F80 touchscreens can display live data from compatible Garmin watches, including heart rate, blood oxygen, stress level, respiration rate, and Body Battery. Compatibility depends on your specific Garmin model, so check SOLE’s current compatible watch list first.
*Disclaimer: Products and prices mentioned in this article are accurate as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Please visit the official SOLE website for the most current information.
