This post was created in partnership with Horizon Fitness. If you buy something using a link on this page, Forbes may receive a small share of that sale.
January may be the best month to get a deal on a treadmill, but September is when running season really begins. The trickiest thing about training in the fall through the winter, though, is that the weather is unpredictable and often inclement. With that in mind, an excellent treadmill is a vital tool for keeping to your plan and banging out the miles at a good value. And luckily, the latest tread from Horizon, the 7.0 AT Treadmill, has the potential to be just what you need to keep your running goals squarely in sight.
Horizon's new 7.0 AT Treadmill has features that position it as a front-runner in the under-$1,000 ... [+] space.
I did a deep dive into its best qualities to see just what this machine can do. Having tested many, many treads in my time, the Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill looks to be the perfect running buddy through the coldest, wettest months of the year.
The Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill is a foldable, 3-horsepower DC motor, 60- by 20-inch belt treadmill with Bluetooth connectivity, quick-response dial controls and a host of dedicated hardware buttons. It’s also got a space where you can embed your own tablet as a display.
What the Horizon lacks in onboard programming, it makes up for in flexibility. With Bluetooth connectivity and a dedicated USB-A port, you can connect your tablet to the 7.0 AT and use the tread's speakers while you queue a workout on your favorite app; there's even a dedicated tablet shelf right at eye level.
With a running belt that's 60 inches long, the Horizon 7.0 AT offers among the most running space of any treadmill on the market right now. The variable response cushioning system under the belt provides different layers of padding on the three main parts of the treadmill belt, so that there's more impact support up front and a firmer zone at the back for push off, with the middle offering a bit of both.
The 3-horsepower DC motor is surprisingly quiet in operation and can go up to 12 miles per hour. Incline is smooth and adjusts quickly, from 0.5 all the way to 15%—ouch. There’s no doubt that the machine’s weight of 253 pounds helps it stay quiet and stable while accommodating runners up to its max capacity of 325 pounds.
Not everyone has enough space to have a treadmill out all the time. Especially if you live in an apartment setting, you need to reclaim that space once you're finished working out. The Horizon 7.0 AT folds up quickly and easily—not totally flat but enough so the running surface is out of the way. When folded, the treadmill measures 41 inches long, so you get plenty of space back.
Unlike treads that have no safety feature other than hiding the safety key, Horizon 7.0 has a substantial foot latch that takes a bit of force to disengage and unfold the machine. So not only do you have a safety key to hide, it’s more difficult for kids or pets to be on the treadmill in the first place.
No matter how fancy, a treadmill that requires a subscription just to use it is ultimately only as good as the non-subscription options it offers. The Horizon 7.0 AT doesn't require any sort of membership, however, and comes with 5K, Calorie, Distance, Fat Burn, Hill Climb, Manual and Max Heart Rate programs. It's an extremely capable machine that doesn't ask you to keep paying to use it each month (unless you choose to pay for and integrate classes with your tablet—more on that below).
Locking in the folded position with a foot pedal as well as a key is a double safety feature that ... [+] prevents the 7.0 AT from accidentally opening.
With the Horizon 7.0 AT, you’re not limited to the programs and classes on the treadmill itself—you bring your own and mix and match as you please. While you can’t control the actual treadmill with these apps, there are enough buttons and knobs on the Horizon 7.0 AT that you’ll be able to dial in what you need. If classes are not your speed, just queue up your favorite sitcom on your tablet and pop the device in the holder, which is large enough to accommodate just about any size.
There's no doubt about it, virtual buttons look cool. But the best virtual button is still that, virtual. It can't match a dedicated hardware button that you can stab out and press in the middle of a run to jump up or down a couple of notches. Yes, I know that some treadmills, have a jump button on the knob (a little hardware button that you can click), but sometimes you're running at 5 miles per hours and you want to take off to 10.
Every press of that jump button is a test of willpower. "Do I go farther? Do I press it again?" Sometimes, you just need to cut out the muddy middle and go right to warp speed. Horizon's buttons let you do just that.
I know this may not seem like a huge selling point, but when you're an hour into a run, cool air blowing in your face can make the difference between pushing forward and cutting out early.
One way that Horizon is able to offer this treadmill for under $1,000 is by having you use your own ... [+] screen, rather than Horizon building one in.
While the Horizon 7.0 AT is a perfectly nice treadmill, it provides a hardware experience that’s not much different from any other machine on the market. The plastic overlay buttons, glossy finish of the quick precision dials and blue-on-black LCD display are not the most aesthetically interesting (though, as mentioned above, exceedingly functional).
On some fully integrated treadmills, there are no attachments to consider or connectivity cords to fiddle with. You simply walk up, log in, and get started. It's a seamless experience that adds to the premium feel. The Horizon 7.0 AT’s tablet shelf is extremely convenient, yes, but not quite that quick and straightforward. Additionally, users may want to have a cable nearby to use the treadmill’s speakers; online reviews call out flaky Bluetooth connectivity as the 7.0 AT’s one Achilles heel.
One thing that I absolutely love about luxury treadmills in general is that you don’t have to bring an extra chest strap heart rate monitor to the party—your smart watch or fitness tracker does the job. To its credit, the Horizon 7.0 AT does have heart rate sensors in the quick control stalks. They don't provide the same constant feedback as a dedicated heart rate monitor, but they're suitable for occasionally checking in on your heart rate to make sure you're in the zone.
However, if you buy a 7.0 AT through this article and use code FORBESHR, you’ll get a free HR strap from Horizon to sweeten the deal.
The Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill gives other luxury treadmills a run for their money with a savings of ... [+] $1,500 or more.
The Horizon 7.0 AT is one of the most impressive sub-thousand-dollar treads I've encountered. It's built well, is extremely quiet and offers a host of options for customizing your workouts. Basically, it's the perfect platform for you to bring your app-based training indoors.
It's foldable so it doesn't require nearly the investment in full-time floor space as a non-foldable tread. Its 60-inch belt provides as much or more running space as more expensive treads on the market. Quick control dials let you quickly adjust your incline and speed just like more expensive equipment.
And speaking of expense, the Horizon 7.0 AT is only $999. That's considerably less than other treads on the market with a similar 3 HP motor and integrated platform cushioning. The fact that Horizon is offering it at this price point is actually pretty surprising.