Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill Review (2023 Updated)

Contents

Introduction to the Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill

The Horizon 7.0 AT is a feature rich treadmill and part of the studio series by Horizon Fitness. They’re designed to enable you to take, on demand or live fitness classes. These are apps that you can access, for a small fee, that will have an instructor running on a treadmill with you and encouraging you as you exercise.

These classes are becoming a very popular way of working out with more and more people doing them. They’re good because you feel like you’re running with someone and not on your own. The 7.0 AT doesn’t come with a tablet and no other treadmills do, everyone has their own. You connect your tablet to the machine using Bluetooth, then you can enjoy the apps like Peloton and Zwift.

The Horizon 7.0 AT is a fully functioning treadmill in its own right, so if you don’t need a tablet. It has all the features and more to enable you to get a good workout. There are workout programs designed to help you lose weight or run a 5k. There’s a good selection and they have different levels, so beginners and experienced runners can find a level for them.

The Studio series of treadmills, which the 7.0 AT is one, have received fantastic reviews from experts and owners alike. It’s the lowest cost machine of the series, but has features I think make it worthwhile, and show that it’s a quality addition to the line. Newer treadmills are good because technologies become cheaper over time and that’s what we have here.

Features of the Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill

+ 15% Incline – This is the industry standard for high end treadmills and you have it here on a sub thousand dollar one. I like a good incline for walkers. People who start by walking on a treadmill can get a great aerobic workout by walking briskly and cranking up the incline. It can be hard work and is great at helping you lose weight or getting fit and healthy.

This kind of exercise is vigorous and the World Health Organization says you get great health benefits by doing this regularly. They say you only have to do this for 75 minutes per week, as opposed to 150 minutes for plain walking, which they count as moderate exercise. That’s what the 7.0 AT treadmill can do for you if you use the incline.

For more experienced treadmill users like runners, can replicate their favorite running routes or races by using the incline. You are recommended not to run too far on an incline as it’s not natural and could cause injuries. Still, the option is there and makes the 7.0 AT an impressive machine at a very good price.

+ 0% Finance – While this is not a feature of the treadmill, it’s worth mentioning that you can pay for the treadmill in up to 2 years with no interest. For the 7.0 AT that works out at $41.67 per month over 24 months. This is a great deal and I’ve seen no other treadmill manufacturers offer this opportunity.

Who wouldn’t take 2 years to pay, if you pay no more for doing so. Plus there’s free shipping so the price you see is the only price you pay. This is subject to credit approval in case your score isn’t too good, but if you can get it, it’s something worth considering. Of course, if you want the ultimate in financial security, you can avoid credit and pay up front.

+ Hill Climb Program – The great thing about any treadmill is the incline function. You can use this to get an effective workout. The 7.0 AT has a program which uses this feature perfectly and that is the hill climb. First there is a 4 minute warm up to get your muscles and heart prepared for the routine to come.

Once the warm up is done the incline changes really start. They start low and then every 30 seconds the incline goes up gradually. This peaks in the middle of the routine and then tapers down. You set the speed so you can go as slow or as fast as you wish. This is mainly for walkers though as you couldn’t run on some of the high inclines.

There are 10 levels to this program. Level 1 is quite mild and the incline relatively low. As you go up, each level is progressively harder, until you get to level 10 where you will struggle to keep up, no matter how fast you’re going. Most of the programs have this leveling feature which beginners and experienced runners can get a good workout.

+ 16 Digit Alphanumeric LED – This is more than the T (or Go) series of treadmills by Horizon and so you get more information as you workout. This is very useful to see your stats at a glance. This is separate from the 7″ LCD screen which is a graphic display. So there are 2 windows and 2 ways to get your vital workout information from.

This represents good value because you have both ways of measuring your performance. The 7.0 AT is a very modern treadmill and the alphanumeric display has the ease of use when it comes to reading it. There’s no mistaking your speed, distance, time, calories burned and more. Accurate measurements is what I look for in a treadmill and you have it here.

+ Built In Speakers – These can play anything from your smart device meaning your choice of sounds, whether that be music or a podcast, can be played through the console directly to you as you workout. There are 2 ways you can connect your devices. The first is Bluetooth 4.0LE, simply select the treadmill from your Bluetooth list on your device.

It doesn’t matter if your device isn’t Bluetooth compatible as you can connect with a normal audio adaptor cable which is included. This means you can even connect an mp3 player. The audio in jack is at the top right of the console and connects to your headphone jack. If you’re very old fashioned and use a CD player, you can connect this if you want to.

+ Long Deck – Expensive and high end treadmills usually have a 60″ deck and you have it on this Horizon 7.0 AT. This means even someone who is very tall and has a long stride can still use this treadmill successfully. Even though there is a long deck, the it is folding so you’ll save space when it’s not in use.

The folding mechanism is easy to use and gives you assistance. So even though the machine is quite substantial, anyone can easily fold it away. Most treadmills are folding and I like them big which is what you have here. The deck is wide as well so you can exercise confidently knowing you’re safe. It does take up some room though which is something to think about.

+ Lifetime Warranty – This covers the frame and motor. The frame is well made and rugged. I can’t see the frame warranty being needed so much, but it’s there for piece of mind. There’s a lot more that can go wrong with the motor, so it’s great that Horizon are confident about the quality of their motors. The motor is the most important component of a treadmill.

There are a 3 year parts warranty and 1 year labor. This is very good for a machine that is under a thousand dollars. For better labor coverage you’d need to spend far more or you could extend the warranty. Horizon Fitness treadmills don’t go wrong, they have a good reputation as being a good maker and are popular as a result.

Alternative treadmills at a similar price

These are the best alternate treadmills you may have considered instead of the Horizon 7.0 AT which is $999. I’ll tell you how they compare, their different features and if they’re better than the Horizon.

NordicTrack EXP 7i Treadmill – $1,099

NordicTrack have a very good reputation for treadmills and are popular as a result. I like their commercial range of treadmills but they start at $1,899. I’m just not keen on their treadmills below that price. It’s liken they’ve neglected some important features to fit the lower price point and that’s how I feel about the EXP 7i here.

There are no device holders and no bluetooth capability to use any other apps. So you have to use their iFit system on the tiny 7″ screen. With the Horizon 7.0 AT you can use Peloton, Daily Burn, Nike and of course, Zwift. The incline only goes to 12% whereas the Horizon reaches 15%. The labor warranty is the same but you get 3 years parts on the Horizon and the NordicTrack only has 2.

Verdict: The NordicTrack is not a bad treadmill as such, it’s just that the Horizon 7.0 AT is better. NordicTrack have done well making their own fitness app because that’s where the industry is going. They make exercising fun but on a 7″ screen it’s practically unusable. Stick with the Horizon because you’re not tied down to one service. In summary, the Horizon wins.

Sole F63 Treadmill – $1,099

Sole are another fitness equipment company with a great reputation. The F63 is their entry level treadmill. I prefer it over the NordicTrack. If all you want to do is exercise, then the F63 compares very well to the Horizon 7.0 AT. There are no extras with the F63. You can’t sync any apps to it as it doesn’t have the Bluetooth capability.

The F63 treadmill hasn’t actually changed in many years. Sole have added a few more features but they haven’t updated the treadmill itself for a long time. The screen is only LCD and only shows your workout stats, not like the Horizon 7.0 AT which is like a computer monitor when a tablet is used. You can stream running classes or even Netflix to it.

Verdict: A few years ago I would have recommended the F63. But newer treadmills like the Horizon 7.0 AT have made it outdated. People want more out of their treadmills now and as a result, Sole have been losing market share. I like their ellipticals but I think their treadmills need a rethink. So again, the Horizon wins.

Here is a chart to summarize the 3 treadmills

	Horizon 7.0 AT	NordicTrack EXP 7i	Sole F63
Price	$999	$1,099	$1,099
Motor Size	3.0 CHP	3.0 CHP	3.0 CHP
Top Speed	12 mph	12 mph	12 mph
Incline	15%	12%	15%
Deck Size	20″ x 60″	20″ x 60″	20″ x 60″
Max User Weight	325 lbs	300 lbs	325 lbs
Labor Warranty	1 year	1 year	1 year
Treadmill Weight	253 lbs	222 lbs	254 lbs

Alternative treadmill summary: As you can see the price for the alternate treadmills are both $1,099 whereas the Horizon 7.0 AT is $999. The other treadmills all used to be $999 but their price has gone up recently. I think this will happen with the Horizon. In the new year I can see it rising to $1,099 like it’s competitors.

The NordicTrack is inferior by the product weight, user capacity and incline. The Horizon and Sole are more substantial treadmills. The chart shows what a thousand dollars buys for a treadmill. This is the least I would spend and the 7.0 AT is the one I would go for. The stats are similar but the apps and technology is what sets it apart from the competition.

I get lots of emails asking what treadmill I recommend people buying. If they have less than $2,000 to spend then I always recommend the Horizon 7.0 AT. It’s my favorite treadmill. I haven’t heard of anyone being disappointed by my recommendation. The fact that it’s still only $999 makes it a steal. Use the link below for free shipping.

Click Here for the best price on the Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill*

Other Horizon Studio Treadmills

The Studio series of treadmills are the best that Horizon have to offer. I think the 7.0 AT offers the best value and is the budget level studio treadmill. They’ve been designed to enable you to stream walking and running classes. This is new technology that all brands will soon adopt. There are 3 in the series. Here is a table that summarizes the differences between each model.

	Horizon 7.0 AT	Horizon 7.4 AT	Horizon 7.8 AT
Price	$999	$1,599	$1,999
Drive Motor	3.0 CHP Rapid Sync	3.5 CHP Rapid Sync	4.0 CHP Rapid Sync
Deck Size	20″ x 60″	22″ x 60″ XL Deck	22″ x 60″ XL Deck
Screen Size	7″ LCD	8.25″ LCD	9.3″ LED
Chest Strap	No	Yes	Yes
Max User Weight	325 lbs	350 lbs	375 lbs
Labor Warranty	1 year	2 years	2 years
Treadmill Weight	253 lbs	318 lbs	330 lbs

Apart from the warranties and the sizes of the treadmills they’ve used similar components. That doesn’t mean that some people might not need the more expensive 7.4 AT or the 7.8 AT. They have a bigger motor so if you have a large family who’s all likely to get a lot of use out of the treadmill. Then I would go for one of them instead.

The bigger motor doesn’t mean it goes quicker. They all have a top speed of 12 mph. It just means it can handle more use and for maintaining higher speeds. For most households the 7.0 AT will be just fine. Otherwise, you don’t really need a bigger deck. A 20″ wide deck is standard and you’ll find most treadmills are this size.

The bigger screens are not necessary. The 7.8 AT has more colors too if that’s your thing. They all display the same information like distance, calories burned, the usual. The 7.8 AT also has a workout program called “Sprint 8 HIIT” built in. But you can devise your own high intensity interval routine if you wanted. A heart rate chest strap can be useful but not needed.

All 3 are excellent treadmills. I just don’t think you need the higher models, but for one reason I mentioned above is an exception. This makes the 7.0 AT a stand out model in the range.

Horizon’s own comparison feature of their Studio treadmills can be found here.

Treadmill apps comparison

Fitness apps are becoming the normal thing for treadmills to have. They enhance your workouts as they feature interactive running experiences on the screens in front of you. For some treadmills they are essential to have as the machine can be quite basic without. Some have classes you can take part in which encourage and spur you on to do your best.

As you can see below the price varies. This is because these apps are developed the equipment manufacturer. Horizon’s Zwift wasn’t and is a brand by itself. It has runners from all over the world compete on specially designed courses and is free. I’s become very popular and is a feature all on it’s own. It’s a valuable addition to this treadmill.

Treadmill Brand	Fitness App	Monthly Cost
Horizon	Zwift	Free
Bowflex	Jrny	$19.99
NordicTrack	iFit	$39.00
Peloton	Peloton App	$39.00

Drawbacks of the Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill

– 8 Workout Programs – With some high end treadmills you get a lot more programs. I like variety and some machines have it with programs that change the settings in all kinds of ways. Most of the programs do have different levels within them. This way you can make them as hard or as easy as you like. This is a good thing, I would just have liked a few more.

– No Decline – Some modern treadmills have a decline feature. They are usually only about 3 to 5% but if you wanted the ability to be able to exercise downhill, you can. The 7.0 AT is a budget machine and having a decline would increase the cost, a lot. Running downhill for long periods can cause injuries so you won’t get that problem here.

Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill Specifications

Model	Horizon 7.0 AT (HTM1309-01)
Free Shipping	Yes
Treadmill Weight	253 lbs
Folding	Yes
Motor	3.0 CHP
Running Surface	20″ x 60″
Display	16 Digit Alphanumeric LED and 7″ LCD Screen
Dimensions	L 76.5″ x W 36″ x H 59″
Max User Weight	325 lbs
Workout Programs	8 with multiple levels in each
Speed	0.5 to 12 mph
Incline	0% to 15%
Warranty	Lifetime: Frame & Motor 3 Years: Parts 1 Year: Labor

Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill Review Summary

With most Horizon treadmills, I do find it difficult to find negative things to say and this 7.0 AT is no exception. There’s certainly a lot more features I could have mentioned and when you consider the price is less than a thousand dollars, it makes this machine all the more impressive. It has a good labor warranty of 1 year and will last many years if well looked after.

If you’re looking for a budget treadmill for your home, perhaps you and your family are looking to improve your health. Perhaps you’re wanting to lose some weight, this machine will help. Maybe you’re looking to replace an older treadmill. Either way the 7.0 AT is a great tool to help you achieve your goals in an enjoyable way and it’s one I often recommend.

Thinking of buying a treadmill? Here’s my favorite, I always recommend it when asked.