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Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT (2024) Review

The Horizon 7.0 AT Treadmill is a good contender in the runners’ treadmill category. It’s powerful with a 3.0 CHP motor. It’s strong—made with a steel frame that can sustain up to 325 pounds.  At 60″, the running deck is 5″ longer than the home treadmill standard to accommodate taller runners and those with longer strides. It also has variable cushioning to lessen impact on knees, ankles and hips while runners tackle an incline up to 15%, and work their way towards the treadmill’s top speed of 12 mph. You have the option to connect to Android or Apple devices via Bluetooth to use fitness apps like the free AFG Pro App, Record by Under Armour, and even FitBit’s apps. The free Horizon FitU app also allows you to connect to Peloton, Zwift, and other great programs.

Further sweetening the deal, Horizon is one of few manufacturers offering 0% financing on their equipment. You can opt for terms between six months and two years, which will help take the sting off of making your next big fitness purchase.

One knock against this treadmill? The display screen at 7” is small when compared to the new standard size of screens now on the market.

Why You Should Trust Our Review Of The Horizon 7.0 AT

At FitRated.com, we bring you comprehensive reviews of treadmills so you can decide which one is right for you. Our staff thoroughly test all the treadmills we review. We install them, walk on them, run on them, and try out all of the features. We get to know each and every treadmill we review extremely well. Our reviewers log miles on the machine. We listen and record the sound of the motor, we test and measure the incline/decline, try out all aspects of the console and try the treadmill’s features.

Every treadmill we review undergoes the same rigorous process. That way we can compare and contrast them and give you an honest review of what we think. This particular treadmill has been around for many years, and we’ve done previous reviews of the Horizon 7.0 AT. So, in this review, we also compared it to the previous models.

Our reviewers are fitness experts. Brian, the author of this review, is a professional bodybuilder, and is a 7-time national qualifier in both men’s bodybuilding and classic physique within the NPC competitions. He has coached and been coached on cardiovascular training, HIIT, and nutrition, particularly as it pertains to weight loss for competitions. He is an expert at treadmills, has been on this treadmill, and you can trust his opinion on all of the treadmills he reviews.

Specifications

Model 7.0AT
Rating

Our custom rating considers all of the treadmill's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!

89.5%
List Price

Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.

$999
Best Price

Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the current best price. Note: MSRP stands for Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.

$999
Speed

Treadmill Speed is measured in Miles Per Hour (mph). Average running speed is 5-9 mph.

0.5 - 12 mph
Incline

Treadmill Incline measures the angle of the deck, and how steep it is relative to the floor (0% is flat, and 15% is like a steep hill).

0-15%
Motor

The Treadmill Motor is what turns the belt as you run. We recommend at least 2 HP (Horsepower) motors, 2.5+ HP for jogging, and 3.0+ HP for running.

3.0 CHP
Deck

Treadmill Deck dimensions are measured in inches: Width x Length. The wider and longer the deck, the safer it is (55-60 inches long recommended for running).

20" x 60"
Belt

The Treadmill Belt is the surface you run on. The thicker the belt, the less impact on your joints. At least 2-ply (1 inch) recommended.

3-Zone Variable Response
Cushioning
Folding?

Some treadmills are designed to conserve space by folding up. This is a convenient option, but some features might be reduced.

Programs

Treadmill Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.

N/A
Max. Weight

Treadmill Max User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that it can safely support, which can represent durability.

325 lbs
Heart Rate

Heart Rate programs allow you to track how many times your heart is beating per minute (bpm), and some control the workout for you.

Contact Grips and BT 4.0 ready
Dimensions

Dimensions are included to help you figure out if this treadmill will fit properly (Length x Width x Height and Height x Depth).

76" x 35" x 67"
Display

Treadmill Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.

7.25" LCD
Cooling Fans

Treadmill Cooling Fans are designed to help keep you cool during an intense workout.

Accessory Tray

Some treadmills include an accessory tray for holding items such as water bottles, wallets, keys, or MP3 players like iPods.

Speakers

Treadmills that include a sound system allow you to listen to your MP3 player/iPod through built-in speakers (no headphones).

Quick Controls

Quick Controls allow you to select speed, incline and even workout programs with the touch of a button (usually on the handles).

Warranty

The warranty is a very important part of your investment. The longer the warranty, the longer you can get free/discounted repairs by the manufacturer.

Frame: Lifetime
Motor: Lifetime
Parts: 3 Year
Labor: 1 Year

Rating: 89.5%

In Brief

Rating: 87.5/100. The Horizon 7.0 AT treadmill is for runners. It also has a 3.0 CHP motor. Not to discourage walkers from falling in love with this treadmill, but this machine is built to sustain the energy and force of a runner’s steps. Its steel frame—that supports up to 325 lbs, by the way—immediately sets it apart from treadmills that rely on plastic. The running deck is 20” x 60” (usually the size of a home deck is 55” long), which is good for runners with longer strides and its variable cushioning provides protection to the joints by softening impact on take off and landing. This is an important feature as it’s critical to protect your knees, ankles and hips if you want to be a runner in the long term. The speed option is 0-12 mph—great for interval training. The 7.0 AT has an incline of up to 15%, which is the standard and good enough for most users. A steeper incline allows for a lower impact workout and though you might move a bit slower, the workout will be plenty difficult. The heart rate monitor is a grip pulse on the handles in front—perfect for quick and easy readings. It’s becoming the norm for the program offerings to work via Bluetooth from fitness apps and the 7.0 AT is no different. It’s compatible with Android and Apple devices and apps and the free AFG Pro App can be accessed through tablet or phone. The apps Record by Under Armour and FitBit can also be synced. Speakers can be used via Bluetooth of plug-in to enhance your sound coming from your device. The warranty is good, it offers a lifetime on frame and motor and three years on parts and one year on labor.

In-Depth Review of the Horizon 7.0 AT

What We Like About It

The Horizon 7.0 AT is a terrific budget-friendly treadmill loaded with features. For under $1,000 you not only get built-in workout programming, but you can sync either your Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch to the machine for Bluetooth connectivity with apps. Metrics downloaded include calories, speed, distance, pace, and time. The Horizon 7.0 AT is built to sync with eight different apps, including Peloton, AtZone, Kinomap, Zwift, Fitscope, Fitbit, Apple Health, and Google Fit. Above the 7.25″ LCD screen built for data readout is a handy, adjustable media rack. In my experience, this rack works great for either pads or phones, and my own iPad fits perfectly in it. Purchase also includes a Bluetooth heart rate monitor and receiver to go along with those built into the handlebars. Bluetooth speakers mean you’ll never miss a beat while jogging. What I like here is you can workout from the first day without paying any additional app fees. This is a solid treadmill in terms of size for anyone, and you won’t have to worry about outgrowing it in terms of performance. And hey, the lifetime warranty on the frame and motor is also a big win here.

Unlimited Workout Connectivity

Horizon treadmills allow users to access multiple apps with their own device. Photo by: Oleksandr Kosheliev / Fitrated.com

The machine’s built-in programs include: 5K, Calorie, Custom, Distance, Fat Burn, Manual, Max Heart Rate, and Hill Climb. As mentioned, the big sales pitch here with the Horizon 7.0AT is its flexibility when it comes to workout apps. The treadmill syncs freely with the Apple Watch as well as the Samsung Galaxy Watch. The free FitU app is just one of many you can choose and a number of them out there offer guided training, in either video or audio format, however not all apps have the same connectivity, so to speak. For example, you can follow along with the great cardio workouts found in the Peloton app, or listen in on audio-only guided runs from Nike Run Club, but with these apps, you aren’t actually pairing the app with the treadmill in any way, but rather watching/listening via a separate device (your iPad or tablet is the most logical choice). We have to say that there’s a lack of clarity when it comes to Horizon’s website in regards to app “compatibility”, as they spend a lot of time talking about “connecting” these apps to the treadmill when that’s not actually what’s going on. More specifically, you’re connecting your device to the treadmill via Bluetooth in order for the audio to play through the treadmill’s speakers. This is a good feature, but know that any adjustment to speed or incline will still need to be controlled by you on the machine.

There are two exceptions to the rule at time of publishing—the immensely popular Zwift app, and the less well known Kinomap. The former is a gaming-style running and cycling app whose popularity is mostly centered around the indoor cycling training community, whereas the latter is A lesser known video-based training app that allows users to follow on and off road running, cycling, and rowing courses. We’ve taken the time to review the Zwift app, however our experience with Kinomap was fairly limited.

Read our Peloton App review here

Read our Zwift App review here

Read our Nike Run Club App review here

High-Quality Parts

Horizon treadmill motors are warrantied for life. Photo by: Oleksandr Kosheliev / Fitrated.com

Horizon treadmills are built by Johnson Health and Fitness, a company which actually started out in the manufacturing of metals. The good news is they built great machines. This unit features a rapid sync motor which generates 500 pounds of incline thrust. The Johnson Digital Drive System features Rapid Sync Technology and there’s no lags or delays between speeds and inclines. This Horizon 7.0 AT treadmill brings a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor. In my usage of this treadmill and others in the lineup I have to say you’ll feel the quality beneath your feet. This is a treadmill that can often be found on special for as low as $999 and given that price, it’s solid as a rock.

Perfect Size for the Home

Horizon 7.0 Treadmill

The Horizon 7.0 AT measures 76″ x 35″ x 67″ when fully assembled and 44″ x 35″ x 68″ when folded upright. The 277-pound treadmill can support up to 325 pounds in user weight. This treadmill has an 8 5/8″ step-up height which needs to be taken into account when checking for ceiling heights. This is a great sized unit for the home, but I’d recommend careful measurements before assembling. The good news is it’s a folding treadmill so it can be wheeled away when not in use.

What We Like

Pros:

  • Motor: 3.0 CHP, designed for running and relatively quiet, even when you’re running hard
  • Deck Size: 20” x 60”: length allows for a wide range in height and stride length
  • Warranty: Great for the price point with a lifetime guarantee on the frame and motor, 3 years on parts, and 1 year on labor.
  • Incline: With up to 15% incline available on this treadmill, you won’t run out of options.
  • Heart rate monitoring: Purchase includes a Bluetooth monitor and receiver, as well as sensors built into the grips.
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth compatible with both Apple and Android devices and several apps
  • Steel frame: Sturdy and durable, can handle an intense workout and up to 325 lbs
  • Cushioning: 3 zone to protect joints on take off and landing
  • Financing: Split payments out over as much as two years with no interest
  • Folds Up: If your home gym serves other purposes, you can fold the 7.0 AT to take up less space when not in use

Cons:

  • 7.25” screen is small

Conclusion

The Horizon Fitness 7.0 AT is absolutely a runner’s treadmill to consider for your home gym. The Horizon Fitness brand is known for building durable machines at affordable prices and it shows with this machine. The frame is strong and the deck will accommodate longer strides. The three-zone variable cushioning is a valuable inclusion as far as protecting your joints is concerned. The connectivity to Android and Apple devices and fitness apps makes sure you can stay motivated while tracking your workouts, and the warranty is good. There’s no doubt about it, this is a solid buy.

2 Comments

  • Brian December 7, 2020 at 8:57 pm
    How thick is the belt on the 7.0 AT, and rollers are how big?
    • FitRated December 16, 2020 at 1:43 pm
      Hi Brian, the rollers are 60mm/46mm Tapered, and the belt is 1.6mm thick.

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