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Horizon 7.8 AT treadmill vs Nordictrack S50

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Mar 15, 2021 9:00:00 AM

Horizon 7.8 AT treadmill vs Nordictrack S50

This is a comparison between the Horizon 7.8 AT treadmill and Nordictrack S50 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in which Horizon treadmill to get.

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Overview and review of the Nordictrack S50 1999

This is a review of the NordicTrack S50 including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in “which NordicTrack treadmill or elliptical to get in the UK”. Follow the links for more details.

 

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Overview of the Nordictrack S50 

 
The main features of the S50 treadmill are the 3.5 CHP motor, 12% incline, and that it can be folded up. The full list of features for the S50 covers the following items:
 
  • Includes 1 Years iFit Family Membership
  • iFit Integrated
  • Two 2” Bluetooth Digitally Amplified Speakers
  • 3.5 CHP Motor
  • 0% - 12% Digital Incline
  • 0 – 22 km/h Speed
  • Onetouch™ Controls
  • 1.9” Precision and Balanced Non-Flex Rollers
  • 125kg Max User Weight
  • EKG Handgrips
  • FlexSelect™ Cushioning
  • 51 x 152 cm Tread Belt
  • This Machine Does Not Feature a Workout Fan
  • SpaceSaver® Design with EasyLift™ Assist
  • Assembled Dimensions - 200L x 90W x 145H cm
  • Product Weight 92kg
  • Boxed Weight 109kg
  • Folded Dimensions - 103L x 90W x 180H cm
  • Boxed Dimensions - 210L x 82W x 34H cm
  • Warranty - Lifetime Frame Warranty, 10-year Motor Warranty, 2-Year Parts & Labour upon warranty registration within 28 days of purchase.
The S50 used to be solid in the Nordictrack portfolio but might have gone a little out of date. 
 

Pros of the Nordictrack S50 

 
The pros of the S50 are:
 
  • Strong motor
  • Can be gotten used
 
The Nordictrack S50 has a very strong motor and therefore good longevity. If you can get one used at a very small price you will not be disappointed. Especially if it was in-home use. As it has been around for a while you will have a higher likelihood on this machine to snatch a second-hand deal. If you are considering a new machine in the UK you might want to go for a different option.
 

Cons of the Nordictrack S50

 
The cons of the S50 are:
 
  • Not really good value for money
  • Older model
If you are looking into a new machine you are better off to look at the NordicTrack C1650 instead of the S50. You will get the same, maybe even better, specs at roughly the same price. You will have a harder time finding a used machine for the C1650.
 

Alternatives to the Nordictrack S50

 
The assault air runner is a self-propelled treadmill without a motor which is especially good for sprint/stop work. If you are an NFL or NBA player and want to work off the court on your speed development, this is a good machine to have. The Assault air runner is said to have bearing that is a little too fast compared to the Trueform Runner, which is said to have a better configuration.
 
The TrueForm Runner is the deluxe model in the realm of self-propelled treadmills. It usually gets the highest marks in terms of calibration and features in this market segment. This comes at a higher price compared to the Assault air runner. If you are buying for an individual athlete for home use, probably go for the TrueForm runner. If you buy for commercial use or outfitting a facility for an entire team, go for the Assault air runner. 
 
The C1650 is the better value for money option from Nordictrack to achieve the same thing than the S50. The screen is bigger and the design is more modern for roughly the same price.
 
If you want to save a lot of money while maximizing the calories burned per minute I personally recommend the Rogue Echo bike. It is compact, affordable, and sturdy. Even you run usually outdoors and want to burn some extra calories or if you ave limited budget and space, this is the bike to get for your home gym.
 

Summary for the Nordictrack S50

 
Unfortunately, the S50 is probably not the best option out of the Nordictrack portfolio for Uk customers. Have a closer look at the C1650 instead at similar budget and space requirements. 
 

Overview and review of the Horizon 7.8 AT treadmill

This is an overview of the Horizon 7.8 AT treadmill including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article has been originally published in which Horizon treadmill to get. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview of the Horizon 7.8 AT $1.799

 
The Horizon 7.8 AT is the Horizon treadmill with the most powerful motor and the sturdiest frame. The console has been pared back for longevity and therefore sacrifices a touchscreen. Comapred to the Elite line from Horizon the AT line has been designed with more compatibility with different Apps in mind and more cushioning. The full spec sheet is attached below:
 
Frame Type: FeatherLight Folding
Running area: 22" x 60" XL Deck
Cushioning: 3-Zone Variable Response Cushioning
Drive Motor: 4.0 CHP RapidSync Drive System
Belt: 1.6mm, Silicone
Deck Thickness: 0.8" (20mm)
Roller Size: 60mm/46mm Tapered
Speed Range: 0.5 – 12 mph
Incline Range: 0 – 15%
Extras: Accessory Tray, Aluminum Side Rails, Audio In/Out Jack, Bluetooth Speakers, Energy Saver Mode, Fan, Multi-position Tablet Holders
Weight: 330 lbs.
Assembled Dimensions: 76" x 37" x 64"
Folded Dimensions: 42" x 37" x 71"
Max User weight: 350 lbs.
Electrical Requirements: 60Hz - 120V
Home Warranty - Frame: Lifetime
Home Warranty - Motor: Lifetime
Home Warranty - Parts: 5 years
Home Warranty - Labor: 2 years
 
This is the machine to get if you want the biggest and meanest treadmill that Horizon has on offer. It will also integrate with most apps out there like the Peloton and Ifit app.
 

Pros of the Horizon 7.8 AT

 
The pros of the Horizon 7.8 AT are:
 
  • Motor
  • Frame
  • Compatibility
  • Warranty
  • Price
 
If you are looking for a very strong motor for HIIT training or interval runs this is the machine for you. This type of training puts more strain on the engine and therefore you want to have a powerful motor that can take the beating. The 7.8 AT delivers in this department and you can throw a brick and then some at it.
 
The frame of the AT line of Horizon is sturdy and powder coated. This makes it easy to clean and it will also take some falls or bumping into. Compared to hollow plastic this is a big step up for longevity so if you run a commercial gym where you expect a lot of movement of weights around the treadmill you might want to invest in the AT line.
 
The AT has also Bluetooth and is designed to send data to other Apps like Peloton and IFit if you wish to do so. Controlling the treadmill via the own Horizon app ok a tablet can be tricky but the data for your runs can be extracted. You can see that Horizon thought a little more about being compatible with this line than with the Elite.
 
The lifetime warranty on the frame and motor is a Horizon fitness staple. Parts come with five years and labor with two years which is the best warranty package that Horizon has on the shelves.
 
For the price, you are getting a lot of treadmill with a great motor. There is not a lot you can do wrong with the AT 7.8, if you have the budget.
 

Cons of the Horizon 7.8 AT

 
The cons of the Horizon 7.8 AT are:
 
  • Weight
  • Size
  • Console
 
The Horizon 7.8 AT is a beast of a treadmill. If you have to navigate it around narrow corners often or put it in a tiny room it is not the best choice. You need a big room and once you put it there it will most likely stay. The console has no touchscreen and no internet connection. Some companies tend to put more modern bells and whistles to their treadmills at similar price points.
 

Alternatives to the Horizon 7.8 AT

 
Alternatives to the Horizon 7.8 AT are:
 
 
The Horizon Elite T9 is the flagship of the Elite product line. Compared to the AT 7.8 it is very close in the two main differences are that it has a touch screen and is lighter. The Elite T9 is probably the better option to be used in a home gym. However, it comes at a slightly higher price.
 
The Horizon 7.4 AT is very similar to the 7.8 except for the motor which is smaller. The footprint is also slightly smaller. The 7.4 is a good option to save a little money on a good design without over compromising yourself.
 
The Horizon 7.0 AT is a good possibility if you want to stay below the $1000. With the smallest warranty and motor, it is my personal idea of too much of a compromise, but if you want the sturdy AT frame at the lowest possible price point this is a good snatch. I would always go for a smaller model with more bells and whistles.
 
For me, the Rogue Echo bike is one of the best cardio choices you can make for a home gym. It is compact, easy to move around, sturdy, and allows you to do HIIT like with no other treadmill. I like to go out for my runs so this is the better machine for me that is in my gym. The Titan fan bike is a low-cost copy of the Rogue Echo bike.
 
If you Insist on a treadmill and want to train for sprints and dashes the Assault air runner might be a better choice for you. Classical treadmills are not great for quick starts and stops which the Assault air runner fixes. The belt runs on bearings and therefore the treadmill is self-propelled. This way quick acceleration and decelerations can be done without breaking your feet.
 

Conclusion for the Horizon 7.8 AT

 
The Horizon AT 7.8 is a great option to get the most powerful motor from Horizon in a massive frame. If you are running a commercial gym or if you are a 140kg Rugby machine, this is a good machine for you. The downsides are the price and the massive amount of space it takes up. If you get it be sure where you put it and be prepared that it is going to stay there.
 

Topics: Treadmill, Horizon